For a year and half, X E Oaks has worked in two roles rarely acknowledged when the topic of newspapers comes up: cartoonist and paper delivery. On the latter, the soon-to-be graduate had nothing but praise.
“(It’s) actually really so lovely and meditative,” Oaks said. “It’s like, wake up on Monday at 4:30, get ready, and then go and you have like two hours just completely alone, blasting tunes and driving around campus, and no one’s awake yet.”
Oaks will be graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree this Fall.
Oaks said that while the colder months could sometimes make the task harder, the element of fun was preserved. On occasion, Oaks’ friends could even be convinced to tag along despite the tall ask of being so active in the wee morning hours.
“That was the best, because then you’ve got, like, someone rolling papers for you, (so) you can just throw them out really easily. I enjoyed it a lot,” Oaks said.
The topic of friends was a consistent theme throughout Oaks’ time at the University of New Mexico, as they were typically an important part of the creative process for Oaks when it came to cartoons for the Lobo, like making sure that the idea that made it on paper made sense to people other than Oaks themself.
Firstly though, Oaks said the task of making an original cartoon began with playing with the theme of the paper; for example, the Lobo’s annual elections issue or the satire issue, published the week of April Fool’s Day. Additionally, and especially if the paper was not themed that week, the inspiration for a cartoon came to Oaks through the everyday.
“If it’s like a midterms part of the year, then I’m going to do something where they’re studying in heaven,” Oaks said, referring to a comic published during exam season earlier this year where a character exhausted by studying had their spirit leave their body and rise up, only to find more books and classwork above the clouds. “But if it’s like winter, I don’t know, it’s very situational inspiration, kind of just like, ‘what’s going on in my life?’ Just drawing from life is easiest.”
While Oaks has continued to work as a cartoonist for the Lobo throughout the year, it’s been a long time since the last paper delivery, as Oaks has spent the last six months doing classwork remotely from Scotland. First as part of a summer course in June, then later out of personal preference while Oaks has worked on three independent studies.
The reason for Scotland? It comes right back again to a friend, this time one that Oaks met through the Land Arts of the American West program who was studying at UNM on an exchange program from the country. A combination of learning more about “the magical land of Scotland” through the friend and an increasing desire to visit them in their country of origin caused Oaks to leap at the opportunity to take the summer course abroad.
Oaks said that the experience of living in Scotland has helped during their independent studies, despite some of the unique challenges that come with a study abroad program and online classes in general.
“I find it quite difficult,” Oaks said. “It’s all self-directed drawing projects. Basically, I’m making daily diary comics right now, and having this daily creative practice in a place that I’m trying to live my life, also. I just didn’t think it would be this difficult to do both.”
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Oaks repeatedly expressed excitement about a planned engagement with friends later that night that was set to include a custom tattoo, a home cooked meal and Oaks’ roommates, all in honor of the artist’s approaching departure back to the States before the expiration of Oaks’ visa.
As for plans after graduation this Saturday, Oaks said the goal is to work outside of the art world, and instead pursue the drawing craft on a more personal level, rather than for a grade or regular paycheck, in addition to moving back to Europe.
“I would love to pursue self-published comics. I’m kind of already doing that, but it’s been more and more difficult to do it within the constraints of the academic institution,” Oaks said. “So I’m really excited to graduate and, like, explore what it is to have a personal practice outside of school.”
Elliott Wood is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
