Laura Pérez exports Valencian illustration to the US

2023-08-31 10:31:27

“We have all drawn since we were little and at some point we stopped drawing. However, there are some that we continue to draw”. Valencian illustrator Laura Pérez it was one of them. And, after much effort, Pérez has become one of the most international references in Spanish comics and has worked for renowned titles such as National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal o Vanity Fair. In addition, he made the great leap into audiovisuals with the help of the American studio Elastic, in charge of the credit titles of hits such as “Game of Thrones” or “The Politicia”.

His successes have crossed borders. Thus, the Valencian illustrator will publish his book “Tótem” next September, in USA. In it, they count different experiences connected to each other, which take place throughout different trips, dreams, places and moments that make the reader jump to different times and characters. Pérez acknowledges that she is “very happy” since she receives “feedback” from readers from other countries, who are eager to read her books. Also, in her words, “That it be published in this country makes a lot of sense because they will find scenarios very close to them, such as Arizona o California“. Last year this book received the Lorna Award for the best National Comic.

international hits

However, this is not the only book that has been published in other countries, as it “Hidden”, which was the Ojo Crítico de Cómic Award and the Ignotus Award for the best national comic in 2020 and the Splash Sagunt Award for the best national album in 2019, was sold in Slovenia.

One of the covers of his work. LEVANTE-EMV

For his part, the graphic novel “Shipwrecked” Together with Pablo Monforte, who recreates an urban and poetic space in which dreams, love and shared fears are intertwined in the face of an uncertain future, he arrived in Italy, France and the United States.

The reaction of the public, in his words, is usually positive. “When a person buys a book, it is because they like it, so it is difficult for there to be an expectation of fraud,” claims Pérez, who adds that “you go for a comic or a book because it has entered your eye, so that you have to do it very badly for it to disappoint the reader”.

San Diego

The illustrator was already a few weeks ago at the International Convention of comics San Diego, where he presented “Totem”. Although the book has not yet been released, “a lot of people wanted to take it with them.” “I am very excited that September 7 arrives and everything works well”he emphasizes.

Its beginnings were linked to the illustration. She is an illustrator since 2011 because “I wasn’t ready to do comics”. However, five years ago he decided to take the plunge. “It has been a very natural step because first I tell stories of others and then I narrate mine with a more defined style,” he says. In his words, “books are made to tell stories and everyone finds their audience. For this reason, people have to think that they have to do it from the heart and things don’t have to go wrong.”

This process is very important to her. She notes: “You have to find the reason why you want to tell stories and how to do it. You get it when you practice it. If you’ve never told anything, you don’t know how you tell it.”

Pérez continues working on his next projects. Although he still can’t reveal many details, he is preparing a collaboration and his own book along the lines of “Hidden” and “Totem.”