What have I forgotten?

A diary comic about triumph and worry as I finish my graphic novel:

Over the past year, I spent so much time thinking I wouldn’t be able to reach my deadline that I couldn’t quite believe I actually finished coloring everything. So I went through the book to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything big—and it turns out I didn’t (phew!)

It reminds me how the anxious mind is a powerful thing—I’m more comfortable feeling worry rather than triumph. And finishing a 240 page graphic novel which took over 1200 hours is indeed a triumph!

Behind the scenes

Now that I’m in the final push, I printed out the whole book at its actual size (6.5” x 8” ) onto printer paper since certain mistakes are easier to catch on paper rather than looking at it on my iPad or computer screen. I marked up the pages where I notice mistakes or things I want to fix.

Amongst other things, I learned that I seem to frequently get windows wrong, accidentally adding them in or subtracting them.

To make most changes, I go into Photoshop and edit there since that’s much less time intensive than watercoloring the whole page again. This stage is a tedious, but I think details like this can elevate a book, so I steadily work through it.

Join the Inchie Challenge

Artist and friend Amy Maricle, of the Mindful Art Studio, puts on a creative challenge every year to make tiny art everyday. I’ve found working small and consistently has really been a game changer for me—especially with freeing me up from perfectionism.

I wanted to share Amy’s free challenge with you with you although I’m not affiliated with it—I just love Amy’s mindful and nature-based approach to art making!

Leif love

Leif used to be pretty miserable to go running with while he was on lead—he’d stop abruptly to sniff something, lunge at squirrels, or pull like a husky. But in the past month, thanks to my spouse’s efforts, Leif’s finally becoming fun to run with and these are photos from our first enjoyable run together!

Is it always this hard to finish a book?

My graphic novel is due in 2.5 weeks and it hasn’t been easy as evidenced from a recent diary comic:

There have been external factors that have made it hard—I’ve had several nasty colds which have prevented me from working out and seeing friends. And my trusty Epson printer died which led to some panic as we tried to figure out how to replace it since it’s an essential part of my graphic novel-making process.

I think I need to approach finishing this graphic novel with some level of acceptance: sometimes making graphic novels is just pretty darn hard. But there are lots of hard things in my life that are worth it in the end. I often subscribe to this myth that things will get easier and in my experience things don’t necessarily get easier, just the struggles changes. But when I reach “The End,” it’s so rewarding, making it all worth it.

I’d love to hear from you: How do you push to the finish line (in work or elsewhere)? What do you tell yourself or do to get there?

Behind the scenes

Here I am with my stack of completed art on the left, and pages ready to be watercolored on the right. I’m so close to being done—30 pages to go!

Leif Love

Here our vizsla Leif is blending into the playground. He’s been loving the warmer Spring weather and increase in squirrel and rabbit activity.

Leif, the one-eyed vizsla dog on a playground

Playing at art

I often need to remind myself of the importance of play in art. When art or writing is your job, or you take it very seriously, it can be easy to get pulled into production mode—always being focused on what needs to get done for a project. 

But so much enjoyment and good ideas come through play—when there really isn’t a goal in mind. I find this to be true when I make my nightly diary comics, making friendship bracelets with friends, or when I get together with my 9-year old neighbor to make art. 

My 9-year old friend wanted to make swatches of watercolor, so we did. She would tell me what colors to mix together and I would mix them. Very simple, but fun. And I learned how to mix new beautiful colors which I hadn’t created before. 

The trick I find is I have to give myself permission to play. It’s sad that that was drilled out of me at some point in my schooling, but it doesn’t mean it has to remain gone forever. I just have to be more intentional about it. And if you need permission to play—I give it to you! 

How do you like to play at art or writing?

Happy Easter and Spring

Here’s a rabbit drawing I created when I used to have a greeting card store on Etsy. The rabbits really have been in proliferation here which used to give me joy, but now just stresses me out since our dog, who is a hunting breed, sees a rabbit and then loses his mind in his desire to capture it.

