November 2025 Recap

Hello December!

But first, a look back at November…

…actually, wait! It’s Cyber Monday while I’m writing this so I’d be remiss not to mention that my INPRNT and TeePublic shops are on sale today (if you’re reading this December 1st!). My INPRNT shop is 35% off, for high-quality prints of my illustrations and comics! And at TeePublic t-shirts start at $15 with all kinds of fun designs I’ve made over the years! But there are also coffee mugs, and stickers on sale too! So now’s a great time to check it out!

(I’ve also re-opened my Patreon, including a free tier to follow my updates on Instagram and Facebook, without needed to use Instagram or Facebook! 😅)

…um, okay, sorry about that! Where was I?! Oh yeah–

I got a ton of work done on my graphic novel!

It’s still going really well. Again, I’m working on the rough (REALLY ROUGH) draft — where I set up all the pages, including the panel layouts, and very loosely sketch out the art and text for each page.

I also worked a whole lot on character drawing!

Last month, I did a couple courses on cartoon and anime-style drawing, especially focused on anatomy. I’ve learned SO MUCH and I finally have a better understanding o how to construct a character. I feel like drawing people has always been my biggest weakness, but I’m determined to get better at it, and I think this last month has helped a ton! Plus, it’s been a lot of fun to practice both cartoon AND manga-style drawing again. I can’t help it, I just really enjoy drawing both!

I didn’t do a comic, or any science fiction studies, as I had planned. But that’s okay! I spent so much time drawing characters and that felt more important to do right now. I came up with a few more comic strip ideas to do too, which is great. And I did a sort of study and research on different genres and tropes in science fiction too, which was super interesting! That should help me a bit once I’m ready to start sketching!

So yeah, overall, I did a lot of art WORK last month. But I don’t have any ARTWORK to share yet!

A couple pictures from last month: a bit of my office workspace, a sneak peak of the super-rough draft, and progress being made from my original script layouts!

For December…

I want to finish setting up my graphic novel! I should be able to finish the super-rough draft this month and start moving on the next steps!

One of the next steps actually finalizing the character designs for everyone is the story. So I’m excited to get started on that, especially using everything I’ve been learning about character design and posing/anatomy! I have super rough sketches of everyone, so it’s just a matter of finishing their looks so I can start the actual nice pencil drawings for my book!

I’d also like to start working on a character illustration too, but right now that graphic novel takes priority so we’ll see! But I’d really like to get a comic done too!

So that’s the plan, I think! So it’s time to get to work!

Thanks for reading!

October/Inktober 2025 Recap

Hello November!

But first, a look back at October…

And the main focus of the month was Inktober! I had so much fun with the daily drawing challenge!

I had originally decided to focus on just character drawings for each prompt. But I quickly added a fantasy theme for those characters as well (though the hippie guy is still cool). Not only was it a lot of fun to practice, but having a theme really helped me narrow down ideas for each day!

I didn’t keep up with drawing every day, but I usually got caught back up in a day or two. That wasn’t the goal, but it isn’t terrible either. And I weirdly enjoyed hurrying to draw the last one on Halloween before the first of the trick-or-treaters arrived. It’s maybe one of my favorite this year, even though the character is just a little slime guy.

I also worked on my graphic novel fairly consistently throughout October too. It’s slooooow going, but it IS going! I’m still creating the pages, laying out the panels for each page, and drafting out where everything will go (in very scribbly doodles).

So many pages done! So many to go!

For November…

This month I want to challenge myself to work on two things in my sketchbook.

One is to draw characters that are more like what you would see in a comic book, versus my cute little chibis. I did a little of it during Inktober. But this month I’d like to work on that more, and get more comfortable with drawing in that style. Still very cute, very cartoon…but like, maybe just a bit taller? (And a dash of anime-style! I always want to draw anime-style in the fall for some reason??)

The second challenge is to draw more science fiction! I drew all that fantasy stuff during Inktober and learned a lot about the genre! But I’ve also always wanted to draw scifi stuff too. So this month I’d like to practice drawing scifi characters in the same way! I just need to practice!

