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Mom Illustrates What Raising Kids Is Like In 30 Honest Comics
Interview With Artist
Motherhood is full of ups and downs that you don’t get to see if you’re not a parent yourself. That’s one of the things that artist Paula Kuka shows in her witty and truthful illustrations about the reality of raising children.
The Australian artist’s drawings demonstrate that what society sees in public is just the tip of the iceberg. For example, we might spot a mom scrolling her phone while pushing a pram and we’re quick to judge her. But we don’t see all the hundreds of small things she did for her children that day. Much like with professional athletes and skilled musicians, we see the end results, not the hundreds of hours of effort, pain, sweat, and tears that happened offstage.
We bring you some of Paula’s best and insightful illustrations, so be sure to scroll down to the very bottom, and upvote the drawings that you enjoyed. And be sure to let us know in the comments which of Paula’s work you thought was the most illuminating and why.
In an in-depth interview with Bored Panda, Paula revealed how she became an artist, what the challenges of motherhood are, and what her future plans are. Scroll down for the full interview. Especially if you’re artistically inclined because Paula has some great advice for you if you’ve lost your motivation or creativity.
More info: CommonWild.com.au | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
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#2
Bob Beltcher 5 years ago
God yes. Our daughter is 7 and it still takes 30 minutes just to leave. Long gone are the days of just putting shoes on and grabbing my keys.
“I never had plans to be an artist. When I finished school, I studied landscape architecture at university and went on to work in that profession for about 10 years,” Paula recounted her journey towards becoming an artist. “When I went on maternity leave with my first child, I started drawing as a way to keep creative.”
She explained that she draws digitally and uses the very same technical skills that she used as a landscape architecture. “After I had my second baby a few years later, I started drawing cartoons as a way of documenting our daily lives (because I was useless at writing in their baby books).
“I posted them on Instagram and they very quickly gathered attention from other parents who loved seeing such a relatable view of parenting. I like to talk about some of the challenges of motherhood — the guilt, the frustration, the boredom, as well as the hilarious and heart-warming aspects. It’s important to me to talk openly about these things as I know it can help other parents feel less isolated in what they are going through.”
#5
Bob Beltcher 5 years ago
I always remind her that the sun never really sets, we're just moving around it. When it's dark here it's morning in other parts of the world and we're just sharing the sun until it's our turn again.
Paula revealed to Bored Panda that a few months ago she started doing a weekly cartoon and writing a column in ‘The West’ newspaper in Western Australia. “I am also putting together a book which I hope to have out early next year. And as long as people are enjoying what I am creating, I’ll keep posting and see what opportunities arise,” the artist said about her future plans.
She also had sound advice for artists who are struggling, have lost their motivation or creative sparks: “Opportunities can come in the most unlikely places. Be generous with your time and skills.
“All my greatest opportunities came when I went out on a limb and did something for someone and didn’t expect anything in return.
“Just keep going and stay true to yourself. People resonate the most with authenticity.”
#10
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago
This is kinda like something I heard about dogs that they are only a small part of your life but you are their whole life, so like be the best person you can be to them or something like that — albeit slightly different with a person since you will not be their whole life forever but at baby stage you kind of are
#11
Bob Beltcher 5 years ago (edited)
Ours was like a timer. Every night around 10, 1, and 4 I would change her, feed her and then put her back to sleep while my wife pumped.
Paula’s Common Wild art page has a strong fan base: 92,400 followers on Instagram and another 34,300 fans on Facebook. Meanwhile, the Common Wild Pinterest account gets more than 17,100 views each month. Be sure to follow Paula’s accounts if you enjoy her illustrations.
#13
Gemma Lees 5 years ago (edited)
My Dad spoils my son in a different way. He's an amazing Romany Gypsy elder and has a traditional vardo bow wagon in the back garden and owns a 16 acre woodland which my son refers to as his "big garden". He lets my son make wooden sculptures with various tools, (supervised), and has loads of cool props and puppets and stuff he uses for work. He also writes kids stories and my son appears in a tonne of them and gets to go to events and such with him.
#19
Carol Emory 5 years ago
No..that's why you tell everyone you're going to yoga when you're actually going out to have coffee with friends.
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What do you think ?
Luisa Vasconcelos 5 years ago
That's beautiful. Mother's often feel lonely because no one admitted the struggle. Since I have a excuse to do it (single mother of 2 yo and 4 yo) always admire how many mothers are struggling in silence.
Luisa Vasconcelos 5 years ago
That's beautiful. Mother's often feel lonely because no one admitted the struggle. Since I have a excuse to do it (single mother of 2 yo and 4 yo) always admire how many mothers are struggling in silence.
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