We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful JOSHUA SMALL. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with JOSHUA below.
JOSHUA, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I feel like I lead with meaningful In mind with my art and stories. But, I will say the most meaningful presently would have to be what I’m currently writing now.
“Seasons of June” It’s a Black Queer coming of age story, centered around these two childhood friends in their twenties and how they grow to be important in each other’s lives and continue to be into adulthood.
I plan on tackling mental health, relationships in all its forms, inner self battles, finding hope, healing and changing through love.
It’s honest, it’s relatable, it’s funny and vulnerable and most importantly It’s the most ME I’ve put into any story I’ve created and I think what it has to offer is something a lot of people have been waiting for and needing. I’m excited to share it with the world — especially with Black Queer individuals.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’ve been active and online for such a long time! Started posting my art online in 2011 on deviant art and found my way to instagram and twitter sharing myself, my characters, and various fanarts or takes on iconic characters which tend to catch attention — good and bad
But to those who don’t know me I’m a comic artist, illustrator, writer, and designer! I have my hands on so many creative avenues– Been like that for as long as I can remember. As a kid you could always find me creating SOMETHING. Growing up watching shows like Charmed, That’s So Raven, and The Legend of Korra I’ve accumulated a soft spot for the supernatural, drama, murder mystery, coming of age stories and ones centered around families.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Oh man, I feel like all life is; is pivoting— especially being creative. You have to continually be open to something new or different to problem solve or even allow your own work to speak to you in helping craft its final form or else you can end up remaining stuck!! and frustrated and nobody wants that!
“Seasons of June” was a pivot! I initially wanted it to be a comic of some sort but something never sat right with me fully on that idea and when I finally decided to sit down and get to the work I was led to do something old and new to me! And found expressing through a novel more fitting and it’s been very fun to tap back into that part of myself! developing my own writing style and learning how to be creative in a different way and I really look forward to seeing where this leads me.
I’m a firm believer in art being alive and if you allow it to have a voice, you’ll end up with something far more amazing than what you intended.
Stay open to the unexpected! And that’s just good advice to have for life truthfully!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
And I cherish that sentiment and hold it dearly. We’re worthy of being in the spotlight for all types of roles, tropes, and genres and even breaking those ideas as well. We’re not just side characters for support. We’re not stereotypes to fill quotas or diversity points. We come with MANY different stories to be told and those stories shouldn’t be put into a box or left in the hands of others. Which is really where diversey lies in our stories and that is what drives my work and I fully intend on continuing on with that in mind moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thatkodo.carrd.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.kodo
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatkodo