ILLUSTRATOR & SEMINARIAN
FOUNDER OF MAQUINA 37
Hi! I'm Raquel Busa. I’m an illustrator and surface pattern designer creating playful, textured, narrative-driven art for children’s books, editorial features, curriculum, faith-based organizations, and meaningful brands.
My work helps turn big, sensitive ideas — faith, belonging, grief, kindness, identity, and joy — into gentle, accessible visuals that feel safe, human, and memorable for children and families.
Through hand-drawn lines, soft palettes, and story-centered compositions, I help publishers and organizations communicate values-driven messages in ways that feel warm, inclusive, and emotionally resonant — never corporate or cold.
ART THAT MAKES SPACE FOR BELONGING
My art celebrates the “wonky” lines where the artist’s hand is always visible — and it uplifts the stories and faces of people who don’t often see themselves represented in children’s books, classrooms, and faith spaces.
Growing up queer, Hispanic, and a first-generation American shaped the way I see the world — and why representation, accessibility, and gentle storytelling matter so deeply to me.
One of my greatest joys is when someone looks at my art and says,
“I see myself in this.”
FAITH, FORMATION & DOODLES OF DEVOTION
Alongside my illustration studio, I’m pursuing a Master of Divinity at United Lutheran Seminary and am the creator of Doodles of Devotion — a free, weekly illustrated devotional series used by families, churches, and classrooms to explore Scripture through drawing, reflection, and conversation.
My calling lives at the intersection of art, faith formation, and inclusive storytelling — especially for children and families who may feel unseen, unsure, or unrepresented in traditional religious spaces.
My hope is to help nurture communities where faith feels gentle, creative, and rooted in peace, love, and belonging.
ILLUSTRATION SERVICES
I work with publishers, authors, churches, educators, and values-driven brands to create:
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Children’s Book Illustration
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Editorial Illustration
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Promotional Illustration
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Surface Pattern Design
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Faith-based Curriculum & Classroom Resources
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Church & Ministry Illustration
WHY "MAQUINA 37"
My shop, Maquina 37, is named after my 1937 Singer sewing machine — “la máquina.”
It honors my family’s immigration story and reminds me that creativity is a legacy, a language, and a form of love passed down through generations.
Core Values
INCLUSION
Every child deserves to see themselves reflected in stories of faith, learning, and belonging — especially within BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.
RESPECT
Listening deeply to families, educators, pastors, and children shapes everything I create.
HONESTY
My work embraces curiosity, doubt, and real life — faith without fear or shame.
EMPOWERMENT
I design participatory, hands-on resources that help people reflect, draw, question, and pray together.
PEACE & COMPASSION
Inspired by Jesus’ way of love, I center gentleness, empathy, and courage in every project.