“Instranaut”

Laura Lee Gulledge

10 x 12”: Gouache and collage

ARTIST STATEMENT

When the world is too challenging I can retreat within myself, especially as a sensitive introvert. I sometimes represent this depressive state as outer space, as seen here in one of my self-art-therapy inspired illustrations. But rather than venturing out into the cosmos (astronaut) I am falling within myself (instranaut). Thankfully I have a jetpack, implying that I have the ability to come back...when I'm ready for reentry.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Laura Lee Gulledge is the Eisner Award nominated author and illustrator of YA graphic novels The Dark Matter of Mona Starr (2020, Abrams Books), Page by Paige, Will & Whit, and as well as the interactive book Sketchbook Dares: 24 Ways to Draw Out Your Inner Artist. Laura Lee is also a passionate teaching artist with an MA in Art Education, comics journalist, musical librettist, advocate of Artner Love, and continually striving citizen artist.

To see more of her work, find her on Instagram (@lauraleegulledge), Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blog, or her website.