I think one of the reasons I started making comics is that I like talking way too much. Comics force me to stop chattering, and pare down my message. Also, like lots of people, I struggled with intense fears about public speaking for many years. Comics let you off the hook for that too: what other kind of writing just doesn't work being read out loud live? Film scripts? I've tried my hand at those too!
One of the great things about getting older, is that I no longer completely freak out when I get the opportunity to talk in front of a group of people. If you had told my 20 year old self that I would actually enjoy holding a mic and talking at some point in the future, I would have asked you if we were all going to get lobotomies in the new millennium, or just me.
I was especially honored to talk art at Pittsburgh Arts and Lecture Series - Made Local a few weeks back. Librarians I work with know that I usually resist mixing my creative life with my librarian life. I want people to approach me as a neutral objective person at the library as much as possible, and I am neither of those things when I make art. Still, a chance to talk comics at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh was a leap worth making. I loved talking about the ways that digging around in library stacks informs my art work, and the ways that information, and technology intersect for me creatively in a way that also supports library work.
I even sang a tiny bit - which is insane!
There is really nothing like the pleasure of talking about what drives you creatively with a mix of people from your life and new people in the same room. This is what art is for me: a way to communicate. Getting to see the people I communicate with face to face is delightful!
Check out this rundown from my favorite audience member via Comics Workbook
One of the great things about getting older, is that I no longer completely freak out when I get the opportunity to talk in front of a group of people. If you had told my 20 year old self that I would actually enjoy holding a mic and talking at some point in the future, I would have asked you if we were all going to get lobotomies in the new millennium, or just me.
I was especially honored to talk art at Pittsburgh Arts and Lecture Series - Made Local a few weeks back. Librarians I work with know that I usually resist mixing my creative life with my librarian life. I want people to approach me as a neutral objective person at the library as much as possible, and I am neither of those things when I make art. Still, a chance to talk comics at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh was a leap worth making. I loved talking about the ways that digging around in library stacks informs my art work, and the ways that information, and technology intersect for me creatively in a way that also supports library work.
I even sang a tiny bit - which is insane!
There is really nothing like the pleasure of talking about what drives you creatively with a mix of people from your life and new people in the same room. This is what art is for me: a way to communicate. Getting to see the people I communicate with face to face is delightful!
Check out this rundown from my favorite audience member via Comics Workbook
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