Los Dos Mujeres de las Islas

I am proud to say that there are two comic properties that star Puerto Rican's that are making noise. One is La Borinquena and the other is my series, "A Reason to Smile!" I've been able to cultivate a decent little following due to my series starring this little Puerto Rican girl named Luiza Brillante, but I aspire to have her be as culturally relevant as Marisol Rios de la Luz.

Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez created her as a comic representation for the Puerto Rican Parade and as a comic book character named La Borinquena. She has the powers to help people due to her connection to Atabey, the creation mother of Boriken, Puerto Rico's original name, and goes back and forth to from PR to NYC to help people on both island. Sadly, I do not have as close of a connection to Puerto Rico, but my roots there have inspired my character, my series and being that I am from NYC, I aspire to make her relevant to this island's inhabitants. Through the stories I tell here, I hope to one day create stories where Luiza tries to see why Puerto Rico is important to her, in more than name. 

I've created this image to show solidarity with my Boriqua brother and his creation, and show others that we can all coexist in the same market. I decided that since both ladies have connections to Manhattan and Puerto Rico, joining them in a setting that shows both, showcasing my new animated cell style as well,  would be a great way to show some love and spread the word about both of our creations. The more people see us doing the same things they do in their daily lives, the more they may come to understand us and see us as they see themselves.

If you'd like to order any of my books, you may email me at thelearningcurv@gmail.com, go to www.etsy.com/shop/thelearningcurv or click here, and https://www.la-borinquena.com/#Store, or click here to buy La Borinquena!

2016

2016 found me making more art of my main character from my graphic novel series, 

"A Reason to Smile!" 

and finishing the second volume of the series. Inspiration hit and I created a supporting cast for her and more art that would inform the future of the series. From there, I was able to make more art that would be appealing to my fan base as well as to myself. I was so proud to create a funky little sketch that starred the cast of "Gravity Falls" and to be able to draw Naruto and his supporting cast as well. Those characters are so important to the main character, because without them, the main character wouldn't be as interesting. 

I was commissioned to do my first wedding related artwork and was able to incorporate my style from my books, and marry it with my experience as a portraiture artist. The website it was on looked really great and the customer was more than happy with the final result and I've found that with likenesses, you can have the most margin for error. I was proud to finish that piece. 

If you would like a copy of "A Reason to Smile!", you can find it at Amazon, or receive a signed copy from me! Just shoot me an email at thelearningcurv@gmail.com and we'll make that happen! So without further ado, here is the rest of the art I did from 2016! 

Archie and the Gang Meets Luiza's Crew

I was given the opportunity at Baltimore Comic Con to be a part of their Year Book which this year focused on Archie and the properties associated with it. I was able to include my characters in the mix as well and thought it'd be perfect to document a passing of the torch of sorts of the High School kids to the Elementary School kids.  What better way to have them in the same scene than to have them going to a concert to see Josey and the Pussy Cats?!

I hope you enjoy=]

Remember, "A Reason to Smile!" volume two is available at Comixology and Amazon, check the links below to get your copy today! You can also email me at thelearningcurv@gmail.com to get a signed copy as well!

Comixology ($5 digital copies):

A Reason to Smile vol.1

https://www.comixology.com/A-Reason-to-Smile-Vol-1/digital-comic/260674

A Reason to Smile vol.2

https://www.comixology.com/A-Reason-to-Smile-Vol-2/digital-comic/465971

Amazon ($20 Hardcover copies)

A Reason to Smile vol.1

https://www.amazon.com/Reason-Smile-Javier-Cruz-Winnik/dp/0990818209

A Reason to Smile vol.2

https://www.amazon.com/Reason-Smile-Javier-Cruz-Winnik/dp/099081825X/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493847702&sr=1-1&keywords=a+reason+to+smile+vol.2

Chupacabra

Presents:

Luiza Vs. the Chupacabra!

"Luiza Brillante loves to help people using her creativity and imagination.

Sometimes, her imagination gets away from her and she finds herself 

immersed in a new adventure or an tunexpected conundrum! Hearing 

stories about Puerto Rico and the Chupacabra caused Luiza to daydream

about hunting the monster that instills fear in human and animal alike! 

Though a machete might not be enough, Luiza never shys away from 

a challenge!"

This illustration was inspired by my graphic novel series "A Reason to Smile!" in which a little Puerto Rican girl from New York City always tries to find the bright side of life. I am bringing the series to Emerald City Comic Con and though this image did not get published in their Monsters and Dames book, I am proud to have made a illustration that I believe was good enough to be within it. 

Chupacabra's were first made aware to me in 1996 when I visited San Sebastian, Puerto Rico to meet mi Abuelo's hermano. The people in the neighborhood began speaking to me about how many locals were fearful of being outside at night because of this creature they were calling the Chupacabra, the goat sucker. It was said that many of the farmers were finding their livestock bled dry while having what appeared to be two puncture wounds on their necks. I always found the story to be an interesting piece of modern folklore but within the next year, I began to hear similar stories from other countries in South American and the Caribbean. We now have a modern day Bigfoot or Lockness Monster!

