A beautifully poetic exploration of being both a new mother and an artist, told using her own unique graphic novel and fine art approach.
When Alice was born her mother only found time to draw her while she napped. Gradually Alice is multiplied in a tapestry of selves, both large and small, while an overarching narrative whispers through the pages, musing on the meeting of former and future selves. At its core, Alice at Naptime tells a universal story, of a parent pining for past freedoms, while simultaneously descending down a rabbit hole of all-encompassing maternal love.

Shea Proulx's profile page

Shea Proulx is a Calgary artist with a BFA from Emily Carr and an MFA from the University of British Columbia. Rather than ’emerging’ as an artist after graduating, Shea cocooned somewhat and started a family. In 2013, after ten stimulating years in Vancouver, Shea, her husband, and their two daughters returned to Calgary, the city she grew up in and the one her willing-to-babysit mother has lived in all her life. With that influx of childcare assistance, Shea started a publishing company called Hillgrove Books whose fledgling projects are an embryology themed adult colouring book called Alice In The Womb, followed by ABC Monstrosity, a book for both preschoolers and their off-beat parents to enjoy. She is currently working on a full-colour version of ABC Monstrosity and a new book called Alice at Naptime.
I work around caring for my kids, and cram it in wherever I can; standing up between unloading dishes, waiting through swimming lessons, stolen hours when I should be sleeping, blissful but limited set hours when they’re both in school/preschool or are being taken care of by their maternal grandma. It’s very chaotic. I have a studio in my home in Calgary, but it’s usually just a loading zone because of the way I work at this point in my crazy life. There are very tidy looking pictures of the studio on my website. Those are a lie.www.sheaproulx.com