Before I shove you into the nooks of this brain, I want to announce that I am a self taught artist.
‘self’ and ‘taught’. These two words always precede the ‘artist’ for many self taught artists like myself. But if we’ve learnt everything there is to learn about being an artist and about the art itself, can we lose the ‘self taught’ and start calling ourselves artists now? Or one might argue that we are forever learning/teaching ourselves in which case, shouldn’t all artists be called ‘self taught’?
On one hand it gives us a free pass to make mistakes and learn from them (if you can). ‘Hey! we are self taught, we don’t know the rules. We’re learning on the job and as we go along’. And on the other hand, is it also a ticket for a humble brag? ‘Oh look! I didn’t learn to draw but look at me now, turning every thought into a masterpiece’. Or is it simply to carve out a space for ourselves in rooms filled with pedigreed artists from NIDs and likes?
Now that the I’ve served you the appetizers, let me bring out the main course,
Why comics?
I took to comics because this was the most available and accessible medium to me when I started telling my stories; in college, circa 2011. And I never stopped. But it’s only after taking a dozen workshops for over a thousand people in the last 5 years, I stopped to question why comics.
And this is in part a love letter to the art form.
I didn’t grow up reading a lot of comics, an assumption that most people make when they first meet me is that I ate comics for breakfast growing up. False. I only ever diligently read tinkle because my dad was in the army and we spent a large chunk of our early childhood in train journeys. I did get my hands on ‘The Archies’ when I was about 8 or 9 but I was told I was too young for it so I waited till I was old enough, 13. I tried reading them again and couldn’t for the life of me relate to that world. So that was the end of that.
2011, I moved to Bangalore for my masters with my suitcase full of false courage and some terrible jokes that I hoped would help me fit in. In this suitcase was the Nikon DSLR because I thought I was going to become a photojournalist. That dream died faster than our phone batteries do nowadays. I quickly shifted goals to journalism - the writing and reporting kind and then in my internship, TOI city beat made me write, ‘How to look like a patakha this season’ for their Diwali special and that dream fizzled faster than the faulty anaars & chakris. I then moved to radio before finally settling on advertising. I thought I’d write some soul stirring and spectacular copy for a toothpaste or dishwashing soap.
And there is a pattern here, if you squint slightly you can almost see it- The love for telling stories. In any and all forms and formats. Thanks to my college (deemed to be university but doomed for eternity) which did not allow dissent in any shape, blog, or facebook status form so I took to making comics to vent and rage. Subtlety is not my strongest suit so of course! I got caught multiple times. And I am here today, typing this with all limbs intact goes to prove that I didn’t face any “severe” repercussions.
That gave me plenty courage and I continued to ‘doodle’ at my first job too. Also, corporates are a gold mine for content. I made comics about the awkward elevator silences, the forced and mandated “fun” activities orchestrated by the HR, the painful lunch outings, the one time a senior colleague got drunk and VERY honest at one of those office parties, the free coffee, the cranked up AC, all of it. I spared nothing and no one.
And that’s how it started and this is how it’s going. Bringing me back to my love letter, Why Comics?
I see comics as bite sized, easily digestible, very approachable way of telling stories, sharing opinions, dialogue, and observations on society, culture, politics, and life itself. Sure there are some ‘rules’, they say comics have to be a periodical, it’s a sequential art consisting of characters and dialogues and more often than not it is assumed to be funny/entertaining and perhaps aimed at children?
When I started drawing and putting up my work online, one of the biggest challenges I faced was the ‘comic’ part in comics- all the work I had seen up until then on Facebook was funny, lighthearted, and feel good so I didn’t know where to put my rage. I didn’t know how to fit my cynicism and sarcasm into these panels that are supposed to make people go, ‘aww’ or ROFLLMAOLOLcardiacarrest.
The other challenge was ignorance. I used to happily draw on MS Paint with my mouse and think I was Free-da-di-da!
But that’s the the beauty of this art form. You can draw on a scrap of paper with a ballpoint pen, get photocopies of it, distribute them around, start a revolution (ok, I digress!) The panels will hold all your thoughts, big, small, sad, and silly. I cracked the secret ingredient years ago- tell your story, medium will adapt. And nothing adapts better than a comic.
Its unassuming nature draws people in, the panels help hold the shortest of attention spans, it transcends the hurdles of language and education - hence privilege can take a hike! (Although silent comics are quite challenging but not impossible)
Most importantly, comics are accessible and affordable. There’s a lot of gatekeeping in the art world and often a lot of us feel like we don’t belong in galleries because we simply don’t understand that art or are too stupid to fully appreciate poetry or our limited knowledge and vocabulary stops us from consuming essays (and/or books). Comics are easy and that’s their superpower. And even if they offend people (you’d be surprised to know just how many people get triggered by comics) you can always say, who gets offended by a cartoon/comic!
Don’t quote me though after all I am a self taught artist!
And that’s why - comics :)
Some quick recommendations-
Laapataa Ladies : I have to (HAVE TO!) start with this. I took myself out on a date for one and I am so glad I did. A simple, wholesome, pure story told so simply, wholly, and purely that it will hold your heart throughout. There’s so much nuance in the narration even in all its simplicity. The relationships and identities women forge in households and in society at large. This film takes you on a journey (pun intended) of two women who are lost and need to find themselves, their hearts, and their identities. I shall not spoil it any further. 11/10 recommend.
She Said : A very important film made very well based on NYT’s investigation into exposing Harvey Weinstein’s abuse. If you like crime dramas and investigative journalism, I recommend this film.
Baby Reindeer : Ring the alarm bells- a mine field of trigger warnings for sexual assault, rape, stalking, child sexual abuse, transphobia, and loneliness! But what writing! what-a-show. I haven’t watched something this dark and raw and vulnerable and human in so so long. It slaps (not just in the Gen Z way but actually will shake you, stir you, and smack you in the face). Again based on true events, this show rips apart our deepest darkest insecurities, our loneliness, our need to be special, our desire to be heard and seen- to have someone document our lives and share them with us. Watch this one if you have the stomach for it.
Roar : Based on the book by Cecelia Ahern. If you’re not a reader, catch this on Apple TV. I don’t know how to best describe this but as a dystopian-bordering horror-maybe dark fantasy-feminist-lit-fic? I can best compare it to Slow Salt and Our wives under the sea by Julia Armfield or maybe Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder (which is being made into a film btw!). Just watch it and headsup - as is the case with all collections - the first two episodes might not be all that impressive but stick with it!
Eleanor Oliphant is just fine : I finished this book on Audible earlier today and LOVED IT! I own a copy, lent it to my best friend ages ago and she loved it and yet I never got around to reading it. But then finally, I managed to get my hands on it on audio (it’s a lot easier for me to listen to books while drawing) and I 100% recommend this book. There’s a small thriller aspect to it as well that sort of keeps you glued. The characters are so likeable! This is also being made into a film, I heard.
Do aur do pyaar : This was one of those spontaneous weekend watches with my best friend. We both thoroughly enjoyed the film. It’s an observation on marriage and relationships. Estranged couple finding their way back to each other. I loved the understated tone of the film, Pratik Gandhi stole the show for me. It’s also surprisingly funny in parts. I walked into it with zero expectations and walked out smiling. A good fun film.
Hopefully my next newsletter will have some sneak peeks of the new merch :) Fingers crossed. As always, if you made it this far- thank you. You are a rare and dying breed and we need to keep you safe.
With much love,
Mounica
I've been following you on instagram for a while, and I really admire your work. Thanks for writing this, feels like an email from a friend. All the best for the merch! I will try to watch laapata ladies this week too.