The first time Liz and I met was in a backyard in Oakland for a Sci-fi and Comics Roundtable hosted by fellow BAYlies cartoonist Alan T Clark. I have known of Liz for a very long time, not only because we have a bunch of mutual friends, but also because she was the Director of SF Zine Fest.
I read Liz’s comic Bread & Butter, before I met her and was immediately impressed by the way she drew The City. Liz’s technical skills are so intricate and when paired with her storytelling abilities, it makes for a perfect match.
You can find Liz’s comics in the ‘Tales from la Vida: A Latinx Comics Anthology’ and the Eisner Winning ‘Drawing Power’ Anthology. And if you get the chance to read any of her comics, slow down and really get into the world she brings to life on the page.
BREAD & BUTTER
MONSTROUS LOVE STORIES
LIZ MAYORGA INTERVIEW 2020
What has life been like for the past few years. How are you doing?
L: The past few years have been full of turbulent changes, and I've often been on survival mode, but I feel really good about where I am.
Are you from the Bay Area or did you move here?
L: I am not from the Bay Area. I moved here from LA. I transferred from Cerritos Community College in Norwalk to UC Berkeley.
Where are you from originally?
L: I'm from Huntington Park in LA County.
When did you start making comics?
L: I started making comics while I was at Cal. It was my way of balancing academic writing.
How has your progression of your cartooning and educational career impacted your life?
L: For me, cartooning was a way to approach an idea through different lenses: visual, written, and sometimes more. A lot of this ends up seeping into my teaching. As an educator, I try to help my students process information by using different senses and by observing different perspectives. Art and Education have impacted my life by turning me into someone who follows her curiosity and gains knowledge through exploration. The creative process and the learning process are the same.
How have you grown since your earlier comics?
L: My illustration style has changed. I guess I can say my drawings have become more polished? I have also gained confidence and I spend less time editing the story. In other words, I am not as much of a perfectionist. Still, it takes me forever to finish a project because I think a lot about my writing. I don't know if this completely answers the questions, but it's what I've got.
What are some of your most memorable moments of your career so far?
Being the Director of the San Francisco Zine Fest was a big moment in my life. I have a lot of complicated feelings about being an organizer, however, I loved the community it created. There was nothing more gratifying than seeing all of the exhibitors and their work. Not to mention, I met some of my closest friends at SFZF. I would also say that working with Fred Aldama was one of my most memorable moments. Sol Con was like Zine Fest but with more intimate conversations about race and gender. I really felt at home with everyone there. While at Sol Con, I got to be on a panel with Jaime Hernandez, who inspired me to make comics, so that felt like a pivotal moment. Then Fred created the anthology Tales from La Vida, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. The next big moment in my career was getting an email from Diane Noomin, asking me to contribute to her anthology Drawing Power. I was starstruck, flattered, and in shock. I was also really excited to be in a book with some of my favorite cartoonists. Then, Drawing Power won an Eisner and that was pretty incredible too.
What is different about The Bay Area comics scene compared to other places you have been?
L: I don't know if I've spent enough time in other Zine Fests to compare. LA didn't have a Zine Fest when I was growing up. And I've heard a lot of things about the Portland Zine Symposium, but I have never been to it. Traveling is expensive, so I tend to stick to local events. I will say, I've made friends across the country thanks to zines and the internet. I've traded and maintained a connection via snail mail, which is pretty great.
Any comics recommendations?
L: My Favorite Things is Monsters by Emil Ferris, Hellboy by Mike Mignola, Daytripper by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, Embroideries by Marjane Satrape, Your Black Friend and Other Strangers by Ben Passamor, and of course the Hernandez Brothers' Love and Rockets.
Any cartoon/tv shows or movie recommendations?
L: The Terror, Tales from the Loop, GLOW, Cowboy Bebop, The Get Down. Really, I have way too many recommendations. My taste is eclectic. But if we're talking Horror, I really loved Richard Stanley's The Color out of Space.
What influences your work?
L: My nightmares. Kidding (kinda). I am equally influenced by things that make me uncomfortable and things that get me excited. The discomfort often comes from conflicts I'm dealing with. But then I cope with all of that by watching music videos or YouTube videos of people dancing. I also LOVE how silly monsters can be, so I gravitate towards things that are honest and fun.
What do you want to do in comics in the next 5 years?
L: I would really, really, really love to finish a horror story in comic book form. I'm really meticulous, which has its benefits and drawbacks, so finishing a fully envisioned project would be awesome.
What are you working on now?
L: Currently, I'm painting terra cotta pots in between lesson planning. I'm putting most of my creative energy into building my home and transitioning into online teaching. I hope my skills as a graphic designer and storyteller will help me be a more effective online teacher. Oh yeah, I teach English Composition at a few community colleges. I keep a journal when I'm teaching, so I keep writing and doodling, but none of those journal entries or doodles become actual projects until much later.
What does your work represent to you?
L: Courage. Spiritual Growth. Resilience.
Liz’s Comic For The BAYlies 2018
Thank you so much to Liz for doing this interview. It’s important for me as someone who is here right now to not only archive and document comics history, but to shine light on what has been and still is here. Liz has been an important voice in the Bay Area zine and comics scene for many moons, often behind the scenes and gets little credit. I’m happy to have her be a part of this.
Please check out her work
Peace and Love
-Lawrence