Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chari Pere. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Chari thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My “UNSPOKEN” cartoons, which I’ll dive into shortly, all started with a simple commission. I was hired to create a short comic, “Unmasked: The Ariela Dadon Story”, about one woman’s experience of getting her gett (Jewish divorce document) from her abusive, cheating spouse. Her story spanned 10 years, and I somehow condensed it to three pages. The comic went viral, and it was the first time that I saw how such a sensitive topic could resonate with others on a global scale. Comics are a playful medium, but they can be a powerful tool to drive home messages in a universal way.
Chari, 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’m Chari Pere (sounds like Shari Pair), and I’m a cartoonist. I’ve been drawing since I was a year old and started taking art lessons when I was six, after I tested very high on the visual part of an entrance exam to the private school I attended for 12 years. The person who gave me the exam insisted that my mom get me art lessons, which she did.
I ended up attending the School of Visual Arts for college, during which time I interned at MAD Magazine and graduated valedictorian with a BFA in Cartooning. After freelancing for 10 years on a wide range of projects (including a comic collaboration with Gretchen Rubin for her #1 NY Times Bestselling book The Happiness Project, and storyboards for companies such as Comedy Central, Purina, and Bud Light), I started working in advertising when I was hired for the Red Bull cartoon campaign. I’ve since enjoyed working in marketing/advertising, with other clients that include Disney, FIFA, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, and more.
It was during this period that I also found one of my creative voices, as I had been commissioned for projects that tackle difficult topics, like an abusive spouse and the afterlife. A big turning point in my life was a miscarriage I had in 2014; I quickly realized that there was no resource available at the time that could help me get through one of the most traumatizing times of my life. So I decided to create my own; in 2017, I launched my comic, “Miscarried”, about my experience, which was shared by actress Mayim Bialik. It led to the development of my “UNSPOKEN” series of comics related to reproductive health. Last year I had a fellowship from the Jewish Writers’ Initiative Digital Storytellers Lab to help turn my comics into animated shorts, which won numerous awards, including JewCE: Jewish Comic Experience Artist of the Year.
I’m a firm believer that when difficult and “bad” things happen in life, you can turn them into something “good” by sharing with others. By turning my challenges in life into art, I’ve lightened the emotional burden and toll it takes on my body. When “Miscarried” was released, it reached people from all over the world who felt less alone by reading my experience. By sharing stories in a more iconic cartoon style, they become universal tales that others can relate to.
I love taking difficult subjects and turning them into simplistic, natural, and relatable stories. Within the stories, I try to find a balance of drama, pacing, and humor to maximize the emotional effectiveness of telling stories.
I’m so proud to highlight a range of topics for my “UNSPOKEN” work, from Down syndrome to the male perspective on miscarriage. The story I’m most honored to have shared is “DeTERMINATION”, the story of photographer Abby Sophia and her impossible decision to terminate one of her very much-wanted twin fetuses to save the other and herself. It’s a heartbreaking experience, and I’m in awe of Abby’s constant strength and resilience.
But it’s also important to remember that when life gets difficult, we need to laugh. I had a very lighthearted cartoon series during the pandemic, “Diary of a Corona Mama Gone Mad”, where I showcased my experiences as a mom of 3 stuck in a 2-bedroom apartment during the pandemic. I featured guest comics from other fans on a weekly basis, so we could all share some laughs together and spread some joy in a truly horrific time period. I’ve learned this from my grandfather, a Holocaust survivor of 6 concentration camps who spent his last 11 years suffering from Parkinson’s and his final year battling cancer. Life always threw him curveballs (more like curve grenades!), but he was always smiling and truly enjoying the good that life had to offer, from delicious food to grandkids.
More than anything, I hope that my work makes people feel less alone in a time when they could use a shoulder to lean on, or in my more lighthearted project, a good laugh on a tough day. I appreciate every opportunity to get emotional or get funny; we all have good days and bad, and getting to share stories and work on projects that allow me to flex both those muscles are huge blessings.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
It’s no secret that the creative field is one that is highly unpredictable and volatile. I was looking for full-time work after ten years of freelancing, ready for something steady and new. But what, I had no clue. I had a moment of breakdown, where I really was desperate to find a full-time job with benefits that would allow me to use my creativity. I prayed deeply for a sign that I should keep doing art, or if I should give up and pursue something more “steady”.
When I checked my email next, there was a message from a recruiter asking me if I’d like to interview for a job on the Red Bull cartoon campaign, my all-time favorite ads of all time. Of course, I said yes! I went for the interview and thought I’d nailed it… but then they went with the other candidate. I hadn’t considered advertising before that and it piqued my interest. So I signed up for classes on becoming an art director. I loved it every minute of learning about it!
But then I really got desperate for work. It was supposed to take 1.5 years to develop a proper portfolio, but as a mom of 2 whose husband had just lost his job, I was desperate. I prayed again for a sign that I was on the right path.
Two days later, a friend sent me a special Jewish prayer to be said that day to earn more income. An hour later, I got an email back from the Red Bull recruiter that they wanted me to come in temporarily for someone who would be gone temporarily on paternity leave. I clicked with the job instantly and was determined to make myself indispensable. After a month, I was offered a full-time position, where I worked until the pandemic.
I often think of this story in times when everything seems overwhelming and impossible. I fully believe in the power of manifestation, but you have to put the work in yourself to make your dreams come true. I find that during the times when I invest 100% in myself and my dreams, and you are fully invested in a cause, the universe will pick up the slack.
Thanks for asking this question. I actually needed this reminder myself, and I hope it helps others not give up when they are down, especially in the #1 most important item we all need: hope.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
In everything I do, I just sincerely hope to make the world a better place. I may not be able to donate millions to charity (…yet ;-D) but I can use the talents I’ve been given to use them in a way to put some positivity and empathy back into the world. If I can make someone feel good, whether it’s through empathy or a heartfelt laugh, then I feel like my talents are not given to me in vain. My main goal is to one day find the right collaborators to take my project to the next level; to produce a series for graphic novels, TV, or movies (both nonfiction and fictional) to be able to reach as broad of an audience as possible. In a world that is increasingly unstable and frightening, I plan to use my skills to help individuals who need a small escape, even if only for a little while. I firmly believe that true success only happens when we try to positively help others through kindness. We may not be able to control much in this world, but empathy and joy are both things that everyone can benefit from. Sticking to these goals helps motivate me to keep going even when times are tough, and I am excited about all aspects of my creative journey and how my experiences can help others on all levels.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.charipere.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charipereart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChariPereArt/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charipere/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/charipereart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnspokenCartoonmentary
Image Credits
Chari Pere