January 29th, 2010
Pictures and Words
Sometime over the past year, my mind made the full switch from writing to comics. I’m not saying I’ve gotten good at drawing yet. It’s just that I seem to think exclusively in comics now. To the extent that it now often feels easier to draw and ink a whole comic than to write a short email to somebody.
I think that, for me, comics can be a kind of defense mechanism. As with sarcasm, I can say what I want to say without ever seeming too serious about it. No matter how solemn or bitter my words, when accompanied by my goofy drawings, it becomes permissible to laugh.
PS DAMN I miss Minnesota. Like a lot. What am I doing here?? Ach. At this point, just getting a diploma. Phew. Okay. Let’s do that. And then go somewhere else.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
LOVE IT, I LOVE IT. I recently wrote an e-mail to a boy who had hurt my feelings and the first paragraph was basically saying that I wished I could use another form of communication and described how there would be images on legal paper with stuff that popped out and caused visceral pain alternating with towel pages to mop up the blood. Maybe it sounded harsher than I meant.
Anyway, I’m glad you’ve returned since I too am here getting this thing done. I’m tracking you down at some point.
But did I say that I LOVE THIS COMIC, because I do. It was the end panel that set my heart on fire, even though I knew it was attractive from the beginning.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
This comic is excellent. I am really enjoying the shades of gray, it makes everything pop (not soda). I was wondering what your life would be like if in place of conversation you just handed people comics that perfectly described your feelings in that particular situation. Would it be edgy, or “deep” artistic hipster statement? I can’t tell anymore.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I feel you on missing MN and being like fuck this shit. Get diploma. Leave.
January 31st, 2010 at 1:47 am
Tabitha, I really appreciate that you like this one. I wasn’t sure if it was sort of a silly or indulgent kind of idea, “ha ha I make comics for myself instead of attempting to communicate with people.” I dunno. I liked making it. And I’m sorry you couldn’t make that letter-o-pain a reality…
Goldfeather: Thank you! I’m enjoying playing with grays. And man, you have no idea how often I wish it was acceptable to hand people comics to let them know what I was thinking… I guess the closest I have is just this website, where I post stuff and think “aHA, I wonder what THAT person would think if they ever checked this! Oh, wouldn’t they be sorry then…MWA HA HA!!”
January 31st, 2010 at 1:49 am
Peter: Right? Man. I’m feeling some Berlin nostalgia. (Though it might just be why-can’t-I-buy-a-giant-bottle-of-beer-for-fifty-cents-in-the-supermarket nostalgia.)
January 31st, 2010 at 3:15 am
you are good at drawing. I especially liked the less direct form of communication face. Somehow I identify with it. Like, when I read this and saw that frame, I thought, “that’s me.”
good.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:03 am
I love this comic! I totally understand. I have a hard time expressing myself in letters sometimes so I pick a few key words that describe how I feel and draw them out or design them really elaborately.
February 10th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Thank you, Madelyn! I’m really glad that you identified with that face. That’s sort of how my head feels right now. Like, spilling out all over the place…but maybe in a good way?
Molly: You are so cool! I love the things you make. And it’s interesting to hear where people start with their art, when they’re feeling lost or blocked. I seem to start with drawings these days. Or journaling. Whatever it takes to get me feeling like the Athena in the panel Madelyn liked.