Playful, Whimsical Illustration

Inspired by Black Joy

Art and content for those who love animation-influenced work that celebrates Black culture and joy.

Where It All Began!

For as long as I remember, I always loved to draw! Whether it was in my notebook, a scrap of paper, or even on my tests, it was my therapeutic escape. I loved being able to conceptualize what was in my mind and bringing smiles to others when I was able to draw for them.

But my relationship with art is a complicated one riddled with hurdles, imposter syndrome and eventually burnout. Being born in the 90s, liking anime, games or being overall quiet and “nerdy” were not celebrated traits to have as a Black kid. So I kept a mask on in public, only allowing myself to indulge at home. This bled into my art where I would not draw characters that looked like me or even saw people that looked like me drawing for a living (this was before the internet and social media made it easier to find)!

I always championed trying to show representation in my art as I got older, and I was happy to get work for such. But something still felt off, I was being pigeonholed into a corner, and not able to work on amazing projects like all of my peers in the community. It took this, a burnout, a pandemic, and being laid off to fully let go of the restrictions within myself and indulge in my interests and have it influence my art even more! Drawing feels fun again. I feel growth. I feel free!

JOY

✦

WHIMSY

✦

TEXTURE

✦

PLAY

✦

JOY ✦ WHIMSY ✦ TEXTURE ✦ PLAY ✦

Creative work that weaves vibrant colours, textures, whimsy and a dash of Black joy through illustration and design.

Through my work, I return again and again to ideas of playful poses, fantasy and whimsy, animation and anime culture, vibrant colours, texture and sprinkling my Black culture to make it uniquely mine. I embrace what makes me happy and pour it into my work, not bound by cultural norms.

Behind the Work

Over time, my process and overall creative work has become majorly influenced by nurturing my inner child. I love indulging in the geek culture, anime and fantasy to create my own unique brand of content. With all that in mind, I love adding inclusivity and diversity where I can, grounded by the lovely people and places we are blessed to come across in everyday life.

Selected Experience

My work graces numerous shows and publications across diverse creative industries, with clients including Meta, Disney, Nelvana, Warner Bros., Universal Studios Orlando, Penguin Random House, Boom Comics, IDW, and more.

Collaborating with editors, designers, and teams, I bring visions to life, delivering exceptional designs from concept sketches to the final product—accessible to children, adults, and everyone in between.

View My Past Collaborations