10 Digital Artists: Storytellers in Comics and Cartoons
By Cansu Peker
Cartooning is one of the most expressive forms of storytelling out there. With just a few lines and colors, cartoonists can capture big emotions, build entire worlds, and bring unforgettable characters to life.
Whether it’s a slice-of-life comic strip, a sweeping graphic novel, or a quirky one-page gag, cartoons blend visual art and writing into something truly unique. It’s a form where both caricature and careful, subtle illustration can sit side by side, telling stories with exaggeration of features and emotions that feel larger than life.
In comic book aesthetics, every choice matters: the linework, the color palette, the pacing between panels, and even the way speech bubbles float across the page. Some artists lean into highly stylized, exaggerated designs, while others opt for more atmospheric or minimalist approaches. Either way, cartoonists use these tools to create rhythm and mood, pulling readers into the world they’ve built. Storytelling through comics is not only about what happens but how it feels visually.
In this spotlight, we’re excited to introduce ten cartoonists whose work shows just how broad and powerful this art form can be. From dreamy myth-inspired illustrations to gritty, character-driven comics, these artists redefine what cartoon storytelling can look like today. Their styles are diverse; bright and bold, soft and eerie, playful and raw, but they all share a deep love for storytelling and a strong visual voice.
Whether you’re a longtime comics fan or just curious about the world of independent cartoonists, this list is packed with artists to watch. Each one brings something special to the table, offering fresh takes on fantasy, horror, coming-of-age stories, and more.
Here are 10 digital artists you’ll want to follow if you love comics and cartoons.
Scroll to learn more about them! Here’s the featured artists:Gina PillinaOok SuyantokoKnack WhittleJoe GiuntaBea VarelaBlue DelliquantiMaría Medem Sam KoniakGrace DesmaraisOlivia LiLet's be friends on Instagram!
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Gina Anzures, better known as Gina Pillina, is a Mexican illustrator and comic artist whose work feels like a burst of pure joy. Based in Puebla, Mexico, Gina has a gift for creating charming characters with simple, dynamic shapes and colorful palettes that instantly lift the spirit. What sets her apart is how she weaves humor into serious topics — especially type 1 diabetes, which she lives with herself. Through her comic strips starring her lively alter ego, Gina Pillina, she turns personal experiences into funny, heartfelt stories that not only entertain but also spread awareness and support in a memorable way.
Gina’s journey in art has taken her across the globe, from earning her MFA in Illustration at SCAD Atlanta to studying 3D animation at Coco School in Spain, after completing her bachelor's in graphic design at Universidad Anáhuac Puebla. Her work has earned recognition from a! Diseño and Ascensia Diabetes Care, and today, she shares her passion by teaching illustration and design at UDLAP, IBERO, and Anáhuac Puebla. Whether she’s crafting a playful comic or a colorful standalone illustration, Gina’s art brings a contagious sense of happiness — and her audience can't help but smile right back.
Ook Suyantoko is an illustrator based in Tangerang, Indonesia, whose work is inspired by everyday life, casual moments, and a playful, comical style. With experience in picture books, comics, editorial work, and social events, he brings a unique blend of storytelling and nostalgia to his illustrations.
Ook’s style has evolved from an early love of manga to a fusion of American and European comic influences, including Tintin, Asterix & Obelix, Archie, and Casper. Over time, his fascination with vintage comics led him to develop a retro touch in his work, blending classic aesthetics with modern storytelling.
“My illustration style started with manga. The manga style influenced my generation in Indonesia with many Japanese comics and anime. However, I was actually exposed to other comics such as tin-tin, asterix & obelix, arad & maya, famous five, archie, betty & veronica, casper and more. That's why, when I was in college, I often unconsciously followed the illustration style of American & European comics. My illustration style changes quite a lot, but I combined & developed them unintentionally. Since I have a beautiful romance with vintage comics, I then put a retro touch into the lines and ornaments of my illustrations.”
