UW–Madison’s Lynda Barry believes that anybody has the ability to draw or make comics. The struggle, says the legendary artist and author, “is putting pen to paper and getting out of your head long enough to make something.”
In a recent interview with NPR’s Bullseye with Jesse Thorn, Barry, an associate professor of interdisciplinary creativity in the School of Education’s Art Department, discussed how people can reconnect with the art of drawing.
“I do think (drawing is) a native human language,” she says. “So it’s getting back to that.”
She notes that people who haven’t drawn since childhood often produce some of the best comic drawings, as their drawing style “is intact from when they were that age.”
“That drawing style that is still in their hands — that never got educated,” she says, “is just perfect for making original comics.”
During the interview, Barry also shares personal stories, including why her family decided not to teach her Tagalog. She discusses her books, including “What It Is,” which was re-issued in paperback earlier this year, and “Making Comics,” which shares what she teaches in the classroom. Barry also offers exercises designed to help anyone get out of their head and start drawing.
To learn more, check out the full interview on NPR.