My name is Peta Manning and I hail from Australia where the sun sets with a different light shade. From when I could hold a pencil the world around me transformed into something extraordinary through sketches and strokes. In those early days, my creations started as casual scribbles but quickly grew into something that took on a life of its own. Inspired by whimsical moments from childhood I found myself drawn to the playful antics of Garfield and the gentle reflections of Peanuts. These early cartoonists became my guides, and I saw endless joy in mimicking their expressions imagining Garfield in absurd scenarios like attempting to jump over a pile of spaghetti. As my friends explored other worlds I wandered into the realm where animals wore clothes and shared insights about the mysteries of life. From the pages of newspapers to the corners of my imagination art became my constant companion and laughter was the ultimate destination.
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As a teenager, I transitioned from drawing to making short films yet my love for reading cartoons never faded. After high school, I pursued a Bachelor of Film & TV and eventually worked in television, beginning as a creative trainee before moving to Funniest Home Videos. However, in my mid-twenties, I was struck by ME/CFS a chronic and complex illness that forced me to return to my childhood town where my parents cared for me. For about twelve years, I was bedridden unable to engage in any activities like watching TV listening to music or even performing basic tasks. The only solace I found was in simple images with minimal text and I could only voice my thoughts into a recorder.
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During this period, I found myself imagining a future as a cartoonist. My mother, always supportive began buying me cartoon books and my collection grew steadily over the years. I recorded thousands of cartoon ideas some nonsensical others that later evolved into actual cartoons once I regained the ability to draw. It took years before I could hold a pencil again and at first my drawings were limited to simple stick figures. Gradually, I progressed to more detailed single-panel cartoons which you can see here. I also discovered the work of John Callaghan a cartoonist who like me had a disability. His incredible humor and influence made an impression on me showing that despite profound challenges one could still make a significant impact in the world of cartoons.
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