Evana Marisa Flores
Tejana, Mexican-American
the
art
Quarantine Doodle loosely documents an array of people and their quarantine activities during the COVID Pandemic of 2020+. It was born of boredom, isolation, and the desire to bring people together— even if only on the page.
Like everyone else who craved human interaction during lockdown, Flores took to Instagram in search of meaningful connection, one day asking people to send her photos of themselves doing their favorite pandemic activity.
“I was actually alone for the first time in my life because all of my roommates went back home. So, I was spiraling but on Instagram.” —E.M.F.
With a background in photojournalism, and inspired by the late illustrator Jason Polan, she wanted to record how people were spending their quarantine, but preserve them in a way that felt kinder than the times. The response was much larger and more meaningful than expected. She received 110 submissions in a matter of a few weeks.
Friends to total strangers were sending intimate glimpses into their lives, which were drawn with micron pens on a 24”x36” paper every day for 4 months. The time spent drawing each person was time allotted to wonder about them as well.
Though the original pen drawing was completed in 2020, it was never released. It wasn’t until 2023 that Flores decided to rework the piece digitally.
“Now, it’s become more of a time capsule. It’s only been three years but so much has changed. Pets have passed away, people have moved. A lot of the couples are no longer with the partners they were drawn with—good things too I’m sure...but I do feel like I know more than I should.” —E.M.F.
(A sound accompaniment to the illustration is in the works as well.)
about
the
artist
the
artist
Hailing from the bordertown of Laredo, but growing up in the DFW suburbs, Evana M. Flores straddles Mexican and American culture in a way that confuses her to this day. She was so confused she moved to New York.
By trade she is an Art Director that writes with a hammer. She takes great inspiration from impressionistic journalism, sentimental things, and benign stupidity.
Her goal is to keep making work that elicits emotion— laughter or tears! Ideally both at the same time.