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Unveiling Childhood Joys And Struggles: 30 Comics By This Artist
Interview With Artist
Many people treasure their childhood because it is filled with special memories and a unique outlook on the world. Through her comic strip "Abby Comics" on Instagram and other platforms, artist Paige Walshe brilliantly conveys these common childhood experiences, from asking your dad for assistance with homework to the difficulties of caring for plants to be allowed to have a pet.
Her work takes us back to a time when we saw the world as children do and brings to life situations that a new generation is currently going through.
If you'd love to see more of Paige's comics, make sure to check out her previous post on Bored Panda by clicking here.
More info: Instagram | hermes-press.myshopify.com
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Bored Panda reached out to Paige Walshe, the talented artist behind the popular "Abby Comics," to gain some more insight into her creative process and the inspiration behind her work centered around childhood.
When asked about the origin of "Abby Comics," Walshe shared, "Oh, 'Abby Comics' started as a sweet little project, born out of a love for capturing the raw honesty of a child's point of view. Abby, the child character, you see, she's a bit like every kid—full of questions, creativity and oodles of spirit. Her world is something I think we can all connect with because at some point, we were all a little bit like Abby!"
In response to how she balances nostalgia with contemporary elements, she said, "Striking the right balance between old-school nostalgia and today's world can be quite a juggling act, but it's also super fun! I pull threads from my own childhood memories while adding a dash of what I see in the world today. Even though times change, the essence of being a kid is something that never really does, don't you think?"
On the subject of integrating her personal experiences into her work, she explained, "Childhood is like this treasure chest full of gems just waiting to be explored. Many of my own memories sneak their way into the comic strips, but I also look at kids today, their funnies and their oopsies. I usually pick scenarios that feel like they've got that 'Hey, that happened to me too!' vibe. The aim is to create a chuckle, or a knowing smile, and sometimes, a good hearty laugh!"
When queried about the duality of joy and challenges in growing up as portrayed in her comics, the artist stated, "Life is a mishmash of ups and downs, right? And that's what I aim to portray in 'Abby Comics.' I hope my older readers get to hop on a fun nostalgia ride, while the little ones see that it's perfectly okay to have a mixed bag of days. The key is to find the fun and learning in each day and to remember that it's okay to curl up in a blanket every now and then!"
When asked if her work had sparked some cross-generational conversations, Paige told Bored Panda, "When I first scribbled out 'Abby Comics,' it was all about making people smile, maybe even laugh out loud. I never really planned for it to spark conversations across generations, but it seems Abby's adventures and mischief have become a common thread that links different ages together. And you know what? That’s been the most fantastic surprise of this journey!"
If you have a child who thinks differently from everyone else, don’t shame them , make fun of them, or force them to conform, just go with it. If everyone thought exactly the same, this would be a very dull world indeed. The different thinkers, the imaginative, the eccentric, the unusual (and I mean in good ways) are the only people who bring a kind of glamor and light to our dull gray everyday lives. Now, I’m not talking about aberrant thoughts and behaviors, no. But people who imagine a future where small people cling to big people as a manner of transport, like remoras do to sharks, are most certainly incredibly interesting people to get to know, in my book. I prefer the company of the interesting and eccentric to that of the dull conformists.
I wonder when it became the norm to pierce little girls’ ears younger and younger, long before they can reasonably consent/understand what they’re consenting to. (Not trying to say that’s the case in this comic, it’s just me pondering it.)
Now that looks like it was done on purpose, either by the kid themself goofing around, or by a bully.
Mom made sister wait until puberty hit, 13/14. Lots of family members are allergic to different metals. Mom's mom could only wear 18K or better. I got mine at almost 12 after mom heard me being bullied/shamed for not having them. Turns out I'm the only one not allergic to any metals. I own about 200 pr of earrings, most cheap. I love earrings!
Weird reading these out of order. Last I saw, Mum was holding her hand while they drew the dot on Abby's ear. Did she get kicked out?
Note: this post originally had 70 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
These were very cute! Abby kind of reminds me of myself when I was younger-- precocious, a little bit cheeky and mischievous, a lover of the outdoors/nature, and an active imaginer. My nanny bought my a wonderful series of comics from the U.S. when I was little called Calvin & Hobbes that I still love and some of Abby's adventures remind me of these comics.
These were very cute! Abby kind of reminds me of myself when I was younger-- precocious, a little bit cheeky and mischievous, a lover of the outdoors/nature, and an active imaginer. My nanny bought my a wonderful series of comics from the U.S. when I was little called Calvin & Hobbes that I still love and some of Abby's adventures remind me of these comics.
