Ellen Forney Draws her Highs and Lows

Ellen Forney is a cartoonist. She is also bipolar. These two facts about her are plain to see in Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me. In this autobiographical graphic novel, Forney recounts her coming to terms with the incredible highs and desperate lows of the condition. We asked Ellen to share her process with us – and she kindly obliged. In the March issue of the Beijinger (see below) you’ll find an original rough pencil draft for one of the pages of Marbles next to its final version. She went one better and also gave us a full page from the book (see next page). This reveals some of the modern day-to-day mundanity that comes with having to keep such a condition in check.

To learn more about Forney and her book Marbles, visit her website. We also recommend this Curve article and great review and interview by NPR. For a close-up of her work browse the latest issue of the Beijinger on issuu.com by clicking the image below. And see her in person at this month’s Bookworm Literary Festival. She will discuss Marbles in a solo event on Mar 14 and decide whether there is a happiness equation with Sophie Cooke and Seth Fishman on Mar 16.

This article originally appeared on page 52 in the March issue of the Beijinger.

Photo: ellenforney.com