We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bethany Larson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bethany, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

As an animator, there’s no way I would be able to hone my skills without the help of my professors in my undergraduate program. As an illustrator, I can safely say putting in hours of drawing as a kid and using that as a means of expressing myself really paved the way for me to be where I am today. If I had been more diligent and consistent in drawing daily as I got older, I’m sure I would have improved so much faster as an artist. It’s all about consistency and showing up even when you may not feel like it. Self doubt and imposter syndrome definitely played a part in holding me back from really pursuing art the way I wanted. I think it’s really important to work through those fears and keep pursuing your goals. That fear never goes away, you just learn to push through it.

Bethany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a 2D animator and illustrator, but I love using any means necessary to connect creatively to others. I have experimented with many forms of art, and for a long time I had no idea what I wanted to do. My older brother and sister were always involved in the arts growing up, and I think that’s where my interest originated as a kid. Even though my mom was really supportive in encouraging us to express ourselves creatively, it was never realized as a way to make a living. Because of this, I floated around for years. I finally decided to go back to school for an arts degree because I knew I didn’t want a regular 9-5 job for the rest of my life. When I began classes my only goal was a studio degree, but that quickly changed after taking an animation class and falling in love with bringing my creations to life. I’m still currently working on my animation degree and will be graduating this Fall! I think my determination to follow through with an idea is what sets me apart. I hope to find work creating characters others can relate to and tell stories that connect people and help us not feel so alone in our humanness. I also just want to create silly things that make people laugh. The beauty in art is that it can communicate so many different ideas and emotions. Being human is beautiful and gross and something to explore with others. I hope to keep exploring and connecting along the way.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I have been really interested in using philosophical ideas as a base to tell stories. So many times we don’t realize how much philosophy has shaped our collective thinking and it holds so much power in evolving us to connect deeply to one another. It feels like we are becoming a world that is more disconnected from each other despite having more ways to connect. I think philosophy has the power to help us connect and mend the ties that we have cut. If we can question why things are so broken, it gives us the chance to evaluate and realize we want so many of the same things. We don’t have to destroy others for our benefit. In reality we can all have room to flourish together.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Creativity should in my opinion, really be encouraged and fostered in youth. To me, creative expression has been monumental in making me feel most like myself. In the years I wasn’t creating it felt as though I wasn’t myself; that I had cut off my libs and was still trying to go on as if nothing was missing. I think creativity comes in many forms and parents should think twice about discouraging their children from doing something that seems so naturally uplifting for them, despite how much they may not understand the pull. That creativity spills into other aspects of life and can make you stronger in many ways, and more prepared to tackle other obstacles.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bethanycguerrero.wixsite.com/mysite
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethfriend/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-guerrero-63b20113b/