ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN FOR THE COMMUNITY

          As an adult, I still constantly think about the cartoons I watched as a child.  Almost everyday I find myself being reminded of a line, a scene, or character from an animated series by something in the world around me.  I used to spend hours in front of my television, drawing and creating my own characters that could exist in the many animated worlds to which I prescribed.  Often, my characters were simply me: the girl with brown skin I saw missing from the rest of the cast. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized how much the presence of black characters on cartoons meant to me.  I felt represented. I felt included rather than having to include myself within the confines of a sketchbook no one else would ever see. But I’ve always longed to see more of these characters portrayed in ways I still haven’t seen: through whimsical or thoughtful or adventurous narratives that seem easily accessible to those with lighter skin.  When it comes down to it, inside I am still a child striving to see someone like her captivating the screen.

          I have become passionate about creating diverse characters with stories that make it possible to imagine more for our lives - or perhaps help us see what stories are being played out around us everyday.  I think all of our experiences are necessary to tell true stories - stories of adventure and fun as well as those of suffering and strife whether it be a magical friendship or the experience of losing someone you love.  With so many different human experiences, I believe the characters and stories we digest in media (cartoons, books, movies, etc.) should reflect this diversity. We have no shortage of stories to tell. Through the characters and narratives that I create, I seek to explore the complexities and diversities of human beings and this life that we live.