What is the difference between awake and asleep? What is self-consciousness? What makes us able to imagine something? Where do images come from? What is play, and why do children know better than adults how to access their imaginative souls?

Today on the Comics Page, we're proud to present an excerpt from What It Is, Lynda Barry's memoir-as-master-class, a gorgeously illustrated guide to creativity and the power of images. Part collage, part autobiography, part inspirational lesson, What It Is is out this week from Drawn & Quarterly.

What It Is, by Lynda Barry