Today we’d like to introduce you to Larissa Brown.
Hi Larissa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I never imagined I’d become a Disney artist, though I always knew that only the crème de la crème of creatives earned that honor.
At six years old, I could sketch Charlie Brown’s colossal circular head and his iconic black-and-yellow zigzag shirt with ease. My parents, impressed at my ability, armed me with every Crayola product known to humankind. I didn’t realize drawing was a “special skill”. It was simply the one thing I felt confident doing as a student. So, it made sense to pursue art at Cal State Fullerton.
Teaching intrigued me, but the prospect of spending an extra two years for a credential, let alone writing a dreaded thesis, was enough to send me running toward the animation industry instead.
I landed briefly at Nickelodeon as a Character Designer for a show called the Rugrats before pivoting to illustrating children’s books from home, balancing deadlines while dealing with rugrats of my own.
Eventually, I leveraged my professional experience as a stand-in for a teaching credential and spent over a decade educating budding artists at a private college.
Meanwhile, corralling my own three children was infinitely easier once I launched an after-school art enrichment company. What began as a humble garage-table operation grew into a program spanning dozens of schools across multiple districts.
Then came Covid, which obliterated that business model faster than you can say “Zoom fatigue.”
Teenagers and college students, however, adapted well to online learning, so I reinvented myself as a mentor and guided art students through college admissions and into the job market. Fortune intervened when one client’s parent, a Disney insider, insisted my work was worthy of the Mouse.
I wanted to believe her, but imposter syndrome was strong in me, and I let the opportunity slip away, all the while telling myself that I never really wanted to work for Disney anyway.
Four years later, the universe gave me another change. By then, I had churned out enough mediocre art that the good stuff finally began to surface. With several children’s books under my belt, I no longer bought into my own self-deprecating nonsense. So, when Disney reviewed my portfolio, they found it easy to say “yes.”
And now? I create fine art for Disney galleries, while juggling college teaching gigs and painting my own work. My artistic journey is proof that sometimes the zigzag path leads exactly where you’re meant to go.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Grateful for the numerous opportunities I’ve had, it was my ability to adapt that fueled my growth as a multidisciplinary artist. The twists and turns in my creative journey were simply me navigating life’s inevitable obstacles.
As an overachiever, I became pregnant shortly after being hired as a Character Designer for the Rugrats. As a working mother, I missed many of my son’s first milestones and didn’t want to miss any more when my daughter was born. My decision to stay home for my children led to the creation of OC Art Studios, which started as an art enrichment company and eventually evolved into mentoring high school and college students during Covid.
In that period of time, the tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked significant racial unrest, which in turn led my community to recognize and elevate my contributions as a Black educator. This support resulted in sponsorships for Black art students, providing them with the opportunity to learn and grow under my guidance.
My outreach on Twitter connected me with hundreds of Black students who received scholarships from generous donations by creative professionals. Twitter recognized the impact of my work and sponsored even more scholarships, allowing me to work with students worldwide.
My greatest struggle and success were all wrapped up in one. I had always dreamed of becoming a published graphic novelist. In 2019, that dream took shape when I began co-authoring and illustrating the most ambitious creative project of my life. What I didn’t anticipate was that the journey from concept to bookshelf would span six years and test every fiber of my resilience.
At the outset, I was married to my co-author. As if writing and illustrating a full-length graphic novel weren’t challenging enough, I found myself struggling with a deeper, more painful truth: I no longer wanted to collaborate with my partner. I could no longer do it creatively or personally. That realization and the journey to sever ties nearly broke me.
The book, Blake Laser, is a 240-page middle-grade graphic novel centered on a character inspired by me and a family that mirrors my own. It became both a dream and a nightmare. At one point, every page I drew was a battle against my own self-doubt and grief from the tumultuous divorce, The light I once had in me to live and to create was nearly extinguished. But I kept going.
It was a soul-crushing crawl to the finish line, but I completed the book to the best of my ability. And that, in itself, was a victory. Blake Laser now lives in the world as a testament to my perseverance and my dedication to honor my commitments to my dream.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Novelty and variety fuel my creative engine and it’s likely why I find myself immersed in so many projects. I love solving creative problems and exploring different ways to express myself.
My love of dance spills onto the canvas through expressive figures, bold palettes, and rhythmic lines. I strive to uplift the Black experience by portraying Black figures in moments of joyful movement. My hope is to celebrate the culture, elevate the energy, and uplift the presence of Black Americans through my art. Among my proudest achievements is my work with Disney, where I’ve had the honor of illustrating beloved characters from Princess and the Frog, Soul, Black Panther, and Miles Morales.
Teaching is truly at the heart of my creative life. It brings me to college campuses across Orange County, where I draw from my background in animation, fine art, and illustration to inspire and empower students. Whether in the classroom or mentoring privately, I aim to help artists discover their unique voice and translate it into compelling, resonant imagery.
In February, I celebrated Black History Month by creating a daily comic series featuring bite-sized stories told through zines. It’s a format I love for its accessibility and . These mini-magazines, made from a single sheet of paper, are perfect vessels for sharing history in a tactile, traditional way. I host zine workshops at book signings and school visits, inviting participants to become artistic storytellers themselves.
I also teach plein air watercolor classes, and I’m thrilled to be preparing for my first international teaching excursion in Morocco, June 2026. It’s a dream that blends travel, art, and education.
Of all my roles, the one that fills me most is being in the classroom, working with students of all ages. Helping artists shape their voice into meaningful, magnetic work is more than a job, it’s my reason for being.
How do you define success?
There are many ways I define success as an artist. For me, it is not simply measured by the work I produce each day, but by the state of my mind. I have come to believe that true success is found in peace of mind. I feel most at ease when I understand my own capacity and can balance responsibilities without slipping into overwhelm or burnout.
Success, to me, is about honoring my creative commitments to myself and to others. It is about staying true to who I am and focusing on making a mark that uplifts, inspires, and motivates. That is the kind of success I strive for, and the kind that gives my work meaning.
Pricing:
- $150 hourly private lessons
Contact Info:
- Website: https://larissapaints.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larissabrownpaints/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larissa.marantz/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissa-brown-paints/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@larissabrownpaints
Image Credits
Larissa Brown,
Barbara Holmes,
Britt Samuels,
Aaron Rogers
