How My Mode of Self Expression is Creation

As of right now, my primary form of expressing myself is drawing comics. Self-expression has been a rather long and winding journey for me. I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember. But, expressing myself through comics is relatively new to me. In fact, for most of my life, I took no interest in comics at all.

I think drawing comics has brought me a sort of freedom that I haven’t found in other art forms. It challenges me as a writer as well as an artist, and yet perfection is not required.

Because of comics’ simplistic nature, it’s possible to capture small and quotidian moments that create a shared human experience. The informal nature of comics allows me to capture the messier sides of life.

In a broader sense, my primary mode of self-expression is creation. I was lucky enough to have parents who supported me and provided me with the supplies to create.

I went through many phases: knitting, sewing, papercutting, quilling, needle felting, and origami, among others. When I was young, my parents bought a large cabinet, moved it into the office, and filled it floor to ceiling with art supplies.

I painted and stitched and glued and snipped. Creating, no matter the medium, became crucial to my identity. This willingness to experiment with new techniques and mediums has continued into my adulthood.

I am always being inspired by other creators. And I am encouraged by the knowledge that there is always room to grow in new and unexpected directions.