Drawing Women's Bodies

My talk today was about cartoonists who identify as women. I showed the work of artists from The New Yorker, but also Suffrage cartoonists, underground and mainstream comic artists, past and present.

I began my talk by drawing these three women, live and onstage on my iPad. Silently, I walked onstage, didn’t say a word, and started drawing. I like doing that, it takes people off-guard and I like the drawing to “speak.” What I was creating was visible on the large screen… but hardly anyone noticed. Until I said something.

I laughed and told them I will draw something again, and drew this.

One reason why I drew these women was to make a point that at its root, drawing cartoons about women is basically drawing about control of women’s bodies. Taking control of the visuals and the narrative. And that’s what freedom for women is about: the ability to control one’s own body in movement about the world, and in choice. This includes the mind as well.

My audience seemed to enjoy what I showed them and hearing about the artists, and I love sharing them. A variety of folks, young and old, bought copies my book and wanted me to sign them, it was so nice.

Getting ready to sign copies of Very Funny Ladies

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Included in my batch of drawings that I sent to The New Yorker last week (that didn’t make the cut) were these two. I didn’t think they would be bought, primarily because they are vaguely political— but I liked drawing them. One is a new one in my series about a woman gazing at clouds—hadn’t done one in quite a while!

Back to New York I go in the morning, and back to regular work, including more writing here. I feel slightly out of touch with you all, and want to get back to my regular exchanges with you! Happy Wednesday night!