Graza

Q: How do you describe yourself?

J: I'm a creative with a lot of ideas, and not enough time in the day. 

Q: Finish this sentence, cooking for me is...

J: Meditative. There is no better way for me to unwind, even if I'm making something a bit complicated. I'm forced to focus and forget about the background of my life. 

Q: You're very well known for your gorgeous, fun, and bright pet portraits. What do you think is the most important aspect or characteristic to capture when sketching pet portraits? 

J: I think their mouth is very important! It's really fun to draw a portrait with a tongue hanging out, or a glimpse of a pet's fangs. Every one of them has such a different expression, it's cute and funny. 

Q: Speaking of portraits, are there any food or culinary items you love to draw or incorporate into your illustrations?

J: Yes! It's surprisingly fun to draw the appliances we use in cooking—things like stand mixers or blenders. However, I do have a set of pasta pajamas launching that were such a thrill to create! 

Q: What is the best food and beverage to snack on, sip, or eat while illustrating?

J: Iced tea always! I don't know how to do anything without black iced tea. And tamales rojos de pollo that my neighbor sells on my street corner. I'm truly blessed living in Bushwick. 

Q: Take us through your perfect day of NYC eats

J: In the morning you could find me at the Maria Hernandez Farmers Market picking up sourdough, brussels sprouts, and a squash. Then I'd swing by Foster Sundry for a chorizo breakfast burrito, 1.5 pounds of ground beef, and a hunk of parmesan. Next I'd stop by Eugene J Candy Company to catch up with my favorite neighbor, Eugene. After an afternoon nap, I'd take a leisurely stroll to the new Ayat in Bushwick for a gorgeous dinner—I've been dying to try it! Their wood fired oven catches my eye every time I walk by. I'd wrap up the evening over a glass of cava at The Narrows with a girlfriend. 

Q: If you could design one item for the kitchen, what would it be? 

J: My god you made this hard, do I have to stop at one? A dinnerware collection would be a dream come true! I love world-building, so getting to design an entire set—napkins, placemats, dinner plates, dessert plates, platters, and even a tablecloth—would be incredible. 

Q: You co-founded and host the Dead Parent Club and through this platform, you explore how to talk about and navigate grief. How do you feel food and cooking play into dealing with and feeling grief? 

J: I really believe everything is better with food! It's funny—more often than not, I find myself cooking dinner while hosting the Dead Parent Club. I'll put together something that's practically muscle memory by now. Even though we're all strangers, the audio-only format makes it feel like catching up on the phone with old friends. There's a reason things like The Dinner Party exist. Food can also be so nostalgic—every time I make kugel, I think of my nana, and when I make Italian Wedding Soup, I think of my grandma. It brings me back to their kitchens as a kid. 

Q: Is there a piece or project you're particularly proud of? 

J: I authored and illustrated my first book with Harper Collins in 2020, which opened the door to a new chapter in my career. It started me down a path to making deeply personal work and connecting with others on topics like grief and mental illness. 

Q: What's on the horizon for you?

J: At the moment, I'm really immersed in illustrating children's books, which I absolutely love. Looking ahead, I'd also like to take on a few large-scale campaigns and focus more on projects in the mental health space. It's such an important topic, and I believe it deserves both greater visibility and thoughtful creativity.