Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Juliana DiChiara. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Juliana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I’ve been a creative person since I was young; one of my earliest creative memories was drawing a lot of paper dolls, stuffed with tissues and sealed with tape. Despite my mom eventually hiding the tape from me, I was always encouraged to draw, paint and explore stories through books and video games. In high school I was introduced to a video game called “League of Legends” by Riot Games, which featured alternate character illustrations that players could select that best represented them. It was the first time I witnessed people interested in art simply for art’s sake and from that moment on everything I did was in pursuit of becoming a Riot illustrator.
Surprise, I am not a Riot illustrator. However, that determination propelled me toward my creative path and continues to motivate me toward my creative dreams.
Juliana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born and raised in Long Island, New York where I would spend the days exploring the forest with my childhood cat, going to beaches and catching worms to fish with at the creek down the block. Though I had New York City, the epicenter of creativity, only one hour away from me, I went to Farmingdale State College for my undergraduate degree when my art teachers advised me that “illustration was not a stable career.” Instead, I studied graphic design which allowed me to become a creative multi-tool and began working as a designer/photographer before I had even graduated. During my time at Farmingdale, my professors would tell me my illustration skills would give me an advantage in the design world, which was encouraging, and they taught me how to be an all around creative problem solver.
Since then I have spent the past ten years working as a graphic designer, while in my free time voraciously honing my illustration skills. Thanks to professionally retouching photos and working on various print and digital design projects, I became a Photoshop wizard. Digital illustration became more accessible for me to practice while juggling a full time job. I used that avenue to study and improve my rendering skills, cinematic compositions and storytelling. I always gravitated towards fantasy illustration and found trying to make something so unbelievable appear realistic was a challenge that exhilarated me. Every fantasy illustration uses the practical half of my brain which constantly asks “who is this for, what is the goal, what problem does this solve?” and the imaginative half of my brain that is always seeking to experience amazing and empowering moments that real life doesn’t always offer.
I wouldn’t come to understand these two halves of myself until I pursued my MFA at the Fashion Institute of Technology. With the ultimate goal of teaching in mind, I decided to study illustration as a way to “pay myself back” for not following my heart the first time. Ironically, my professors told me that my graphic design experience would give me an advantage in my illustration goals. As my creative life seemed to come full circle, I was able to accept that my design path wasn’t a lost cause and allowed me to explore my time at FIT to the fullest. Pursuing my MFA was the best decision I’ve made; it gave me the space to connect the two and meet myself for the first time.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
There is absolutely a goal driving my creative journey, though it has evolved over time. In the beginning, my sole goal was very narrow: I wanted to illustrate for Riot Games. It gave me direction but looking back I realize it limited my view on what was possible in the field of fantasy illustration. Though I will never give up on that dream, I have shifted my focus to the kind of work that I am passionate about. The act of translating wild, imaginative moments into tangible, believable images is the core force that drives me. It makes me want to sit down for hours and build entire universes, get lost in details until something clicks and it feels like it could exist somewhere real. My journey isn’t about reaching one destination anymore, but exploring all avenues that allow me to make that kind of art, whether its games, publishing, or TTRPGs.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I think it’s important for people to recognize that while art is often viewed as a luxury it’s also something we deeply rely on. So much so that we tend to take it for granted. Imagine walking into a store where every product is plain, in unmarked packaging, with no decorative shapes, logos, or patterns; would you know which product to choose? Would you feel any connection to the items? Even the most practical, commercial aspects of our lives are shaped by creativity. Creatives are the hands behind the stories and visuals that help people feel seen, understood and emotionally connected to the world. Even outside of the practical applications: fine art, music, or even games are things that enrich our daily lives and yet can be easy to overlook.
To support this ecosystem it’s important to value this work and the time that goes into it. It means paying artists fairly, making education accessible and investing in public arts. Supporting creativity means supporting the aspects that give us meaning, allows us to communicate and be a more thoughtful, connected society.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jichia.com
- Instagram: @jiichia
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianadichiara/
