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

Hi Priesha, what are you inspired by?
Emotions connect us. They’re a part of what makes the human experience so unique, and for me, inspiration comes from discovering the stories that these emotions tell. Traveling, being in nature, reading books, and even observing people’s daily lives are a few things that foster my creativity – they give me a sense of emotional connection and presence in the moment. The hope that my art can someday be able to capture these stories, and that people can empathize with the characters I draw, is what inspires me to continue my artistic journey and share my work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I fell in love with art at a young age when I came across Mark Crilley’s how-to-draw book, Mastering Manga. I instantly connected with the expressive and stylized way manga artists approach character designs, which has influenced much of my artistic development. I recently started sharing my art on Instagram with no prior experience in social media content creation. It took a lot of trial and error to learn how to manage my account successfully, and I’m always learning new strategies! Like many artists, I’ve had my fair share of frustrations with social media, but connecting with other artists online has also been so inspirational, and I’m proud of how I’ve grown since I started! I hope that people will someday be inspired by my journey and connect with my art.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Triangle area has lots of interesting spots to visit! I would definitely take a friend to downtown Cary, which has an amazing park and library. Afterwards, we’d walk to Di Fara’s for a pizza dinner, complete with dessert from Geluna Gelato next door. NC Museum of Art also offers a wide variety of activities – from galleries and craft fairs to hiking and even outdoor movie nights! Umstead Park and the American Tobacco trail are also great hiking spots, and Lime and Lemon Indian Grill and Neomonde Mediterranean are awesome restaurants to grab food after.

As an avid reader, I love visiting local bookstores! Some of my favorites are Wanderlust Books, Reader’s Corner, Golden Fig Books, and Mr. Mike’s Used Books. And of course, nothing complements a book better than coffee and a sweet treat – Two Roosters Ice Cream, Milo’s Cafe, Moge Tee, and Jubala Coffee are some of my favorite spots!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I never would have been able to take these steps in my art journey without the support of my absolutely incredible friends and family. I want to dedicate this shoutout to my parents, who encouraged me to follow my heart and put myself out there. Thanks for always reminding me that the most important thing is to be happy and do what I love.

Special shoutout to my sister, lifelong drawing buddy, and my aunt, my first customer!

Website: https://pridesigns248.wixsite.com/portfolio

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PriDesignsArt

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