Leif love

Here in Minneapolis, we had a glorious late season snow fall. Leif and I had so much fun out playing in it!

Now most of the snow has melted, and our yard is a mud pit, but we’re grateful for the water in the soil, and the beauty while it lasted.

Take care!

Flexible tools to increase creativity

As someone who often struggles with flexibility, I’ve found that having flexible creative tools makes a big difference to my creativity. But when I have tools that feel constricting, I find it constricts my thought process.

For me, the ability to move things physically around seems to be key. So I prefer notebooks where I can remove and replace sheets of paper and a watercolor palette where I can move around the placement of the paint, like this one:

While I love the above watercolor palette by Robax, it’s not perfect. The plastic palette trays get stained by paint which I know drives some artists crazy, although that doesn’t seem to bother me too much. And their website is super old, but I do love the product regardless.

Tools as avoidance

Although finding the right tool can make a huge difference, I also find it can be a form of avoidance for creating art. What’s hard is that I have to keep myself open to finding new tools while not letting the search for them take away from the actual making of art.

Nice Press

In the publishing world, it feels like you only have a few months around the launch of your book to have an impact. So I’m pleasantly surprised at the occasional wonderful review that continues to pop out for my Gatsby adaptation, even after three years since its publication. I remember my agent telling me it would likely be an evergreen book which I wasn’t appreciative of at the time, but I am now!

In Screen Rant’s recent article, Angela Davis lists the top 10 comic adaptations of classics. Read the article to see where she ranks Gatsby and the other wonderful adaptations on the list:

Leif love

I find it so endearing when Leif gets all regal on us. Here he is standing at attention at the dog park.

Head cold wisdom

Apologies for skipping my newsletter last week. I was rather sick as I depict in my diary comic:

There’s nothing like sickness to make me really appreciate my generally good health. And it helps remind me how much I do love my work—something I can lose sight of when I’m so focused on the goal of finishing my graphic novel, which is due at the end of April.

I’m emerging from this nasty cold more determined to enjoy the time I have left—trying to focus more on the process and less on the deadline. Even though I always enjoy myself when I spend time in the present moment, it’s so easy for me to slip out of the present and go into thinking about the future.

Behind the scenes

Since I watercolor my graphic novels, my house is currently taken over by watercolor art which can be found drying in our dining room and living room. Even our bathroom seems to be constantly filled with drying paint brushes and water containers. 

These are photos my friend and fellow author Nicole Kronzer took while visiting a few weeks ago. Apparently paint brushes in the bathroom aren’t a normal thing?

Leif love

I think my vizsla Leif has been a bit sick too. It’s nice that he’s been keeping me company and his energy has been a little lower.

Working in miniature

I find that a lot of making art is about tricking myself into not being too obsessive early in the art-making process. One way I do this is by working quickly and in miniature when I’m trying to make decisions in creating a graphic novel. By working small, I give myself permission to experiment and not be too precious or concerned with the final product.

For the coloring stage of the graphic novel process, where I am currently, I use tiny thumbnail paintings to experiment with color and mood for each page before committing to coloring the full page. This saves me money and time since watercolor paper is expensive and my time valuable (my book is due in two months!)

First, I print** a few versions of my digitally inked drawings at a small scale onto watercolor paper. Each page spread is about 4” x 3” dimensions. Then I paint over the inks, trying out different watercolor palettes until I find one that fits the mood of the page, as well as the flow of the chapter and overall book.

Here are two color palettes I tried before settling on the third one:

Once I find a color palette that fits the mood of the page, I print out my ink drawings at full size on watercolor paper and paint over them.

Making these thumbnails might seem like it takes a lot of time, but it actually saves me time since I make these thumbnail paintings really quickly, and as a result, I rarely have to redo a full size page. 

Working this way allows me to experiment more since I’m not worried about ruining a full size page, and I accidentally discover color palettes that might not work for that page, but will for a future one. 

