Meet Brianna Flores | Illustrator, Writer, Filmmaker, Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brianna Flores and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brianna, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was encouraged to embrace my creativity since I was a kid. Creating has always made me happy, and my family was instrumental in that. Everywhere I went I had a pencil and paper in my hand, always drawing, singing, or dreaming up a fantastical story with superpowers or magic. I think it’s important to follow what inspires you and surround yourself with people who will help you grow. In my childhood my mom and grandparents helped me build solid foundations in music, illustration, acting, and filmmaking. Playing music together and making works of art with them built up my confidence and drive. But then came the real world. I learned the hard way that artistic careers don’t exactly have an easy path to follow. You certainly can’t just “go out and get a job”. The art world is competitive, and if you do want an entry level position you have to know exactly what you want. I’ve been interested in so much for so long that I have focused on each skill in waves, and have slowly been leveling up each one. There is no end to growth, and as my grandfather used to say, “I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Character art and comics are my go-to. I love bringing fictional subjects to life. I both play in and run campaigns of Dungeons & Dragons, so most of my time is spent designing fantasy characters. I’ve always been engaged in comics, so my background in filmmaking allows me to apply effective visual storytelling to my drawings and replicate the styles I love while adding my own twist. I’m a huge fan of vibrant colors and classic anime and cartoons of the 90s and early 2000s, and you can absolutely see it in my work. While many artists these days tend toward a particular palette (many I find to be washed out), I deeply value life’s vibrancy and incorporate the entire spectrum. I see all art as a way to encourage our imaginations. Adding excitement to the world through a crystalline beach scene, a haunted crypt, or a misty mountain forest is an incredibly satisfying way to do that. I was honored to be selected as the illustrator for an autism awareness graphic novel, written by Susan Butler and Dr. Barbara Glaeser, titled “The Talker”. The character consistency and continuity of the book was one of the greatest steps I’ve taken in my artistic career, and I was even further amazed when we received the honor of presenting it at Comic Con in 2019. It was an incredible experience for which I’m deeply grateful. Since then I’ve gone on to start up my own Patreon page, take commissions, and market myself as an independent illustrator.

I’m always on the lookout for my next collaboration while working on my own numerous side projects, including a fantasy comic about a half-elf learning to control her new-found lightning powers (“Aravis”), and a Star Wars parody comic I co-create with Leon Bird-Conliff (“Darth & Palpy”).

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Los Angeles is my home base, so I haven’t spent much time in Atlanta, but I did grab coffee at an awesome little hidden shop called Moonbird Coffee. I was driving down to Disney World from Ohio one chilly November morning with my grandmother, and we met up with my good friend Matt Metzger (“The Campaign”). I have to say, their coffee and industrial turn-of-the-century decorating– it’s a vibe. Having recently played Red Dead Redemption 2, I felt like I stepped into a dapper establishment in the upper floors of Saint Denis.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
In 2007 I became fast friends with an overconfident actor “smoking” a pencil with his feet kicked up on the table of a library. He turned out to be an incredible writer who has cultivated his own art alongside me for 14 years. The drive he has to succeed and grow, and his dedication to his craft is infectious. He inspires me to take risks and let my imagination take form through my illustrations and storytelling. The wit, patience and constructive criticism he wields make him an overwhelming force of genius. I wouldn’t have half the motivation I do today if I hadn’t met the brilliant Leon Bird-Conliff.

Website: https://www.briannafloresart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannarflores/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briannafloresart

Other: Patreon: www.patreon.com/briannaflores Darth & Palpy: https://www.facebook.com/darthandpalpy