This is great—thanks Kelcey. I started doing graphic memoir/memoir comics a few years back when I had a show coming up about my mother's Lewy Body dementia and death (and my relationship with her). I wanted to make a "visual memoir", though I still didn't know what that would mean. I started trying to do memoir comics because it seemed the best way to *illustrate* (pun intended) the stories I had to tell, but it was extremely frustrating for me at first. I was trying to work too small, I was too stuck on making everything look "realistic", and I'd set up these very rigid panels to work within. As I worked toward the show, I eventually both loosened up and also started to make much larger pieces (the largest graphic memoir piece in the show was 42 by 78 inches). Now I'm working my way back to the graphic memoir (in book form) that I started when the show ended, and I'm hoping for it to be very loose and painterly. I'm so rusty with painting though, it's scary just thinking about it! But I'll get there.
I relate to all of this and love hearing how you explored the same topic in different formats and sizes! It's interesting that had to work bigger and bigger for the show and now have to scale down a bit (but still stay loose!). I love loose and painterly comics and would love to see what you do. Are some of the pieces from the show on your website?
Hi Kelcey—yes indeed, you can see photos of the work and the show here: https://www.balampman.com/#/lifeswork/. As I mention on my website, another thing I did to loosen up was to switch to a cheap bamboo brush that I intentionally made even worse by chopping up the bristles a bit, haha. It worked! It forced me to give up on trying to make things look "perfect" (whatever that is), and it pushed me places I'd never gone artistically. By the end, I had painted my mother's face so many times I could practically do it with my eyes closed, anyway. Right now I wouldn't be able to do it to save my life!
None of the work in the show is quite how I envision the graphic memoir, mind you.
I'm going to apply for funding from the Canada Council for the Arts to do the work, but I'll be doing it whether I get the funding or not.
Oh my gosh, B.A., what a stunning and moving project! I love the variety of sizes and the way it all suggests both the impossibility and the seemingly desperate need to share the story. The triptych of large portraits of your mother are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Thanks Kelcey. Your comment about “the way it all suggests both the impossibility and the seemingly desperate need to share the story” is interesting because that’s the first time I’ve heard it described that way. I’m always intrigued by the endlessly different ways people interpret/feel about art.
I love the way you found your path with this, and how you can translate your own experience into steps we can take! So mind-expanding as I transition from being only a writer (who started out as an artist, with a comics focus) to focusing on comics. The dance between what’s best represented by image and what needs text, and how much, is one of the greatest creative thrills of my life. Thanks for feeding and fueling the thrills! 🙏
Oh my gosh, yes! I love how you phrase that: it IS a dance between image and text, and it’s so fun to put them together into a story. I didn’t realize you’d separated them at times as well!
I think I'll get out my watercolors and pens and experiment, starting with the true story of me killing a timber rattlesnake in my yard with a shovel when I was thirty-three years old and then shot an even bigger one with a .22 and afterwards made a quilt about it. Thank you, Kelcey.
I was just talking about starting drawing and illustrating with my son yesterday. I can’t wait to show this to him. He thinks you have to be a master in order to begin being something… he’s 10. I hoped it would be about play and curiosity.
I’m going to pull out my old type writer and show him how much fun it can be, to begin!
I usually look to the kids among us to be free and to remind us that we DON’T have to be masters! But I know that the reprogramming starts young in our schools. I think bringing out the old typewriter is a great first step to play and curiosity!
This is great—thanks Kelcey. I started doing graphic memoir/memoir comics a few years back when I had a show coming up about my mother's Lewy Body dementia and death (and my relationship with her). I wanted to make a "visual memoir", though I still didn't know what that would mean. I started trying to do memoir comics because it seemed the best way to *illustrate* (pun intended) the stories I had to tell, but it was extremely frustrating for me at first. I was trying to work too small, I was too stuck on making everything look "realistic", and I'd set up these very rigid panels to work within. As I worked toward the show, I eventually both loosened up and also started to make much larger pieces (the largest graphic memoir piece in the show was 42 by 78 inches). Now I'm working my way back to the graphic memoir (in book form) that I started when the show ended, and I'm hoping for it to be very loose and painterly. I'm so rusty with painting though, it's scary just thinking about it! But I'll get there.