And, as a kid who loved dollhouses, I find something really satisfying working in miniature. Not to mention that these thumbnail paintings will be great pre-order gifts when this book is released in Fall of 2025 :)

Why I like to work small:

  • It keeps me from being too detail-oriented which isn’t appropriate at this stage when I’m just trying to figure things out.

  • I experiment more when working small since I’m not precious of the work

  • It helps me see the big picture more quickly.

**I use an Epson 3880 Stylus Pro printer, which is a fine art giclée printer. It can handle watercolor paper and the ink doesn’t bleed. But it’s huge and old and a bit finicky so I’m not sure I’d recommend it specifically.

Leif love

Leif’s happy by the warmer weather and all the new exciting smells—and rabbits—that are popping up all over the place. We could do with a little less enthusiasm (i.e. yanking the leash) on his part, but his joy at life is fun to see!

**I use an Epson 3880 Stylus Pro printer, which is a fine art giclée printer. It can handle watercolor paper and the ink doesn’t bleed. But it’s huge and old and a bit finicky so I’m not sure I’d recommend it specifically.


Fighting February blues by getting fancy

Even though I generally love winter, by February, I’m often feeling pretty down. The excitement of snow and the holidays has past, and Spring feels a long way away especially here in Minnesota. This year has been particularly hard with no snow on the ground (until a few days ago) and the weight of my graphic novel deadline looming. And while I love the watercolor process of graphic novel-making, the momentous task of watercoloring 240 pages by the end of April is weighing on me.

I find that when I’m going through a hard time, having something on the calendar to look forward to and plan can make a huge difference. So for the last three years, I like to combat these February blues by hosting something I call “Fancy Dinner Party.”

Here’s my diary comic after the event:

Something creative

I always try to incorporate sort of simple creative act into it too, beyond cooking and entertaining. This year, I took the sheets of watercolor paper I use to test colors on, and cut them into hearts which I scattered across the table. I also watercolored individual place card settings. I’m not trying to be Martha Stewart here, but I am just trying to elevate the dinner party from normal to something a little special.

Our menu

Even though the goal is to be “fancy,” this meal really wasn’t too difficult, but we did plate it and serve it in courses which helped to elevate the experience. All these dishes were new to us, and slam-dunks, so I wanted to share the recipes:

Kale Salad with Pecan Vinaigrette

Miso Butternut Squash Soup (everyone there asked for this recipe).

Roasted Salmon with Citrus Salsa Verde which we served with forbidden black rice.

Leif Love

Thanks everyone for their kind notes about Leif and my scary experience a few weeks ago on the partially frozen Mississippi river. He’s doing well and enjoying the recent snowfall we had!

My secrets to injury-free drawing (Part 2)

In my last post, I shared my secrets for injury-free drawing related to an ergonomic work space. And while I clearly think it’s important to set-up your body for success, I’ve still experienced excruciating chronic pain despite having a very ergonomic work space.

When I was working on my Gatsby adaptation, my shoulder pain was so bad that I didn’t think I was going to be able to finish the book. I was trying to do all sorts of physical fixes to my shoulder pain—physical therapy, rolfing, yoga, etc. My physical therapist even came to my house to see if there was anything to be fixed with my work set-up (there wasn’t).

What solved the problem was discovering the work of Dr. John Sarno whose books and research are all about how repressed emotions can cause physical pain. The basic idea is if you allow yourself to feel repressed emotions, the physical pain will often disappear.1

This is a good summary of it:

[Sarno] discovered that tension (stress), both conscious and unconscious, is often the DIRECT cause of your symptoms - and not a physical flaw in your body - and that is why most patients do not recover using traditional and alternative methods. This is also NOT to say the pain is "in your head" or to just "think positive." That is a common misconception of this work. Instead, Dr. Sarno states tension creates the physical changes in your muscles, soft tissue, and nerves which gives rise to a long list of pain and disorders that are otherwise diagnosed as purely physical maladies. - From the website Simply Sarno

When I was working on Gatsby, I was dealing with some pretty intense emotional conflicts so it made sense that the pain represented itself physically, and it explained why none of the treatments worked.

