Zoe Si is an illustrator (and a lawyer!), and she's drawing concise and witty isolation cartoons

In our self-shot video series COVID Residencies, we're checking out how artists are adapting their practices in isolation, whether it's diving into different processes or getting lost in their sketchbooks.

Hailing from Vancouver, Zoe Si is a cartoonist, illustrator and lawyer. Yes — a lawyer. This unique combination of occupations gives her artwork a concise and witty delivery. In addition to her lifelong passion for laughing at her own jokes, she has illustrated a number of children's books and her cartoons appear online and in print magazines.

Zoe continues to use humour to comment on her personal experience with the COVID crisis and believes that comedy can bring us the relief we all need right now. "I truly believe that the best way to deal with a hard situation is to turn it into something funny and then laugh at it. And that's why I think art is so important during a time like this. No one really knows how to process it, and art is a way for us to find a common language to find experiences and cultivate joy."

In this video, Zoe explains the meaning behind some of her COVID-inspired artwork and gives you a quick tour through some of her sketchbooks.

Follow Zoe Si here and keep a lookout for the stories we're bringing you from other artists in isolation as part of COVID Residencies. Stay safe, friends!

CBC Arts understands that this is an incredibly difficult time for artists and arts organizations across this country. We will do our best to provide valuable information, share inspiring stories of communities rising up and make us all feel as (virtually) connected as possible as we get through this together. If there's something you think we should be talking about, let us know by emailing us at [email protected]. See more of our COVID-related coverage here.