Connections 2 (2005)

About the Artist:
I started my doodling career early on in school by sketching illustrations on my class notes (which often had nothing to do with the topic of the lesson). When I grew up and entered medical school in Moscow, my attitude toward drawing became more serious; then I was helping friends sketch parasites and tissues under microscopes for their lab reports, in exchange for permission to copy their lecture notes. I also designed and illustrated announcements for the Students of Anatomy Society and was actively involved in the un-official Doodle-On-Desk group that spoiled a lot of tables (alas we were young and not so wise).

By the time I came to Canada with my family in the 90's, I fulfilled my duty as a future doctor by not becoming one (and thus saved a lot of innocent lives.)

In 1998, I suffered a spinal cord injury and started to use a wheelchair. (At least now, I'm not afraid that I’ll twist my ankle when I put on platform shoes.)

Presently along with my cartooning, I am studying at OISE/UT (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, at U of T towards a teacher's licence. In addition, I have started an unofficial many-year project of drawing cartoons to entertain and educate, my daughter, Michelle.

Artist's Statement:
Nature, Music, Animals and People, War and Peace, Good and Bad, Love and Environmental Issues –through the eyes of a person with Chronic Cartooning Syndrome.

Experience:
Sophia has made cartoons for thematic displays, events, logos, promotional video and T-Shirts for various organizations representing people with disabilities. Her cartooning background also includes flyers and poster advertising music lessons and concerts.

Sophia is currently working on funny greeting cards. She is preparing to illustrate a children's book.