To combat it, every day I would do “pain journalling” where I’d write about what feelings I thought I was repressing and try to feel them. At times the emotional pain was so intense that I’d be wracked with sobs or even scream in fury (thank goodness our neighbors didn’t hear).2 But it worked and bit-by-bit the pain went away and I was able to finish the book with almost no pain.

Now when I feel physical pain, I try to stop what I’m doing and think about what emotions I’m trying to suppress. And when I let those emotions in, the physical symptoms will often just disappear. It’s pretty wild how effective this is for me. So while I give a bunch of physical advice, the truth is, often I have to dig into the emotional things to get rid of physical pain.

My secrets to injury-free drawing (Part 1)

10 tips that keep me going for the long haul

I used to have horrible overuse injuries both in sports and in my work. So I’ve learned the hard way to be diligent about my physical and emotional health.

Here’s what I do to ensure a good ergonomic setup:

  1. POSTURE: not slouched over in the cartoonist hunchback.

  2. An ERGONOMIC CHAIR that allows your legs to be at about 90 degrees on the ground.

  3. Having the DRAWING SURFACE AT AN ANGLE so your neck doesn’t have to be curved downward. This is the tablet stand that I use since it allows for a variety of devices, angles, and height.

  4. Change your EYE FOCUS frequently. I like to shift my eye focus between my drawing tablet, my computer, and also looking out a window. This helps to give my eyes some variation.

  5. FEET FLAT on the ground.

  6. I use a KEYBOARD SHORTCUT DEVICE since I find that’s faster and more ergonomic than using the keyboard itself.

  7. Maintaining A LOOSE GRIP on your drawing implement so you're not overly tense and putting strain on your wrist and forearm.

  8. MOUSE: I actually use my non-dominant hand for the mouse to give my dominant drawing hand a break. And I have this ancient roller mouse that is more ergonomic than standard ones.

  9. TAKE LOTS OF BREAKS! This is probably the most important piece of advice I have. I work in the Pomodoro method, with 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off, with longer breaks every two hours. I find this helps not only my body, but also my focus and enjoyment. And I use a kitchen timer, who I’ve named Helga, and she reminds me to take breaks.

  10. Since I tend to suffer from shoulder problems, I like the option to have my ELBOW REST on something when I draw. It’s usually just my chair’s arm rest.

If this sounds like a lot, keep in mind that this is a practice that I’ve developed over the last 15 years, specific to my own body so it’s important to figure out what your body needs!

But this is all focusing on the physical elements of health whereas I’ve found the emotional aspects are even more powerful in terms of physical pain. I’ll be posting about that next week so stay tuned!

Graphic the Graphic Novel Process

I find that projects are hardest at the start and get steadily easier as I approach the 50% mark. I love that period after I’m halfway through a project where it feels like I finally have the hang of it. But then it always seems to become hard again as I approach the finish line, with a little uptick at the end.

I repeat this graph during each phase of the graphic novel: pencilling, inking and coloring. When I get overwhelmed by how hard it feels at the beginning of a phase, I remind myself that I’ve been here before, and that seems to reassure me.

A watercolor and ink illustration of a graph of the graphic novel process by K. Woodman-Maynard

Progress: I finished inking!

I’m so excited to be finished with inking my 240-page middle grade graphic novel! Inking is historically one of the things I struggle with most, so this feels like a huge accomplishment, especially as you can see from my above chart that reaching the end always feels really hard.

Every time I finish a chapter, I put a rock into my letter press tray to signify the accomplishment of getting a chapter done. I put 14 rocks in for the 14 chapters of my penciled art. And now 14 rocks for the same 14 chapters inked. And then I’m onto coloring—my favorite part!

 

Book Recommendation: Breath by James Nestor

It turns out we’ve been breathing wrong. Breath by James Nestor kinda blew my mind and has me way more focused than ever on my breath.

