We were lucky to catch up with PJ Portera recently and have shared our conversation below.

PJ, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

Growing up, I always looked to cartoons and animation as a means of escape. The chaos of my childhood was something that I couldn’t control, but when I turned on the TV immersed myself in other worlds full of magic, heroes, and characters that helped me evade my reality. I have always had an active imagination because of this , and rather than focusing on what is in front of me, I always think about what could be or what I could create.

It makes me think of how my adolescence might have been easier had some of the media I was consuming had characters that represented the emotions I struggled with as a child, and featured characters that I could have seen myself in. For most LGBTQ+ youth, growing up has its fair share of bullying, self-loathing, and confusion, and I was no stranger to all three. I hope that with my art, I can contribute to helping erase those negative experiences and feelings faced by kids who are like I was, and help their confusion fade into irrelevance.

With all that said, I want my legacy to be that I was a part of a new generation of incredible artists, writers, and storytellers attempting to make the world easier for more diverse groups of people. The animation industry has made huge steps in recent years, with shows like “Steven Universe” and films like “Strange World”, and I want to be there at the forefront of bringing about that change and help bring acceptance into a world that is constantly trying to fight it. Just within the last year there has been ample anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda and hatred running rampant throughout the United States, and at times it can feel helpless and terrifying. At the bare minimum I hope that my legacy will be creating artwork where members of my community can feel safe, seen, and supported.

PJ, 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?

My name is PJ Portera, and I am a Visual Development Artist currently residing in New Jersey, just outside New York City. In 2021 I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with my MFA in Animation, with a focus on visual and story development. I mainly create concept illustrations, storyboards, and character designs, but I enjoy 3D modeling as well when applicable.

In 2017 I participated in the Disney College Program in Orlando with hopes of eventually working my way up into a more substantial role at the company. After nine months of working there, however, I realized I wouldn’t be able to get to where I wanted professionally if I continued working in the park. I wanted to create the stories that millions of people showed up to celebrate every year, not the one selling merchandise of them. So I left in early 2018 and set out to get my MFA in animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design later that Fall and graduated in 2021. I’ve not looked back since.

I think what can set me apart is the diversity from where I draw my visual inspiration and that I am always trying to evolve as an artist. Some of my biggest influences are artists like Mary Blair and Eyvind Earle, and Disney Animation legends who use a distinctive color-blocked/geometric rendering style. But, at the same time, I am a child of the late 90s and 2000’s so a lot of Cartoons like “Spongebob Squarepants” and “The Powerpuff Girls”, and anime like “Sailor Moon” and “Pokemon” influence my style. I think this has helped me professionally in that I to adapt to different styles quicker and am always willing to learn new techniques and practices, though, in my personal work, I tend to lean towards bright colors and bold shapes.

I’m proud of a lot within my work, but I’m mainly proud of how much growth I see within myself artistically. I aspired to reach a certain skill level for a long time and I was able to reach it. What felt unrealistic or unobtainable years ago is now doable, and I can allow myself to learn even more. I’m excited to see where I am a year from now or even ten years from now.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is one of the best tools that modern artists can use to get their work noticed. In 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was still working towards my Master’s Degree, and I started to draw fan art of Drag Queens in my free time and post it on Instagram. Since then I’ve been able to cultivate an audience of fellow artists and friends who share similar interests and it has helped promote my work greatly. Social media can also be a great tool to use for networking and meeting others in your industry which can lead to potential work. Social media sites are always changing though, so it’s important to keep up with trends/ know how each update is going to influence the sites algorithm.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Right after I graduated with my MFA I was struggling to find work in a field that is ever-changing, highly competitive, and overflowing with talent. The best piece of advice that has impacted me came from a former Technical Director at Dreamworks. He said to me that “this (animation) is an industry that relies on people giving up, so don’t.” It was harsh, but the truth, and I’m so grateful for it. It can be easy to feel like you’re not moving as quickly as you think you should be, and it is really easy to compare yourself to those around you. People end up giving up because it’s too hard, there are too many “better” artists out there, etc. The key for me has been not comparing myself to others around me, and rather than getting envious when I see someone that I perceive as “better than me” I look at what I can learn from their work and try to implement it in my own. Artists are their own worst enemies, but you need to remember that there is a place for everyone if you work hard enough and give yourself the time you need to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pjportera.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintingwithpj/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pj-portera-4437b7199/

Image Credits
All images by PJ Portera, 2021-2023