NOTES FROM SAW
Welcome to the SAW Blog!
Catch up on everything happening around SAW — in-person and online!
Drawing Health Podcast: Growing a Visual Health Vocabulary
Where do you start, making graphic medicine about your health experiences? You start with yourself! Your own feelings, your own symptoms, your own language of comics.
Drawing Health Podcast: The Powers We Sleep On, with Maureen Burdock
It turns out Maureen and I are very similar, which was an absolute delight for us - and I hope it will be for you too!
We talk about Maureen’s new book, Sleepless Planet, the health term “exposome,” colonial-capitalist inventions of health and disease, perimenopause mistakes, neglected powers of breathing, birthing, and sleeping, and MORE.
Drawing Health Podcast: Variety of Movement
What movements do you do every day? What shapes and motions do you NEVER make?
What about when you're drawing?
This practice is a gentle space to observe your movement habits in drawing, to not judge them, and to play with other possibilities of motion and feeling.
Drawing Health Podcast: Daily creativity of care, with Yumi Sakugawa
Yumi is a comics artist, meditator, creativity leader, and lovely human being. On my first ever podcast interview, she kept asking ME questions! Such is her curiosity and supportive nature.
Our conversation roams between our (villain) origin stories, meditation, activism, personal and collective healing, and the many forms of creativity that happen in every day life.
Drawing Health Podcast: Listening Now
DHPOD Episode 2: Listening Now (body awareness practice and guided meditation)
If you’re just starting to listen to your body, it’s gonna hurt.
Why? Because your body has been trying to get your attention, crying out in pain or numbing out in helplessness. The first thing you’ll hear, when you start listening, might be aaaaaaaallll that pain at once…
Drawing Health Podcast: Why this, why now? with Tom Hart
Episode 1 of the Drawing Health Podcast with Georgia Webber: Why this, why now? with Tom Hart
Tom Hart and I have been working together for years, and as Founder and Director at SAW, Tom is the reason this podcast exists at all. What better way to start than to hear us in conversation, as we often are, but with microphones this time, discussing what Drawing Health, and our passion in graphic medicine, is all about.
Topics include: Can comics heal? Do I hate making comics? What if I don't understand what's happening in my body? What if I draw the feeling? Drawing, sudden death, disability, capitalism's grind, the importance of noticing our health when it's GOOD, and more.
GRAPHIC MEDICINE SUMMIT 2025
We were thrilled to partner with the Graphic Medicine International Collective (GMIC) for a 3 day online Graphic Medicine Summit between July 18-20, 2025. This summit featured comic readings, workshops and panel discussions, as well as the GMIC Graphic Medicine Awards. Artists, publishers and attendees joined from all around the world. It was an amazing experience and for anyone who missed it, the recordings can be enjoyed right here.
Field Guide to Graphic Literature Book Launch in Gainesville, FL with Tom Hart!
Join us July 28th for a Field Guide to Graphic Literature Book Launch in Gainesville, FL with Tom Hart!
The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Graphic Literature gives readers unprecedented insight into the techniques of 28 of today’s most innovative creators of poetry comics, graphic narratives, and image-text hybrids. With original craft essays, corresponding exercises, and full-color examples of their work, each contributor offers reflection and instruction informed by their own methods and processes. Edited by Tom Hart @hutchowen and Kelcey Ervick @kelcey.parker.ervick@thirdhousebooks
Brooklyn Book Festival Guests: Jess Ruliffson and Beth Trembley
If you’re going to be in Brooklyn, NY at the beginning of October, check out SAW instructors Jess Ruliffson and Beth Trembley as they separately discuss healing and graphic storytelling at the Brooklyn Book Festival!
SEPTEMBER SAW STUDENT INTERVIEW: NAOMI VOLAIN
Returning for the September edition of SAW student interviews, where SAW members discuss their experience as comics creators. Conducted by Donna Druchunas and featuring California-based artist, Naomi Volain.
Instructor Success: "Look Again" by SAW Graphic Memoir Instructor Elizabeth Trembley
“Once, years ago, while walking her dogs in the woods, Elizabeth found a dead body. “ Library Journal review of Look Again, a recent Graphic Memoir by SAW Graphic Memoir Instructor, Elizabeth Trembley.
JUNE SAW STUDENT INTERVIEW: LYNN VON SIEN
This is the first in a series of interviews with SAW students discussing their experience as comics creators. Conducted by Donna Druchunas and featuring Minnesota-based graphic storyteller, Lynn Von Sien.
Making Comics Hurts! Is This You?
We all have different set-ups, different positions we like to be in when we draw, different places we like to work. Whatever your way of working, if you’re having BACK-PAINS, WRIST PAIN, NECK PAIN, or more, check out this great read!