- 19th edition of Whatcomics is available to check out now.
- Whatcomics art by local teens is on display at Lynden Library through Feb. 28.
- Teen poetry submissions for A Forest of Words are due March 15.
Day in and day out, Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) staff help local teens explore new ideas and express their creativity. But WCLS’s Teen Services really shine during the Pacific Northwest’s darkest months.
Each fall, teen artists submit original artwork to be considered for WCLS’s popular teen art anthology, Whatcomics. Submissions are accepted Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 annually, and the anthology is published in January. Then Jan. 1 through March 15, teens turn in poetry for WCLS’s second anthology, A Forest of Words, which is published in the spring. Both publications are edited and designed by WCLS staff. The books are printed locally and become part of the library system’s collection.
Teen artists featured in the 19th edition of Whatcomics gathered at the Lynden Library on Jan. 10 to celebrate, receive a copy of the book and to see their artwork on display.The Whatcomics exhibit featuring 150 pieces of art continues at the Lynden Library through Feb. 28.
WCLS staff selected Lynden High School student Viola Patten’s illustration for the Whatcomics cover. Titled “Life’s Fruition,” the vibrant illustration features a woman holding the earth and wearing a colorful headdress of fruit. The striking art is also prominently featured on the exterior panel of WTA’s Whatcomics bus. There is more Whatcomics art inside the bus.
Patten is often asked why the character is sad. She’s not sad, Patten clarifies, “it’s more of an overwhelm from being so full.” The character, she adds, has a “deep love for the world, for the artists,” and for everything that exists. The character is holding a porcelain world because “the world is fragile, and it is in our care, as artists.”
WCLS Teen Services Coordinator Tamar Clarke says: “One of our hopes is that by participating in Whatcomics or A Forest of Words, artists gain a community. In a mostly rural county as large and spread out as Whatcom, we know that the library is one of the few places where teens can find others who share their interests. We are grateful to the artists and poets who share their work with our community.”
Learn more about WCLS’s teen art and poetry anthologies at wcls.org/teens where you can also flip through digital copies of the books.
Photos from the Whatcomics 2025 Celebration, Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Lynden Library
Viola Patten, 11th grade, Lynden High School, poses with the 19th edition of Whatcomics published by WCLS. Her illustration “Life’s Fruition” is the cover art.
Caleb Hathaway (“Elemental Titan,” page 27 of Whatcomics), Hallie Hathaway (“Little Sister,” page 50) and Lilliana Hathaway (“Jerry,” page 47) are siblings who are homeschooled and visit the South Whatcom Library in Sudden Valley. Lilliana is the model/inspiration for Hallie’s illustration. Caleb said he had the idea to make a character out of a volcano, and that was the starting point of his illustration. He enjoyed adding details like the ice-capped mountains, the green forest and — look closely — a dragon’s nest.
Paige Palmer is in the 11th grade at Meridian High School. She is a patron at the Ferndale Library. Paige’s drawing of her pet axolotl named Bubblegum is featured on the side of the WTA Whatcomics bus and can be found on page 10 of the anthology.
Teen artists gather for a group photo at the Jan. 10 Whatcomics Celebration at the Lynden Library.
