Yani J is...
A writer, illustrator, and comic/webcomic creator. I'm currently studying Graphic Design in Florida. Nice to meet you!
About Me
My Background
I'm an artist raised on cartoons and strange internet media. I remember enjoying every single Boomerang bumper like I'd never seen them before; and going out of my way to search for homemade animes on Youtube, because they made me feel like I could do it too. Looking back now, I think child-me would be so proud. The plan was to be anything but an artist, because what I loved to do "could never sustain me"- an expectation instilled in me by my family. It's common theme, especially for Latino families like mine, to talk up STEM jobs and talk down on anything creative. The only person that didn't look down on my aspirations was my Mom. She's encouraged me since I was a child to make comics out of my art. I'm proud to say that I'm finally taking her advice.
What I Stand For
I try to reflect my roots in all my creations, and hope to create meaningful representation for other marginalized peoples, whom may also feel ghosted by society. My mom was born and raised in Venezuela by my Wayuu-native grandma, and it's a culture I'm proud of and trying to reconnect to today. In featuring indigenous people and deepening my understanding of what it means to be "me", I seek to contribute to efforts of decolonizing the media and minds. As I believe, diversity is vital in stories to enrich the world, expand understandings of different people, and secede from ideas that keep us from being our truest selves.
Vision
I'd like to call myself a storyteller. There are so many mediums in which one can make a narrative come alive. I see myself writing books, creating animations, and whatever else peaks my interest along the way. Although, while the breadth of my work will inevitably go beyond comics, they will always be my favorite to create. My favorite genres have to be sci-fi and thriller; stories like The Walking Dead, Elfen Lied, and Attack on Titan influence my taste for tragedy and horror today, which, may not be obvious now. But wait a year or so, and you'll see what I mean.