An Inspired Chat with Liz Pritchard of Rochester

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Liz Pritchard. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Liz, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I feel I am being guided and encouraged to pace myself more, and I used to be very afraid of slowing down especially when it comes to creativity and making art. I have recently been diagnosed with ulnar neuropathy in both of my arms, which calls for significant adjustments in how I pace myself and plan each day. I also experience chronic pain with flare ups and have been living with paraesthesia in all limbs for the past 6 years which is mostly a result of my history of my head injuries. I am incredibly stubborn at times, and used to draw 3 hours a day on average, but now, I am instructed to keep my drawing and art activities to about 30 minutes or so every few days. I am very grateful that I can still create my comic books! With this adjustment, I have been navigating other outlets to heal and release my ideas, including video editing and writing more of my poems.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Liz Pritchard. I am an artist who advocates for the disability community and for fellow LGBTQ+ individuals. I create original comic books, in my series of short stories titled “PaperBag Comic”, and make paintings and write poetry to help myself heal, as art is a powerful vehicle and a healthy outlet meant to connect and build bridges. My goal is to unmask society by promoting more self-love and encouraging transparency in how we heal as a collective. I recently became a cancer patient, I had ovarian cancer and had major surgery to remove the 30cm mass from my right ovary. This year has been a significant turning point for me! I choose to heal and will use this experiences to be kinder to myself. Love erases the masks we hide behind!

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
My surgery took place on June 9th, 2025, to remove my cancer and this was a huge catalyst for helping me reframe how I see myself. Everything was so fast that this specific experience still feels like a dream to me and I’m still processing that I was so close to death. The cancer was contained, luckily, and things that used to worry me just don’t bother me at all anymore. I used to push myself to extremes and now I’m finally learning that I’m not “ahead” or”behind”, but that I’m where I am supposed to be! I’ve been doing healing affirmations for myself such as: “I choose to heal! My body cells are happy, healthy and full of light!”

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Before college, I used to hide my challenges and would mask by hiding behind a smiling face. I didn’t want everyone to keep bullying me for being autistic back then. Now, I love that I’m autistic and I wouldn’t ever want that to change because there is power and beauty in diversity. I live my live with transparency mostly because I feel that if we all loved ourselves more, others wouldn’t be oppressed or hurt. Insecurity is the root of hatred and fear but transparency reveals connection from vulnerability!

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am fully committed to a world where people are truly free to be themselves by building communities, using art and creativity as outlets to channel our ideas into something tangible that can heal. I dedicate my life to this project. We are not meant to harbor negativity, we are meant to change it!

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am creating my comic books. My process usually involves writing a poem beforehand and then illustrating my words into short stories. There’s times when I don’t plan anything at all with my comics and paintings and let the art and materials guide me, somewhat like a conduit or vessel. Fear is a big roadblock for many, and I’ve seen lots of artists get wrapped up in imitating styles or still-life drawings. I feel that each artist has a different approach when creating and that’s valid as long as you are honest with yourself and what you are expressing. Transparency is key to me, I never re-do a page in my works. If I were to do so, it wouldn’t be an honest portrayal of what I experienced and felt in that moment.

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