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Artist Portrays How Life Looks When You Have Depression And Anxiety Through These 30 Relatable Comics Featuring A Cartoon Pigeon
Interview With ArtistChuck Mullin is a 28-year-old artist based in London who uses her talent to illustrate her daily reality with cute comics whose main character is a pigeon. With all of that being said, the series of illustrations follow Chuck's narrator who is a pigeon dealing with anxiety.
In her book, Chuck said that she began to suffer from anxiety and depression aged seventeen. She then turned to drawing comics as a way to make sense of her experience. She soon found that pigeons were the perfect subjects through which to explore the complexities of living with mental illness, and several years later, her funny, quirky birds have won legions of fans online.
From bad times to positivity, the comics in Bird Brain use humor to provide a glimpse of what's going on in Chuck's head: dissociative episodes; cycles of anxiety; her struggle to accept she's not alone; and the power of optimism on the days it's possible.
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Given the opportunity, Bored Panda reached out to Chuck with some questions! First, we asked the artist about how she started working on her comics.
“I’ve always loved drawing but didn’t really start making comics until I was in my early twenties. At first, I just made comics using myself as a character, but I made one comic featuring a pigeon and people seemed to like it!”
In case you didn't know, "chuckdrawsthings" is a whole project series that the artist poured her heart into over the years. We were wondering how Chuck decided to make a pigeon the main character in her work.
“The first pigeon comic I made was about a pigeon being able to understand the mean things people say about them, but staying strong and confident regardless. I think it resonated with people because pigeons get a lot of hate so they’re very relatable underdog figures.”
A lot of Chuck's followers also resonate with her thoughts and work, and though some comics hit too close to home, some of them are still really funny. We asked the artist about how she felt making so many people smile with her work.
“It’s an incredible feeling to see someone enjoy something I make. Even if it’s a sad comic, it’s meaningful to have people who can relate to what it’s about, it makes me feel less alone.”
We mentioned at the very beginning that the artist has written a book so we decided to ask her to tell us a little bit more about it.
“My book ‘BIRD BRAIN’ is a collection of pigeon comics and writings about my experiences with depression and social anxiety. My comics are very personal already, but I wanted to include some of my own writing just to make it more in-depth.”
This happened to me. When I was finally learning to handle my anxiety I realized I was asexual and now I'm stressed out just like I was before lol
We were also wondering if Chuck had any advice to share with her fellow artists who might just be starting out.
“It’s okay to have days where you feel unable to do anything at all. There’s no shame in resting or taking breaks - when you’re ready, you can come back to art with a fresh sense of vigor!”
Lastly, we were wondering whether depression and anxiety were something the artist still dealt with, and here's what she told us, “Yes, I still do - I take medication for it, I’m mostly good, but I do have my bad days still. I just take it one day at a time.”
Even if I have nothing planned, if I sleep without an alarm I'm just going to wake up to check the time every half hour lol.
I read 'You're a big, stupid uno'- who else did too? Also, I can relate to this comic in particular on so many levels.
Wow, Chuck! Aren't you afraid my Mom is going to sue you for using her likeness?
I’m like that but when I have a sudden trauma flashback to something totally stupid and embarrassing I’ve done before, and then I want to dig a hole on the ground and disappear. Better, erase all the memory from myself AND the people
Oh this me I get so nervous. Most likely I won't be there ........but if I do come I'm like this. And I usually don't talk to anyone because I am not comfortable. Unless someone starts talking to me.
This is me when someone has a slightly different tone than normal when they talk to me and my feelings get hurt by it for some reason
"Don't tell me - we're about to go over a huge waterfall." "Yup." "Sharp rocks at the bottom?" "Most likely." "Bring it on."
Hey, pandas. I don't know you, and you dont know me either. But. I really hope for you to get better. Sometimes, it hurt. I'm often hurt. I have anxiety attack everydays, sometimes without any reason. I have OCD and depression. I know a lot of people are also suffering. Our pain isnt the same i guess, because we all are differents. But hold on. Dont give up. I know it can be hard. I know it can be long. But maybe, some day, you'll found a little spark in the dark. Dont hesitate to call for help when you want and need it. Take care pandas, take care. Courage!
Thank you, this was helpful! And funny! I just made the first step to accept my depression and could relate to a lot of this, hoping to relate to the ones where you can love and accept yourself soon
Good for you, Me! Rock on, my fellow depressive.
Load More Replies...Hey, pandas. I don't know you, and you dont know me either. But. I really hope for you to get better. Sometimes, it hurt. I'm often hurt. I have anxiety attack everydays, sometimes without any reason. I have OCD and depression. I know a lot of people are also suffering. Our pain isnt the same i guess, because we all are differents. But hold on. Dont give up. I know it can be hard. I know it can be long. But maybe, some day, you'll found a little spark in the dark. Dont hesitate to call for help when you want and need it. Take care pandas, take care. Courage!
Thank you, this was helpful! And funny! I just made the first step to accept my depression and could relate to a lot of this, hoping to relate to the ones where you can love and accept yourself soon
Good for you, Me! Rock on, my fellow depressive.
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