Read our interview with Ook Suyantoko to learn more about his art, creative process, and inspirations.
Nakata "Knack" Whittle is a cartoonist with a love for storytelling that’s as big as the worlds they build. Originally from Kentucky and now based in northern Maryland, right between Baltimore and Philadelphia, Knack specializes in horror, fantasy, historical fiction with a twist, and sci-fi — all the better if they can sneak in a little queerness, a lot of heart, and some unforgettable found families. Their work stands out for its rich character dynamics and imaginative settings, whether they’re crafting spooky adventures or reimagining history. When they’re not drawing, Knack’s usually doting on their cat, rolling dice in tabletop RPGs, or wandering through historic sites along the East Coast.
Knack is the illustrator behind Sweet Valley Twins #4: The Haunted House and #6: The New Girl — both part of the NYT Bestselling series with Penguin Random House — and they’re currently illustrating Sweet Valley Twins #8: First Place while flatting two more books on the side. A proud graduate of SVA’s Cartooning Class of 2021, they received the 2020 Will Eisner Sequential Art Scholarship and the Rhodes Family Award.
Joe Giunta is a seasoned graphic artist, illustrator, and educator with a career spanning decades. Joe explores ways to infuse the energy and spontaneity of traditional art into the digital medium. His love for cartoons has been a constant throughout his career, inspired by the gag cartoons and comic strips he admired growing up. Over time, his style evolved into a unique blend influenced by his heroes from Mad Magazine, The New Yorker, and the Saturday Evening Post — with humor that continues to develop and delight audiences.
An experienced digital artist, he has managed art departments for Gillette Paper-Mate, Allied Van Lines, and the Pioneer Press newspaper chain. His cartoons and illustrations have appeared in books, magazines, and websites, and he currently shares his expertise by teaching drawing at two art galleries and a local community college. In March 2024, Joe was named "Artist of the Month" by Kane County Magazine, a testament to his enduring passion and contributions to the art world.
“I always loved cartoons. My art heroes were cartoonists. While I enjoyed the comic strips of my day, I really enjoyed gag cartoons. Although I learned how to draw realistically, I found myself drawing characters with big noses and round bodies and trying to put words in their mouths.”
Read our interview with Joe Giunta to learn more about his art, creative process, and inspirations.
Bea Varela is a non-binary visual artist and illustrator from Panama whose work flows effortlessly between playful and eerie, bright and brooding. Their comics and illustrations; often made digitally with Procreate and Adobe Illustrator, capture a vivid range of emotions, weaving coming-of-age stories with touches of horror, gore, and the beautifully unsettling. Bea’s tarot card designs and comic strips stand out for their bold style and deeply personal storytelling, creating art that feels at once intimate and universal.
Driven by a love for storytelling and a spirit of collaboration, Bea works across editorial projects, comics, character design, and more, always bringing a fresh, adaptable voice to the table. They enjoy teaming up with creatives around the world and are always ready to dive into new challenges, whether it’s a commercial commission or an experimental passion project. No matter the medium or mood, Bea’s art leaves a lasting impression — haunting, heartfelt, and full of life.
Blue Delliquanti is a comic artist and writer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their work is often rooted in science fiction and inspired by the relationship between androids and humans, as well as food and the city of Minneapolis. In addition to creating comics, Blue teaches at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Recently, they collaborated with Ma-Yi Theater Company and Children’s Theatre Company as the illustrator for Drawing Lessons, a play that vividly brings to life the story of a young graphic novelist navigating school, friendships, and her Korean-American identity through dynamic, on-stage illustrations of her manhwa graphic novel.
Blue grew up immersed in the world of comics, inspired by the surge of graphic novels and manga during the early 2000s. After college, they launched their own webcomic, O Human Star. What began as a personal project evolved into a Prism Award-winning story that continued for eight years, during which Blue’s readership grew into a passionate community that supports them across various projects.
