MONI619
IMPERIAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA
Moni619 is my independent illustration and product line, where I explore identity, place, and popular culture through typography. For more than nine years, I've created artwork by layering numbers into portraits, transforming area codes and jersey numbers into recognizable images of musicians and athletes.
What began as a personal illustration practice has grown into a collection of prints, calendars, sticker packs, and other collectible products sold through local retailers, pop-up markets, and exhibitions throughout San Diego.
Services
Illustration
Product Design
Packaging Design
Print Production
Art Direction
PADRES COLLECTION
ILLUSTRATIONS MADE WITH PROCREATE (2021 & 2024)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, baseball became a creative outlet and inspired me to translate my signature illustration style into portraits of San Diego Padres players. Each portrait is constructed entirely from the player's jersey number, creating images that celebrate both the athlete and the visual language of the sport.
Although inspired by the team, the collection was created independently and was not affiliated with the San Diego Padres.
BEHIND THE WORK
I selected photographs that captured each player's most recognizable stance or expression before rebuilding the portraits in Procreate using layered numbers. From there, I expanded the artwork into a full product line that included prints, sticker packs, calendars, and custom packaging. I produced the prints in my studio and developed packaging inspired by collectible baseball cards, including custom labels and hand-cut vellum inserts.
2021 Padres Sticker Collection, printed locally in San Diego. Also used as packaging pattern for select products.
I printed and produced my 2024 Padres Sticker Pack collection independently
2021 Padres Sticker Pack Vellum Paper. I printed and hand cut each packing vellum sheet.
2025 Padres Calendar mock up
Tatis Jr. sticker at Petco Park
RESULT
The first collection was featured on Bally Sports San Diego's POV, leading me to create a second edition in 2024. Across both releases, I sold approximately 100 sticker packs, more than 100 prints, and the entire limited run of 100 Padres calendars.
2024 Padres Sticker Pack
Framed Tony Gwynn print (11 in. x 18 in.)
Special Mystery Pack Packaging for a client that old my merchandise via vending machines
Limited edition SD Logo pin
Merchandise section at Feliz Coffee Club
Padres POV
Interview, Bally’s Sports Network, June 2022
Bally’s Sports social media account created a post requesting their followers to tag their favorite artists who created Padres themed artwork. Due to an overwhelming amount of my followers tagging me in the post, Bally’s contacted me to be featured on their Padre’s POV show that would be run for a limited time after San Diego Padres’ games.
WEST COAST COLLECTION
Illustrations made on Procreate (2024)
This collection celebrates influential West Coast hip hop artists through portraits built entirely from their hometown area codes. I intentionally limited the artwork to black and white to echo the visual language of 1990s album photography while keeping the focus on the typography.
BEHIND THE WORK
Each portrait was illustrated digitally in Procreate using a pen brush that mimics the texture of a classic BIC pen. Beyond the illustrations themselves, I developed a complete product line that included prints, calendars, and collectible sticker packs with custom packaging designed for both direct sales and wholesale opportunities.
Complete Sticker Pack Collection
Sticker Pack Vellum Sheet
Sticker Pack
RESULT
The collection sold more than 150 combined calendars, prints, and sticker packs. The artwork was also exhibited in my solo exhibition AR3A C0DES at Longplay HiFi, while the products were distributed through local coffee shops, pop-up events, and retail vending machines throughout San Diego.
2024 Calendar
July 2024
Calendar, Sticker Pack, and Print
NUMB3RS & C0LORS
Illustrations made on Procreate (2020)
Numbers & Colors explores artists across hip hop and R&B through portraits constructed entirely from their hometown area codes. The collection marked one of the first times I expanded my illustrations into a cohesive series of collectible products.
BEHIND THE WORK
Each portrait was created digitally in Procreate before being adapted into calendars, prints, sticker packs, and, later, upcycled greeting cards. Rather than treating the illustrations as standalone artwork, I approached the collection as a complete product system designed to be affordable, collectible, and easy to display.
I also recorded time lapse footage of each design as well as the packaging process that I was later able to use for promotional purposes on my website and social media.
RESULT
Approximately 80% of the limited calendar edition sold, with the remaining calendars repurposed into handmade greeting cards to reduce waste and extend the life of the collection. The artwork also became the foundation for a later collaboration with Manuzon.
July 2021 with Print
August 2021
Upcycled Card