Creative Burnout: 3 Tips to Combat it

This week, as I near the end of inking my 240-page graphic novel, I started to feel burnout. When I notice this feeling, I treat it seriously because I know if I don’t, it will only grow and take a long time to recover from it. 

Overview of my 3 top tips:

  1. TAKE MORE BREAKS and be intentional about how those breaks rejuvenate you. For me, that means time in nature, hot baths in the evening, and more time where I put my phone on airplane mode.

  2. BE PRESENT with the work at hand. I find that when I focus so much on external goals like a page count or getting the book done, my burnout feelings increase. It’s a tricky balance since I really do need to get pages done. But when I switch my focus away from the end goal, it does make a big difference in my enjoyment of the process.

  3. GRATITUDE: When I’m experiencing burnout, I tend to be in a pretty negative headspace. But I find thinking about what a younger version of myself would say about the work I’m doing is a helpful reframe. Young Katharine would be so excited that I get to draw all day!

I leaned into these three preventative methods this week and I no longer have the feelings of burnout, although I can sense that if I’m not careful I could easily slide back into that feeling again.

I leaned into these three preventative methods this week and I no longer have the feelings of burnout, although I can sense that if I’m not careful I could easily slide back into that feeling again.

Diary Comic: Reccuring nightmares

Although I’m no longer a competitive rower as I was in high school and college, for the last 15 years I’ve had the nightmare where I’m late to crew practice. But now my subconscious has finally figured out that I’m a cartoonist and shifted that dream. I’m not sure I like the shift though.

Leif love

With a HIGH of -1º F today in Minneapolis, our short-haired vizsla dog, Leif, is enjoying his cocoon bed where he can snuggle up and stay warm. I hope you’re comfortable wherever in the world you may be!

Closing a chapter in my life...

And opening a new chapter! Plus my top advice on inking comics

This week I started a new chapter of my life. For the past decade, I’ve been working part-time as a freelance graphic designer, and part-time making graphic novels.

In 2023, I scaled back on graphic design since I have a graphic novel book deal, and this year, I decided to leave it entirely to try to focus on making graphic novels and developing a new business focused around art-related virtual workshops.

I’m still in the process of figuring out exactly what that workshop business will look like–will it be more about creating habits/structure to enable making art? Emotional skills that will help with being an artist writer (i.e. self-compassion)? Or technical comics skills?

Since my graphic novel is due to my publisher in April, I’m spending the next few months planning and brainstorming. Let me know if there’s something you’d like a workshop on!

Comics Advice for Inking: Stop multitasking

Watch this video for more:

I’m almost 200 pages into inking my middle grade graphic novel and I wanted to share my top inking advice: stop multitasking while inking.

I realize this is probably not a popular stance–my understanding is that most cartoonists love inking because they listen to audio books or podcasts while doing it. And if that process works for you, certainly keep doing it!

But multitasking doesn’t work for me and I find it’s really important to my quality of work, enjoyment, and speed to be present with the page and little else.

Creating a Yearly Motto

Every year, I choose a motto that I want to focus on for the upcoming year. Having a motto helps me narrow in on what’s important and I’ve found that it really works to help me embody the mottos and grow as a person.

My past mottos:

  • 2021: Trust the soup

  • 2022: Self-compassion

  • 2023: Be present and enjoy yourself. I chose this motto since I have a hard time with living in the moment, and that difficulty affects my ability to enjoy myself since I’m stressing about the past or future.

Water color art of a snow tree with the motto "Be present and enjoy yourself" by artist K. Woodman-Maynard

How “Be Present and Enjoy Yourself” Looked to Me This Year:

  • Joy: I tried to be more open to joy which is historically a hard emotion for me to access. Highlights from this year included a roller coaster ride at the Minnesota State Fair, early morning swimming on a lake with friends, making diary comics, and running with my dog along the Mississippi River.