“Give yourself opportunities to experiment with your art as much as possible, and make friends - with both people who make comics and people who do something different altogether. The cross-pollination of ideas and interests and dreams will inform the kind of artist you become in unpredictable and positive ways.”
Read our interview with Blue Delliquanti to learn more about their art, creative process, and inspirations.
María Medem is a cartoonist and illustrator from Seville, Spain, whose delicate pastel worlds invite readers into quiet, emotional landscapes. Her comics often explore feelings of solitude, memory, and connection, spun together with dreamlike imagery and a rhythm that feels almost musical. María’s work began with self-published fanzines after completing her fine arts studies, and she’s since been published internationally by Terry Bleu (Netherlands), Studio Fidèle (France), and Apa Apa Cómics (Spain). Her storytelling, full of soft colors and tender moments, feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Known for her books Cénit and Por Culpa de una Flor (the Spanish edition of Land of Mirrors), María weaves stories where even the smallest sounds and sensations carry emotional weight. Land of Mirrors, her latest work, captures a heartfelt journey through loneliness and friendship, set to the beats of flamenco and the calls of turtledoves. When she’s not working on comics, María illustrates, animates, and takes long walks with her greyhound—gathering small, beautiful moments that often find their way back into her art.
Sam Koniak is a comic artist and illustrator from Savannah, Georgia, with a love for storytelling that blends sharp humor, rich character work, and a little bit of the macabre. A fan of dark comedies, historical fashion, and all things vampire, Sam creates vivid comics and character designs that feel like they’ve stepped out of an indie musical or a particularly stylish ghost story. Their illustrations often feature a Victorian flair, layered with personality and a touch of drama, making their work both distinctive and entertaining.
A graduate of SCAD’s Sequential Art program, Sam brings a storyteller’s heart to everything they do — whether it’s crafting original comics, designing memorable characters, or exploring new visual styles. Outside of their art, you’ll probably find them diving into documentaries, curating playlists of indie pop favorites, or gathering inspiration from centuries-old fashion.
Grace Desmarais is a Brooklyn-based cartoonist and illustrator whose work draws inspiration from history, magic, and romance. Her comics and illustrations blend a sense of wonder with heartfelt storytelling, often exploring the beauty in everyday moments and imagined worlds. Her clients include Chronicle Books, Microcosm Publishing, and Last Gasp.
Grace is also the co-founder of the NYC Cartoonist Meetup, an all-inclusive monthly gathering for artists looking to build community in New York’s comics scene. Her work has been recognized with a 2024 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Anthology (We Won't Back Down), a RINGO Award nomination (Votes for Women), and a Best of Small Press nod from Women Write About Comics (Song for Medusa). She has participated in residencies and exhibitions at the School of Visual Arts, Atlantic Gallery, and MASS MoCA.
When she’s not making comics or organizing community events, Grace can usually be found writing fan-fiction, re-playing Dragon Age, or curled up with a romance novel. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their black cat, Lala, who often finds her way into Grace’s sketchbooks.
Olivia Li is a cartoonist, writer, and multidisciplinary artist based in Queens, NY. Her work weaves together coming-of-age tales, myth, magic, and urban life, centering queer, non-white protagonists and the nuanced portrayal of mental health. A graduate of SVA’s MFA Visual Narrative program, Olivia uses comics to explore journeys of self-discovery, blending heartfelt storytelling with a hint of the fantastical. Beyond her personal projects, she is a passionate community organizer, currently serving as Director of Logistics at MICE and co-founder of the monthly NYC Cartoonist Meetup.
Her comics have been recognized with awards like the SVA Alumni Scholarship for Teen Spirit and a MICE Mini-Grant for Good Morning, Gorgon!. Olivia’s work has also appeared in New Frontiers: The Many Worlds of George Takei and Dirty Diamonds. When not making comics, Olivia freelances across marketing, video, motion graphics, design, and illustration — always seeking new ways to tell stories and connect with audiences.
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