STICKY
a documentation of pregnancy and early motherhood
Sticky is a collection of black and white illustrations that I worked on through my pregnancy and early motherhood. When I started documenting my experiences I had an annoying sarcastic voice in my head that said, ‘SOooo original! A mother talking about motherhood...’. But I drew anyway, because much like my bladder, my mind too was chaotic and bursting. I shared some of the finished pieces on social media and I received a bunch of responses from parents and soon-to-be parents. None of the messages were about the art. Almost all the lovely people who reached out either offered support or needed support. It took me a while to fully understand this but it seems like we are all a little lonely on this journey…
...maybe, looking at vulnerability, even when presented as silly stories that toy with reality and exaggeration, makes us feel like we are not in this alone, but also like it is okay to do what works best for us in our story.
Parenting is a subject that has been explored a great deal. And in this continuing exploration and expression through the arts I hope we find a community.
The End
I still draw memory notes but they’re private now. While my baby was inside me I talked about her like she was an organ I loved more than all my other parts. She popped out and it took me about 8 months to adjust to the fact that she wasn’t a part of me anymore. I don’t know WHO told her it was okay to grow up but she did it anyway. She turned 1. And then 2. Every day, little by little, she went from being a happy hope in my body cavity to being a body that wiggles if you tickle it. She grew into a voice, into a laugh, into words, into choices. My art had presented my child only in the context of my motherhood. Getting to know her changed something. I know her now as a person in my life. She has agency. She has her own versions of stories we are living together.
When she’s a little older I can ask for her opinion and consent when sharing a piece of her in my paintings...or maybe we’ll draw together. But until then, I put this series on hold, so my baby can grow out of my perspectives and into her own world.
Showing at the Toronto Public Library, Bloor/Gladstone, July 2026