HELLO (how tf is January almost over)

Hi Patrons,

This cartoon went in the theater's e-newsletter. It's the most personal newsletter cartoon I've done, and much longer than usual, but I couldn't think of anything else to write about. The first three weeks of January were pretty rough. I got COVID and we had to cancel one weekend of classes, 2 weekends of shows, 2 movie nights and 2 birthday parties, first due to snow and then to flooding from a sprinkler malfunction. Naomi and I were intensely lucky that we had power, heat, and water at home, and didn't break anything trying to walk to the grocery store.

I actually took screenshots for reference during the Zoom meeting and emailed them to myself (subject line: "unflattering web cam"). But when I was drawing the comic I had to exaggerate the lines and shadows because weirdly, the screenshots weren't as hideous as they seemed at the time. :)

I worried that this comic would fall into the "annoying self-loathing autobio" category but it's my favorite thing I've drawn in awhile. One of the fun parts of drawing comics is that you don't have to be literal. Watching panel 4 come to life, I felt playful and powerful at the same time, and I finished this comic with a feeling of "YES! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

This feeling was possibly enhanced by sleep deprivation and a good audiobook.

Here are the other newsletter cartoons from the last month or so:

Alternate caption: Do what you love, and you'll never afford a babysitter. That wasn't the right tone for the newsletter, of course, but I was upset at how much more I liked that caption than anything else I could think of!

I should've drawn the mirror larger, because this was the actual size and I'm worried people will think I'm exaggerating. The old building was so massive, you'd think "Oh, this would look good in my room" and then you realize your mistake when you get home. 

Are you excited for Abbott Elementary Season 3?! Twelve more days...

I've been thinking for awhile that Barbara and Melissa belong on a coffee mug, so this was my excuse to finally colorize some sketches and put them on my TeePublic.

Step Class 

and Franklin Institute 

Thanks, as always, for supporting me on Patreon!
Becky