1950s Cartoon Pinup Girl Illustration by Matthew R. Paden

by Matthew R. Paden

1950s Cartoon Pinup Girl Illustration by Matthew R. Paden

There’s something about the 1950s that never quite lets go of me — the cocktail lounges, the chrome gleam, the velvet glamour that sat somewhere between classy and cheeky.

That’s where Velvet Martini was born — my illustrated ode to an era that knew how to wink without saying a word.

Who is Velvet Martini?

Velvet is the kind of cartoon pinup who walks into a room and suddenly, the jukebox plays just for her.

She’s confident without trying, playful without being a caricature, and every curve of her linework pays tribute to the bold, unapologetic femininity of mid-century art.

Think Esquire’s Varga Girls meets Tex Avery’s Red Hot Riding Hood — with a twist of my own design sensibility stirred in.

What inspired the illustration?

I’ve always loved the language of vintage design — that mix of glamour and graphic punch. The project started as a sketch inspired by old lounge ads and cocktail menus.

But as I refined her, Velvet began to take on her own personality — that sly, knowing smirk that seems to say, “Care for another?” She became more than a figure study; she became a character.

Where does she live?

In my mind, Velvet Martini lives somewhere between Palm Springs and the Sunset Strip — a late-night world of neon signs, smoky jazz bars, and laughter over the clink of ice in highball glasses.

She’s timeless but rooted in that golden age of design when everything — from cars to coasters — had style.

When did I create her?

Velvet came to life one evening in my studio after a deep dive through mid-century magazine archives.

I wanted to capture that perfect 1950s Cartoon Pinup Girl Illustration through moment when nostalgia meets design — not just recreating the look of the era, but the feeling of it.

The soft blush tones, the exaggerated gesture, the polished glamour — all of it came together over one long, caffeinated weekend.

Why did I make her?

Because sometimes, art is a love letter — in this case, to the aesthetics of the past and the craftsmanship that defined it. I wanted to celebrate the artistry of that time, but through a modern lens — one that honors the pinup tradition of without falling into parody.

Velvet is confidence personified. She’s a reminder that sophistication can still have a sense of humor.

So here’s to Velvet Martini — a little vintage, a little vixen, and a whole lot of attitude.

She’s not just an illustration; she’s a toast to timeless style, to every artist who fell in love with the curves of design and the stories those lines could tell.