Joey Alison Sayers is a talented cartoonist known for her witty humor and unique artistic style. Describing herself as a lady cartoonist library worker and potato chip aficionado she has amassed a following of over 15,000 fans on Instagram who eagerly await her latest work. Based in Oakland, CA, Sayers has had her comics featured in The Nib, Mad Magazine, various alternative weeklies, and the prestigious Best American Comics anthology. Recently, she took on the role of writer for the long-running comic strip Alley Oop bringing her signature humor and fresh perspective to a beloved classic.
Her passion for comics started early. I’ve been reading comic strips all my life and started drawing my own around age 7, she shares. Inspiration comes from all around her whether it’s life with her two young kids, interactions with the public at work, or simply her knack for finding humor in everyday situations. I have a brain that’s wired to find funny connections between things and a compulsive need to make jokes about everything. Sayers’ comics continue to entertain and resonate with readers, proving that humor and creativity are a powerful combination.
More info: Instagram | joeyalison.threadless.com
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When it comes to artistic influences, every creator has a unique journey. For this cartoonist, it all started with daily comic strips in the newspaper as a child. My earliest influence was reading the comics section every day. I devoured Garfield, Peanuts, Ziggy even the serials I didn’t quite understand, like Mary Worth, she recalls. As she grew older, her love for comics evolved. “I started exploring alternative newsweeklies, where I discovered incredible independent comics. I was especially drawn to the work of Lynda Barry, Tom Tomorrow, and Ruben Bolling among others. Her passion and dedication eventually led to a full-circle moment. Years later, having my strip, Thingpart, picked up by those same weekly papers and appearing alongside the comics that once inspired me was a huge honor. Her story is a testament to how early inspirations can shape a lifelong creative path turning childhood dreams into a fulfilling career.
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Creating art no matter the form takes time practice and dedication. So, how long does it take for Joey Alison to complete her comics? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. It varies quite a bit! Sometimes, I’ll get an idea in the middle of the night. If I’m lucky enough to remember it in the morning, I’ll sit down, draw it out, and post it online within twenty minutes she shares. But not every comic comes together so quickly. More often, I’ll come up with a rough idea and spend days refining the script. Then, I’ll labor over the visuals for hours because something just won’t look right she explains.
In the end, does the creative process make a difference in how the final strip is received? I’m not sure anyone but me can tell which process led to which comic so maybe I should just work on having more midnight ideas she jokes. Whether spontaneous or carefully crafted each of her comics delivers humor relatability and a unique artistic touch that keeps fans coming back for more.
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Being an artist isn’t always easy creative blocks, burnout, and self-doubt can all be part of the journey. So, where does Joey Alison get her inspiration for her comics? Mostly, I just have a brain that’s wired to make strange connections between different things and an almost compulsive need to make jokes she shares. For Joey, humor has always been a way to navigate social situations. I’ve always been shy and anxious, and my way to wedge myself into conversations has been to try and say something funny. Since I also like to draw comic strips became the perfect medium she explains. But what if things had been different? I guess if I were more outgoing, I would have ended up as a stand-up comic. Or if I didn’t like making jokes, I might have pursued fine art she muses. Hmm, now I’m starting to question my career choices. Thankfully, she stuck with comics because her unique blend of humor and artistry continues to entertain fans around the world.
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Creative burnout is something many artists face, so we asked Joey Alison how she manages to keep the inspiration flowing. Sometimes I do get burned out she admits. I write and draw a biweekly comic for The Nib and also write the syndicated daily strip Alley Oop which is drawn by the amazing Jonathan Lemon and those two projects take up a lot of my creative energy. Not that I’m complaining. Even with years of experience, burnout still happens. I spent many years with a surplus of creative time, and even then, I’d still hit creative slumps she shares. The trick for me is to vary the things I do in a day and well have a magical watch that lets me pause time so I can get everything done while the rest of the world stays frozen like statues. If only we all had a time-freezing watch. Until then, Joey’s ability to balance her workload and keep creating is proof that sometimes switching things up and finding a rhythm that works for you is the key to overcoming burnout.
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