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Maria Scrivan, the creative artist behind "Nat Enough" and "Forget Me Nat," continues to interest readers with her blend of humor and observations on modern life.

Her daily comic strip, "Half Full," syndicated by Andrews McMeel and featured in prominent outlets like the LA Times and GoComics, showcases her ability to turn everyday moments into funny experiences that might pull a laugh or two out of you. By exploring the topics of technology, animals/pets, and the general sphere of social media, Maria's work is a good reminder that life shouldn't be taken as seriously.

More info: Instagram | x.com | Facebook | mariascrivan.com

Just like last time, Bored Panda reached out to Maria with some new questions, first we asked her about one of the first characters she ever came up with.

“Although Nat was originally based on my childhood self, her character has taken on a life of her own,” Maria explained when asked about the evolution of Nat's character. “It is amazing to watch her grow and evolve throughout the series. So many of the stories in the books are based on real feelings and experiences from my childhood, viewed through the lens of humor. I’m so excited to be working on the sixth book in the series, and that the books have been translated into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Russian, Hebrew, Greek, Turkish, and Korean. Whenever I visit a school or library, I always encourage students to write and draw their experiences and share their stories. So often, we feel alone in our feelings only to discover that someone else is having the same experience we are.”

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    Discussing how she overcomes creative blocks, Maria shared, “It seems in every book, there comes a point where part of the story isn’t working. This part of the creation process often feels like trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle when you don’t know what the pieces are. If I am ever stuck on any part of the story, I go for a walk or a run. Movement is great for stuck ideas, and, sometimes, just being in a different environment helps motivate my creative process.”

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    Jess Smith
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    4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Clever butterfly/caterpillar - oh, I don't know what you call it when they're in there. Clever animal.

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    Maria finds nature and movement to be a significant source of inspiration for her work. “Nature is such a vast treasure trove of comedic material. I was hiking and saw two squirrels engaging in a playful chase. I found it so hilarious, like they were playing a game of tag. I immediately imagined a comic scenario where these squirrels are in a serious business meeting but can't resist their instinct to chase one another. And that’s exactly what I put into one of my strips.”

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    Balancing creativity with the business side of her work is another aspect the artist navigates thoughtfully. “As artists, we all wear a lot of hats in both creating the work, marketing, and promotion. I make the work my first priority, but I also enjoy connecting with readers on social media, and in person at school visits, book festivals, and comics festivals.”

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    On the topic of transitioning between mediums, Scrivan noted the pros and cons of digital versus traditional methods. “The iPad was wonderful for its versatility and portability. But I found that I was missing the tactile sensation of pencil on paper. Despite the challenges such as adjusting to the feel of stylus on glass and the lack of 'undo' option with paper, I found that in both cases, the medium inevitably informs the art.”

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
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    4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When my black cat curls up, I sometimes call her "Kohl-Kohl-jelly-roll" XD (her name is Kohl)

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    Der Kommissar
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    4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    licking my ballsakk, throwing up, and barking, yelping and twitching while dreaming

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    Nicole Heck
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    4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not true. They first borough under the blankets and then go and cuddle right up against you pushing you off the bed.

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
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    4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a Pomeranian when I was a kid who thought she weighed 150+ lbs instead of weighing less than my cat did. XD She was much braver than my 90-lb German Shepherd, who used to try and hide in my lap whenever I took her to the dog park. "Small dog syndrome" is real XD

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    Der Kommissar
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    4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Similar to people who steal ALL of the Halloween candy left outside, and the bowl

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    Jp@nda
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    4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wrong! He would be thinking about a cheese steak,duh. Jk, greetings from Philadelphia! Happy 4th of July!

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