'Spinning'.
Tillie Walden is a Texas-based cartoonist and illustrator, best known for her poetic and dream-like slice of life comics. She had a booming career start, with already four graphic novels and a webcomic to her name at the age of 21. Her work is characterized by its clean inks, dreamy watercolor tones, emphasis on structure and architecture, and emotional storytelling, often centering around teenage queer relationships.
'A City Inside'.
Early life and career
Born in 1996 in Austin, Texas, Tillie Walden has been writing and drawing comics since high school. She is a graduate of the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont, and ranks the productions of Studio Ghibli among her main influences.
The End of Summer and other graphic novels
In 2015, Walden made her graphic novel debut at Avery Hill Publishing, a company based in London, UK. 'The End of Summer' (2015) was a melodrama about a man who battles illness, boredom and the pressures of family life in a secluded castle. The book won her an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist. Her next book, 'I Love This Part' (Avery Hill, 2015) was a slice-of-life story about the friendship between two girls while they try to get through high school. In 'A City Inside' (Avery Hill, 2016), Walden explores the concept of ageing through the life story of a woman, alternating between mundane and surreal graphics. In her first book for First Second Books, 'Spinning' (2017), the author chronicles her own coming of age and her 12 years as a competitive figure skater.
'On A Sunbeam'.
On A Sunbeam
In 2016 and 2017 Walden drew the webcomic 'On A Sunbeam', released in book format in 2018. Although her work covers true-to-life stories and emotions, the artist uses graphical and surreal imaginations to illustrate them. Recurring motifs in her work are crumbling buildings, towering skyscrapers, and close, warm rooms.
Comic strip for a local newspaper.