Sketchbook Dump #24
Corporate snacks, trauma responses, and jazz hands
I can’t believe how long it’s been since I did a sketchbook dump! It’s quite frankly, unprecedented! Coming at you with lots of thoughts this week ranging from corporate snacks to trauma triggers. A real BUFFET of feelings!!!
But first… how hard is it to have conversations in winter coats? Can anyone hear anything or are we just nodding and pretending they’re talking about everyone being mad about Greta Gerwig’s Oscar snub? (Very good essay on that here)
Over the holidays I was both teaching and live drawing a lot at corporate offices and I tell you, the amount of free snacks available int these places is so overwhelming (also low key infuriating) to a gal like me. I left a gig at a tech office with my backpack literally overflowing with Skinny Pop, Diet Coke, and Mint Milanos — and believe it or not, I actually had permission to do so! Though we all know I would have ABSOLUTELY done it without their kind offer. Apparently I just have the look on my face that says “I need free food” and I’m honestly grateful for it.
The last couple months of 2023 had me in what felt like a slow motion panic attack and frenzy of trauma triggers. Isn’t it wild how something can just reappear right in front of you after 15 years? Despite all of your efforts to “deal with it????” Here’s a bunch of sad sad sketches. Dare I say… enjoy????
P.S. last year my ex met someone’s girlfriend and they were like “Oh you date Cartoons by Hilary? I used to follow her but she’s so dark I had to unfollow” and it made me LOL.
Ok even though I do love to make creepy uncle jokes I must admit, I love all my uncles! No creeps here! I guess I can consider myself *lucky* girl :)
Here’s the OPPOSITE of sad toons. Anyone else only cleaning the crotches of their bodysuits but not the whole thing? I can’t be the only one this lazy!!!
I’m doing ‘m doing all the things right!!!! RIGHT??
I’m not sure how everyone else’s January is going but for me it’s been dry not in the alcoholic sense but in the IDEAS and OMG I NEED WORK sense. Sometimes I find myself peering into the lives of “normal people” hoping I can mine their thoughts, their woes, their hopes and dreams! What do they want? What makes them laugh? How can I use their feelings for profit????
I will leave you, per usual, with a recent list. This one in particular from the day of the Golden Globes…an iconic day really.
…also if you were thinking of signing up for my Beginners’ Cartoon Class the time is now! There are only a few spots left! Plus paid subscribers will receive a $75 off coupon (just email me for details).
Ok ALSO ALSO… Valentine’s Day gifts are now on sale! Hop to it lovers!
Thank you for reading! New posts every Friday!
ICYMI: I’ll be performing burlesque at Parkside Lounge this Monday. Use code HCNYCTALENT for a discount!
On Sale Now: Valentine’s Day couples and pet portraits!
Upcoming Workshop: Sign up for my virtual comics class!! Duh!
Just Watched: All of the new Love on the Spectrum
On Repeat: Read My Mind by The Killers
Most of the cartoons in this newsletter are available on Etsy!
At a former corporate home office, one of my great pleasures was to scour various meeting rooms and gather up "vendor chow". Usually various bits of packaged snackery...but occasionally the good stuff...CATERING. When I started my latest gig, there were a lot of breakfast interviews, at a very high level meaning creative riff-raff were not invited, but which also meant not a lot of "meeting eating"—as who wants to shovel scrambled eggs in your pie hole in front of your future boss? So we (being the creative mongrels) would scurry in after everyone had left and before the feast was hisked away, blissfully filling plates from the chaffing dishes...to this day, I love the smell of sterno in the morning.
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