AGOG presents The Graphical Bear by Tiffany Yaxley

The Graphical Bear

Expressing the Feels through Art

My name is Tiffiny Yaxley and I draw comics. My character The Graphical Bear is basically me, and she is navigating the world the best she can. I love a good chart or graph; they are often incorporated into my work, as this is a hilarious way to show the relationships between many of life’s variables.

I have been creating art ever since I can remember. This character and the concept for incorporating graphs and charts into comics has been in the making for quite some time. The very first drawing of The Graphical Bear was done in October of 2014, and I must say I am really proud of who she has become. In recent years, The Graphical Bear has been a way for me to express and share how I see the world and how I experience all these crazy feelings that make me human. I draw her ‘adventures’ to process meaningful experiences—many of which are very hard, but some are just hilarious. For the tough ones, once I draw it as a comic strip I feel that it’s easier to view objectively and let go.

I’ve been sober since May of 2022. Choosing to quit drinking has dramatically changed my life for the better. I am more productive, healthier, happier, and, most noticeably, feel and face WAY more feelings. I know my sobriety is a big reason my work has blossomed into what it is, and this book would definitely not have happened without it. Many of the comics in this book were drawn to help me get through the early days of quitting the booze, and I am so proud that I found a way to deal with all those feeling that was not only healthy but creative. It’s a bit like finding the kid in me, from before I got caught up in all the bullshit of adulthood, and just wanted to draw comics like what I saw in the Sunday funnies—only these ones have a deeper theme.
Speaking of Sunday funnies, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I LOVED Calvin and Hobbes growing up! Bill Watterson’s work helped me through so much childhood ‘drama’ and teenage angst. Anytime I was sad or stressed or worried, I would read about Calvin’s adventures with Hobbes and laugh at the brilliant and hilarious expressions. Bill is such a master at capturing. If Bill ever sees my comics, I hope he views any similarities (like the bear and Hobbes’ stature) as a pure compliment and a love letter to his work.

This collection of the comics has been transformed into a book, which wasn’t the initial goal of them, but has been a very rewarding experience. I initially started with a blog to describe what inspired my comics (www.thegraphicalbear.com) and as a natural progression, that material became the basis for the book. I never thought I would be a writer, as I really do prefer to draw, but I’ve had an absolute blast (and the odd ugly cry-fest) writing the blogs for each strip.

I hope you enjoy!

-Tiffiny

About the Artist

Tiffiny Yaxley was born in Northern British Columbia Canada and now lives in the stunning Canadian Rockies with her husband and dog. An artist since forever, she turns her vivid view of the world and the full gauntlet of human emotion into bold cartoons and candid comics. Her work takes tough experiences and makes them approachable—sometimes funny, always real.
She’s been sober since May 2022, and that clear-headed energy has sharpened her storytelling and deepened her empathy. The result? Art that’s productive, uplifting, and a bit mischievous—inviting readers to face life’s challenges with honesty, curiosity, and a wink.

When she’s not drawing, she’s shredding the slopes or hitting the trails with Osita, her Swedish Vallhund sidekick.