I nervously met Steenz while walking around the Toronto Comics & Arts Fest and their work is amazing. I believe they identify as both she and they but I'll use they. Steenz is a comics writer, cartoonist, and editor from St. Louis (My Grandma's hometown). Not only that but they teach it which is so freaking cool!
Just found the website of this incredible artist named Bea Jackson (Bea Gifted). Wow! Stunning digital and traditional illustration. I don't know much about her but I really love how she draws and paints, especially how beautifully she illustrates Black children. Ugggh, so good!
If you're not familiar with her please go check out her website and follow her on Instagram! I'm sure you have seen her art in picture books but if you havent here's one! "Parker Looks Up" :)
Here is an interview with her where she talks about her long career in the arts working in comics, editorial work, children's books, and more.
What's this? This is where I share inspiring artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. I just discovered Bea's work but some of the folks I share I've seen over the span of many years. Here are some others to check out:
Thank god for Maurice Cherry who has done so much work to highlight Black designers, artists, and creatives with his work. I just came across Cymone or "Simon and Moose". Wow, what a breath of fucking fresh air it is to see this person's work. She is Amazing.
What's this bruh? This is where I share artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. Check out Cymone Wilder's website here. You can see the many clients she work with , her personal work, merch, and more. Wow is what I keep saying to myself.
I haven't highlighted that many type artists or designers who work with letters but I will do that more because I pull inspiration from them as much as I do illustrators or muralists. Cymone is someone you should watch and follow. Like now, do that now. Here is her IG.
You can read an interview she did with the Nashville Voyager (where she's based) and get a sense of what makes her do what she does. Stay tuned for more.
Did you catch the posts I made about these other amazing artists?
Victoria Ying is an incredible artist and author from the LA area who I came across when she was working at Disney many years ago. I remember seeing a project she lead called "Extra Curricular Activities". Then I saw her in the "Lovely" book with women working in animation. I have been a big fan ever since and I loved her books "City of Secrets" and "Meow". Check out some of her beautiful paintings and drawings.
Yo, if you're new: This is where I share artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. Do yourself a favor and check out Victoria's site here. There you can catch some of the amazing books she's created such as "City of Secrets" and hear some interviews such as this one where she talks about her process for creating her graphic novel.
If you missed the last inspiring artist I posted, check out Ami Thompson or Elizabeth Catlett's work! And if you're still looking for more inspiration peep inspiration board 41 I made because everybody gets stuck.
PS: Victoria teaches!! You can take a class she teaches on visual development here :)
I came across Lorena Alvarez work with her graphic novel "Nightlights" in 2016. Ever since then I have been eagerly awaiting any new work from the Colombiana. Originally from Bogotá she studied there and here in the states.
One of the things I love most about her work besides its incredible sense of imagination, is her use of color. It is delicious to look at. Listen to this interview with her on the Children's Book Podcast.
OK, thats some of her illustration work which is both digital and traditional. You can follow her on IG here. Her portfolio is here, and you can cop her comics Hicotea and Nightlights at most book stores. She's worked on some other books too, but I don't know them as well.
If you liked this check out some of the other ladies I've shared:
Claire Wendling is an incredible illustrator from France who was born in 1967. I believe I heard about her very recently through Schoolism or the "Trojan Horse" YouTube interview with Karla Ortiz. She's an OG who has worked in illustration, comics, and animation. I love her figures. How much she studies the human body, animals, and creates creatures, relationships between beings, and the care she puts into her drawings which are amazing.
Yo, if you're new: This is where I share artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. Do yourself a favor and check out her Instagram. I couldn't find a website for her but you can watch this interview with her.
If you missed the last inspiring artist I posted, check out Ami Thompson or Zeke Peña's work! And if you're still looking for more inspiration peep inspiration board 41 I made because everybody gets stuck. If you dig Claire's work you can get her sketchbooks at Stuart Ng Books online.
Peace, my name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I write and illustrate stories. I design characters, and I paint murals occasionally too. Parenthood, Ethnic Studies, Storytelling, Music, Social Justice, Film, Science Fiction, Design, & Publishing are regular thoughts. To contact me for commissioned art, freelance, or collaboration. Email me: info@robdontstop.com
