Today we’d like to introduce you to Joannie Betancourt Hernandez.
Hi Joannie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Rogue Adventurers was born in the start of the pandemic. I call it my little pandemic baby haha! After I got laid off from my only job and having big girl responsibilities, I decided to follow one of my dreams that was starting my own little clothing apparel business/Crafts. It was a very hard decision because after losing my car and having very little money, I still wanted to take that leap of faith and just ride that crazy wave. So, I bought some screen print materials and a 3D printed and started creating very cool and unique lowkey pop culture-inspired clothing as well as accessories, earrings, and clay figures. (A little of everything haha) as well as recently including adding my Hispanic culture into my designs and illustrations!
The name Rogue Adventurers came from the feeling of not being able to fit in the group and wanting to take those leap of faiths of freedom to explore what is beyond us. The definition of Rogue I chose was a mischievous person that usually does things not normal to the public or funnier. Not in a negative way, just someone who’s curious and excited to try new things. And Adventurers came from adventuring like pirates. Wanting to sail ahead! So Rogue Adventurers is someone who’s very mischievous and different that is always curious to learn more and to sail to new adventurers. Somebody who doesn’t want to sit or stay put in their life and will always decide to take that risk.
And after creating my store, met with very cool people and participating in some cool events like the Milkdistrict events. And on April 2022, I finally made it to Puerto Rico Comic Con which up to date has been my biggest and most exciting event so far! It’s been a long road, but I’m definitely grateful that this has made me connect and meet so many cool and different people that keep inspiring me more each day to work harder as well as create new little things for my brand.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The most obstacles or challenges I’ve had so far would be marketing myself and money. Sometimes, I may want this really nice gadget to help me with something but it’s too expensive for me to get or I just don’t have the space for it in. So, I have to find another way to be able to do something without some of the proper tools for the project. Another that I’m currently still learning is to market myself for my products and brand to reach new audiences.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
OH dang! Where do I even start? Haha well, I do Photography, filming, arts and crafts, cosplay, sewing, and many other things! But I’m mostly known for my photography and Illustration talents.
For photography, I’ve been doing it since I was 7 years old and it’s the #1 things that has help me in my creative lifestyle. Like composition, choosing the correct colors, noticing little things, etc. And it’s something I’ve been doing from a small age just learning from others, testing and fails/success and YouTube classes haha Two of my favorite topics in Photography hands down are concert photos and candid of people.
And art comes a close second too. I have a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts specialized in Illustration. And recently I’ve been combining the two. Where I grab my photos and illustrate on them. They have a very unique and cool touch to them! And the process is so much fun. I use it as well to create different fun and unique illustrations for my brand as well as personal freelance projects. I remember when mom told me that when I was around 4, she would give me clay to stay quiet and entertained while she cooked. And with the clay, I would mimic and create things I would see around the house like one of my birds.
One of the things I’m proud about is that even though I have faced so many challenges growing up which could de monetary, or lack of opportunities. I have worked very hard to make up for the lost time to be able to reach this far where I know that my younger self would have never believed it with her own eyes if she saw me right now!
I know that one of the things that set me apart from others will be my eye for small details. I have heard a lot of my friends tell me that I have a fantastic eye when it comes to taking photos and the composition and colors, I create with them. So that’s something cool I continue to hear about myself from others!
What’s next?
One of my future plans is to keep growing Rogue Adventurers and get it to be a well-known positive brand that many people can relate to it as well as share my Hispanic culture with others. The future sometimes is scary but exciting, I’m looking forward to seeing my brand grow as well as I in a personal and creative mindset and career.
Hopefully one day I’ll be able to photograph a lot of K-pop events and concerts too!
Contact Info:
- Email: Joanniebetancourt.inquiry@gmail.com
- Website: https://rogueadventurers.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventures_jojo/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkQUICbVxIwq_CLDoUVmlNw
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CuriousLionStudios?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
