Conjuring Auntie Bee…
When pal Jack Kent, art director at the Willamette Week reached out to me in early June of 2021, I had no plans whatsoever of doing another comic strip. But when he asked me if I wanted to submit something for their soon-to-be vacant comics slot, the answer was a resounding YES! I jumped into the opportunity with both feet.
It was a matter of perfect timing. I was stepping away from Sidestreet Arts (gallery), and I just happened to have an idea for a comic floating around in a sketchbook… a dotty Auntie-type character that came to me as I was watching the 1945 film, Blithe Spirit. Margaret Rutherford’s portrayal of Madame Arcarti. Something got poked in my brain; I immediately scribbled down some madame-auntie sketches. I happened to have a Grandma Bea and there was a silly and somewhat whiffty Aunt Bee in the family as well, so it wasn’t too far to stretch.
So this idea sat in my sketchbook until Jack’s message showed up. Never mind that there was a short deadline to come up with some finished cartoons; I set off right away to create a new story about a fifty-something, oddball, cat-lady auntie who loves to garden and keeps chickens in the house. Her straight-and-narrow, left-brained brother and depressed niece move to town and that’s where the fun begins.
Auntie Beeswax runs in Portland’s Willamette Week, and can be found on Instagram @auntiebeeswax.