We spoke to Ellen again and asked even more questions to gain insight into her creative process as a cartoonist. One of our first curiosities was about the strangest place or situation that had ever inspired an idea for one of her comics. She graciously shared this with us: “Oh I get ideas in all kinds of spots, like in the doctor's office, while grocery shopping, picking my kids up from school, or even on the toilet. I think some people just can't turn off observing things and doing their own internal commentary, for me it's been quite useful!”
When asked about her least favorite comic trope or cliché that she avoids in her work, the cartoonist responded: “Hmm, that's a tricky question. I wouldn't say I try to avoid any tropes, but I do try not to do themes I've seen other artists touch on often. I like to keep my content free of swears (for the most part) and I don't really stick to one topic or theme, so it's quite easy for me to avoid doing the same old, same old.”
Next, Woodbury discussed the impact of AI-generated art and storytelling, exploring how it could potentially influence the future of comic creation: “I'm not sure AI will have a huge impact on comics and story-telling because most people want content that comes from humans. It's a form of honest expression and a way to feel connected with others. A consistent art style and well-written comic can carry a lot of emotion and make people bond over certain topics. I think there's this hollow feeling when we get content being churned out by AI because it loses that intentional feel and cohesive design. And even if it becomes indistinguishable from human-made art, it will always have this "uncanny valley" element which most finds a bit off-putting.”
Lastly, we wanted to learn which part of the comic creation process Ellen considers the most "underrated." She shared with us: “Okay so this is weird but I absolutely love the writing process and getting a really good idea fleshed out. I find it exciting and interesting, whereas I see lots of other artists can get frustrated with scripts and having issues with writer's block. To me, you can't force it. You have to let the ideas come naturally because then it's a more immersive experience for your readers. I find using my voice and sharing my thoughts is a way to connect with others, but I'm also an opinionated loud-mouth so maybe that's just me ha ha!”
