The artist behind Life of Jolie, Johanne Lid, told Bored Panda she was inspired by other artists, especially autobiographic comics, to share her own experiences, and a suddenly much emptier schedule during the time of lockdown encouraged her to give it a shot.
"It basically started when corona and quarantine started back in March. I suddenly had a lot of time so I got myself an iPad and an Apple pencil and started drawing this character named Jolie that is very much inspired by my own life! I haven't drawn that much comic-style drawing before, so I have to say that my first comics are really bad (but I have progressed a lot since then and now it’s just fun to look back at my earlier work)."
Johanne Lid is a self-taught artist who is currently studying music science. As much as she loves it, drawing comics brings her joy.
"I have liked doing art since I was a kid, and I have always been quite creative, I think. I remember in kindergarten that other kids asked me to draw bows for them (bows were my specialty). I am self-taught. The comic style was new to me when I first started the comic, so it took some time before the drawing got to the standard that I wanted (and I still seek to be better!)"
The artist says she's glad she started posting her comics so that she can track her artistic development.
"I find inspiration in every aspect of life! I can stand in the shower and suddenly a comic idea about shower curtains falls into my head. I like to look at my comics as portraits of stories about the small struggles in life with a comedic twist! I want to make something people can relate to!"
It's no accident that the protagonist of the comics, Jolie, is portrayed as a young adult. Lid draws inspiration from her personal life and recreates those experiences in quirky illustrated stories.
"It is very much inspired by my own life, that’s why Jolie is portrayed as a young adult, trying to find my way in adult life. I also make comics about fears and things that haven’t happened, but I'm afraid they will (the mirror/glass comic, for example)."
"It obviously takes a lot of time, so that must be the biggest struggle. I always want to post as regularly as I can, and that takes time. But it makes it all worth it to see people's responses!! People are so kind, and I have been so lucky to have such great followers!" Lid said.
The current state of the world has definitely affected all of us, so we asked Lid how she has been dealing with the lockdown besides making her art possible.
"I’m not the most social person to begin with, so it hasn't really changed so much when it comes to socializing (I live with my boyfriend and we always have a great time). My biggest struggle has been fear, mostly the fear of spreading the virus to someone I love."
Lid loves to dream that in the future she could make a living out of comics, but for now, she continues with the journey of the Life of Jolie. She currently has almost 4k followers and is on a mission to make their days brighter and less alone.
"I want to make people feel less alone, which is especially important in the state of the world today. Jolie is a girl with a lot of imperfections, but that is also what makes us human!"
The artist has a piece of advice for other artists who aspire to share their creative expressions publicly in the same positive spirit: "Just do it!! (not a Nike advertisement). But really, just do it! If you want to do something, it’s better to do it than to regret that you didn't!"
