The Rambles of an Art Student in Shambles

I think that most of us can agree that the pandemic has forced us to go through some pretty rough patches, whether it be emotional stress, financial uncertainty, or the infamous burnout. After all, it seemingly came out of nowhere - one moment we were enjoying the lax waters of spring break, the next we were in lockdown mode and thrown into a haze of health protocols to follow should we step outside the house. The world we'd grown used to pre-COVID became a new environment entirely, which we began to adapt to via face masks, social distancing, and small groups. The sudden closing of our favorite hangout spots and cancellation of major social events put the quarantining population on a path to pass the time in the comfort of their home instead of outside. As an artist, I initially thought the concept of lockdown was the perfect opportunity to get some art done and further develop my style, characters, and original stories. I was always more of a hermit crab anyway, preferring to con...