Tag: zine

(Not a) Conference DocuZine

Jen HernandezLeave a comment

In early October 2023, I had the pleasure and incredible good fortune to meet with artists, educators and advocates from all around my state (Oregon), for a (Not a) Conference. This group had been meeting for nearly 2 years virtually to discuss our experiences, dreams, and needs within the arts education professional field. For many of us, the October gathering was the first chance to meet in person.

These are our thoughts and reflections documented in digital zine form.
Note: as of November 13, 2023, this zine is still a work in progress and aspects may change (probably will).

If you were a participant in this gathering and would like a printed version of this zine, let me know!
You can download a PDF of this zine here:

(not a) conference docuzineDownload

Part of the Arts Education Learning Community organized by Oregon Community Foundation (2022-2024).

Little Buddy, a comic about anxiety

Jen HernandezLeave a comment

I made this comic about 5 years ago, when I was in the midst of a personal crisis and struggling with anxiety. I was very lucky to be in therapy at the time with an amazing therapist who helped me survive the worst moments of my life. From some of those sessions, I learned about the anxiety that I had more or less “managed” all my life. The feeling of being tied down to a needy, obnoxious, relentless albeit ineffective little monster clarified in my mind so clearly, I had to draw it. And this comic came out exactly how I pictured it.

I was having coffee with a friend recently and I remembered this comic in our conversation. I love this comic. I love it because it was made with simple pen and markers and sticky notes, and I love that’s all it took for me to visualize something I struggled so hard to reconcile. This comic feels so freshly relevant to me now, even 5 years later, when my artwork has changed but my anxiety really hasn’t– and it won’t, it’s part of me, but I don’t have to struggle against it and me so much anymore.

My anxiety is still very much with me, still screaming and demanding potato chips.