We recently connected with Paula Jordan-Mayo and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Paula, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I would say for the most part I am happy being an artist. I’ve always been an artist since I was about four years ago and this is the career I always wanted to pursue. I don’t particularly like how the second question is phrased with the wording “regular job”. I believe being an artist IS a regular job and it should be respected as such. But I digress. Sometimes, I wonder what my life would be if I was anything other than an artist, but the thought is always fleeting because it’s hard to imagine a life without my drawing ability. I’m not good at math and I get squeamish when it comes to blood so I can’t be a doctor.

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?

My name is Paula Jordan-Mayo (not married–born with that last name), also known as neapaulatan, and I’m an illustrator based in North Carolina. I was born and raised in the small city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. I graduated with a BFA in Illustration from East Carolina University, and aspire to become a comic book artist and writer. My art career began when she was a toddler, and I’m hardly seen without a sketchbook or iPad nearby or doodling on notebook paper. I consider herself to be agile between both digital and traditional mediums, usually starting with traditional means before finishing them digitally. In my free time, I sketch and write my ideas for my story that I’ll one day have published.

For my business, I provide illustrations and logo designs for clients. What sets me apart from other illustrators is that I work in multiple different mediums such as Photoshop, Procreate for the iPad, and Illustrator. I stay in contact with the client and send them updates and ideas as many times as needed.

I’m most proud of my illustrations of Female Yokais that I did in college and the functional map for Greenville’s PirateFest in 2022. Those illustrations are strong and demonstrate my talent well.

I just want clients and fans to know about my style of illustrations and my future graphic novels to come.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I would have learned all about comic book making back in my undergrad years or earlier. I didn’t have any real comic book experience and was basically winging it before I hit grad school. I also wish I learned about color theory, light sources and shadows, and perspective earlier too. Learning them in grad school, I feel like I’m behind than most illustrators.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think society should continuing supporting artists by sharing their art (with credit of course) and buying art from artists. This shows the artists that they are seen.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.neapaulatan.art
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/neapaulatan
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/neapaulatan
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/neapaulatan

Image Credits
1. Dodomeki 2. Jorogumo 3. Merlot 4. Aun’ Peggy 5. InuYasha Mandala 6. Little Red Riding Hood Hiding from the Wolf 7. Food from the HeART 8. A Superhero Family