UNCOVERED: Mom life comics mary catherine starr - The Untold Story

Bored Panda got in touch with Mary to find out more about her creative process and to get a better understanding of how she found her love for drawing. The artist shared her story: "I've always been an artist and creative in one way or another but I started making these kinds of comics and illustrations in early 2020, right before the pandemic hit. What began as a small creative and therapeutic outlet for expressing my frustration over the challenges of modern motherhood has now become a huge part of my work in the world. I'm currently working on a book on this subject (coming out in March 2025 and published by Chronicle Books) and have started collaborating with brands and like-minded organizations to raise awareness of double standards, inequality, and the politics of motherhood."

Creating art, despite some challenges, can be really enjoyable. For Mary, the most rewarding part of the creative process is seeing her work affect other people and help them make positive changes in their own lives. "The process of making art is wonderful, of course, but seeing your art actually make a difference and make people feel seen and understood is a feeling like no other. I am very grateful that I get to share my work with so many people."

Many moms who read Mary's comics find them relatable because they're going through similar things. We were curious to know how the artist feels about the special community and support that has grown around her work. "It is so rewarding and makes all of the challenging aspects of sharing my work feel completely worth it," Mary told us. "The women (and some men!) who follow my account are incredible—they're understanding, strong, open-minded, supportive, and fighting for change for future generations of women, girls, and mothers. They have a great sense of humor and aren't afraid to share their stories and experiences. The internet and social media can be a pretty ugly place—and I've definitely seen that side of it since starting this account—but my community is a really positive one despite talking about tough subjects."

Balancing a career as a graphic designer, yoga teacher, illustrator, and mother of two is undoubtedly a juggling act. However, the artist revealed that she does not balance it all! "I try my best, but in order to do everything I do I am always dropping a ball somewhere and always feeling like I'm falling behind. This feeling is worth it because I'm not ready to give up any of my roles at this point (I love them all too much!), but eventually, something will have to give. That's just life. What has helped me continue to juggle these various passions is outsourcing some of our household needs and child care (family, babysitters, daycare, friends, etc.). And of course, my husband is very supportive of all of my work and does everything he can in order to enable me the time and space I need to work.

As for staying creative? My life is my inspiration so there's never a shortage of ideas—the challenge is finding the time to express all of them."

Mary wanted to point out that her comics are not about bashing men or husbands. "The double standards that I explore and the issues around household inequality that so many of us are dealing with (and that I depict in my work) did not come about in a vacuum; they are a product of social conditioning and societal messaging and they hurt all of us—men and women, moms and dads. I cannot speak for all of my community, but I know that the majority of us fiercely love our lives, our partners, and our children, and yet, we’re also extremely frustrated by the lack of support in our culture and in our households. My goal is to raise awareness of these issues and ignite change."

Mary Catherine Starr uses her art to shed light on societal inequality and the challenging realities faced by mothers. Similarly, Mark Laita's work captures the stark contrasts present in various aspects of American life.

Just as Mary's comics provide a voice for women navigating uneven domestic terrains, Mark's project vividly explores different paths of life that arise from social and cultural influences.