Meet Alethea Rocks

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alethea Rocks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alethea below.

Alethea, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from a mix of necessity, creativity, and the people who shaped me. I learned early on that making things—drawing, animating, building worlds—wasn’t just something I loved, it was how I processed life. When things felt unstable or overwhelming, creating was the one place where I had agency and could turn chaos into something meaningful.

I also draw a lot of resilience from my family, especially my Abuelita. She had this fearless way of moving through the world with humor, intuition, and grit. She didn’t always have the rules or language for things, but she had confidence, resourcefulness, and love—and she showed me that you don’t need permission to take up space or make something out of nothing.

Over the years, resilience has also come from staying weird and honest, even when it would’ve been easier to conform or quit. Running a creative business for over a decade, navigating setbacks, losses, and reinventions has taught me that resilience isn’t about being tough all the time—it’s about showing up again, adjusting, and continuing to make work that feels true, even on the hard days.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m an alternative artist, animator, and creative director, and the founder of Inkeater Originals, a brand I started in 2012 as a way to share the weird, funny, slightly dark art that’s always lived in my head. What began as making cards and illustrations for people who didn’t quite see themselves in traditional designs has grown into a multidisciplinary creative practice that includes illustration, animation, surface design, apparel, and storytelling.

What feels most special about what I do is the freedom to embrace weirdness as something warm and connective rather than alienating. My work often pulls from nostalgia, pop culture, monsters, humor, and personal stories—especially memories of family, like my Abuelita, whose confidence and resourcefulness continue to inspire the characters and stories I create. I love turning everyday moments, emotional experiences, or cultural memories into art that makes people laugh, feel seen, or say, “That’s so me.”

Professionally, I balance running Inkeater Originals with animation and storytelling projects, often blending humor with heart. I’m especially excited about leaning further into animated shorts and narrative-driven work, using animation as a way to preserve stories, emotions, and voices that might otherwise fade. Recently, I’ve been expanding my surface design work through platforms like Spoonflower, creating fabric designs that translate my illustration style into something tactile and functional.

I’ve also had the honor of seeing my artwork published in DK Supernatural Creatures by Penguin Random House, which felt like a full-circle moment for someone who grew up loving monsters and folklore. Right now, I’m focused on continuing to build my animated universe, releasing new designs, and creating work that celebrates individuality, resilience, and the joy of staying curious—no matter how long you’ve been creating.

At the heart of everything I do is the belief that being different isn’t something to outgrow—it’s something to protect.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three things have been most impactful in my journey: curiosity, consistency, and self-trust.

Curiosity has kept me moving forward even when I didn’t have a clear plan. Being willing to learn new tools, explore different mediums, and follow ideas simply because they felt interesting opened doors I couldn’t have predicted. For anyone early in their journey, I’d say protect your curiosity. Try things before you feel “ready,” take classes, watch tutorials, ask questions, and don’t box yourself in too early.

Consistency mattered more than talent ever did. Showing up—especially during quiet seasons when no one was watching—built both skill and momentum over time. Progress doesn’t usually come from big breakthroughs; it comes from small, repeated efforts. My advice is to set achievable rhythms: make regularly, share imperfect work, and don’t wait for motivation to strike before you start.

Self-trust took the longest to develop, but it’s been the most transformative. Learning to listen to my instincts instead of chasing trends or external validation helped my work feel more honest and sustainable. For those starting out, pay attention to what excites you and what drains you. Not every opportunity is meant for you, and saying no is a skill worth learning early.

Together, these three—staying curious, showing up consistently, and trusting yourself—create a foundation that supports growth, resilience, and creative longevity. The goal isn’t to have everything figured out; it’s to keep moving forward while staying true to what makes your work yours.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, absolutely. I’m always open to collaborating with people who value creativity, curiosity, and authenticity. I’m especially interested in partnering with fellow artists, animators, writers, musicians, and brands who enjoy storytelling and aren’t afraid to lean into the weird, heartfelt, or unexpected.

I love collaborations that feel like a conversation—projects where different perspectives come together to create something that couldn’t exist otherwise. That might look like animated shorts, illustration projects, surface design collaborations, zines, campaigns, or creative storytelling rooted in culture, humor, or nostalgia.

For anyone interested in collaborating, the best way to connect is through my website or social platforms under Inkeater Originals or Inkeater. I’m always happy to hear from people who genuinely resonate with the work and have an idea they’re excited about building together.

At the end of the day, I’m less interested in chasing trends and more interested in making meaningful, memorable work with good humans.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Inkeater.org
• Instagram: inkeater
• Facebook: inkeater.artist
• Linkedin: alethearocks
• Youtube: inkeater

Image Credits

Inkeater