I joined this festival: Fire Flies Forest “Afterlife” at H’OM as a second round to the first time my friends introduced me to this type of environment: A new age bubble of spirituality and peace as we camped on the same grounds for 3 days. Though I came in slightly more jaded, I will say that I enjoyed the experience more for exploring the challenge of drawing in public. I am unsure if I would do that kind of comic work in public, but I can see how painting on canvas would be a better experience.

It is interesting how time and hindsight are great teachers as we reflect on the past. The work I do now, versus then is vastly different even if I love the piece for the graphic novel feel that it has. Story time: I was drawing and met a man who had a food booth called the Habibi Village. He and I shared stories of our time in West Asia (He is Lebanese American and I was blessed that I spent time in Iraq for teaching). While speaking, he asked if I could do a commission for his shop and I agreed (even if I did not believe him at the time) with the exchange of taking care of food for myself and my friends for the time I was there. By the Sunday, I got a wave of creative energy that led me to work on his commission for 4.5-5 hours. I was blessed to have my childhood friend with me recording the process and I am glad that I can share the creative process. This was done on water color paper with Japanese paints and nib pens.

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