zines get you out of the house — & into community
zines get you out of the house — & into community
an interview with artist, teacher, & zine-maker Miquela Davis
Miquela was my wonderful table neighbor at my first-ever zine fest (OC Zine Fest 2023), and she’s an incredibly thoughtful, kind, and creative voice in the Southern California zine community. She also has a monthly mail club that, as a member myself, I find certifiably delightful.
I’m thrilled to share this conversation she and I had about art, zines, and community with you — thanks so much, Miquela! <3
FILTER FEEDER: Hi Miquela! Can you share a little about who you are and what you do?
Hello! I am Miquela Davis, a mixed Native (Acjachemen) from Orange County. I am an artist, specializing in zines and illustration. I also teach workshops, co-organize local zine fests, and put on educational art programs at Center for the Arts Eagle Rock.
FF: When did you first fall in love with art?
I literally do not know of a time where I didn’t love art. Apparently, when I was about 4, my grandma took me to Sears to get photos done, and I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I said “an artist!”
I remember in school, every time we learned about a new artist, I was like a little sponge. My aunt would take me to LACMA, and I’d go running around pointing at my favorite paintings. It was just always something that grabbed my attention.
FF: I notice lots of delightful animals make it into many of your illustrations. Can you tell me more about that? Have animals always played a role in your work?
I have always related to animals more than I have people. I don’t know if it’s because I’m neurodivergent, but I feel so deeply connected with nature and like a total outcast from human society. The other thing I wanted to be growing up was a veterinarian. I wouldn’t call myself religious, but I’ve always felt a spiritual connection when I’m in nature or interacting with animals. Dogs in particular have always been a very special interest for me. So it felt right for me to feature tons of animals as characters. I don’t even know how it became my primary thing other than I started to have a lot more fun drawing animals rather than people.
FF: Even more broadly, where do you tend to draw inspiration for and energy from for your work?
I listen to a ton of music. I am also a visual thinker — like I see movies practically play out in my mind’s eye — so when I listen to music, sometimes a song will spark a visual concept, or really invoke a feeling I want to try to translate to a drawing. If I don’t have any ideas but feel a need to draw, I’ll put on some music and draw whatever comes to mind.
I am also inspired by movies and TV, but less so than by music. I often get ideas when I’m just joking around with friends or family — what starts as an inside joke will snowball into a whole comic plot-line sometimes. That’s actually how most of my Cool Dog comics form. It’s a “what if this happened? Wouldn’t that be funny?” and then I run with it until it gets too worn out.
Zines get me out of the house, haha. They’ve kind of forced me to be a part of the community — even if I’m feeling introverted, there’s something about sharing zines and going to zine fests that completely lifts that anxiety away from me.
FF: Has your art practice influenced or changed how you connect with your communities?
Definitely. 1000% I am an absolute hermit, I have been even before the pandemic. I grew up moving a ton and not having many lasting friendships. When I started to make comics in junior high and high school, I started to have people ask me what I was drawing, and I would show them. That turned into me circulating comics in high school among groups of friends. People would ask if they could read the comics, and I was more than happy to let them. I had thought no one would get the jokes — it was all stuff me and my best friend had made up. But when I realized I had an audience, I kept going.
I discovered zines in 2006, but it felt like something people were doing elsewhere, not in Orange County. I was so surprised in 2015 when I found out about the OC Zine Fest! That skyrocketed everything for me. I have been doing local zine fests as they pop up ever since and connected with so many people. Zines are the only true community I’ve grown to know!
Zines get me out of the house, haha. They’ve kind of forced me to be a part of the community — even if I’m feeling introverted, there’s something about sharing zines and going to zine fests that completely lifts that anxiety away from me. It’s only expanded from there. I follow more and more zine creators online and have friends now across the globe that I love sending zine mail to!
FF: So, in addition to making zines and art, you’re an active participant in and organizer of events — one of these was the 2024 Crushes Art Show and Zine Fest. There have been Crushes art shows in the past, too, but what was your vision for the 2024 iteration of this event?
I wanted it to be a little more sophisticated than Crushes’ humble beginnings in a DIY warehouse venue (as much as I LOVED Riff Mountain and miss it every day). I wanted folks to come and have a good time, whether they love Valentine’s Day or hate it. I hoped that people would come support the artists — and they did!
I honestly was so surprised by the artists wanting to participate and the turnout. It was phenomenal! I was so worried that like … no one would want to do it for some reason.
FF: What advice would you share with aspiring artists and zine-makers?
Just do it. Honestly, that is so cheesy, but so true. Make art because you want to make art. If you want to do it, if you have ideas, just go for it. The magic of zines is that no one is going to stop you. So just try to do it and see what happens. There are also tons of online resources, community resources, and ways to learn and grow from other artists and zine makers, so get yourself out there!
FF: Where’s the best place to find and support your work?
My instagram is @ghostsb4breakfast and I also have my website where I’ve got my shop: miqueladavis.com
FF: Thanks so much for sharing a piece of your story and your work with us — anything else you’d like to add at the moment?
I am always so grateful for the opportunities and connections that zines in particular have given to me, so shoutout to everyone in the Southern California zine community, you are all SO RAD and keep doing what you’re doing!
