Meet Emily Diaz

We were lucky to catch up with Emily Diaz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something I struggle with quite frequently. It is a honest feeling we artists struggle with often, and it is natural. I consider myself an anxious person, so that specific form of insecurity never quite goes away. Regardless, I use it as a way to keep myself motivated. Continuing to make art proves to myself I am not an imposter or a “fake artist”. So long as I am creating, I am a creator. Even if I am not in the spot I’d like to be, even if I do not have the time to make everything I want to make. I am still here, creating, using color to make forms on a screen into the characters in my heart. Letting my fear of not being good enough or as good as other artists will only keep me stagnant. So long as we do not let that fear interrupt our creativity, we will be okay.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an illustrator and animator who loves making colorful creations! My art explores nostalgic cartoon media and online subcultures while depicting cute dark stories. Growing up online, my interests ranged from My Little Pony, to Creepypasta. Horror stories and cute pony shows may not seem like they fit in well together, but the juxtaposition of my interests lead me to love creepy and cute things together. My work caters to fandom culture & pop art subject matter. Inspired by my experiences on the web during the 2010s, I aims to bring a diverse range of products that capture the essence of nostalgia. I wish to branch out into the art, nerd, & anime community while bringing a pop of color (and a little bit of edge) into everyone’s lives. Killjoy Illustrations is still new and reaching to expand far and wide. My personalized commissions are also always open!

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?

Critique, consistency, and community. Integrating yourself into the art community is a wonderful journey. Online and in person, the community flourishes with different people and personalities. Going to anime conventions, for example, has been an interesting way of going about meeting new people. I’ve been attending and vending at some conventions for several months now. I’ve observed eloquently formatted displays and setups that have inspired my own. Many art vendors, cosplayers, and comic enjoyers alike come together in a space to collectively appreciate an art form. From props made from cardboard, to fur heads sculpted in foam, the convention community has a lot to offer in terms of creative enrichment and kindness. Online support takes time to develop, but is also exceptionally helpful as well. From social media to YouTube, finding a community of your own not only motivates you to create but also makes you feel part of something more.
Being able to develop bonds not only leaves opportunities open for beautiful friendships, but also critique. In order to truly advance with your art, you need to let in other perspectives. Critiques from students, professors, and other mentors can provide fresh alternative ways of thinking and creating. Being open to criticism can be difficult, but is overall something we need to accept in order to push past our mistakes and improve. Being consistent is equally as difficult, but no matter what we need to keep going. Art-block and a full-time job can hinder my performance sometimes in terms of making art daily but I do my best. Even if I am not drawing something digitally on my iPad, I still try to take the time to put together quick mood-boards that will inspire me for when I do have enough time to fully sit down for hours and sketch. I’ve began challenging myself to one hour portrait studies. During these studies, I pick an image from Google or Pinterest, then set a timer for 10 minutes in intervals until I reach an hour. Every ten minutes, I save the sketch then continue. At the end, I compare every 10 minute mark and observe each development. Over time, I realize what is most important when rendering a piece and how to efficiently render within a limited amount of time. This type of study is not only fun to post on social media, but pushes me to create even when I only have a little period of time later in the night.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Currently one of my biggest struggles in general is finding a place I feel comfortable in terms of my art. Since graduating college with my Bachelors in Fine Art, I’ve been contemplating what I want to do and where I wish to go. I might be getting a tattooing kit soon, which can be one pathway to a new creative future. Ive been vending at small conventions, learning what I can from attendees and artists alike. Every event is a challenge and an opportunity. Likewise, I’ve been developing a YouTube channel where I post my art and animation developments. I love posting there and on Instagram as well, but social media in general is a gamble in terms of numbers with the algorithm. Art in the world of algorithms and ai is definitely a difficult world to navigate, but I know I’m still new to this. I know I’ll find my way eventually and I am hopeful. I will take any pathway I can in order to improve and better myself, and my art.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Productivity
Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move