ABOUT ME

Erika Mariah Santos (also known as StarryEri on Twitter or ErikaMari on Cara) is an animation background artist and illustrator based in Las Vegas, Nevada. While studying film at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Erika developed her love for animation while taking a narrative animation course. She developed animated short film, As It Grows with creative partner and sister, Nayely Santos, and later in Spring 2021, the duo earned their first Student Emmy for the short. The duo would start to produce short animated films as Two Leafs productions the following year and release Fish Bowl in 2022, which earned them “The Clark Bar” – the first ever Shortest Short Film Award at UNLV’s annual Spring Flicks Film Festival. Erika enjoys storytelling and the visual development of it through the animation medium but doesn’t dream to limit herself to just animation. Having a joint love for writing, she hopes to develop YA graphic novels, webcomics, and illustrated adult novels (a concept Erika is a large advocate for).

In Middle Grade/Early Young Adult illustrative work, Erika would love to bring Queer youths’ voices to the forefront. She would love to work in the realm of contemporary Science Fiction/Fantasy, but doesn’t shy away from the every day Slice of Life (they often mix well!).

In Adult fiction Erika would love to work in the Romance genre (Historical and Contemporary), Fantasy (and Romantasy!), Science-fiction and Literary fiction. Above all, as a big reader of these genres, she understands the importance of an appealing book cover which helps define the book’s corresponding genre and intentions.

Erika is currently seeking representation for her illustration work. Please contact if interested!

For further inquiries about illustration or background work please contact Erika’s email: erikamariahsan@gmail.com or twoleafsproductions@gmail.com