So hopefully at the end the month, my sketchbook will be filled with all kinds of (science fiction!) comic book-styled characters!

Also, I still want to keep focus on my graphic novel. That doesn’t change, just have to keep at it! But I also want to work on my comic strip again. I have a new idea to work on, and it should be a lot easier to make time for it, now that Inktober is over!

So that’s the plan, I think! So it’s time to get to work!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. – Don’t forget! You can support my work (and get cool stuff!) by shopping prints, shirts and more at INPRNT and TeePublic!

(I’ve also re-opened my Patreon, but like, don’t make a big deal about it. 😅)

September 2025 Recap

Hello October!

October is the month of INKTOBER! I’m very excited to participate (on-time!) this year! (Last year couldn’t do the drawing challenge until November!)

I kind of spent September getting ready! I didn’t prepare anything for the prompts, but instead built a consistent drawing habit again! In August I had created for myself a small collection of art books for reference and inspiration for characters. So last month, I just used it to draw!

I tried to draw a little bit every day, practicing and studying the cartoons in those books. I also used for reference a bunch of drawings on Pinterest of characters specifically in the style I want to improve in (alas, not everything can be found in a book!). So, I definitely stayed busy, working in my sketchbook and improving my drawings just a little bit every day!

A drawing from How to Draw Cute Spooky Stuff by Angela Nguyen

My own Dracula drawing!

On this page, I focused less on finishing a single drawing and more on study of construction of the characters. I’ve got reference here from Trudi Castle, Rekaharte, and Skottie Young (the witch is from Pinterest).

Meanwhile, I started the next step of my graphic novel! It was a very slow start at first. I had to figure out how to use Clip Studio Paint FOR REAL. It’s definitely designed for this type of project, but it’s also waaaay more complicated than Procreate! I also had to make sure I was absolutely certain I set up my files for printing correctly, because I really don’t want to have to fix it later when it’s time to print! So that was A LOT for the first few days.

But once I got it all figured out, I’ve been working on it pretty consistently too! Right now, I’m working on like a super-rough rough draft. So, I’m creating all the pages, setting up all the panels, and doing really, really, really, REALLY rough drafts of characters and backgrounds. And then writing all the text and dialogue to make sure it will fit the page, make sense, and be readable!

My script, the panel layouts, and one of the pages from the book with one giant panel mapped out so far!

It’s kind of a relaxing process, since my script is really detailed, and I already created rough drafts of each page’s layout while I was writing. And since it’s the rough draft for the drawing, it doesn’t need to be pretty! Some of the panels are going to be a challenge though! In my script I noted one panel should be “fisheye view”. Um, you know I don’t know how to do that right?! (Fortunately I’ve figured it out NOW, but what what I thinking!?! Haha). Anyway, it’s such a big project and a challenge, I’m just focusing on one step at a time, and it’s been a lot of fun!

So for October, it should be more of the same! (mostly)

I’m going to keep my time split the same way, sticking to my routine of working on my graphic novel, and working in my sketchbook everyday! Only this month, those sketches are going to be for Inktober!

My small sketchbook for Inktober (A Midori MD Notebook Light in size A5), my trusty pencil bag from ellievsbear, and a book of chibi pose reference to assist as needed (absolutely no idea what it’s called as it’s obviously not in english).

A cuter photo of my supplies! haha! featuring my pencil (no idea what brand, it says Sakura?), and the Kuretake Fude Brush Pen, which I like almost as much as their ZIG Cartoonist pen! (I’ll probably use both).

So it’s time to get to work!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. – Don’t forget! You can support my work (and get cool stuff!) by shopping prints, shirts and more at INPRNT and TeePublic!

(I’ve also re-opened my Patreon, but like, don’t make a big deal about it. 😅)

August 2025 Recap

Hello September!

