Favorite Mutations of the Past
I was thinking to feature some plant-inspired mutations for this post, but I realize I’ve sort of done that already with the promo image I made last week. So let’s pick a star or two from each year…
2018
The early days were a chaotic mess of diamonds in the rough, many of which deserve a revisit, but my overall favorite is the final day—horse! Speifically the bottom left with the peeled open face. I’m so pleased with the concept, and drawing the squished skin was quite satisfying. It just needs a body to match that level of body horror.
2019
Similar in style to 2018, this year had overall more filled out and colorful pages that I was really proud of. This giraffe page became one of my most shared posts on Instagram for a time. Many people were upset/delighted up the giraffe whose spots were tongue holes. It’s another concept that needs a full body experience.I also really liked the neck mouth giraffes.
2020
The Lost Year of Mutation March! Near the end of 2019, I decided to turn the project into a year-long practice, with each week dedicated to a different prompt. However, I lost steam a few weeks in, partly because I hadn’t planned out details and then struggled to figure out a workflow. So by the time March rolled around and we were all feeling the effects of the pandemic, I wasn’t even thinking about this project. Anyway, here is one of the few pages of drawings I did. The pull chain concept would resurface in 2021 as the cellar light spider.
2021
This was a fun and energetic year. I really started to tighten up my drawings, making it easier to turn them into stickers. There were many ideas I wanted to turn into little spin-off series, but my favorite is probably the Awful Flesh Turtle whose shell is a scalp. I’m picturing a paper doll or maybe a magnet set with an assortment of hairstyles to swap out. And I believe this is the first year I made a mutation specifically for Pi Day (March 14).
2022
Sometimes I feel like this series peaked in 2022. I don’t think that’s necessarily accurate, as I’d say 2022 was generally a good year for me in life, so that may be influencing my perspective. For Mutation March, I switched to working on proper watercolor sheets instead of a sketchbook, which meant less crowding for the drawings. It’s tough to pick a favorite from this year, but the corn cob spider really delights me. I love the implication that the adult spider is carrying a mass of little kernel babies.
2023
Look at this pair of darling dodos from the “flightless bird” prompt! A “Dodo-nut” and an “Avoca-dodo.” The naked bird person was also fun, I’m thinking that could be good for a pregnancy announcement? 2023 had a few other concepts I really liked, but for the most part it’s weird looking back at this one. I worked on many of the drawings while visiting my dad in the hospital when his lungs were failing. Though it was a stressful time, I didn’t want to stop working on this series, which means they are now bound to these heavy feelings and memories.
2024
Apologies to any arachnophobes, but I gotta feature another spider. This turned out wonderfully grotesque, and the dental floss spider silk was a last minute inspiration that really elevated the concept for me. Overall, I am happy with the body of work from 2024, though by the end I was also feeling a sense of stagnation, or I was somehow too formulaic? I still have trouble pinpointing the restlessness.
I am hopeful about Mutation March 2025 and especially looking forward to fully focusing on plants. It’s been so cold here for ages. I think we’ve had maybe a handful of days about freezing this year so far? Springtime is gonna feel so good when it arrives, whenever that is for my area. If it’s not here by March, then my art will bring those vivacious vernal vibes.
Cheers,
~Teresa
