About

The Basic Bio

Owner with The Rascal

Lori Maxwell has been a resident of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, for over thirty years now. Most recently living with her husband, Frank and very much missing their Yorkshire Terrier, known as “The Rascal” and Shih Tze mix, "Little Miss Bella Luna". Both have crossed that "Rainbow Bridge".

After graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Lori set out into the commercial and graphic arts field, where she has run the gamut from typesetter to cartoonist to designer to illustrator, working with small businesses, private patrons, as well as agencies and corporations. Her work experience has been, for the most part, in print media. Typical projects have included newspaper and magazine advertisements, brochures and sales literature, sales promotional programs, logos, posters, flyers, billboards, book covers and text illustrations.

In this ever changing world of art, her weapon of choice is still a watercolor brush, but she’s comfortable using various media. There was a time she had never envisioned giving up her drawing board time, to time at her computer desk, however, her Mac and various applications have become an integral part of her work day. It was only a few years ago, that Lori was on the fence about ‘going digital’; that is, using a graphic tablet and a stylus. After the realization, that both types of tools were viable options; that ‘digital pen’ is frequently in her hand, leading this traditionalist to more digital experimentation. Her brushes sometimes sit unused - but certainly not forgotten.

The Rascal & Miss Luna; 2018

The CEO, Rascal, and the
Assistant Bark Director,
Miss Bella Luna, a couple
of years ago, on break.

We lost Miss Luna in 2019.

She was a Good Girl.
Rascal missed her.

We lost Rascal two months
ago; we miss him very much.

Please visit our blogs:
A Retro Artist in a Digital Age
and Maxwell Talks!

A Brief History

On some of the pages of this site, you might notice an email address, or copyrights for the name "Hidden Talents Studio" or "Hidden Talents Advertising". So, what is all This "Hidden Talents" stuff?

Hidden Talents Studio and Lori Maxwell Illustration are "sisters". That is to say, they are both under the banner of Hidden Talents Advertising.

Hidden Talents Advertising (Studio) has been in business, since 1986, owned by Lori Maxwell. Starting out as a small advertising agency, Hidden Talents has served the Pittsburgh Metro area for many years. Witnessing the industry changes, over those years, Hidden Talents has had to work within, augment, and adapt to those changes. Within this site are displays work in the field of Illustration.

But, no matter whether it's "Lori Maxwell Illustration", or "Hidden Talents Studio"; it's the same place, same people, same standards of quality and workmanship.

A Quick Run Down...

Lori Maxwell works and lives in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania metro area, as an Illustrator/Graphic Artist. Graduating in 1978 from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. She majored in Visual Communications and has an Associates Degree in Specialized Technology.

2000 - present Self-Employed Artist/Illustrator
LORI MAXWELL ILLUSTRATION, Pittsburgh, PA.
Serve clients as an illustrator, cartoonist and graphic designer, providing finished art.

1986 - present Self-Employed Artist/Illustrator/Designer
dba, HIDDEN TALENTS STUDIO
Advertising and Graphic Design, Pittsburgh, PA.
Serve clients as a design studio for advertising and marketing projects, offering layout, illustration, cartooning and graphic design, from concept through finish art.

1983 - 1985 Staff Artist
FOSTER AND KLEISER OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
(now Lamar Advertising), Pittsburgh, PA.
Responsible for billboard layout and design, including illustration and cartooning, for local, as well as national accounts. Concept through finish.

1978 - 1983 Staff Artist
TRAU AND LOUVNER INC., Pittsburgh, PA.
Responsible for design and production of sportswear logos and T-shirt art, including: illustration, air brush art, cartooning, graphic designs, logo designs and custom type faces. Also responsible for the design and production of in-house printing and advertising, including, price lists, product sheets and catalogs.