Today we’d like to introduce you to Sage Coffey
Hi Sage, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was very lucky that my mom was supportive of my being an artist since I was little, so I started drawing and just never stopped! Even in high school, we had to do a dedicated “senior project” for or about something we were passionate about so I painted a mural in the hallway of the school. I’m sure if I saw it now I’d be like “wow, that’s awful looking”, hahaha but what’s important is that I stuck with it- Doing what I loved while balancing multiple part time jobs while pitching to multiple comics anthologies, zines and media outlets. I feel very privileged to be able to do comics and illustration full time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t say it was smooth, no. There’s a lot of unseen labor that goes both into making comics and in helping organize CAKE. There are good days and bad days as any artist will tell you. Truly, nothing I do would be possible without the support of my friends and loving partner!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m best known as creator of Wine Ghost, for their work on the GLAAD award nominated video game BUGSNAX and as illustrator on one of Vulture’s funniest books of 2021 I AM NOT A WOLF. I like to explore both fiction and autobiography and been published by The Washington Post, The New Yorker and The Nib. Since 2019, I’ve helped organize Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE). I think what sets me apart from other people is my range, maybe? It’s not for me to say, hahaha but I’m the kind of person who loves to learn things and as a result I’ve worked in a multitude of creative mediums!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I’m incredibly appreciative of Chicago. We have such an amazing comics scene, punk scene, comedy scene- Literally everything! We actually just wrapped the annual CAKE (Chicago Alternative Comics Expo) Art Auction Fundraiser to help keep the show free and accessible to the public. We have all these incredible scenes and we need to do what we can to nurture them, keep them accessible and help them thrive!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sagecoffey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagemcoffey/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SageCoffey
- Other: https://bookshop.org/p/books/wine-ghost-goes-to-hell-sage-coffey/17747232
