Dear readers,
Where did the story come from, that summer is a time for relaxing and leisure, good vibes and laziness…It must be a feeling from childhood, that we hang on to for dear life. As a neurodivergent adult it is more about disruption of schedules, sensory overload from sun and sweat, dysregulated kids, and longing for the past.
Allright, it’s not all bad I guess. I am maintaining my daily walking, and although my daily creative habit has diversified, it is still a big part of my day. My illustrated journal does feel neglected, but I am making some really interesting things for ICAD and Making Comics, so I am at peace with it.
Our read-along for Lynda Barry’s Making Comics continues to intensify. She has us making four frame comics now. I never think I am going to be able to come up with a good idea and then it just happens. Fortunately the prompts encourage silliness. Nothing makes me freeze up more than the need to be serious.
I can’t decide what role comics might play in my day to day life after the read along. I like doing the comics, and I have always wanted to include comics of my weekly adventures in my journal. I think the character generation has had more of an impression on me, and I am feeling more inspired to add other characters to my journal pages, and to depict myself in different ways too.
I am having the most fun with my ICAD project. I was originally planning to do something very serious and aesthetic, like the work of the collage artists I admire on substack. That…didn’t happen. My predilection for the silly and the absurd shouldered its way to the front of my brain and took control.
I can definitely see myself continuing to make these after ICAD is over, but not on rolodex cards, because I am completely spoiled and used to much thicker paper, not to mention more room. Do they make journals out of bristol board? I can’t seem to glue anything into my current journal, the paper has too much texture.
Is anyone else doing the summer reading challenge through their library? You know a book nerd like me signed up on day one. Have I already logged my 600 minutes of reading…YEP!
I waited forever for my hold to come up on The Friend and Sunrise on the Reaping. While I enjoyed The Friend, I was expecting there to be more emphasis on her relationship with the dog. The Chalk Pit is a great installment of this mystery series. It is sort of the British version of the Kathy Reichs series featuring Temperance Brennan.
It felt like I waited a bazillion years to get my chance to read Sunrise on the Reaping. (Damn the man for cutting library funding!). I was worried it would be hard to get back into the world of Panem after so much time, but I am really enjoying it (83% done, no spoilers please!).
Want to learn more about the Making Comics read-along?
Want to see all the crazy ICAD cards?
Thank you to all of my dearest readers for being part of my community here on substack (and off). I truly feel that making meaningful connections is the key to happiness.
A big virtual hug to everyone who is experiencing daily anxiety about our country and the world at large, especially after the events of last night. I know it is maddening. Send me a message or leave a comment if you are feeling alone or isolated. The horrors persist, but so do we.
If you are doing ICAD, or just want to see what we are up to, you are welcome to join the casual sharing thread in my chat.
Have you read any good books this summer?
Do you have any summer traditions?
Are you participating in any Summer challenges, official or unofficial?
Take care of yourselves.
Love, Laura
You drew a superlative Sly Stone! And all the work is so good. Thanks-I enjoyed seeing it all!
Glad you're enjoying your rolodex creations! It's a fun project!