But first, a recap of August…

I did lots of sketching FOR FUN! It was awesome! I have a small curated stack of books I’m using as reference. Not following their how-to’s but using it for prompts/ideas and tips on how to keep my drawings cute and cartoony! (I have years and years of like, fine art drawing rules that I’m trying to forget! …okay, it’s more like I’m trying to build muscle memory to draw everything as cute, simple cartoons — the way that I want! It just takes lots and lots of practice too!)

Here is the stack of books! So pretty! Lots of different artists too, so lots of reference but I won’t practice just one approach to cartoons either (I don’t want to copy anyone!) Also there’s Birdking because it’s also pretty and weird and good… and that’s the dream! Haha.

A very silly page of expressions from the sketchbook. I’m using a large Midori MD sketchbook and a Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist pen. I wasn’t a big fan of that kind of sketchbook or pens in the past. But right now they are my favorite!

For my graphic novel, I have finished the character designs! I had super rough ideas for everyone previously, but now they’re in their final form! Last week I started doing like nice line art illustrations of everyone. Hopefully I’ll be able to share a big group drawing soon!

Here’s a little test doodle of rough characters to make sure my style of drawing is going to look good for a story! I think it works! This little drawing was very exciting! haha

In September…

Today (or, more likely tomorrow at this point…) I plan on starting really drawing my book! The plan is to start creating the actual pages — first, setting up panels, and then, kind of mapping out where characters, lettering and stuff will go. It’s another chance to edit the story too. Make sure it all looks like I’ve been imagining! I’m really excited to get started on the drawing part (FINALLY!) but a little nervous to re-read the story. It’s been a while — it better still be good! 

So time to get to work!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. – Don’t forget! You can support my work (and get cool stuff!) by shopping prints, shirts and more at INPRNT and TeePublic!

(I’ve also re-opened my Patreon, but like, don’t make a big deal about it. 😅)

July 2025 Recap

Hello August!

But first, a recap of July!

First, I worked on my graphic novel’s character designs. I have rough sketches of all the main characters now! Very very rough drafts… but still! Progress!

…some designs I didn’t end up using…

Next, in my sketchbook, I tried out some new paint markers for fun. I’ve only just started using them…and so far, they’re just okay. It’s reminded me just how much I enjoy the paint markers I do like (Posca and Ohuhu). But it’s always interesting to try new art supplies! At least this time I’m not learning a whole new medium!

And lastly, I created a new illustration!!!

Available now at INPRNT for prints and TeePublic for shirts!

I did a short course by Carlianne Creates that was really super helpful for me — it was about style and like, fostering creativity again. (I needed it!) So, it got me super inspired to make some new art again! I had also picked up a paper-texture surface thing for my iPad, and I was excited to put it to the test! (I went with Rock Paper Pencil, and so far, I like it!) It was SO GOOD to get back into making like FINISHED ARTWORK, after working on my book and messy sketches for practice! I just need to keep a balance working on all these different things!

For August…

I want to be better about sketching consistently. As always. I struggle with sketching outside of like brainstorming for projects, like my book, or an illustration. I’d like to get back to sketching just for fun, not necessarily study. I’d like it to be a consistent, fun, habit again. So… we’ll see if I can make that happen! No pressure!

I’m also looking forward to working on my characters some more — start refining details and making like final drawings of everyone. To get another step closer to start drawing pages (and sharing more of the behind the scenes work!).

And while I loved making an illustration again, I do think I want to work on a comic strip next. (And then maybe another illustration after that!?!)

Big plans! Better get to work!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. – Don’t forget! You can support my work (and get cool stuff!) by shopping prints, shirts and more at INPRNT and TeePublic!

(I’ve also re-opened my Patreon, but like, don’t make a big deal about it. 😅)

June 2025 Recap

Hello July!

But first, a recap of June!

I spent most of this month working in my sketchbook! Unfortunately I don’t have a lot ready to share, since it was mostly preparing for my comic book!

I haven’t done a lot of character design work before, and this is A LOT of character design work! As an extra challenge, I wrote a science fiction book… which means I now have to design science fiction characters! Eek! 😦

It’s been fun though to make up the right kind of scifi costumes, and hairstyles and extra details. But it’s definitely more involved this way! I’m having to do a lot of research and expiramenting to figure out what makes sense, looks the best, and goes together for this story. The good news is that I’m halfway done with this part! I have six main characters in my story, and three are now ready! Yay!

