Meet Lindsey Danae Perez

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lindsey Danae Perez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lindsey Danae, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

My creative expression is tied to my existence, as it is for most humans whether they understand that or not. Every single day that we open our eyes and decide to get out of bed each morning, we are now partaking in a creative process. We have routines that make it easier to determine what out day might look like but every single day is an opportunity to create something new, learn a new skill, connect with a new person and express yourself. In a world that is riddled with dis-ease, genocide, cultural erasure, bigotry and hatred, creativity becomes a life sustaining force that can be harnessed for good. It requires creative thinking to imagine a different world so I make it a habit to partake in as many creative things as I can on the daily. In addition to illustration, I also enjoy other crafts and hobbies like making custom earrings with recycled materials, crocheting yarn bombs to put up in the neighborhood, etc! It’s good for your brain to mix up your routine. I also enjoy watching cartoons and other animated shows that can inspire my art practice.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I currently work full-time at the nonprofit SMYRC (Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center) in Portland, providing resources and services to LGBTQIA2S+ youth ages 13-24. Concurrently, I run my small business DBA Lindzenator Draws, selling handmade comic zines, prints, stickers, pins and doing live sketch portraits at markets. I provide professional comic illustration services for clients with a focus on uplifting QTBIPOC narratives. I’m also graduating soon from the 2024 Comics Portfolio Program at IPRC and planning a wedding!
As you can imagine, I stay quite busy between nonprofit work, studying, and my business activities. I don’t subscribe to the “starving artist” trope and believe in securing multiple income streams to support your artwork. Working for a nonprofit aligns with my spirit by allowing me to give back to the community and create safe spaces for young queer adults — something I lacked growing up in a small desert town in a Christian Baptist cult. It’s a miracle I survived with my identity intact.
The most exciting part of my work is the intersectionality that translates into my art. Being indigenous Tongva and Irish, two-spirit, and raised with religious trauma, all those experiences inform the stories I tell and the people my art resonates with. Having the privilege to create queer, indigenous comics is the coolest thing! Visual storytelling is my passion, and I love making others feel seen, felt, and heard.
I’m currently working on my thesis project, a zine titled “Slice of Self Love,” and will be attending several local Portland markets and events like Summer Story Fest and the Portland Indie Book Fair this summer. I’m also participating in a live reading of some of my recent work this weekend at Sonny’s House hosted by Liz Yerby.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

A background in social media marketing has greatly aided my recent success launching my small business. I know how to leverage social platforms like Instagram, make connections, and find opportunities through them. It’s because of my small business’s visibility that I was offered a free vending spot and panel opportunity at the Latinx Comic Arts Expo in California in 2023.
I highly recommend getting familiar with Instagram and basic video editing skills. Video is king for content right now, and if you’re not making appealing, aesthetic promotional videos, you’re missing potential customers!
In-person connections are also paramount for getting plugged into your community. Networking is a huge skill I learned early that has created a significant advantage for my business. Search EventBrite for local events your customers attend or entrepreneur meetups to network and sharpen your skills. Having charisma is a must for an entrepreneur – we have to do it all and sparkle!

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I start to feel overwhelmed, it’s usually because I have too much on my plate. I tend to say yes without considering my capacity. My advice would be to slow down. Unplug as often as possible, get out into nature, ground yourself by putting your feet in the grass and talking to the trees. Nature has so many answers if we’re brave enough to ask the questions and still enough to hear the responses.

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