Yanuary Navarro is a Honduran-American artist, illustrator, writer, and maker of books. She was born in a tiny, remote, rural mountain village in Honduras, Central America to a humble and very poor family of farmers. There was no electricity, no television, no toys, or modern plumbing at the time, and houses were still made of mud back then. She learned to entertain herself while running barefoot through forests, and outrunning cows, chickens, and pigs. These early experiences have shaped the subject matter she loves to explore through her work. Finding joy in the simple yet miraculous gifts nature gives.
She was always interested in art since an early age and pursued further education in the arts, earning a bachelor's in illustration. The artist's journey is a winding road with many forks in the road. It took a long time to find her voice and her path, eventually discovering a passion for books and book making.
Painting remains a core part of the art-making process keeping a handmade warmth to her work in an incresingly digital world. The slow process of making things by hand has helped her to find a deeper peace in her life. After a lifetime of suffering from the often minimized effects of trauma, neglect, and abuse and finding long-term joy and healing through the arts, she's an advocate for encouraging others to develop a creative practice. She believes that a consistent creative practice no matter the age, level, or method will bring greater mental and emotional health long-term.
