The coolest 'quaranzines' capturing daily life and attitudes during COVID-19

NEW YORK CITY (SBG) - For some people, quarantine has come to represent a time of heightened creativity, with plenty of inspiration to be found in this new and abnormal way of living; for others, creativity has become a struggle. But regardless of how somebody may be feeling, a "quaranzine" can help them to break through any blocks and put their thoughts, no matter how profound or mundane, onto paper.

After all, one hallmark of zine-making is the lack of any rules. A zine can be particularly low-effort, absent of any intention of creating a polished and perfected work of art. It can be made with the most minimal of materials. And its subject matter can be humorous, reflective, poetic, silly, opinionated,angsty, informative, personal, rebellious, nerdy, emotional, or absolutely whatever else comes to mind.

Zines have long served as a way for authentic, unfiltered voices to tell their stories through the medium of self-publishing.Their nearly nonexistent production cost ensures that zine-making is accessible to all; it also allows for easy sharing both in-person and via online communities. It makes sense, then, that zines have a history of bringing together those ignored by the mainstream media, from devotees of niche fandoms to people in marginalized communities.

As our methods of connecting with one another have evolved in response to the pandemic, the community-building element of zines remains as apparent as ever. They've always provided a valuable space for people to have their voices heard, and now, there is plenty to be said. And through the act of sharing quaranzines on Instagram, both the artists and their followers can perhaps feel less alone in this time of social distancing.

Check out some of the coolest quaranzines on Instagram right now, and you might find yourself inspired to add your voice to the mix.

Earlier this month, Malaka Gharib held a quaranzine workshop with The Believer Magazine and inspired participants to create mini-zines about everything that they're going through right now. In one of her zines, Gharib compares her current life to her childhood, noting that her world has once again become small.

With over 10 issues released so far, "Quaran-Zine" is a collaborative project that invites people to both respond to the current state of the world and imagine their future after COVID-19. The curator, Merinda Davies, created the first issue herself and shared her thoughts on loneliness and unlearning, as well as her recipe for "apocalypse hummus."

Arizona-based illustrator Gina McMillen is challenging herself to create one zine per day for 100 days in a row. "We are in the middle of a global pandemic and creativity has been a struggle for me lately," she wrote of her inspiration for the project. So far, her zine topics have ranged anywhere from pandemic poems to cinnamon toast recipes to funny musings.

Recipes are definitely a popular topic for quaranzines, as cooking has become a newfound hobby for many during the pandemic. This "quarancheese" recipe is perhaps a bit ambitious for those who are new to the kitchen, but if you're willing to put in the work, Persian feta sounds like a delicious reward for your efforts.

Elements of nostalgia and predictions for the future are also commonplace in quaranzines. "What do you miss about life pre-corona? What is the first thing you want to do post-corona?" These are a couple of the questions that Kat Gradowski posed and answered in her zine.

This artist chose to focus solely on the sounds that she misses right now, and you're sure to find at least one sound in the zine that you're missing too.

And comedian Ray Shipley wrote about the sounds that are providing an unusual and sometimes thought-provoking backdrop for the quarantine.

Zines are a great medium for people to share their unique experiences during COVID-19. In this one, the author provides a complete look at what it's like to be a counselor at the moment, from all of the self-doubt she's facing to the ways that she's attempting to cope with those feelings.

Interdisciplinary artist Chloe Henderson made a quaranzine that explores a relatable struggle to many — the feelings of anxiety that may come along with virtual plans. Henderson's words describe her internal conflict between wanting to spend time with loved ones and experiencing panic over the thought of a phone call.

Have you ever considered the similarities between daily life with a chronic illness and daily life during the coronavirus pandemic? In this illuminating zine, Lisa Derrick highlights some of these commonalities, as well as the differences in how people react to chronic illnesses and how the world is responding to coronavirus.

A year-old newspaper got new life in the form of a coronavirus-themed zine, as artist Vinita Pappas blacked out words and phrases to make the dated articles relevant to this particular moment in time.

Nathaniel Voll also used newspaper blackouts to create a quaranzine, creating phrases like, "Italians sing in lockdown spirit," and "the pandemic may be standing next to you." In the caption of his Instagram post, Voll credited Austin Kleon, a well-known writer who helped to popularize blackout poetry, for inspiring the style of his zine.

In one of Kleon's cleverest coronavirus-related zines, the words "so," "shall," "distance," and "sing" stand in for the phrase "social distancing." The poem itself is not only clever but also incredibly touching to all those eagerly awaiting for the day that social distancing guidelines are lifted.

"My first #quaranzine is a little rough around the edges, but aren’t we all these days?" wrote the author of this zine. She also credited Kleon for inspiring her to give zine-making a shot.

If it seems like everyone you know is baking sourdough and running marathons on their balconies, this quaranzine is a refreshing and humorous look at everything that the artist won't be doing during quarantine.

And this zine, created by Portland artistAshley Sloan, gives you permission to be feeling whatever you might be feeling right now. Sloan acknowledges that mixed emotions are prevalent right now and asks you to be kind to yourself no matter what.

In another zine that explores the ups and downs of quarantine, the author talks about pushing himself to do more with his newfound free time, wanting to hug his friends, and struggling with overeating.

Similarly,Bertha Gutierrez illustrates the good and the bad in her zine. Some pages are dedicated to the moments that give her joy, like spending time outdoors, while others reveal her fear of death and her desire to be doing more for those in need.

Has anyone else been buying a ton of unexpected and slightly unnecessary stuff online since the quarantine started? Overall, Sarah Mirk's list, illustrated in zine form, actually seems pretty reasonable.

IllustratorKirk Reedstrom has created a multitude of zines during quarantine, including one about how he didn't feel like making a zine that day and another about how he was too angry to make a zine. This particular zine, which focuses on what Reedstrom is doing while social distancing, may hit a little too close to home for some.

And finally, is your hair getting a little wild during quarantine? Luckily for you, artist and writer Emilia White has a few suggestions for some stylish new looks.