BALANCING FANTASY AND REALITY

Not all art is based in fantasy. I’ve always been on the lookout for practical applications for art. In school, I took a screenprinting course about art used in protests, and that really drew me in. I think illustration is so fun, because it can be applied to topical things — and even be temporary and eventually tossed away or used as kindling in someone’s fire.

All art has a purpose, especially art that isn’t supposed to be there — like graffiti or stickers on a lamp post — or illustrations that aren't behind a paywall. I really believe that the practice of illustration, especially as used for political purposes, can change the world.

When you did the call for artists, it felt aligned. We all notice a sensation of helplessness right now, and it feels good to counteract that by creating something with purpose, that can support the good work that the ACLU of Oregon is doing and further the cause in some small way. All of our skills and talents serve a role in activism work.

Wow, they are all so important! We are in a really dark time for our LGBTQ+ communities, and while it shouldn’t be a prerequisite to care about the issue, it is affecting people in my communities that I know and love. It gives me hope to see your organization taking concrete steps to protect queer people, especially when things feel so scary and we all want to disconnect from reality.

I am a huge mental health advocate as well, having grown up with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Seeing the initiatives by some cabinet members to take away tried and true tools and medications like SSRIs, the abortion pill, and gender-affirming care has me very concerned for our youth. Mental health intersects closely with so many issues on the ACLU of Oregon’s docket and all of these communities are under attack. Everyone’s liberation is connected.

What IS my design process? I had a professor tell me once to draw a lot, and never plan any of it. For example, with this project, I started with the mood board to get the vibe right. After that, I developed a library of references and then began some loose sketches, grouped by issue. I love using texture and different brushes in my work, so I save that step for last to give it some extra dimension and a tangible feel. I feel most motivated when I jump straight in, rather than planning in advance.

Because my work at Eugene Weekly and the art I do freelance often cover our current and intense political reality, I try to disconnect from that world and take breaks as much as I can, otherwise everything really bleeds together and I am less effective and impactful. We have to make space for fantasy too — dreaming of other, better worlds.

I really enjoyed the collaborative process we engaged in together. You know, I am a human with my own flaws and blindspots. I learned in school how to use critique to better my art, so I appreciated how frequently we touched-base and received your team’s honest feedback throughout the time we worked together. Also, when you are looking at the same project repeatedly for three months it gets hard to see the forest through the trees — your team’s encouragement and reflection on what I developed helped ease that for me.

Honestly, I was nervous at first! It felt like a big deal to work with you on this. You were all so nice, and, welcoming and chill, not bureaucratic and corporate.

I am a huge fantasy nerd. Like I said earlier, I am often overwhelmed by the reality of our world and I love to get lost in fantasy for a while, so that I can keep coming back to this reality and this work in a sustainable way. I am part of a DnD (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign and we play weekly with my friends. I am an avid fantasy reader, and am currently reading the MistBorn series by Brandon Sanderson. I play a lot of video games and of course draw and make art about my favorite people and topics unrelated to work or politics.

Working out is also really important for my mental health — I love to run and do pilates, and cheer my husband on while he rock climbs. Movement helps prevent me from mainlining “the worst five things you’ve ever heard” all day long. It allows me to find a balance between being ignorant to what is going on and trying to hold onto every headline. I also have two cats, Ophelia and Rayla (who is named after a character from one of my favorite fantasy shows), who help me stay grounded and present.