#jean pilario

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On December 31, 2018, a call for artists in our state was made to be chosen for the National Design. The requirement was to create a design with the theme “Power to the Polls” and use the three colors from Women’s March first logo. I had stayed home on New Year’s eve with the January 2nd deadline around the corner. While friends told me to come out to party, in the pit of my gut I smelled opportunity and didn’t want to rest till I produced art. No other point in my life did I feel like I was the most fit person for the job, as a feminist, cartoonist, Nevada resident, that drew really fast. The finished design is actually a second draft. It was crucial to represent so many women led movements and present issues in this one photo. I wanted to depict women uplifting each other, while representing women of color, the inclusion of trans folks, and the simpleness of their eyes would not signify their age group. It was a large task of really driving home inclusion without being a complicated design. The morning they told me I was chosen, I spent it crying. As an artist, I feel that while there are many opportunities, sometimes we get artist anxiety and give up on our selves far too soon. We intentionally miss opportunities despite being talented. I don’t want to live like that anymore at 2018. I originally hail from the island of Guam, so this is a big deal for me since my ethnic identity is oftentimes invisible minority. As a Nevada resident who is gung ho about activist initiatives involving art and women empowerment, my art work and endeavors don’t stop here at this artwork. There’s still more work to do in terms of the theme presented by the Women’s March that I will work tirelessly as a feminist cartoonist to celebrate and represent, such as body positivity and combating sexism in my comics. You can find more of me and my work at Plot Twist Publishing, a local comics indie press. Currently we have comic submissions guidelines open for the next couple of months and starting a comics progressive classes, so give us a add to learn more about what I continue to do in our beautiful Las Vegas Valley and how to be involved together.

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Where do I even begin? I’m three things right now. I’m happy, thankful, and humbled. Happy because of the two pieces of large hard work is compacted into my hand on glossy paper. My Plot Twist editing team raised the bar without my consent and worked towards a vision of improving our production value from last year. While my heart and true baby of Plot Twist Publishing is Impressions, I handed over the reigns of leadership to two new Editor in Chiefs, Greg Boucher and Coy Munson. Two colleagues that are content focused because they are writers. So many comics are beautifully drawn but lack depth. So we let writers take the lead, which sometimes can drive cartoonists batty. But miraculously, the artists evolved and were challenged. Each kicking ass in the book with unique and fun styles. Next, I am thankful to the following people:

My staff is versatile and took roles they normally don’t, so we could give others in the community a feeling of having an accomplished piece of published work.

Walid Atshe, Cillian Cubstead, Mark Otto, and James Stone have dedicated late nights and hungry Monday board meetings to bring this baby to the finish line. I love you all very much.

To the community, local and global that contributed to the making of this book with your ideas and your designs:

Sonny Chargualaf from Guam David Parker Gabbie Hirsch Pierce Elliott Jeremiah Andrade Kiki'ssh Vincent Pizarro Han Stover Paul Pearson Scotty DeGraff Gary O'Donnell Melina Chavarria Rachel D'Onofrio Shane Walley Donovan Petersen Patrick Halm Gina Parham Alex Schwafel Josh Cutler Jon Cutler Justin Ayers Regan Carmona Sam Urbano

Shelby Schroeder

You are all better than you know. I hope this helps you all leap into furthering your crafts beyond Plot Twist.

And lastly, I am humbled. It’s no mystery how high energy I can be. That’s me fighting for something good in a cruel world where people like to close doors. The reality is, even I close doors. But I have vowed on never making it a secret how to to open one. I know what rejection feels like when you want to be part of a large scale collaborative project but have self doubt and insecurities. To all those that didn’t make it, I say fight another day and keep improving. One day you too can open doors for others. This is the cycle of kicking ass. It doesn’t stop and you only get stronger in the process. I know there’s always going to be better talent out there. Why make them enemies? Competitors? Make them your allies and do great things. I did it and am amazed at the results of people finally taking a chance on themselves.

Thanks from the bottom of publishing heart.

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Just when you think things are trendy and you’re partner doesn’t stan. 😂🙃

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Hi Readers!

Thanks for reading over 51 bearded babe comic strips! Can you believe we’ve been together this long!?!? I am happy that you continue to read and feel amused by the musings of my relationship with my polar opposite/main squeeze. For all the month of May and part of June, I am putting a pause on the beloved Bearded Babe strip to finish issue one of Magic Glasses to be released at the teen con in Sahara on May 20. So there will be postings on Heidy the Latina Gamer!

Follow that series on, by clicking like:

https://www.facebook.com/heidysgotmagicglasses/

In the meantime, my life continues to spin out of control so today’s comic strip is fitting. I went out to movies and hadn’t seen friends in such a long time that hair styles were drastically different. Lol.

