Meet Rosa Colón Guerra | Comic Artist – Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rosa Colón Guerra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rosa, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
After I quit my day job, I threw myself into the grind. It was either spend your day finding work or you can’t pay bills. I became a workaholic, and after my long term relationship ended I became even more obsessed with work. I burned out and became depressed. Once I took a step back and saw how unhealthy my routine was I took a deep breath and focused on finding the fun in my life. I did a solo art show, and found gigs I was passionate about. During the pandemic, I clicked with new friends and we made a point to go out every weekend – either to draw or to explore and hike around. It made a huge difference in my mental health! Now I work during the week and my weekends are for relaxing, and working only if I want to .

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I decided to become an illustrator I never expected to focus on non-fiction political comics and art. Learning about my country through comics that in turn will help other understand some aspects of Puerto Rico is amazing. The research can be daunting but rewarding. It’s challenging drawing so many things I wouldn’t normally draw. When I began I was very shy about pitching stories but now I’ve gained a lot of confidence, thanks in part to the feedback I get. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have dared to do any of the things I am most proud of creating today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Even though a visit to Old San Juan is a must, I would take this friend – hello friend! – to explore the rest of the archipelago. My favorite municipality right now is Arecibo. Even though all municipalities are suffering from a decades long recession and austerity measures imposed by La Junta, you can find a lot of fun things to do and delicious things to eat. The town center of Arecibo is meant for strolling, there’s a long boardwalk all along the coast. The architecture is amazing and there’s plenty of spots to rest. The restaurants are yummy with Cacau Chocolate House being a stand out since most of their desserts are made with Puerto Rican chocolate. The town is peppered with murals and art. Every time I go it’s relaxing and fun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my Shoutout to my art collective Les Insu. We decided to create the collective just before the pandemic, and during these two years they’ve been the support I’ve needed to make great art. With these fabulous artists I’ve explored my home Puerto Rico, organized meet ups and pushed myself to learn new skills. They’re the best!

Website: https://rosacolonguerra.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sodapopcomics/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sodapopcomics

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_HJp7h6mKBYt-BVRMdimig