The Art of Micah Pearson

Happy #Halloween! https://www.instagram.com/p/B4TIHTrAyNQ/?igshid=xrt0s4y84m3q

I feel like I've spent a not-insignificant portion of this past year either in an airport or one of these. @southwestair #mentalhealth #author #advocate (at Kansas City International Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4IAhd0AJVO/?igshid=owim3dm4563j

Heading home tomorrow. This has been a heck of a trip! Thank you, @nami_kansas !#peekinside https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Gr4oOgD54/?igshid=gngd0h3huze3

Tired today, but still going! Working a table at the meeting and chatting with a ton of folks. The stack of books in the first photo is pretty much all I have left of what I brought with me! #peekinside #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #book #booksigning https://www.instagram.com/p/B4GC8gigp1n/?igshid=7hekzmnmceg

Tonight I spoke at the @nami_kansas state meeting. This was the first time I was just given free reign to get up and tell stories, and I did so using stories and art from the #peekinside book. It was humbling, wonderful, nerve-wracking, and amazing. (at Olathe, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4EQttVAb2z/?igshid=bykrwp87zfsb

Prepping to give a keynote at a mental health conference in Kansas this weekend. The presentation will be based on the stories in the #peekinside book and feature some of the art therein. For visual engagement, I've been animating loops of them as well...because I'm me. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #book #bookstagram #author #authorsofinstagram #illustration #illustrator #digitalart #bipolar #ptsd #anxiety https://www.instagram.com/p/B39zsuyAf00/?igshid=19hv70vpc9mhr

A package came in the mail today and I couldn't resist taking a #peekinside! So excited that these are getting out into people's hands! #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #minoritymentalhealth #recovery #journey #book #author #illustrator #bipolar #anxiety #resilience https://www.instagram.com/p/B38NUqsA7Kr/?igshid=o3qlcgzpt8sb

I dislike mango, but these rock. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3uTyEngtGz/?igshid=158g67gcpghal

Got to show one of the folks interviewed for the #peekinside book at @momscoffeelc, where a significant chunk of the book was written, and where all the interviews were done. The coffee, food, and vibe of the place was perfect for these conversations, so it was great to be back there with both my friend and the finished product! #mentalhealth #art #artist #book #author #authorsofinstagram #local #coffee #supportsmallbusiness (at Mom's Coffee) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3f9XkvAA2S/?igshid=1oa60d0vci2q8

Printed proof came in the mail last night! Layout corrections (and a small adjustment to the author bio) already made to the cover and interior and sent back. That said...Holy wow! It's done and real! Pre-orders are available at: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-peek-inside-micah-pearson/1134017056?ean=9780999469347 An illustrated journey into my life living with mental illness as well as the images detailing the experiences of others on similar roads to recovery. Come join us on the path, won't you? #mentalhealthawareness #peekinside #book #art #artist #digitalart #mentalhealth #bipolar #borderline #author #authorofinstagram #advocacy (at Las Cruces, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ciw6xgRvX/?igshid=1qyrig74173bl

Life of a traveling artist/speaker #travel #art #artist #mentalhealthawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/B3N1TztgDEv/?igshid=1h3c89v46z0hp

'A Peek Inside: Illustrated Journeys in Life With Mental Illness" book is packaged and complete! Off to the printers it goes! This book includes art and stories from both my journey and others, and I absolutely cannot wait to get it out to you at the end of October! #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #book #author #illustration #illustrator #art #artist #advocacy #bipolar #borderlinepersonalitydisorder #disassociation #depression #recovery (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2r2zt4gQoJ/?igshid=10885us6s4ubm

Since I carry my recovery around with me on the inside, I figured that my first-ever tattoo should be focused on that. It worked out that the appointment I scheduled months ago fell on the city's recovery night. #bipolar #alcohol #recovery #mentalhealth #advocacy #eyesfront (at Las Cruces, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2HjV3fgYjh/?igshid=1c1ouqbfg5emc

"NOT YOURS" "LIQUOR GIRL" Written in sharpie on two half full bottles of soda left as totems in Walgreens. I have so many questions. (at Las Cruces, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2C4moGA4MT/?igshid=oyrxjd0ab4oy

Generally speaking, I focus on the positives related to the divergent nature of my brain. You tell me I have bipolar disorder, I tell you that because of that I'm passionate, creative, and frequently require less sleep than the average person, thus allowing me to get amazing things accomplished. You tell me I have ADHD, I tell you that I can multitask and balance a wide number of things better than anyone else… under the right conditions. You tell me I have PTSD, I tell you that I have something that finally allows me to empathize with you through the veil of emotional separation caused by bipolar disorder. Not only that, it makes me hyper aware of my surroundings, something that comes in very handy. You tell me I have anxiety, I tell you that I am VERY good at Project Management. Because I've already foreseen every possible thing that can go wrong, freaked out about it, and devised a strategy to deal with it. And because of the bipolar and ADHD, I did it in a fraction of a second. Note: I don't deny these conditions. I don't deny their extreme challenges on par with your average season of American Ninja Warrior. I just choose to focus on the coolness I get in return. It helps to manage. These are my superpowers, and just like in the comics, a hero's powers are frequently tied to tragedy. Thus when I decided to divide the book into sections, the only name that immediately jumped to the fore was the first one: Origin Story. There was a lot I needed to convey with an illustration for that, and...well, I finally hit one I was happy with last night (or at 3am). #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #bipolar #anxiety #ptsd #illustration #digitalart #art #artist #author #bookstagram #photoshop #americanninjawarrior (at Las Cruces, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1y2wmrASIk/?igshid=f0s44cvpj6xs

I don't often do full-blown repaints, preferring instead to always move forward. But when I do, I love the results. After spending more time with the subject of this painting (who lives with Borderline, Disassociative, and Anxiety disorders), I realized that my first pass at it didn't convey the separation from everyone else around them and their environment...and the crushing fear. So I asked if I could take another swing. I've also seen her service animal try to help and, while successful most of the time, I've seen them not be able to get through. Her story and others will also be included in the book, which is why I wanted to do the repaint. #art #artist #digitalart #photoshop #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #borderlinepersonalitydisorder #disassociation #anxiety #fear #servicedog #author #bookstagram (at Las Cruces, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rt0t0AjKy/?igshid=moswq0yiagbv

"When in doubt, make a layout" I'm kind of over computer software trying to be cute. Also, a sneak peek at some chapter titles for you! #author #digitalart #artist #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #book #layout #adobe #indesign (at Las Cruces, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1lysk2gLwa/?igshid=19tqh9j2fsk8x