My books
Luck of the Draw
It’s the summer before senior year, and Mar Ortega is holding a ticket out of town: an acceptance letter to a prestigious pre-college program at an elite art school in Baltimore. Suddenly, Mar’s deepest desires are within reach: studying illustration, making a real friend group…and maybe even using new pronouns?
At the Baltimore Institute of Art, everything feels perfect. Mar is thrilled by the artsy community and incredible, engaging instructors, but when the time comes to buy painting supplies, the hefty price tags feel like a slap in the face. In fact, everything about this college is expensive, and there aren’t many students that look like Mar. As the days go by, Mar begins to wonder if they truly belong at art school…but it’s also the only place they’ve ever felt truly at home.
Inspired by creator Christine Suggs’s own experience attending a pre-college art program, Luck of the Draw illustrates what can happen when reality becomes part of your dream.
¡Ay, Mija!
Sixteen-year-old Christine takes their first solo trip to Mexico to spend a few weeks with their grandparents and tía. At first, Christine struggles to connect with family they don’t yet share a language with. Seeing the places their mom grew up—the school she went to, the café where she had her first date with their father—Christine becomes more and more aware of the generational differences in their family.
Soon Christine settles into life in Mexico, eating pan dulce, drawing what they see, and growing more comfortable with Spanish. But when Mom joins their trip, Christine’s two worlds collide. They feel homesick for Texas, struggle against traditions, and miss being able to speak to their mom without translating. Eventually, through exploring the impacts of colonialism in both Mexico and themselves, they find their place in their family and start to feel comfortable with their mixed identity.
Commissions and Portraits
Commissions are currently OPEN.
Here’s how it works:
Donate at least $10 to the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network’s Fair Fight Bond Fund or a similar immigration organization in your area. Take a screenshot of your donation.
Email me with:
Donation screenshot
Reference photos for your portrait. Multiple angles preferred. Don’t forget to show the tail if it’s a dog/cat/etc. No NSFW requests, please.
What sizes you’d like the final images at (choose up to 2, for example, a 4x6 and a phone wallpaper).
I’ll get to drawing! The final artwork will be a JPEG you can print at home, use on social, or use as a wallpaper image. It will be emailed to you in a few weeks.
Below are some examples.
Comics for the Washington Post
Find my work here.
Editorial Illustrations
Partnerships
It Gets Better Project
A huge advocate for LGBTQ rights, the It Gets Better Project commissioned me to design a pattern for a Zoom background.
The Scrunchie Club
Founded by Alyssa Kaplan, the Scrunchie Club partners with independent artists to create unique, limited edition designs that you’ll wear proudly on whatever adventure awaits you. 15% of the profits from each design are donated to a charity that’s near and dear to the artist’s heart. I was privileged enough to be the first artist to collaborate with Alyssa and we produced a scrunchie benefitting the National Eating Disorders Association.
