Suburbia
Spending time in my hometown
Happy New Year my friends. Sours might think it’s too late in the year to keep saying that to people. Idk. I like it.
It’s good to be nice to computers when you can. They’ll remember it in the future when you’re old and they might spare you in the coming wars.
I spent the past half month in my hometown in suburban Maryland. I was looking forward to a change of scenery after catching tons of heavy, city vibes (bad ones). I was also excited to spend time with my parents and lil sistas, who are all fricken hilarious and the best people I know.
I also brought my cat. He hated my dog. Lolz
I love Maryland. I love visiting and seeing my homies and doing suburban shit, like driving around, going to Waffle House, playing at the casino. Time feels slower, which makes me feel calmer, which enables me to live a bit more in the present. I didn’t really have any obligations.
Kinda like the Miyazaki cat:
It was a good time. But now I’m back in NY. And it’s time to work.
Memories
After a decently long break (I got lazy and wanted to doodle instead of draw), I’m back on dat friggen storytelling grind yeo.
The memory I’m currently working on comes from a stranger! All of the stories I’ve posted in the past have come from submissions by my close friends, which usually makes the job a bit easier since I’m able to inject a bit of their personality into the characters I draw.
Drawing a submission from someone I don’t know has been a unique and fun challenge. It’s also so flattering that people out there in the giant world connect with my art and trust me with their most cherished memories.
Asher, the memory rememberer, has been SUUPERR helpful with sending me some resources, photos, mood boards, of their past. Here’s the first panel as a little sneak peek of the work:
I’m so excited to finish this and show ya’ll the final! It’s been a long time coming. I’m sitting on a ton of submissions at the moment and although I’m anxious to work on them, I’m remembering to protect my peace with this project and not burn out. Hence the break. I’m a slow worker and I think that’s okay.
COMIX
I’ve been dedicated to my “Memories” series for the past few months, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped making stupid strips. I have a ton of ideas cooking and sometimes I get the time to sketch out the ideas. Here’s something I’m sitting on right now:
I’ve committed to completing at least 10 memories. Once I’m done those, I’ll move onto my next thing. I haven’t decided what it will be yet, but a narrative comic series is in the works as a potential next project. I miss making dumb jokes.
REX
I have a couple rex. I’ve been listening non-stop to The Cranberries.
Me and my lil sis Julia love “Linger,” since a cover of the song went viral on Twitter. One night, while drinking wine and chatting, my mom revealed to us that she was a big fan of The Cranberries as a youth.
My mom has always been a huge influence on my taste in music and movies, so I knew I’d like the band if I listened. And I do.
Another recommendation this week reminds me of the more negative contexts of suburban life: I Saw the TV Glow
Roger Ebert once said in an interview that “the movies are like a machine that generates empathy.”
This movie taps into the horrors that many human beings face that I would never have been privy to, had I not seen it. This particular empathy machine is scary and profound and wild and I’ve been thinking about it for days. Its really good. I like it.
Thanks for reading. May all your dreams come true.
LOVE THIS