Curious About Weird

Emily Isamej revels in spooky beauty

Wolf Criers Club
Vol 10

Wolf Criers Club is a collective endeavor of illustrators, writers, designers, and wolves who range across North America, Europe, and India. Last year we all took the same course called Children’s Book Pro from The School of Visual Storytelling.

Wolf Criers Club was our homeroom and we have been hanging together ever since. In the upcoming months we will be hosting live workshops and events. There may even be a downloadable group-created coloring book for some late-summer fun.

Thanks for joining us on this path of discovery.

Today we are featuring the work and words of Wolf Crier Emily Isamej.

Emily likes to look under rocks and draw what’s crawling around. And then she finds some kind of creepy key under the spider’s nest and it opens a door to a half-shadow world. It’s ok because Emily is right there with you, but yeah, it’s a little creepy. That’s what opening one of this woman’s books is like: thrilling and somewhat heart-pounding.

Here’s little bit about Emily Isamej

Emily grew up in a small town on the northeastern coast of Venezuela and now calls Lisbon home. She is an illustrator and graphic designer with a passion for storytelling, which has led her to venture into writing as well. Through her work, a clear picture of Emily's interests are evident, she has a profound desire to connect with others on a deeper level and thrives creatively when exploring complex and profound emotions. As an illustrator, her journey into the world of comics is starting, focusing on psychologically challenging narratives and suspense.

Currently, Emily is writing and illustrating a graphic novel about depression, a subject matter close to her heart and based on her own struggles with mental health. Alongside this project, she is working on a book about grief and loss, intended for both children and adults.

Emily is a night owl by nature and enjoys the quiet of the night. She also enjoys solitude, maybe too much. She loves films and books, particularly thrillers and dystopian narratives. She has set herself the ambitious goal of reading all of Stephen King’s works, recently completing her eighth book. For those seeking recommendations, Emily holds "PetSematary" and "The Outsider" among her favorites from the King of Horror. She is very excited for you to join her artistic journey as a member of The Wolf Criers.

You can see her work at: https://www.instagram.com/isamej.art/www.isamej.com

Until the next howl!

5 Questions for Emily

• Where are you from originally and where are you located now?

I was born and raised in Cumaná, a very small town on the northeastern coast of Venezuela. During my twenties, I moved to Colombia, Germany and subsequently to the sunny city of Lisbon, where I live now together with my husband.

• How did you get your name?

Emily comes from Emilia, which is my mother's middle name and Isamej, is my middle name which is a combination formed with the initials of my two older sisters, my father, and my mother. I go online by Isamej, which I’ve chosen as my artistic name.

• Who was an important influence, teacher, or mentor?

When reflecting on my earliest influences, I’d say both of my parents come to mind. They are very crafty and resourceful—whether it’s painting, decorating, or building, I grew up watching them do almost anything. Especially my mother, who is incredibly creative and talented with her hands. Although I explored art on my own, I attribute my creative drive to them. They have always supported me and provided me with the tools and encouragement I needed from an early age to continue exploring art.

I'm not sure if I had a specific 'influence' that triggered my interest in art. Looking back, I can't pinpoint a single catalyst that sparked my passion for it. It wasn't like I saw someone's work and thought, 'I want to be an artist.' For me, art has always been about self-expression. I've always been a very emotional and deeply introspective person, I used to spend a lot of time in my head trying to understand my feelings, art helped me make sense of the world around me. From a young age, I expressed myself in various artistic ways: writing poetry, composing music, dancing, playing instruments, photography, and, of course, I spent a lot of time drawing and painting mostly.

Growing up, I didn't have a predetermined path or a conscious decision to pursue art as a career. It felt like a natural part of who I was and I had other interests. Initially, I wanted to study medicine, but after failing the extensive exam, I began to consider art and explore its possibilities. One day, while discussing career options with my father, he signed me up for an art program at a university on Margarita Island, Venezuela. So off I went to discover my true passion.There are certain memories that have significantly inspired my creative journey. While they may not have come to the surface early on in my career, I now see how those influences have gradually revealed themselves in my work. Their impact has become more apparent as I've grown as an artist. In many ways, it feels as though my art is reflecting a synthesis of all the diverse influences that have shaped me along the way. Among them was when I received my first 'Pascualina' journal and discovered the work of Paulina Mönckeberg. 

Pascualina wasn't just an ordinary diary; it was a beautifully illustrated one and it was a comic as well, chronicling the adventures of a little witch. With each new edition, Pascualina grew a year older, which added to its significance for me. The unique and quirky illustrations, filled with weird-looking perspectives and delightful details, brought the story to life on every page. The art left a lasting impression on me and continues to influence my work. Sadly, the new agendas pale in comparison to the old ones. As Pascualina has grown, the design has evolved into something more… minimalist, losing the charm that once captivated me. Nevertheless, it remains a fond memory and forever an inspiration.

Another significant memory is from when I was 13. Picture me, fully immersed in my alternative and punk teenage phase. My friends often joked about my strange clothing choices but I was not bothered by it. I vividly recall stumbling upon a gothic brand whose merchandise was inspired by a series of comic books. I instantly became obsessed with the style and the character, which was a rebellious 13-year-old girl that loved all things strange. That day, I went home proudly wearing a red shirt with the brand name, which was none other than: “Emily The Strange”'. I also had an entire punk outfit that I wore for Christmas. I still follow the art of Emily to this day, and I still love it.