  • Intentionality with media: I tried to be more intentional about the time I spent on my phone since being on my phone always takes me out of the present. I would say this is still a work in progress and some days are much better than others.

  • More meditation: I do daily meditations using the Calm app and I’ve also become more involved in a local meditation center. Since so much of meditation is about focusing on being in the present, it was a natural fit. But I found that meditating with others really elevated my practice and feelings of contentment which I’m excited to explore more of in 2024.

All in all, 2023 was a great year in terms of my happiness and mood and I think setting this motto, hanging it on the wall in my studio, and returning to it periodically was a big part of that success.

My motto for 2024: “What Feels Right?”

My motto for 2024 is “What Feels Right?” I’m trying to get in better touch with my intuition which feels like a compass if I choose to listen to it. I want to tap into that feeling with small choices like what to do for dinner, or bigger things like career moves (more on that in a future post).

I’ve spent so much of my life being ruled by “shoulds,” but now I want to be listen to what feels right, not what I think I “should” do.

Hugging or Humping

One of my favorite recent diary comics…

Diary comic by K. Woodman-Maynard about her vizsla dog

My holiday gift book recommendations

These are all books I’ve read this year and thoroughly enjoyed for various reasons. I hope these are helpful as you look for books for yourself or someone else on your list!1

For those seeking calm and art:

Draw Yourself Calm by Amy Maricle

“Discover the relaxing, mindful practice of slow drawing

Whether you enjoy drawing and doodling or are looking for a way to de-stress, boost creativity, and reconnect with what matters most, this appealing guide will invite you in to the soothing art of slow drawing.

With 25 nature-inspired patterns designed to relax the mind, Draw Yourself Calm provides a welcome break from our stressful, always-on world. Ditch perfectionism, tune in to the moment, and nurture yourself creatively and spiritually - one line at a time.”

 

For the technically minded:

Hidden Systems by Dan Nott

“We use water, electricity, and the internet every day--but how do they actually work? And what's the plan to keep them running for years to come? This nonfiction science graphic novel takes readers on a journey from how the most essential systems were developed to how they are implemented in our world today and how they will be used in the future.”

 

For those who love The Great Gatsby (or just want to support me):

My book! The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by K. Woodman-Maynard

“A sumptuously illustrated adaptation casts the powerful imagery of F. Scott Fitzgerald's great American novel in a vivid new format.”

“The book is rendered in luxe colors of rose, gold, amethyst and aquamarine, making us feel as though we're watching the events of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel through gems held up to the light ... readers ages 14 and older will find it hugely rewarding.”
-The Wall Street Journal

 

For those looking to level-up:

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

“With over 100,000 copies sold, New York Times bestselling author Gay Hendricks demonstrates how to go beyond your internal limits, release outdated fears and learn a whole new set of powerful skills and habits to liberate your authentic greatness. Fans of Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, and Gabrielle Bernstein will discover the way to break down the walls to a better life.”

 

For a thrillingly crafted mystery:

The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

“Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she even teaches a course on him. But when one of Clare's colleagues is found dead, with a line from Holland's iconic story "The Stranger" left by her body, Clare is horrified to see her life collide with her favorite literature.

The police suspect the killer is someone Clare knows. Unsure whom to trust, she turns to her diary, the only outlet for her suspicions and fears. Then one day she notices something odd. Writing that isn't hers, left on the page of an old diary:

Hallo Clare. You don't know me.

Clare becomes more certain than ever: "The Stranger" has come to terrifying life. But can the ending be rewritten in time?”

 

For monsters and mysteries:

The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing

“The first volume of a new middle-grade series, Drew Weing's The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo delivers a fresh and funny take on the age-old battle between kids and closet-dwelling monsters.”

 

For smart and silly kids:

Phoebe and Her Unicorn

“The first book in this beautifully drawn comic strip series follows the unlikely friendship between a somewhat awkward girl and the magical unicorn who gradually shows her just how special she really is. Over a series of hilarious adventures, Phoebe learns to bask in the awesomeness of Marigold and discover just how extraordinary it is to have a unicorn for a best friend.”

