Reading · Creating Comics

I love introducing people to things I love. When I attend school reunions, people often tell me that I was the reason they tried xc-running (or nordic skiing, or crew).

As an adult, I’m more likely to try to convert people to comics. More specifically, diary comics. I love how accessible, fun, and rewarding they are.

This Spring, I hosted seven diary comics workshops for kids. And then this week I taught a modified one for adults. What I found surprising was how the adults displayed more child-like joy in the act of creation than the kids did. While the kids certainly enjoyed it, drawing isn't so far outside their daily lives the way it is for most adults. I was thrilled to see the their excitement.

With both kids and adults, I’m always amazed at how quickly people can create and finish a comic, even when they’re totally new to the medium.

K. Woodman-Maynard, watercolor diary comic, walking new dog vera as she sees a squirrel. Panel 1 text reads: “It’s such a relief to walk Vera- She’s so calm all the time.” Panel 4 text reads:”Okay. Maybe she's not calm all the time!” — I made this comic live during the workshop and colored afterwards.

I especially love how different everyone’s comics are in their art and voice, and how the personality of the creator shines through. I feel an immediate connection to the creator that I don’t often feel when I read prose writing.

You can see what I mean by looking at some of the awesome comics people made during the workshop below.

If you’re interested in watching a recording of the workshop, it’s available lower on this post for paid subscribers (below the paywall, and this week with Leif Love).

Serena Reed: “We all miss the bird feeder, but at least the bear visitation was exciting (and made a good topic for a comic!)”

Serena Reed, watercolor diary comic, bird feeder getting taken by bear. Panel 1 text reads: “We got a bird feeder for Christmas.” Panel 2 text reads: “Everyone enjoys watching the birds (especially the cats!)” Panel 3 text reads: “Then last week we had a visitor…” Panel 4 text reads: “So, now”

moon granatum: “The attack of the stye (eye pimple)”

Moongranatum, black and white ink diary comic, stye (eye pimple). Panel 1 text reads: “To me the worst pain ever is to be cursed with a stye.” Panel 2 text reads: “There is nothing you can do to stop the two weeks of agony ahead of you.” Panel 3 text reads: “I thought my third stye would be my last.” Panel 4 text reads: “But I was mistaken.” Panel 5 text reads: “noooooooooo”

Jenny Tan: “Comic of me right before the workshop!”

Jenny Tan, watercolor diary comic, work meeting. Panel 1 text reads: “blah blah blah” “Ding” “Diary comics workshop.” Panel 2 text reads: “Why did I make this call right now” “Blah blah blah work.” “Ding,ding” Panel 3 text reads: “ Ok! Bye!” “Alright see you soon!” “Dude. Ding.” Panel 4 text reads: “Phew I made it! Good thing I set an alarm for this!” “Sigh”

J.M. Hunter: “Fighting imposter syndrome and decision paralysis our artist braves the barely working pen to paper!”

JM Hunter, ink diary comic, art process. Panel 1 text reads: “I recently joined a diary comics workshop to try and get any movement going on my creative process.” Panel 2 text reads: “ I prepped all the things that I thought I would need. I made panel templates, got different pens and paper, even remembered my glasses even.” Panel 3 text reads, “But when given the prompt my mind went blank. I’ve even seen this one before! But once again, nothing!” Panel 4 text reads: “ And there you have it my pursuit of perfection has once again caused paralysis (so?). I know, I know. Finish, not perfect. But still.”

Wendy, watercolor diary comic, going on a walk seeing a snake. Panel 1 text reads,” I went for a walk looking for peace.” Panel 2 text reads, “A beautiful black snake squiggled across the path.” Panel 3 text reads: “ Then I found art hung on the trees.” Panel 4 text reads: “Mission accomplished.”

V- Rae Brocato: “Diary comic of something that surprised: a scene from summer art camp.”

V-Rae Brocato, Ink and marker diary comic, art class. Text reads,” The great stone art studio mixed media sculpture day. We figure out how to make the art we imagine… artists are problem solvers. Steve, Steve, Steve. Huh, who's Steve? We have no Steve in class. Steve, a character from minecraft, thus realized.”

Pat Coakley: “Ken Robinson in a TED talk was sympathetic with William Shakespeare’s English teacher.”

Pat Coakley, black and white diary comic. Panel 1 text reads: “7 year old Willie Shakespeare’s first day of school was at Guildehall in August 1571. He went to a school with 40 boys of all ages. Simon Hunt was his teacher.” Panel 2 text reads: “ Would William Shakespeare please tell us what fun thing he did this summer?” Panel 3 text reads: “ I laughed at gilded butterflies sir.” Panel 4 text reads: “whaaat? I give up…. Dickhead? I sorta like butterflies.”

Robert Labossiere: “My best friend and inspiration, a true original.”

Robert Labrossiere, Diary comic, graphite. Panel 1 text reads: “My friend Al, We met in art school.” Panel 2 text reads,” I went to grad school, Al started a magazine.” Panel 3 text reads, “ When I got back I joined the group, we kind of bonded over mid continental.” Panel 4 text reads,” Then I drifted away, Toronto marriage, work more school, different direction. We didn’t see each other for a decade or more. At some point I looked him up I think… I don’t recall how but we reconnected.” Panel 5 text reads, “I remember going to visit him at the house he bought with his partner Debby.” Panel 4 text reads: “Debby passed some years ago. But we get together regularly. We can talk for hours, just like always. He makes great coffee.”

If you’d like to watch the recording of the workshop, it’s available below the paywall for my paid subscribers.

What Happens When Adults Make Diary Comics

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