Write up for SOW

Sow Writng & More Sow

Caroline Hill & Gabriela Sandoval

Artist Note Artist Note

For my thesis, I wanted to take advantage of the time and freedom I had to produce something that I would continue to do for my professional life (in this case, comics), and express my growth as an artist in the last 4 years. It’s always been important to me that my work tells a story and has a deeper meaning behind the “cute drawing”. The goal of my art is to connect with my audience in an emotional way, for them to feel what I felt while creating, or in the very least to learn and empathize with a new perspective. At the time of deciding what my story would be about, I was struggling a lot with the pressure of growing up. As school was coming to an end, there were a lot of big decisions I knew I had to make soon that others couldn’t make for me. Living on the other side of the country, I had made this journey, like the bunny in my story, to leave home and plant my seeds somewhere new. Despite the struggles, I made new friends, built a new home for myself, and I grew into a person I didn’t think I was strong enough to become. I wanted my story to be about both the pain, the people you miss and leave behind, and joy, the new ones that you make along the way, that comes with growing up.

My biggest hope for when people read Sow, is that they can put themselves in the shoes of Bunny, and reflect on their own growth that came from discovering themselves on their own. With the end of this project, I am proud of what I’ve accomplished, and have proved to myself that if I want to do something, I can do it. I hope to push my visual storytelling skills in the future alongside writers and other illustrators, and continue to make comics on both a small and large scale.

Gaby

I was growing up, and it was time for me to leave the burrow, and plant my seeds somewhere new. It was hard to leave my family behind, but I knew I would always have them with me. I packed everything I needed into my backpack and all fought off tears as they sent me off to my new adventure.

I was headed east over the river to uncharted territory.

I checked my map to get my footing, and took my first uneasy steps forward into the forest and away from home.

I was on my way, already missing home, when suddenly something- an apple core- fell from out of nowhere onto the path in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. I looked up to see a big shiny delicious apple. I reached up to grab it, and took a big, juicy bit- and IMMEDIATELY spit it out. There was a worm in there!! YUCK!

I kept moving until I hit Goose Pond, which I thought might be a nice place to take a break. I sat down at the edge of the water and dipped my feet in. It was so quiet, and the water was so still, so I cooled down my feet. But it wasn't long until the goose that lived there very rudely kicked me out, and I was back on my way. And I didn't notice the bird circling above my head using me as target practice until it was too late.

By Boulder Bay, I was feeling exhausted - but I found a soft fluffy boulder to rest on. I hopped right on - and then I felt a rumble... the fluffy boulder was a bear, and I had disturbed HIS nap. I ran away, hoping he was too tired to chase after me.

It had started to rain as I walked along the cliffs. I was missing my family more than ever. I had never been apart from them for so long. It seemed like there was no end in sight.

I couldn’t see where I was going, and I slipped in the mud, flinging my map and my treasured family photo over the cliff as I fell to the ground. Suddenly I too was hanging on the edge of the cliff, quickly losing my grip... and I fell down, down, down into the ocean below.

Coughing and spluttering, I washed up onto the shore. My backpack made it with me, but my map and my picture were nowhere in sight, and it was getting dark.

I huddled up against the fire. I didn’t know if I had the strength to go on. All I could do was fall asleep.

Something rustling in the bushes around me woke me up. Could it be a wolf? Or the bear back for revenge?

I braced for the attack and…

Nothing happened. I swallowed my fear and turned around. It was a boy bunny! He said his name was Rabbit, and he told me about HIS trip. He had experienced all the same things I had! He recognized me, and found something by the cliffside that he thought I might want.

It was my family photo! I pulled him into a tight hug. When I pulled away, I felt like we had a connection. I think we both felt that way. Together, we looked toward the path ahead. Then Rabbit took a look at his map, pointing at the destination.

“Hold on,” I told him, “I think we’re headed in the same direction! I’m going there to plant my seeds!” So, we decided we’d get there together. We were off, and not long after I heard the sound of a familiar foe… The bird!

But When the bird came back to terrorize me again, Rabbit was at the ready with a poppy to shield my head. Together we got revenge, and headed for the river bend. Using that stupid goose, we were able to construct a raft and float down the river. It was faster than I ever could have made it alone.

We trekked on, and crossed the overpass with ease. The trip was starting to be fun!

Before I even knew it, we were already almost there! My heart skipped a beat, I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough to take another step. But with one look from Rabbit, I knew I wasn’t alone. We took each others’ hands, and stepped forward into the unknown together.

It was the first time either of us had ever seen snow! We played around for a bit, but were quick to start looking for a place to put down roots and plant our seeds. We were both so proud of the place we were growing together.

Before long, we had a burrow of our own. As I rested by our new home, Rabbit tapped me on the head to show me what he had been working onan updated family photo. Now, it had every bunny I loved.

We laid in the grass and looked at the stars and dreamed of the adventure we'd have next.