Meet Clarissa Corral

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clarissa Corral.

Clarissa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I feel like I grew in the golden age of cartoons when shows like Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, and Regular Show first aired on television. Being exposed to these shows as a child really inspired me. In my fourth grade class my teacher had us draw whatever we wanted on the front of our school folder, and so I drew Finn and Jake. The next day I got praised for how well I drew the two of them and I have been drawing ever since! I then began drawing on post it notes as I was inspired by the animators I saw on television and movies that we’re working on storyboards, and I wanted to be like them. I just graduated high school and am currently pursuing a career in the animation industry with the dream that I’ll be able to create stories that others can be inspired from just as I was growing up.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Academically, I have always struggled with Math. During my freshman and junior year I was forced to drop my advance art and class as it conflicted with my math tutoring lab. Although it was frustrating my extra efforts were worth it as I was able to succeed in math. Even though I did not get to complete the advanced art class until the following year I still worked on my drawing every chance I got, furthering myself as an artist. I am starting college this fall and am excited to focus on my future.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
In eighth grade, I loved writing little comic strips on post it notes that followed the story of a crazed parrot and an easy going seal and their adventures. I knew that one day I really wanted to make a comic series and to write and illustrate a children’s book. As a child, my favorite children’s book series were Mo Willem’s Elephant and Piggie and Jim Benton’s Franny K. Stein. I currently still read comic books and other illustrated mediums. I knew if I wrote a comic or a children’s book this would hone my storytelling abilities for the animation industry. For my High School senior project I created a children book called The Queen, the Well, and the Pickle Jar. I also created Hugmo, a webcomic series on Webtoons.

The Queen, The Well, and The Pickle Jar follows the story of Nico who is struggling to open a jar filled with her favorite food; pickles. During her struggles she meets a Little Queen who is trying to get home. This book teaches kids that it’s okay to ask for help and that to be independent doesn’t mean you have to be alone. On Gumroad.com there is a page where people can purchase a digital copy of the book.

Hugmo is a little more cynical as it follows the story of a young seal named Hugmo and his daily life confined in his house with his erratic seal Mom and depressed seal Dad, I created this webseries with the hopes that I would hone my storytelling abilities by telling a complex story in a short five panel style.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My main goal is to land a spot in the animation industry as either a visual development or storyboard artist. There are some freelance projects I’m currently working on, including my comic book, Love is Fish Eyed, a series of zines illustrations I want to sell at conventions, designing a board game with some friends, and a couple of television show pitches. I am keeping busy with a few secret projects which you’ll have to wait to see what they are!

Pricing:

• The Queen, The Well, and the Pickle Jar – $15 on Gumroad.com
• Hugmo – Free to read on Webtoons

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/orange_eraser
• Email: clarissacorral@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orange_eraser/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/orange_eraser
• Other: https://gumroad.com/orange_eraser#IUGeE

Image Credit:
Clarissa Corral

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.