It was this story that inspired me to create an illustration where Luiza saves the day and stops the dreaded monster of La Isla Borinquen from further harming the animals of the island. Monsters and Dames obviously focuses on women and monsters, but Luiza will eventually be a woman, 

so... why not?

If you'd like to check out the slice of life story of Luiza Brillante, check out these links:

Volume 1: http://www.thecurv.com/2014/12/a-reason-to-smile-previews-and-orders.html

Volume 2: http://www.thecurv.com/2016/10/a-reason-to-smile-volume-2-is-here.html

and if you'd like your very own copy, email me at 

thelearningcurv@gmail.com 

and we'll get you your very own signed copy!

"A Reason to Smile!" Volume 2 is here!

Front and Back Cover of "A Reason to Smile!" Volume 2

"A Reason to Smile!" Vol.2 is a continuation of the journey of Luiza Brillante as she tries to enjoy the place of her birth, New York City! In Volume 1, Luiza helped other people through their adversities, but Volume 2 shows what happens when Luiza has to deal with her own adversities. 

Luiza is a walking silver lining, always searching for the bright side out of every encounter she finds herself in. The weekend is here so she already has a reason to smile, but now she gets to go downtown to hang out with her friends who live in her fathers old neighborhood. There's only one problem, she has to get there first! Check out the preview and email me at thelearningcurv@gmail.com to have your own copy sent to you or your loved ones!

Head to http://www.thecurv.com/2014/12/a-reason-to-smile-previews-and-orders.html for a preview of Volume 1!

Hustle Flow!

"A Reason to Smile!" Vol.2 has successfully been funded as of May 22nd and I couldn't be more excited. I have now also visited 3 schools and have 2 more in the next 2 weeks where I will be a part of career days and book reading's to elementary children. I am on the path I believe I am suppose to be on and it is such an elating feeling! The first 500 copies that I had printed of the book from the kickstarter campaign are sold out, the second small run of 125 have sold out as well, with at least 50 going to schools. I cant wait to get started on drawing book 2 and you can expect to have it in your hands in October!

If you're not following me on Instagram, you can find me at http://www.instagram.com/thelearningcurv which I update much more frequently. I have a LOT of artwork to share with you... but I'll just leave this here for now=]

2015

I am very happy to share these illustrations with you. I have started off 2015 drawing my very own character as apposed to those from mainstream media and I am so proud to share them with you. The last entry for 2014 showed a preview of "A Reason to Smile!" and 2015 starts off with more adventures for Luiza Brillante! If you'd like to see these images during their development, head to instagram.com/thelearningcurv and follow me there!

I hope you enjoy what you see today. If you'd like copies of these prints ($20 for 1, $30 for the two), or a copy of "A Reason to Smile!"($20) you can use paypal.com to send your payment to thelearningcurv@gmail,com and I'll ship you your copies ASAP! Please be sure to add $6 for your copy of the book to pay for shipping and handling.

2014

I am extremely thankful for Kickstarter. If not for that site, I would not have been able to publish my book, "A Reason to Smile!" I was able to do 44 pages for this book as well as write it and it was a resounding success on the site.  At this point I am 99% finished distributing the rewards to my backers (I'm still waiting on some merchandise and addresses from recipients) and I am sold out of a good deal of my wares! Less than 50 hardcovers are available, no medium t-shirts are available, the hand knit doll has sold out as well as the buttons! This is all within a month and a half since the debut of the book at New York Comic on October 9th!

In between working on the book, I was able to warm up on other pieces and going back and forth from the book to these illustrations has helped me grow by leaps and bounds again! I see things so much easier and look forward to challenging myself on each image I work on. I hope that 2015 brings me the ability to work faster and finally get my life started where I can have a book that I am focused on as my main gig. Here's to 2015!

Email me at thelearningcurv@gmail.com if you'd like to have any of these images in your home!

ElCoqui

I will be ordering these shirts tomorrow! I can't wait to get them for all those who paid for them on Kickstarter & have them available at comic con's across the country! This is the design that my character Luiza Brillante wears in my book "A Reason to Smile" and i am extremely excited to be making this into a shirt we can all wear!

I will be at Sketch Con this weekend and hope to debut this shirt at the Special Edition NYC on the 14th and 15th of June. I'll have a week off and then be on to the Toy Con NJ! Boston, Baltimore, NYCC, and NC Comic Con's will be on deck next and I can't wait!!! I will be at Sketch Con this weekend and hope to debut this shirt at the Special Edition NYC on the 14th and 15th of June. I'll have a week off and then be on to the Toy Con NJ! Boston, Baltimore, NYCC, and NC Comic Con's will be on deck next and I can't wait!!!

A Reason to Smile Prev

I am well on my way to finishing up my children's book, "A Reason to Smile" and I've posted 3 pages for you to enjoy. Once the colors I will be launching a kickstarter, with t-shirts, postcards, book marks and so much more to entice you to get your very own copy. I hope you like what you see so far and I'll update you all soon!