Heaven Is… Wherever You Are! by ANKLEGLUE

Where is heaven?

This past spring, I worried my life would come to a halt when I graduated college and moved away from the city. I felt insecure in myself and my art despite pursuing it for my degree.

I got the opportunity to work for a summer camp at an art studio I used to volunteer and take classes at; the campers’ creativity and my coworkers’ camaraderie was unlike anything I’ve experienced. As I helped and encouraged the campers, making my own art became… fun again? Until now I never thought of myself as being “good with kids,” but the young artists’ unique outlooks made me excited and hopeful.

Transitions can feel like devastating endings, but they also open the door to new experiences. We search for the perfect place; the perfect circumstances; the perfect life. But life changes. The only constant is you.

I’m no longer a student, but I’m forever learning. Stay brave, stay curious, stay generous, and you will find heaven is… wherever you are!

I’m a multimedia artist with a focus on illustration, comics, and fiber art. I draw inspiration from my childhood, internet culture, and fandom; the character depicted here is my childhood fursona I created over a decade ago. I make my work both for self-exploration but also in the hope that others can live in my weird, garish, maximalist world. For more of my art, find me on instagram @ankleglue.