May is filled with Plot Twist comic anthology work, workshops, and drawing. May is also filled with fun things like Free Comic Book Day on May 6 and I’ll be stationed at Alternate Reality Comics. So come see me and bring a friend! And lastly May is a month filled with feminist leadership conference planning for young and adult women! I live such an amazing life and it took really long to get here and still so much of my journey to venture and build.

It’s gonna be May!

May the force with you!

May!!!! lol.

I am also deliriously tired writing this and that explains why I am so hyper as I use the last bits of energy. lmao. zzzzz I need 5 more minutes x million for my snooze time.

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Hi Friends!

Below this week’s comic strip is some awesome Plot Twist Publishing features happening this week.

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It’s been over a year since I made my own comics. What a journey! I usually upload new comics every Wednesday because it’s NEW COMICS WEDNESDAY everywhere (especially at your local comics shops). Here’s a few things I was able to accomplish in my absence.

1. Complete Issue 2 of The Magic Glasses

2. Color the first issue of Heavens Bastards by Pierce Elliott and Donovan Peterson

3. Coordinate, edit, and crowd fund with Kickstarter for the first time to produce Queens Comic Anthology

4. Travel to Denver for the first time with nominations for comic zine awards

5. Travel to Amazing Con in Arizona for a free table

6. Commit to two rounds of group therapy

7. Start a Pinay Podcast called Bruha Baddies with Rosalina Trinidad

8. Run an annual Women’s Leadership College Program

9. Planning to attend two amazing leadership programs in the fall: Spark Women’s Retreat (where I get to be a leader) and Girls Leadership (attending on scholarship)

10. Plan and execute two Artist Spotlights at Alternate Reality Comics

11. Increase my mentor ships with high school students and adults

12. Help plan a Comic & Zines fest with activist colleagues Gina Parham, Nicole Espinosa, and Tiff Stiles.

13. Partner with a number of start up groups on getting the word out about their amazing goals like Womxn’s Coffeehouse, Snazzy Publishing, GALS Las Vegas, and NVTESOL.

It’s been a fruitful year. I am happy to make comics that celebrate the introvert & extrovert relationship I have with the person I love most.

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He always means well. I love him for trying.

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Here’s the conclusion. I hope we all take a minute to realize how much communication and time has changed us. May this world not harden us, may we soften it little by little.

Thank you to my mom for teaching me intentionally and unintentionally. We are bound for life.

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My mom’s been healing and I wanted a way to process what leads up to not asking for help? Is it cus we always want to be strong? Are we too afraid to trust? Are we hanging onto mountains of hurt/trauma?

I don’t want to be another person in my entire generation that did not look back, pause, and heal. I am the last in line with pieces of privilege attached to me.

This zine is called Secrets. I brought soup to my moms room and she wanted to drink it alone in case she had Covid. I stood in the dark hallway and saw how quiet her pain as she aged and the picture of her smiling younger self hung on the wall.

In this zine, I was not born or around for many of the secret moments. So here’s a small reimaging (I’m pretty sure she didn’t have a machine gun, but there really was that many roaches lol) My mom endured every day hardships to make sure I could operate in this world with a little less pain. This zine is an apology for having to endure these things alone.

The last two pages are on the following post since there’s a 10 page limit.

[greenmachinecomix]

My mom’s been healing and I wanted a way to process what leads up to not asking for help? Is it cus we always want to be strong? Are we too afraid to trust? Are we hanging onto mountains of hurt/trauma?

I don’t want to be another person in my entire generation that did not look back, pause, and heal. I am the last in line with pieces of privilege attached to me.

This zine is called Secrets. The cover is based on a moment when I brought soup to my moms room and she wanted to drink it alone in case she had Covid. I stood in the dark hallway and saw how quiet her pain as she aged and the picture of her smiling younger self hung on the wall.

In this zine, I was not born or around for many of the secret moments. So here’s a small reimaging (I’m pretty sure she didn’t have a machine gun, but there really was that many roaches lol) My mom endured every day hardships to make sure I could operate in this world with a little less pain. This zine is an apology for having to endure these things alone.

The last two pages are on the following post since there’s a 10 page limit.

[greenmachinecomix]

Sometimes he’s funny without even having to try very hard. Hahaha. I love him.

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Quaran-jean comic strips from my quarantine days.

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His sickest burn for 2017. Touche my beard, touche.

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My zine piece I am submitting for the Comics Youth self care zine.

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I love when stuff is stuck on his beard, especially when he doesn’t know. Hahaha

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Bearded Babe Comics will be uploaded every other week for the month of August as I am part of the colorist team to finish off the Las Vegas Comic Anthologies with Plot Twist Publishing. I’ll be teaching at Writer’s Block in the second and third week of September. Going to Long Beach Zine Fest this weekend to enjoy the event and have the Magic Glasses be available for sell at the #strugglingaltruist table with their zines!