Commentary from December 29, 2015
My last pieces of art online in 2015. Last year I drew a Santa Claus who suffered from depression, this year I thought I’d draw something a little more upbeat. I deliberated a lot on what would be the present, but I thought a scarf would be nice because I could show her wearing it in subsequent strips. I went for a closeup in the last panel but I didn’t like how it turned out so I felt it needed a little bit more, hence the picture at the end of the two of them wearing the scarf. I was hoping that the scarf plus their hand holding would make a heart shape but no matter how I worked it it looked unnatural. Ah well. The really nice thing about the picture at the end was drawing big, more than the credit card-sized panels I have to work with normally. It has a lot of room to breathe.
Anyways, it ended depression comix in 2015. 53 strips and not a single missed deadline, and that in itself is a milestone for myself, one I hope to continue in 2016.
Thank you all for reading! Happy New Year!
Anyways, it ended depression comix in 2015. 53 strips and not a single missed deadline, and that in itself is a milestone for myself, one I hope to continue in 2016.
Thank you all for reading! Happy New Year!
This made me smile. Thank you for your comics,I’m really looking forward to what 2016 brings.
Thank you, Rachel, and I’ll do my best in 2016 so please keep reading.
this is so very sweet! i love your work! very much well done! thank you very much!
yay!!
+1 Yay! Shared this with every social media I have access to.
It’s nice to survive for someone, to have someone who will give you to reason to live.
That’s touching, my daughter is the only one that makes it worth while. She’s always there.
Beautiful.
Rudy Bautista-Bonilla im glad your alive :3
Thank you I really appreciate that so much ?
Lara Mary ♡♡♡
Awww 🙂
I’m glad *you’re* alive, Clay.
Thank you, Heather, I feel the same. I’m glad you’re here, Heather!
Wow, this made me tear up.
Hooray! The freckled gal pulls us through again! Great strip, Clay. Thanks for your comix in 2015. You express what is un-expressible for so many of us. It’s an encouragement and a relief to know someone gets it. Keep up the good work, bro! I’m looking forward to more of it in 2016!
She really deserves a starring role, doesn’t she?
I love that it’s Gryffindor colors! 🙂
Gryffindor colors are the best!
Hufflepuff is sooo much better 😛
Nah, no way! 🙂
I would like to know that feeling
Me too… :'(
The freckled girlfriend strips are to illustrate positive relationships *can* happen with depression, it’s unfortunately not the norm.
Does this mean the girl with the bangs is on the road to recovery? I hope so.
I hope so too, I’ve been dying to spin her off in her own series…
Here’s to Hope!
Hope is the only thing that keeps many of us alive, so here’s to hope as well!
I lived without hope for a long time. I simply could not experience the emotion, and without that the idea of hope seemed empty. I wanted to get better, but I wasn’t capable of hoping that I ever would. It’s difficult to overcome an illness that makes you want to give up before you even try. Being unable to feel hope didn’t mean there was no reason to hope.
It’s so cute!!
Awwwww shiiiieeeeeeeeeeet this made me smile
This made me cry a little bit ? Thank you Clay for being there and making feelings of depression visible in an understandable way.
Thank you Johanna Manninen for giving my work a read and for your kind comments 🙂
I’m alone
And not able to stop being alone
:'(
You’re amongst people who understand here, and though I know I doesn’t feel like it but people, strangers even, care. *hugs*
You’ve heard this a thousand times I’d wager, but these things can and will change, often unexpectedly. I was friendless and alone for much of my life but slowly at first things began to change and now I so, so rich in wonderful friends and might be on the verge of my first romance (I’m 38 years old).
So hang on in there, be kind to yourself and I hope that 2016 brings bright and good things to you *hug*
This is wonderful! Thank you!
Ken Snow.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for drawing these. These have opened my eyes to some things I do. It’s actually helped me start getting better and work and handle through things I have. I’ve reached a peak I never thought I’d hit alone, and any progress is good progress. This comic made me smile and this entire comic has educated me about what I go through in its own way.
You’re right, any progress is good progress. Have a Happy New Year!
I just re-read the whole archive of this comic, and it’s helped me to realise that I’m getting there. I -am- getting better. There is hope. Thank you for that.
Cheers!
Hi
I nearly missed the bonus “Thank you for surviving 2015 See you in 2016″… Don’t always feel up to or feel like reading OR or or am ‘too busy’ to read the comments… Am so glad I did…
Am beginning to really believe that, beyond the trolls, AND especially HERE are others who DO understand.
Clay, many MANY thanks for this continuous supply of a dose of sanity in the midst of this crazy world… Especially your bonus “Thank you…”
All the best to ALL of you guys out there!
Blessings from,
EyeQuestOn (Ian from Brighton, Sussex, UK)
In fairness, any troll-like comments I just delete. I’d like the comments section to be a safe place for anyone to post without worrying about being mocked, because I’d like this place to be for those who understand or those who are trying to understand.
Have a Happy New Year!
Please delete my post. I’m sorry I put that there, and there is no delete button. There is no excuse for that.
I deleted it for you but you’re always welcome to vent here.
Thanks. I share these with all my therapy buddies.
This was nice 😀
This comic just made me cry a little bit, but in a good way. Thank you for understanding as an artist to whose work your audience relates, that messages like this really can help remind us to keep going. I hope you have a wonderful year <3
This one makes me happy. Thank you, simple joys in life.
This made me cry…
I so, so love this one. It’s my go to comic for when I’m down. Thanks Clay!
That was lovely
<3
The worst part in having that kind of Christmas once is the way you miss it when it’s hopelessly lost.
This is really amazing. I love it. I may be single, but there’s a person who’s been an amazing friend and kept me alive half of the time. I don’t get to talk with her much, as she’s moved, but when I do, it reminds me that… this is miserable, depression, but there’ll be people who will hold my hand and do their best to help.