Meet Yessie Ortiz | Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yessie Ortiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yessie, what are you inspired by?
As a kid, I loved getting in the car during the wintertime, specifically when the sun was going down, because it meant I would see all the houses lit up with Christmas lights. All the colors, Santa inflatables, and twinkling lights made me feel warm despite the cold weather. To this day, I am still inspired by that childlike wonder.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
You could say that my art is pretty niche. I’m heavily inspired by my culture, faith, and love for “cozy vibes.” One day, I’m drawing a concha, the next, I’m illustrating a passage in the bible, and the next, I’m drawing Link from the Legend of Zelda game… as a cat, haha!

I am most excited about kicking off my career in the new year as a full-time illustrator! I’m currently working on the beginning stages of a children’s book project, and I’m STOKED! Along with wanting to do client work, I have a YouTube channel that I revived this summer, and I’m excited to make more behind-the-scenes content about what it’s like to have a creative career as an illustrator.

In terms of my art journey, it’s honestly kind of crazy how I got here. I wanted to be an oil painter when I was in high school, but I pursued graphic design in college for job security. And slowly, over time, I stopped drawing. I still used my illustration skillset in my design work, but I had let go of any hope that I would pursue an art career.

But God had other plans. I was diagnosed with OCD in 2019. And I struggled with it pretty heavily during the pandemic. I had been praying a lot about my mental health during that time, and one day, I prayed for God to help me find joy in my life again. Around this time, I was binging a lot of studio vlogs on YouTube, and it sparked an idea to buy some paints. So I did, and I haven’t stopped making art since.

That difficult season revived a dream that I had shoved pretty far down. Crazy how God works.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, FOR SURE we would have to visit all the art museums in the area. Fort Worth has the trifecta of art museums: The Kimbell, The Amon Carter, and the Modern Art Museum. There’s also a CUTE coffee shop called Caza Azul near the stockyards and they make an amazing latte.

One of my favorite places to do some Plein-air painting or walk is Oak Point in Plano. You are bound to see some cute little turtles pop their heads out of the water.

Local Good Coffee Co. is a coffee shop that opened this year in the Plano area. It has the best seating and a pickleball court. It’s a vibe!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I was hired as a graphic designer at my local church about two and a half years ago. When I arrived at their door, I was struggling a lot with my mental health. They received me with open arms and gave me a safe space to grow in my faith, confidence, and mental health. A few months ago, I came to them to chat about how I wanted to pursue an illustration career, and they were the first to say, “We love you, and we support you.”

Pursuing a creative career can feel daunting, scary, and lonely — so I am grateful to have such a supportive community cheering me on.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/yessieortiz

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@YessieOrtiz_

Other: Etsy: byyessieortiz.etsy.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yessie.ortiz?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc