My apologies in advance. June has been a rough month, and while I usually turn to art to bring me joy and lift my spirits, I just kind of had to do this ugly piece. The message is cynical and the colors assault my eyes. I really dislike it, so it’s okay if you do, too.
I was in the middle of a Procreate tutorial on making vintage postcards when I heard the news about Roe. I was no longer in the mood to make anything cute. I knew I wanted the guns in the letters, but I needed to look at reference photos. It took me two days to bring myself to google pictures of guns. I hadn’t really looked at guns before — really looked at them — because they give me the creeps. Drawing forces you to observe your subject in this really Zen-like, detached way, such that I often feel a new appreciation for what I draw (the subject, not the drawing). That didn’t happen here, but the process did help me feel calmer. Nevertheless, I don’t intend to draw guns again. My aversion to the sight of guns is a rational, healthy response, and there is no reason to cure myself of it.
While making this piece I listened to multiple episodes of Slate’s Amicus podcast by Dahlia Lithwick to help me process all these Supreme Court decisions. I also started the current season of Slow Burn on the history of Roe v. Wade. And this podcast episode of the Ezra Klein show puts Supreme Court behavior into a bit of context; as the episode’s title suggests, the Court has been off the rails for a while.
When my partner and I see a disturbing show, we follow it up by watching a “Groundhog’s Day” — something light, sweet, and kind of stupid — because that’s the movie we saw to clear our brains after watching some other film that was unexpectedly traumatic. So here’s a silly thumbnail sketch from my notebook as a “Groundhog’s Day” for your eyes. I won’t make you look at that that postcard again. I’ll go back to drawing rabbits and chickens.
Totally agree. June left me speechless, and I still don't have the words to ??? (not sure what to do or say). One resource that helps put current events into context is a daily blog by Heather Cox Richardson, her "Letters from an American." She is a history professor at Boston College and was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Here is what she wrote re the overturn of Roe v Wade: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/june-26-2022 She has also done a weekly podcast.