I relate to all of this and love hearing how you explored the same topic in different formats and sizes! It's interesting that had to work bigger and bigger for the show and now have to scale down a bit (but still stay loose!). I love loose and painterly comics and would love to see what you do. Are some of the pieces from the show on your website?
Hi Kelcey—yes indeed, you can see photos of the work and the show here: https://www.balampman.com/#/lifeswork/. As I mention on my website, another thing I did to loosen up was to switch to a cheap bamboo brush that I intentionally made even worse by chopping up the bristles a bit, haha. It worked! It forced me to give up on trying to make things look "perfect" (whatever that is), and it pushed me places I'd never gone artistically. By the end, I had painted my mother's face so many times I could practically do it with my eyes closed, anyway. Right now I wouldn't be able to do it to save my life!
None of the work in the show is quite how I envision the graphic memoir, mind you.
I'm going to apply for funding from the Canada Council for the Arts to do the work, but I'll be doing it whether I get the funding or not.
Oh my gosh, B.A., what a stunning and moving project! I love the variety of sizes and the way it all suggests both the impossibility and the seemingly desperate need to share the story. The triptych of large portraits of your mother are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Thanks Kelcey. Your comment about “the way it all suggests both the impossibility and the seemingly desperate need to share the story” is interesting because that’s the first time I’ve heard it described that way. I’m always intrigued by the endlessly different ways people interpret/feel about art.
I might have been totally off! But I felt a really lovely tension in viewing your powerful work.
There is no “off”! It’s what you saw. Totally VALID 🤩
I love the way you found your path with this, and how you can translate your own experience into steps we can take! So mind-expanding as I transition from being only a writer (who started out as an artist, with a comics focus) to focusing on comics. The dance between what’s best represented by image and what needs text, and how much, is one of the greatest creative thrills of my life. Thanks for feeding and fueling the thrills! 🙏
Oh my gosh, yes! I love how you phrase that: it IS a dance between image and text, and it’s so fun to put them together into a story. I didn’t realize you’d separated them at times as well!
Thank you for this article. I have to slow down to appreciate every line, and that what makes it unique.
That's nice to hear! Thank you!
Wonderful and encouraging tips! Thanks so much for sharing! I am increasingly drawn to this genre. (pun intended.)
Haha, nice pun indeed! It’s been a busy semester but I still really want to make prints with you!
Yes. I haven’t forgotten! Let’s try and squeeze it in before the year is over!
I love this. Well, actually, I love everything you do. So cool.
Aw shucks! Thanks, Barb! 🥰
Wonderful article and visual essay. Great title too :)
I'm still not sure it was the right title! 😂
Really appreciate you putting this here
Thank you! Glad to hear it might be helpful!
Simply lovely! And fun. And energizing. And uplifting.
Thank you, Becky! (belated!)
Great aesthetic.
Thanks! I dig yours too.
Thanks Kelcey, I just spend some more time with your work. I did not know that about viking names. The visual essays are inspiring. Time to recommend.
I came to substack for words, but keep being drawn to the words+pictures people :)
I've been in a writing slump and started playing with visuals along with words
Hi Sara! Glad you’re playing with visuals! (It often turns into good mail art!) ❤️
I need to play with mail again soon too :)
Inspiring write up about interesting activity combining sketching+painting+writing.
Belated thanks!
I think I'll get out my watercolors and pens and experiment, starting with the true story of me killing a timber rattlesnake in my yard with a shovel when I was thirty-three years old and then shot an even bigger one with a .22 and afterwards made a quilt about it. Thank you, Kelcey.
love love love this (and everything Kelcey writes)
This is so cool!! I'm inspired
Thank you! Glad to hear it!
I have been wrestling with how to marry my words and art! I’m so excited to find this! Looking forward to leaning in!
It’s so fun! And challenging! And exciting! Good luck!
I love this!
I was just talking about starting drawing and illustrating with my son yesterday. I can’t wait to show this to him. He thinks you have to be a master in order to begin being something… he’s 10. I hoped it would be about play and curiosity.
I’m going to pull out my old type writer and show him how much fun it can be, to begin!
I usually look to the kids among us to be free and to remind us that we DON’T have to be masters! But I know that the reprogramming starts young in our schools. I think bringing out the old typewriter is a great first step to play and curiosity!