Unstoppable Art Baby Strikes Again

Arranging an interview with the artist known as Rowan Oats proved more difficult than imagined, but they finally agreed to meet me in the mirror on a rainy Tuesday morning. Their gaze held mine with a neurotic urge — no doubt, they had more pressing matters to attend to than talk to me.

While most of Rowan Oats' successes lie in comics, they also consider themselves a writer, videographer, fiber artist, essayist and full-time Internet Dad. With over a decade of experience with sequential art, I'm excited to hear about how they got here.

Q: How did you start your art career?
A: My mother got me a tub of finger paints when I was a baby. I remember weeping at the limitations of my weak child body — there was always a yearning for greater things, I suppose.

Q: Did you always know what you wanted to accomplish?
A: Everyone goes on a journey of discovery. My first published work was an emotional piece about animal cruelty in the face of commercial consumerism. I also had a brief fifteen minute stint as a portrait artist in a hotel bar in Montego Bay. It all brought me here. I have no regrets.

Q: The future of the Arts is always uncertain, both financially and emotionally. What kind of work do you see yourself engaging with moving forward? What mark do you want to leave for coming generations?
A: I don't know, man. I just want to draw little guys and eat potato.

Q: Any last words to our readers?
A: I have one regret.

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