By David Krogh
Most people have a general understanding of what support groups attempt to accomplish. And they tend to be useful for a variety of different types of situations. For example, a typical support group meeting might include a group of people who are dealing with a common problem, either for themselves or family, like mental illness, substance abuse or personal difficulties. The organizer may have the participants sitting in a circle with each taking a turn to introduce themselves and their particular problems. And then the group (who is led by a facilitator or a therapist) will discuss the issues and seek ways to reduce their respective stresses or problem solve.
The author and artist of Emotional Support Animals: Anonymous Fuzzball Comics + Workbook is Nicole Georges. She currently divides her time between Portland and Los Angeles. Born in Kansas, she moved to Portland when she was 19. She identifies as Queer and Vegan and works as an illustrator, writer, podcaster, zinester and educator. Autobiographical graphic arts and comics creation are her specialties, however, she also offers workshops and classes to teach people how to both draw and communicate via comics.
As described by Georges’ publisher, Andrews McMeel Publishing, “Emotional Support Animals is a collection of comics and worksheets featuring adorable and irresistible emotional support animals offering words of compassion and wisdom, delivering smiles along with experience, strength and hope. What if your therapist was a cardigan-wearing walrus sipping a cup of coffee? Picture a pug assuring you that it’s not cruel to say no or hold a boundary or a crocodile reminding you that when you take care of yourself, you have more capacity to give.”
This book is intended to be used to provide self care based on the author’s own experiences with grief and healing. Emotional Support Animals provides small doses of therapy via illustrations of animals discussing serious subjects in positive ways. The book also provides worksheet pages for people to both draw and reflect ideas expressed in the book. And to add a personal touch, the pages all appear to be hand printed instead of using type.
The book is divided into sections that specifically deal with a variety of emotional issues. For example, each of the sections includes discussions of issues such as self love and worth, how one relates to others, establishing and recognizing boundaries, dealing with grief, listening and anxiety (among others); each with a worksheet following the section to help better understand the messages the section is trying to convey. Of interest, instructions in the front of the book ask the reader to pick and draw an animal of the day (which could be a cat, dog or even an otter) who is providing helpful comments. And each section has similar interesting tasks to complete.
Georges’ focus on drawing animals is no surprise considering her life long interest in animals. She was on an Oregon Art Beat segment a few years back and showed several photos of herself with a variety of farm animals including a cow, chickens and a pig. Today, however, her favorite animal is her pet Chihuahua, Ponyo, whom she adopted from the Oregon Humane Society. She also does animal portraits (mainly dogs and cats) for pet owners. See her website, nicolejgeorges.com, for more information on her work including items for sale.
Of all her types of efforts, Georges’ specialty is with autobiographical comics, which she also illustrates. Besides Emotional Support Animals she has published other stories including Calling Dr. Laura and Fetch: How A Bad Dog Brought Me Home. In both of those books her focus was on real situations that she faced, but put into comic type form. Besides writing and drawing, she also does drawing and comic creation workshops. Some of these workshops make use of therapy such as is illustrated in Emotional Support Animals.
Regarding some of her other efforts, Georges teaches comics independently and also through the California College for the Art’s MFA in Comics Program. In addition she produces and hosts a queer art, advice and vegan food podcast, Sagittarian Matters, and co-hosts The Gaymazing Race for USC. In addition to Oregon Art Beat, she has also appeared on AM Northwest discussing her many art related activities. Finally, she is currently working on two more graphic arts books to be published within the next two years.
For additional information about Emotional Support Animals: Anonymous Fuzzball Comics + Workbook visit publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/book/emotional-support-animals. This book can be ordered directly from the publisher or from other online booksellers including Amazon.