While I didn't consume many books in my earlier years, I read a few memorable ones that remain an influence. One of my first chapter books was 'GhostGirl' by Tonya Hurley. It tells the story of Charlotte Usher, a girl who dreams of becoming popular but dies in high school after choking on a gummy bear, becoming a ghost. I know that it sounds awful, but it's actually a funny book with a happy ending, believe it or not. The chapter illustrations were lovely, featuring silhouettes with humorous captions. The illustrator of this book series is the talented Craig Phillips.

I guess you're getting the gist with me… I have a curiosity for weird and spooky things.

Growing up, I was immersed in a wide variety of cartoons, starting with Walt Disney’s and Warner Bros black and white classics. Whenever my dad bought the local newspaper, I’d eagerly wait for him to finish so that I could flip to the back pages and read the comic strips of Popeye The Sailor, Snoopy, Garfield, and others. Anime played a big role in my life as well; watching Studio Ghibli movies changed me forever together with other manga series. When I started drawing, I began with manga... Didn’t we all?

Additionally, I used to play a lot of video games, and stop-motion animated movies were my favorite due to their unique and weird aesthetic. Sometimes, when drawing, I get random inspirations from all of these sources—a character design, a shape, a perspective, or something memorable. Good times.

As I grew up and throughout my college years, I found inspiration in the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francis Bacon, Edvard Munch and Alphonse Mucha. In addition to these influences, nowadays there are several modern artists who inspire and help me form my creative vision, among them: Cici Suen, Júlia Sardà, and Rebecca Green.

When it comes to teachers and mentors, I had an exceptional drawing teacher during my college years who taught me realism and anatomy. However, in terms of illustration specifically, I would credit Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry from the School of Visual Storytelling as my most influential mentors in the realm of illustration.

• When did you start taking your art seriously?

I’d say only 2-3 years ago that I began to take my art seriously. I studied both arts and graphic design, and while it was beneficial to gain insights from both fields simultaneously, it often felt like I did not master either one completely. Frequently switching between these two practices made it difficult for me to transition fully into illustration. Upon emigrating from my homeland, I found myself preoccupied with other matters as well. I had to work in other fields, learn new languages, and adapt to different cultures. Although I never stopped painting or drawing, my artistic career took a back seat for some years.

In 2020, I started to explore illustration from an angle that allowed me to tell stories. Coming from a more traditional background, this transition was challenging as I had no prior knowledge of narrative or sequential art, even less a “style”. But, I’ve always been self-taught and simply began creating short stories and sharing them on my Instagram. It felt very authentic to me, and many people supported this type of storytelling. However, it took me time to understand what these stories were and where I fit in the art industry. During these years, I experimented a lot with illustration, often feeling directionless, and my art reflected that. It wasn't until I exposed myself to critiques that I received the best feedback and guidance for my art.

I remember a moment when I felt very devastated; I had worked very hard to create a children's book portfolio that didn't attract attention at one of my first book fairs. On the last day of the fair, I went for one last portfolio review and, for some reason, decided to show the agent these stories I had created when I was depressed. He looked at me and simply said, 'Why are you not in the comic hall?' I thought, 'Comics? I don't know anything about comics.' Then he said: 'That’s where you should be showing your work. If you feel that you have a voice as an artist, use it. Explore these stories further and create more. If I see this, I can see you. These other things you are doing feel like you are imitating.' And he was right.

In retrospect, I realize I know quite a bit about comics; they’ve been part of my life all along. It seems almost serendipitous—the moment when everything fell into place. I have always harbored a deep-seated desire to tell stories. It’s been a transformative journey, and looking back on my life, most of my influences align with this. Perhaps I’ve finally found my calling in the world of comics and graphic novels. 

• What is grabbing your attention this year?

Comics, storytelling, self-publishing.

This year, most of my focus is on my graphic novel ‘My Monsters and I’. It's a project very close to my heart, addressing themes of depression for young adults. I'm pitching the comic to publishers while also exploring self-publishing options. The novel is intended to be bilingual, in both English and Spanish, and I hope it helps others feel less alone in their mental health journeys.

Artistically, it's the most challenging work I've undertaken. I want it to be visually compelling, incorporating various resources and techniques I've learned. You can read the opening of my novel here: https://www.isamej.com/my-monsters-and-i

I'm also working on a children's book about grief, where the art style is quite different. I've always found it difficult to settle on a single style. Lately, I've decided to not worry too much about that and just create what feels right. I hope this approach will have a positive outcome. Alongside this, I'm still engaging with other creative pursuits, hopefully more traditional things such as painting, which continues to inspire and challenge me in different ways.

There is this inner world with which I struggle a lot, and it often feels lonely and misunderstood. I have thoughts that are consuming. I want to create stories where my wounds can find a home, so that they stop hurting.

I hope you stay tuned for what’s to come and thank you very much for reading.

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The wolf-wearing-glasses logo is by Wolf Crier Michael Luk. 

This week’s editor is Kato McNickle.