About Me

Hi there! My name is Marq Martinez more commonly known as Toxic Tacos or Tox online! I'm a Latin American artist and author that loves to create.

I've had an interest in the arts ever since I was a little kid. They say it all started when my grandmama introduced me to one of the most powerful tools I've ever held... A pencil. From then on out, I was an artist. There was no doubting I had a creative spark from a young age, my family often likes to joke that I stole it from my older brother whose creativity seemingly disappeared after I was born.

The question I get asked the most is "Where did you learn to draw?" and "Can you teach me how to draw?"

1. I'm self taught.

2. No, I can't teach you how to draw.

  Another common question I get asked is where my inspiration comes from. Truth be told, I don't have an answer. I often find myself being inspired by whatever interests me at the time, and that's always changing.

In addition to art, I have a love for storytelling. I think it's part of my need to make every illustration tell a story. I began writing back in middle school with a group of online friends that I still talk with to this day! Since then I haven't been able to stop coming up with stories. Even though I have dozens of project ideas, my main passion will always be A Call to Salem's Travelers (which you can read more about on this website!)

Growing up I consumed a lot of superhero media, primarily Ben 10, Marvel, and DC. This shaped not only my art and storytelling but the idols I take inspiration from as well. My biggest inspirations are online artists Rob Orpilla aka Kuro The Artist, Spencer Blair aka Yotakuboi and concept artist/illustrator Tom Perkins. I've followed these artists a lot in the past five years, learning from them to shape my own style.

No matter the genre, the style, the medium, I love to create. I like to think my brain is like a stovetop, even if what's on the back burner isn't cooking, I'll work on it later.