Comic Affirmations, 36-42

An exercise in simplified line and positive thinking, a daily affirmation comic for the 2024 100 Day Project.

Mar 25, 2024

I outlined the comic affirmations self-portrait project I am doing for the 2024 100 Day Project in this post. (Links to previous weeks are at the bottom of this page.)

36/100: I release myself from the weight of regret.

(Thoughts on day 36: I wasn’t sure where I was headed when I started on this one. I played around with the wording. I am being intentional and choosy about the verbs, not simply using “am.” It becomes a puzzle that I think about as I work on the art. I add the words last, but I loosely think about them from the start, mulling over permutations and variations as I work on obsessively drawing and redrawing lines. About the art: After several days in a row last week on small, multi-day series, I thought it would be really good to go back to a talking head. But then when I sat down to work on it, I worried, at first, about what I was going to do. I had a few points with this one, at the end, where I second-thought color and placement of elements and made some changes and considered some options. I find comparing colors and also comparing slight changes in placement of features really interesting in terms of how the overall piece reads. Do the eyes here or here better express and work with the “words” of this piece? What does this color change about the overall tone compared to that one? These are questions I continue to ask.)

37/100: I remind myself that the universe is working in my favor.

(Thoughts on day 37: this would take a leap of faith. (Oooh. that might need to be one at some point.) I played with wording. I played with the pairing of the words and the expression. I played with my doubt. That’s what this is partly about, right? I thought about why this statement feels and sounds silly. But it’s interesting to look at sentences that have the power to be helpful. So many ways this could go. About the art: this one had a funny trajectory. There was a first version with a very different expression, one that made the words almost laughable because it was even more clear the speaker wasn’t convinced. I am getting more confident about trying things and seeing what I can make work—and then making changes.

38/100: I radiate positivity on the off-chance the universe mirrors what we project.

(Thoughts on day 38: this is sort of the goal and underlying wisdom of the project. Armchair philosophy and self-help rhetoric suggests this is something we need to keep in mind—we get back what we put out. Life isn’t quite so simple; neither are mindsets. About the art: there are things in this one that are similar to others, but it was interesting trying to sort out part of this puzzle. A diffuse splash of color is also fun. One or two color auras may be a repeat. A dozen or so might just be a recurring theme. Who knows.)

39/100: I quietly invite goodness into my life.

(Thoughts on day 39: I had to add quietly, even though I know it also quiets the affirmation. I tried other verbs. This kind of line is all about manifesting and opening yourself to the world, with the conviction that good will come, that you are worthy of good, and that everyone deserves goodness. The world is not fair, of course. This is a line of faith. It is the kind of line that might make me role my eyes. This isn’t how I typically think. That’s what this project is about, immersion in positive ways of thinking. About the art: it’s a talking head, but with a few small twists. I feel things improving, including my confidence.

40/100: I wake each day determined to try again.

41/100: I don’t take it personally.

(Thoughts on day 41: “it” could be anything and everything. Unfortunately, I always take it personally. We would all feel lighter if we could let that go. But, of course, we are made to care, and, of course, we often let our feelings, moods, and identity get wrapped up in things that probably really are not personal. This is a version of an earlier one from this series. Same or similar concept. That’s okay. Sometimes we need words in a variety of ways. About the art: sometimes what I am learning, trying, and improving might be hard to see from the outside. But I see it. This one is simple, but it show me lots of growth in the last few weeks.)

42/100: I am writing the map day by day.

(Thoughts on day 42: this one surprised me. I just didn’t expect it when I sat and tried to find an affirmation in my head to illustrate for today. This is a philosophical life truth, of course. There is an earlier one in this series that is also about finding my way. I think several statements can be used related to the concept of journey and mapping, and I feel like I may have lots of words to expand upon this simple image. (Meaning I am mentally bookmarking this for a longer post.) I think it is good for us to remember that there is no single path or universal map. I think it is good to keep in mind that, to some degree, we are charting the course. About the art: I needed to try something different. I am feeling worried about drawing the same thing every day. We are not even halfway there. I have to just keep reminding myself that it is fine.)

General note:

I’ve gotten several comments and questions now about these being “self portraits.” I don’t think that changes the viewing of this. On my side, it simply gives context and shape to the project. It isn’t a mirror.

Thanks for following along!

➡️ Days 1-7

➡️ Days 8-14

➡️ Days 15-21

➡️ Days 22-28

➡️ Days 29-35