Recent Podcast Interview

I was recently a guest on a podcast and the host, Sal Daher, asked for my top advice for someone looking to get into a creative profession. Here’s what I said: 

  1. Be precious of your time

  2. Be a good communicator

  3. Have self-compassion

I’ve been a designer for Angel Invest Boston podcast for seven years so it was an honor to get to be on it to talk about my favorite episodes, advice to start-up founders, and having a career in the creative world.

1 I use affiliate links through Bookshop.org which means I get a small percentage of every purchase when you use that link.

The Distant Mountain

I’m in the midst of a professional transition and I’ve been thinking a lot about how I spend my time—and I’m becoming much more protective of it. I’m more aware of the little things that eat away at my time like scrolling social media or inefficiencies with how I go about my work. Or the bigger things like projects that don’t lead me closer to my goals, even if they could do serve me in other ways.

When thinking about choosing which projects to focus on, I find this Neil Gaiman quote particularly valuable:

How I use this quote is I ask myself, “Does this opportunity get me closer to my goal, lead me further away, or keep me plodding along, but not really progressing?” I’m susceptible to plodding away at things, so this is something I have to be particularly careful of.

I’m also trying to listen to my body and breath more in terms of decision making. When I think of an opportunity, does it make me feel diminished, or restrict my breath? Or do I feel expansive and exhilarated by it?

It’s still a work in progress, but these methods help me choose which direction will help me thrive and reach my goals.

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Diary Comic: How We Got a New Washer and Dryer

I feel a bit self-conscious sharing this frivolous and overly dramatic diary comic, but as this is a major shopping weekend, it seems somewhat appropriate:

And these rust stains on our our new sheets are what finally pushed us over the edge to get a new washer and dryer which really was overdue and much needed. And I just try to ignore the stains on the sheets.

Book Recommendation

I thoroughly enjoyed Aster and the Accidental Magic, a fun adventure graphic novel by Thom Pico and Karensac. The blurb is pretty accurate when it describes the book as, “A fun, action-packed fantasy adventure about a girl, her dog, and magic gone wrong!” It’s marketed for ages 8-12, although I’d say it’s on the younger end of that age range if you’re looking for a holiday gift.

Cartoonist or pre-schooler?

A recent diary comic I made about a conversation that made me look to at my life in a different way:

Of course, this diary comic is a vast oversimplification of what I do as a cartoonist and designer. But there is a lot of truth to it too. I structure my life so that I have freedom and space for the things that I love: art, nature, running around, and the ability to rest when I’m tired. I suppose this has a lot in common with pre-schoolers.

What I struggle with as an adult is that I take those fun things, and inadvertently make them stressful because they’re tied to internal pressures of being “good,” or external pressures like earning a living. But still this conversation was a good reminder to appreciate my life and what I do have.

And I don't want to fully make childhood seem like this idyllic golden time. If I'm honest, I remember pre-school being really stressful and full of emotions that I didn’t know what to do with. But I do think there's something to be said for a world that is built up to encourage movement of your body, creativity, and exploration. I think that is something that we can all strive for in small and big ways in our lives.

Graphic Novel Recommendation

I’ve been diving into middle grade (ages 8-12) graphic novels as I consider creating one of my own. Three different graphic novelists I respect all highly recommended This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews and I can see why.

I was blown away by this book—it was fantastical, philosophical, scientific, and ultimately about friendship and treating people with respect.

My description makes it sound heavier than it is—overall it’s also just a good adventure story told with expressive and fantastical art. I highly recommend adding This Was Our Pact to your holiday gift list if you’re looking for a graphic novel for a kid (or yourself!)

Hourly Comic Day - 2022

Hourly Comic Day occurs yearly on February 2 where cartoonists try to make a comic for every hour of their day.

In previous years, this felt far too scary and overwhelming to do. But this year, I’ve been doing Diary Comics every night, so making a comic every hour felt less dauntiing.