Today, we’d like to introduce you to Polly Guo.
Hi Polly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Adventure Time, She-Ra, and StoryCorps were each dream projects for artists and writers.
But the dream projects faded away, and I took work I wasn’t as excited about. And I became worse at what I did because I no longer cared about it. Worse, I hated making art. I was always thinking about if this worked for the brand, if it would get any likes or if anyone would care. I felt trapped. I felt isolated and hopeless.
I realized I needed something else out of work: people. Now, I facilitate comic workshops for social and emotional health. I help students and professionals recover from burnout.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was tough figuring out what I even wanted to do.
I thought of myself as a career artist and little else. But I started teaching in higher education (School of Visual Arts, Calstate Fullerton). The more I taught, especially through the pandemic, the more I realized there was a huge demand for art, for experiential learning, for connection. People are more isolated than ever, and they need an integrated approach.
We tend to think of our lives in two halves- left brain vs. right brain, fun vs. work. We think of art as separate from everything else in our lives. STEM is now STEAM: Art is the connective tissue. It helps us think, feel, focus, and connect with others.
Luckily there’s a lot of research going into the power of art to heal and learn. I received training from the UCLA Arts & Healing Initiative, and now I get to help people use art to learn about themselves, to solve their own problems.
Thanks. What else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I facilitate all-ages comics workshops with a focus on emotional healing and mental health.
Basically, I guide people through the process of making a comic with prompts, poetry, games, unconventional materials, and people come away with something finished, something they didn’t think they were capable of.
Everyone remembers what it was like to be a kindergartener with finger paints, not worrying about if your art was good or not, just exploring. That’s kinda of the idea, but with comics. We create a space where it’s safe to explore and make mistakes.
People come in burnt out, having trouble focusing at work, and feeling uninterested, like they can’t make anything. Pretty much everyone comes away feeling inspired and more confident in themselves. And that feeling follows them into their lives. (Some people go on to finish entire comic books!)
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was smart (supposedly) but a slacker. I got so many teachers telling me I wasn’t living up to my potential.
My mom originally wanted me to be an engineer or a scientist, but I started aiming lower and lower, hoping I’d pick something. Eventually, I met a brother and sister who wanted to become a professional artist (the sister has a famous TV show now), and I decided that was what I wanted to be: an artist.
Pricing:
- Drop-in Comics for the Heart Therapeutic Workshops: $15
- 6-month Comics for the Heart Workshops Fall 2024 Cohort: $15 a month
- 6-month Comics for the Heart Workshops Spring 2025 Cohort: $15 a month
- Comics & Company 6 Month Comics Intensive Fall 2024 Cohort: $35 a month
- Custom Comics Workshop (for professionals and educators): Please ask!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://pollyguo.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/itspollyguo
- Other: http://patreon.com/pollyguo