I can’t wait to introduce them once they are all done! (But obviously not there yet…)

For little breaks, where I can still draw but NOT do the heavy-lifting of invention and design, I did a few studies. This time I just drew fun stuff from Pinterest and playing with my style! And paint markers! (So fun!)

Banana! (done with alcohol markers!)

Done in paint markers. I thought it turned out really cool, but was too detailed for cartoons.

So I did it again! I actually don’t like it very much this way, I would do a lot differently. But I’m still not sure how exactly… oh well, it happens! Still good practice!

I also thought I’d try my hand at “life journal” sketching as well. It’s where you draw every day with like personal prompts about your life (especially the day-to-day). Like, where you went, things you saw, what you ate, etc. My day-to-day is a pretty solid routine now, and I’m still very much a homebody. So yeah, that got old quick! 😂

I did like three days before I gave up and went back to drawing whatever sounded interesting or fun. Or sometimes focusing on things I need to practice intentionally. Like robot things. (see above!)

However, it did help me get a bit braver? about my sketchbook. Using nice supplies. Not worrying about it being like super involved or “perfect.” It reminded me it’s about study and play. And to focus more on the process rather than worrying about the result! (I can worry about that plenty enough for illustrations and my book!)

Lastly, I did a little fan art doodle for The Division 2. It’s my all-time favorite game, and I started playing it again after taking a loooooong break from it. One of my favorite parts is the rich environment, and I love all the graffiti and murals on the buildings in the game. But also, there are a bunch of food trucks on the streets and there’s one for dumplings that’s just sooo cute! So I did a quick little doodle of it!

The Division 2

It’s so cute!! (I know I know, it kinda looks like it says DiviZion? I don’t know why and I haven’t drawn bubble letters like that in probably a decade so I’m not going to worry about it. Haha).

My favorite thing about this drawing was working on it while my two puppy dogs were just hanging out! They can usually be pretty darn nosy, but this time they were completely disinterested and let me work from a little lap desk on the couch!

Mostly.

For July…

I’m looking forward to a lot more drawing, more characters, and working from the couch with the dogs more often?! I also am going to try one of those surface-protector things for my iPad. I’m hoping it will make working on my book on it a lot nicer. I don’t mind the glass, but it’s definitely not my favorite. And also I really really don’t want to draw a whole 140+ page graphic novel on paper. I mean, working in 11×17 is actually super cool. But I don’t want an industrial-sized scanner! Haha… (unless someone knows an alternative?? I would love to do this all by hand for the drawing part. I just have no idea how I could EASILY digitize it for coloring, letters, etc?)

Anyway, time to get back to work!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. – Don’t forget! You can support my work (and get cool stuff!) by shopping prints, shirts and more at INPRNT and TeePublic!

June 2025 Newsletter

Hello June!

…but first, a recap of May!

I finally FINISHED the script for my graphic novel! And all the thumbnails for each page’s layout. ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-THREE pages!?!?! At least!! (“At least” you say? “How do you not know?” Well, the story is kind of split into chapters, so I’m considering adding pages to officially mark those chapters. And I also want to add a few pages of extra drawings at the end, since I always enjoy that in graphic novels I’ve read. So that’s why it’s not exact. But that’s already SO MUCH.)

Should I have started with a short story? Or split those chapters into comic book issues? Probably. Maybe. I don’t know. But it’s too late now!!

So, the graphic novel really took up most of the month. I did a little anime-style sketching, which was fun! But I mostly worked on cartooning practice.

Some fan art I did of Mabel Pines from Gravity Falls, as practice for my doodle cartoon style!

I did a little brainstorming for the book’s character designs too. I’m a little — okay, a lot — intimated by the size of this project. So it’s been sloooow going. I really need to make sure I love the way characters all look, because I’m going to have to draw them A LOT.

