19 Comments
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Elly Bazigos's avatar

I love that book and ALsSO scoffed at this exercise! I'm inspired to go back, your outcome is brilliant

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Nanette Regan's avatar

Thanks Elly! Yes, it's so easy to scoff at some of the exercises, then find out they're brilliant and have to eat humble pie! 😆

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Jess Stride's avatar

A simple yet brilliant idea! I love how the creatures take on their own personalities from the words you had written in your diary!

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Nanette Regan's avatar

It's amazing how something so simple turns up such interesting results! I loved seeing the personalities just appear by themselves!

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Bridget Marzo's avatar

A belated thanks for sharing that Nanette and making me want to give that a go! I passed on Lynda Barry's book to my daughter - methinks I need to borrow it back at some point!

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Nanette Regan's avatar

Thanks Bridget! It is a great book, it took me a bit of time to get used to it but the exercises are so good once you get into them!

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Abby Cook's avatar

Doing drawings without any reference…I can feel the stress, I’m stressed for you even thinking about that! It’s amazing how much better my drawings are if I’m observing rather than imagining!

What a great technique! I’m not a children’s book illustrator but I wonder if I could apply it to create stories about bigger things? I’ve wanted to write about anxiety and being highly sensitive for a while know but have no idea how to go about it…maybe a little character as a vehicle to explain things might help!

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Nanette Regan's avatar

Oh Abby that's such a good idea! It's hard to write about things that are so personal, having a character or two would be a great way to do it, and you could use something you can observe for your drawings. There's a comics / drawing exercise where you talk through a problem with an imaginary animal. You just let the animal answer you as you're drawing and writing. You could use two objects talking to each other as a way to discuss things that are a bit more vulnerable xx

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Humanity's Future's avatar

Interesting project and analysis. Well done! I most love the expression on the dog’s face at the end. :) I had never before thought about using my art skills to develop my writing more (in a fun way), so I got a lot out of your post. Thank you. (Susan)

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Nanette Regan's avatar

Thank you Susan! It's so interesting how text and image can change and effect each other - and fun to play about with too!

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Ella Beech's avatar

Love the esoteric comic you have ended up with! I love Lynda Barry! Her books and exercises are so creative and fun, too! You’ve inspired me to give this a go! X

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Nanette Regan's avatar

It would be so cool to see what you come up with Ella - especially with your ceramics collection! I spent so long NOT reading Lynda Barry because I wasn't sure about her aesthetic - what an absolute fool!! The exercises are so good!!

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Ella Beech's avatar

Ah yes! I would enjoy bringing my ceramics to life!! Yes, Lynda Barry is so great, but you have to get over the initial aesthetic! X

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Robyn Hepburn's avatar

They're great! Amazing that something so simple can be so entertaining. I'm going to try it...

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Nanette Regan's avatar

I'd love to see what you come up with Robyn! It's fun to see the characters and stories just appear in front of you!

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Robyn Hepburn's avatar

It can be my main procrastination method for this week.

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Nanette Regan's avatar

😆

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Jane Porter's avatar

'Not Sure About the Spaghetti' would make a great title for a book about fussy eaters...

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Nanette Regan's avatar

Haha! It would make a great title!!

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