Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Looking Back At My Younger Self

1-page cartoon of a woman with a messy bun, looking back at her younger self, who sits primly and studiously at a desk. Panel 1 caption: "This is the time of year when I tend to look back and reflect on the past with a mix of nostalgia and regret." Older Self looks at her younger self in the same frame. Younger Self, serious, hands clasped in front of her like a teacher's pet, says, "Games? I don't play games...Fun? Why would I have that?...Relax?! What? Never!" Final panel: Younger Self leans and adds, "Not a fan of surprises either!" as Older Self walks away, with a pencil in her ear, and notes, "Wow I'm really going to have to work on that."  Comic strip titled "Looking Back At My Younger Self." Bookend caption at the bottom of the page reads, "But mostly gratitude that I'm no longer young." Original cartoon and art by Connie Sun, cartoonconnie, 2024.

This is the time of year when I tend to look back and reflect on the past with a mix of nostalgia and regret. But mostly gratitude that I'm no longer young ;)

Thanks for reading and wishing you all the fun and games you can stand. - Connie

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After some time offline, I've started sharing updates again, on my blog and Ko-fi page. I'll be back on Instagram selectively. You can also sign up to hear from me directly on my portfolio site. 


Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Permission To Be Happy

Short comic titled "Permission to be happy." Page 1: Illustration of a girl with a backpack, staring in awe at an exhibit of comic book pages displayed in a museum glass case. Text reads, "When I first got into comics and cartooning as an adult, I never thought it was something I could be good enough to do myself." Original artwork by Connie Sun, cartoonconnie, 2024.
Page 2: Illustration of a girl with a backpack, alone, staring out into vast, unfamiliar terrain, potentially treacherous to cross. Text reads, "I had very low confidence and self-esteem and didn't know how or where to start." Original artwork by Connie Sun, cartoonconnie, 2024.


Page 3: Illustration of a forlorn-looking girl, hunched over from the weight of her backpack, with a single rain cloud, over just her head. She's talking to her friend, a young woman named Bridget, with bright energy and clothes, who says to the girl, "You're an artist, Connie! Let yourself be happy! You deserve to be happy!" The girl thinks to herself, "That's an option?" Original artwork by Connie Sun, cartoonconnie, 2024.
Page 4: Illustration of a girl with a bun in front of an art easel au plein air, painting a vast landscape. Text reads, "It took one person, who believed in me before I did, to convince me to start letting myself be happy, in the face of everything...I'm still grateful to work at this everyday. Thanks, Bridge." Original artwork by Connie Sun, cartoonconnie, 2024.

Drawing comics is how I learned to let myself be happy. My friend Bridget McElroy was the one who told me what I needed to hear to take the first step toward cartooning. Everyday, I think about the gift of what she said to me and it still keeps me going. Thank you always, B.

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After some time offline, I've started sharing updates again, on my blog and Ko-fi page. I'll be back on Instagram selectively. You can also sign up to hear from me directly on my portfolio site. 

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Drawing Yourself Everyday

Illustration of a girl with a bun drawing at her desk. Caption reads, "Remember who you are today. Write it down for tomorrow." Second illustration of the girl with the bun drawing her own shape in with a pencil. Caption reads, "Draw yourself into existence daily." Original artwork by Connie Sun, cartoonconnie, 2024.

"Remember who you are today. Write it down for tomorrow. Draw yourself into existence daily."

These are creative mantras I build my art practice on. Sharing them here in case they are useful for you too. - Connie

After some time offline, I've started sharing updates again, on my blog and Ko-fi page. I'll be back on Instagram selectively. You can also sign up to hear from me directly on my portfolio site. 

Tuesday, November 05, 2024

Uncertainties

3-panel comic strip showing a girl with a bun coping with uncertainties. In panel 1, she is sitting pensively at a desk, with a few stray clouds over her head. Text reads, "Life is full of uncertainties. My challenge today is to stay calm & centered." In panel 2, she holds out her hand as a cloud rains a few question marks. Text reads, "Focus on simple, self-evident truths." Panel 3: Girl is stress-eating and about the take a huge bite of a sandwich, with a thought bubble that reads, "I AM HUNGRY. THEREFORE, I EAT." Original art by Connie Sun, cartoonconnie, 2024

This week's cartoon: I've done what I can do today and, tomorrow, I will also do what I can do. 

(After some time offline, I've started sharing updates again, on my blog and Ko-fi page. I'll be back on Instagram selectively. You can also sign up to hear from me directly on my portfolio website. Thanks for reading!)