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Jessica Kasparian's avatar

I love this comic, and I’m glad you published it! I relate big-time to searching for the answer behind a feeling or problem rather than just accepting it and dealing with it. Thank you for sharing šŸ’›

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Rachel Alatalo's avatar

I'm glad it resonated! the best part of sharing work is when it connects with someone else. Miss you <3

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Martha Kuhlman's avatar

Perfectionism is such a curse. I agree that one has to keep going. The more you make, the more you make! My comics are definitely not for mass consumption but you gotta just keep going. There's something satisfying and intrinsic there. If it's for an audience, that's where the external advice comes in.

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Rachel Alatalo's avatar

Totally! And it's interesting that a lot of art is measured in whether it has mass appeal, as if being popular is inherently better than it being meaningful or pretty or just satisfying to make.

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Jen Grisard Ludwig's avatar

I think artists are never 100% happy with their work. I know painters who get a piece back after a show (even after awards!) and then continue working on it. Perhaps a bit of a search for perfection is what makes a good artist? We are never fully done trying to say what we are driven to say. Trying to reach people as best as we can. Your piece on See SAW is beautiful, and the imperfections (for whomever sees them that way!) add to its vulnerability and organic-ness. There’s nothing wrong with questioning and continuing to ā€œfiddleā€ šŸ˜† —it’s ultimately YOUR art!—but I love it as it is! It’s been so great getting to know you and your work at SAW! You have something special to share. Please keep going! ā¤ļø

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Rachel Alatalo's avatar

Thank you so much, Jen!! Likewise, it's been great to know you and your work, and I'd so much rather get to see and enjoy your art now than wait for it to be "perfect."

And "We are never fully done trying to say what we are driven to say" is so real. I definitely feel that, and sometimes it manifests as fiddling and other times it's approaching the same themes in different work and hoping the message comes through!

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david j alatalo's avatar

you were born ready sweetie.

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Rachel Alatalo's avatar

thanks dad :)

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