Meet Keithan Jones

We were lucky to catch up with Keithan Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Keithan, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

In my many years of being an artist for various industries, I’ve learned that the best way to stand out among the competition is to simply be yourself. Be professional but maintain your identity and personal style whatever that may be. It gives you authenticity in a world were things have become very artificial and bland.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I own and operate KID Comics Company. KID is a comic book publisher. I create Stories and Art that originate solely from my imagination while at the same time I produce art for other Independent publishers which make up my clientele. Among creating comics, as a Black American I represent a cultural faction of popular arts called Afrofuturism in the same way Japanese artists represent Manga and Anime. Once a year for Black History Month I curate a show featuring artist in the Afrofuturism space called, Black Comix Day in San Diego, California. The 8th year of this event will take place February 14-15, 2026 at The Worldbeat Center, San Diego, Ca.

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?

I spent a significant amount of years in the commercial arts industry. There I learned to meet deadlines under pressure. I learned to communicate with clients in an amicable way and retain their business. I learned to create a professional work flow. Meaning proper file management and file preparation for professional reproduction. The advice I would give to aspiring artists is to learn your fundamental skills, ie; Layout Design, Typesetting, Life Drawing, Color Theory, File Settings. Having a good understanding of those things will strengthen any style or genre you are developing.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I have a number of people I can credit for my success, never forgetting my Mother. But a huge turning point that lead me on my way to a professional career in the arts is the day I was hired by San Diego Padres baseball legend, the late Tony Gwynn and his wife Alicia Gwynn who gave me my first full-time professional job as a graphic designer. I knew virtually nothing about computers and only had my raw drawing skills. They allowed me to learn the skills necessary to fulfill the job during my time there. It was a Godsend because I was literally living out of a storage room, unemployed when they found me back in the mid 1990s.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kid-comics.com
• Instagram: @kjkidcom
• Facebook: kidcomicsonline
• Youtube: The Kid In You Never Dies @xkx072671

Image Credits

Harriet Tubman Demon Slayer created by David Crownson