About June 2023

Jul14
by on July 14, 2023 at 10:42 am

A series of four panel comics: Comic 1: In the first panel, a crumpled up ball of paper bounces off of several other crumpled papers on the floor. The narration begins: “I’ve had the hardest time writing comics this month.” In the second panel, a hand taps a stylus onto the tablet, which is lit up with the Procreate UI but nothing drawn on the screen. The narration continues: “Every idea or record of a moment I feel inspired to make eventually loses steam–” In the third panel, several word balloons from various directions spout self-doubting words. Phrases like “is this worth saying?” and “this is too self-indulgent” fill up the panel. The narration, outside of these bubbles, continues: “Or I lose conviction in the thing I’m trying to say, pulling it apart bit by bit until it’s threadbare.” In the fourth panel, we see Emily, frustrated with a tablet in front of her, deleting the latest attempt. The narration concludes: “And at the end of it all, I just wind up exhausted and empty handed.” Comic 2: In the first panel, Emily stands rendered in orange and teal, hair long, looking off to the side with some level of wonder or shock. The narration begins: “These comics were meant to be a diary, loose, spontaneous, a daily chronicle.” In the second panel, Emily stands, a mirror of the first panel, but now her hair is short and she’s rendered in pink and blue. The narration continues: “And of course, because I can’t help being the person I am, they became an outlet for something more.” In the third panel, Emily is mirrored once more, this time in pink and green. The narration continues: “And also because I can’t help being the person I am, eventually I put far too much pressure on myself–” In the fourth panel, the narration text sits in the middle of the frame, split by pink and green color blocks. The narration concludes: “To find something capital-I Important to say in every single one.” Comic 3: In the first panel, Emily stands in profile and silhouette, arm outstretched. The narration begins: “So at least right now I’ll let myself be simple.” In the second panel, Emily and Em are seen through the window of an L train. The city skyline reflects on the window, and Emily looks out in wonder. The narration continues: “I feel incredibly lucky–” In the third panel, Emily sits in her car, exhaustion clear on her face, commuting home from work, a loud “BEEEEEP” sound effect taking up nearly all of the panel. The narration continues: “and incredibly tired.” In the fourth panel, Emily sits at a desk, slouched over her laptop, looking worn as she concludes a virtual therapy session. A text bubble with the words “so how’s your self-care lately?” emit from her laptop. The narration concludes: “And I feel guilty for having the luxury to feel both.” Comic 4: Each frame is a section of the same scene: trees framing the night sky, with clouds and the moon in clear view, a campfire below the leaves with ashes and smoke sparking from it. The narration is broken up through the panels, reading: “And yet–and yet. I feel summer starting to peek through it all.”

Thanks as always for reading. See you next week.

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