Hello Micheline, please introduce yourself and your profession. 

Hello there! My name is Micheline Hess, and I write and illustrate my own comics and children’s books. By day, I work as an Art Director at an ad agency in NYC. I work on projects that are both digital and print based.

Who do you connect most with in your comic Malice in Ovenland? 

That’s a great question. I’d say I connect mostly with the protagonist, Lilly Brown. However, I think because I’m the creator of all the characters in that world, there’s a part of me that relates to many of the other characters as well.

Most exciting moment while publishing? Hardest/saddest moment? 

There are so many its hard to choose just one! I think the most exciting though, was also one of the most private. That was when I got the first proofing copy of the Malice in Ovenland comic from the printer. There it was, in my hands. It was real, physical proof that I could actually do the thing that I had so many doubts about. I could write and illustrate, ink, color and letter that based entirely on my own characters and ideas!

Why is representation important? More specifically, in the comic world?

Representation is important because historically, black people have had too little positive representation in media. In movies, television shows, the news and comics, black people were often portrayed in a negative or very problematic light. For me, I want children of color (especially girls) to be able to aspire to be like characters who look like them and that they can relate to. Moreover, I think it’s also important to have people of color actually TELLING and creating these stories as there are many out there who are more than qualified to do so, and it lends an extra element of authenticity to the characters, and their experiences.

What are some tips you have for people who have difficulty multi tasking? Consider the issue of having to work a typical 9-5 or multiple jobs but also wanting to pursue your passion and not feeling like you have enough time/motivation to do both? 

This can be really tough. I like having what comes with a steady job, and I found at one time, freelancing was in many respects, more demanding for me than working fulltime. Ultimately, just doing a little at a time can do wonders. Stuck on the train between stops? Have a little pad with you, so you can write out ideas or explore developing your characters or world. If you have a few minutes at work with downtime, go online and research what publishing platforms might work best for you. Maybe it’s print or maybe your story would be better told (and more cost effective to produce) as a web comic.

For me, being able to acquire an iPad has been a Godsend! If I don’t feel like sitting upright at a computer after doing it all day, I can sit on my couch or even lie on my bed and relax comfortably while still being able to draw. If you can find a way to do even 15 or 30 minutes of creating a day, you’ll be really pleased at what you have amassed by the end of a month!

I think it’s important to be kind to yourself, too. Sometimes you just need to relax and that’s also critical to being able to create something that doesn’t feel forced and that you enjoy doing.

Anything about you (race, gender, sexuality, spirituality, religion, etc) that has been an asset to your success? 

I find that despite my very sarcastic and side-eying exterior, I try to maintain as much of my child-like wonder about the world around me. When I walk down the street I try to spend as little of it with my face in my phone as I can since, even in the most familiar places you can always see something new and wonderful. Maybe it’s the detailed exterior of a building, the way tree branches reflect in a puddle of rain or a really cool look someone is sporting. I always try to keep an eye out for things like this, because inspiration can be all around you, if you’re open to it. These things can really help my creative process as well as inspire new ideas.

I also credit my success to the ability to keep moving forward, even when I’m not entirely sure I’m going the right way. Being doubtful and unsure of myself, and the strength of my work, has always been my biggest weakness, but I never stop trying to fight that. In the end, I know that the things those voices of doubt are telling me are all lies, so every step forward is a win for me. Oh! Also, my parents. Mom always tried to nurture my gifts and my father put me on to comics when I was a kid.

How do you self-care?

Self-care is crucial to the creative process, especially as a black woman in this current climate that seems increasingly hostile to people of color on a daily basis. Sometimes it seems like the world is full of nothing but hate, so it’s important to surround yourself with people who love and support you as much as you can. As an introvert, it’s especially important to balance that with enough alone time as well, so I always make time to take long walks, write in my journal, play videogames or ride my bike when possible. I enjoy having Mystery Science Theatre playing on T.V. when I’m cooking or drawing. Cooking helps me stay strong and healthy and can be both nourishing AND nurturing. For me, self-care also extends to the ways I try to work on healing past hurts and coming to terms with who I am, and who I wish to become. Therapy has been immensely helpful in aiding me with this process.

Sleep is also hugely important! I’m definitely not the type of person who can handle things on less than 7 hours of sleep a night without feeling like a zombie. I also try to take naps whenever possible.

List your top 5 anything here and why? 

Top 5 ios drawing apps

Procreate – My all-time favorite drawing app. Powerful, low cost, easy to learn and fun!

Clip Studio Paint – Portable version of the desktop software. Great for making comics on-the-go.

Art Studio – The first app I used to make art for one of my comics. Higher learning curve, but worth it.

Medibang Paint – Powerful, versatile and fun to use. Best part is, it’s FREE!

Paper 53 – I used this software to make the art for my first children’s book, The Island Cats of Cunga Ree. It doesn’t support layers like the other apps do, but that’s also kind of the joy of using this app. Its very bare bones and I enjoy the additional challenge this poses.

Anything that we need to be on the look out for? (Shameless plugs go here =) lol)  

Im currently working on the next issue of Malice in Ovenland, which will have all the original characters coming back as well as some new ones. Lilly will face new all challenges this time around, but hopefully she’ll be ok as long as she keeps her wits (and her friends) close by!

I’m also working on a whole new comic for kids 7 and up that takes place in a whole different world, with new characters and lots of adventure. It’s called Dayo’s Diary and will be coming out this Fall!

Lada: Thank you so much Micheline for such a powerful interview!! I first met Micheline through Facebook. I love comic books and I was attracted to the fact that there was a black girl on a comic book story. Micheline is very inspiring and I was so happy when she agreed to share her story on aladalove.com.