About me

I’m Jessie Ara, a self-taught bilingual illustrator who believes art should feel like something, not just look like something.

My work spans a few different worlds. It started with Klutzi, a clumsy little sprite who stumbles, struggles, and never quite gives up, alongside his sidekick Rocky, a fox who carries the humor through the hard parts. Together they talk about anxiety, depression, and panic attacks in a way that feels gentle instead of clinical. From there came QooBeez, my original characters built from imagination, color, and play. And more recently, Grief is…, a quieter bilingual comic series exploring small, ordinary moments of loss.

Loss has touched my life more than once, and it changed the way I create. Not by making my work sadder; by making it more intentional. Every piece I make now starts with a question: does this matter, or is it just noise? I’ve learned a lot about navigating grief, change, and uncertainty, and if my art can make that path even a little easier for someone else, that’s the whole point.

I don’t create to keep up with trends. I create because I see things in my mind that need somewhere to live; in your hands, on your screen, in a story you needed without knowing it yet.

Most days I’m at my desk with Mila, my Bernedoodle, curled up nearby. She’s been one of my biggest supporters through all of it, even if her version of support is mostly just being present and occasionally demanding a walk.

Thank you for being here. Whether you found me through Klutzi, a QooBeez character, a quiet grief comic, or a single illustration that caught your eye – welcome.