I met Julie a little bit before starting The BAYlies. They were heading up The Comix Experience Outpost in San Francisco. If you ever need to know anything about comics, please talk to Julie. I don’t even think it’s because they were managing a comic store, but because they truly love comics.
Julie was the there when I came up with the idea for The BAYlies. We were at me and Breena’s place in Oakland. I looked at Julie and said,
“Hey, I’m gonna start this comics thing, I think its cool, but I am not sure how people will react. Do you wanna be a part of it?”
Julie’s response was amazing. With a bit of sarcasm and encouragement they said,
“No, No I don’t wanna be a part of this totally awesome and cool thing you are starting. Are you serious?”
“Of course I wanna be a part of it, it sounds awesome!”
Julie’s comics are incredibly witty, funny and have this almost child like magical charm to them. You can find their comics in the comics anthology ‘Dirty Diamonds” Issue 9 An All Girls Anthology, in the brand new ‘Queering Friendships Zine”.
A GUIDE TO FUN BY A BUSINESS BEAR
WHY CAN’T YOU
JULIE FIVEASH INTERVIEW 2020
What has life been like for the past few years. How are you doing?
J: Life’s been okay for the most part. I’m currently in Los Angeles, attending UCLA, and getting my Masters in Library and Information Studies. So I’m reading way too much academia about libraries and archives, haha
.
Are you from the Bay Area or did you move here?
J: I am not from the Bay Area! I moved out to the Bay in 2013 after I graduated college because my partner was already living and working there. I fell in love with the Bay over time, it’s SO different from my hometown, Yuma, AZ. I’m definitely a desert lizard at heart, cannot STAND how cold it gets in on the east side of SF, LOL.
When did you start making comics?
J: I started making comics in 2010 when I was a freshman in college. I had these little one page zines I’d leave around the school library for free. Eventually I got a job doing comics for the school newspaper and then I just kept making them when I graduated.
How has the progression of your cartooning career impacted your life?
J: I mean, it’s been everything I’ve done in life?? I worked at Comix Experience in San Francisco for years because I wanted to know what went into running a comic book store, I attended zinefests and comic cons all up and down the West Coast and met someone who eventually convinced me to go to library school. I ended up expressing all sorts of deep fears and insecurities through comics and I’m not entirely sure how to do otherwise now, haha.
How have you grown since your earlier comics?
J: My style’s changed for sure, I think I’ve definitely become a better artist, which is gratifying to see! I’m still exploring topics like memoir and talking about things that give me anxiety. How I’m making comics has definitely changed, I was really focused on mastering pen and ink at some point but it was hard because I had trouble being comfortable with whatever pen I was using and eventually it was just deterring me from making comics altogether. I’m working 90% digitally now and it’s helped get rid of this weird anxiety I had around tools and finished products.
What are some of your most memorable moments of your career so far?
J: Probably tabling at the Tijuana Zine fest, that was so cool and I made the effort to get my zine translated and it was such a cool and chill show! My first “international” show, it counts even if it’s only 20 mins from the border! I think the other has be the job I just got done with and that was co-leading a week-long workshop on Visual Storytelling for the Emerging Dine Writers Institute. It was so fun getting to talk and teach about comics with Dine (Navajo) artists like me and be able to use this medium to tell our culture specific stories. I want more Indigenous cartoonists!!
What is different about The Bay Area comics scene compared to other places you have been?
J: It’s just SO chill. Everyone I’ve met through shows and shops throughout the Bay have been so nice and supportive of each other’s work. We just all loved and supported each other’s work all the time, I dunno, I just really love all my Bay Area cartoonist friends!! I haven’t had the chance to build up something similar in Los Angeles and I guess we’ll see, I’ve only been here for a year!
Any comics recommendations?
J: Right this second? Seven Little Sons of the Dragon by Ryoko Kui! She’s the author of Delicious in Dungeon and I just LOVE her art. Seven Little Sons in particular fun though, it’s a fantasy short story collection and it’s so fun and beautiful. Her line work is KILLER.
Any cartoon/tv shows or movie recommendations?
J: Oh I'm loving BNA on Netflix and I’m watching Digimon for the first time?? Like, I watched random episodes as a kid, but I wanna watch it all the way through so I can watch the newer movies. Digimon character design is SO GOOD YO.
What influences your work?
J: So much manga, lots of alternative and european comics I read early on as well. I’m drawn towards more simplistic art, constantly amazed by people who can tell so much with so little, so stuff like King Cat comics always blows me away, haha. I feel like I’m pulling influences from everything now: cartoons, films, writing, IG info-graphics, everything! I’m thinking a lot about the best way to convey information through comics and in a way that’s uncomplicated and easy to read. So looking at materials that I think do a good job of that help me do the same.
What do you want to do in comics in the next 5 years?
J: I wanna make something LONG. I’ve tried and failed to do longer comic projects but it’s difficult to keep motivation so I need to think of something I can keep working on. I need someone to kick my ass most importantly though!
What are you working on now?
J: Mostly just little mini-zines. I’ve been doing these little Adventure Frog comics on IG and I need to sketch out more of those, people seemed to really like them!
What does your work represent to you?
J: It represents me getting my feelings out. Analyzing my emotions at the moment by putting down whatever’s going on, even if it’s just a frog screaming about nonsense. I like working on it because it feels like I’m working on a part of myself I want to see thrive and help others around me. I think that was the biggest wake up call with my work, it affects other people. I made a comic about being mixed-race and had so many people come up and tell me they could relate and were so excited to share it with others. So, it’s cool to see this but also makes me very aware of how my work can be powerful or helpful in ways I may not expect. I mean, not EVERYTHING I make, I’m pretty sure my comic about a girl who dates a beetle hasn’t changed hearts and minds, LOL.
Julie’s Comics For The BAYlies 2018
Thank you to Julie for doing this interview. It’s important for me as someone who is here right now to not only archive and document comics history, but to shine light on what has been and still is here. Julie has been providing the comics community with insight and knowledge for years. Im glad that they could join me for this.
Please Check out their work
Peace and love
-Lawrence