I also had to spend a couple days working on the technical stuff for creating a graphic novel. I finally learned the basics of Clip Studio Paint. I had to decide how I wanted to self-publish my book, what size I want it to print at, and how to set up my files so that it will in fact print that size correctly… so waaay less fun stuff, but still kinda exciting! I mean, it’s gonna be a real book! Yay!

Now my goals for June…

The main priority, if you haven’t already guessed, is the graphic novel (which also needs a title too!! eek!!). I’m getting ready for the actual drawing part now! I need to finish the planning stuff, and practice/design stuff. But that shouldn’t be for too much longer. And then I’ll get to start the super rough draft stage! Then I’ll really be in my element again, after all that experience from my comic strips! Same process, just way different scale and style!

For a while, I suspect momentum will be important for keeping everything consistent across the book. I don’t plan on working on anything else while I get started. Once I get more comfortable with that process, I want to start doing illustrations again and comics in my downtime. I still have illustration ideas! And I’m thinking paint markers would be fun again too! But for now, I’m giving myself permission to not have any goals for any other drawing projects right now (at least nothing beyond sketching somewhat daily). And that’s okay! This is plenty! haha.

Time to get to work!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. – Don’t forget! You can support my work (and get cool stuff!) by shopping prints, shirts and more at INPRNT and TeePublic!

May 2025 Newsletter

I actually kept pretty busy last month!

I started out drawing some cartoons. Mostly practicing drawing Sailor Moon characters, because I have been watching a lot of Sailor Moon lately. Simple enough.

Then I just kept drawing fan art. It’s such a chill way to practice and it was a lot of fun to work on!

(I finally watched the Captain Underpants movie! Haha. And I’ve been playing a ton of the game Pit People.)

So, some of the cartoons were like, almost very chibi-style. For inspiration, I had been rewatching a Domestika course from Vania Bachur and her work is super cartoony and kawaii. Love it! Anyway. I guess if you let me start drawing cartoons that look kinda like chibis, then I’ll want to try to draw actual chibis. And if you let me start drawing chibis, then I’m going to want to draw anime again too…

Again.

I know, I KNOW. I decided last month (again!) that I wasn’t going to do that anymore… BUT. I think it wasn’t because I’m not interested in that art style. Or that it didn’t make sense for me to make art like that (I mean, what does that even mean anyway??). Really I was just nervous! I didn’t grow up drawing my favorite anime characters (I didn’t even grow up watching anime!). I was nervous I wasn’t good enough, or learning fast enough, or improving enough. How do I know? Because I still feel that way sometimes! (Oh man, especially when I’m about to start sketching. Yikes.) But now I’m just ignoring that feeling and drawing what I want anyway. And lately that has been a ton of anime-style practice! (And it’s not like I’m starting all over! I haven’t forgotten what I’ve learned. And I think maybe I am kinda getting better at it???)

(One drawing from the book Chibi Art Class and one from Anime Art Class! Yay!)

I have pretty specific goals for the kind of anime-style art I want to be able to do. So, I switched up my learning materials to help me better focus! I revisited the Domestika course by Nemupan on anime-style characters. I’m studying Carles Dalmau’s work again. And I’m working through different anime and chibi drawing books– this time both are by the artist Yoai. They are super fun and cute books, and not very technical (which is not a complaint! I’m not getting overwhelmed by the anatomy, and it’s actually kinda fun to feel like a kid again learning how to draw! haha).

Anyway. I blame Sailor Moon. But, also I was working on my comic strip again, when I realized like — this style is totally different from my other work too. And that doesn’t bother me at all? It does exactly what I need it to do for my comics, and I really like it. So i don’t sweat it. Why did I think I was supposed to be working in one art style across my work??? I hadn’t been anyway!

So now the same goes for the rest of my artwork. I can want to draw fun and cute cartoons, chibi and anime characters! They all have different strengths, and I love each style! So, I’m NOT quitting cartoons. I’m NOT reinventing my comic strip style. I’m NOT giving up on anime-style drawing. I’m doing whatever I want, man!

(And I’m still giving myself room to learn and improve and play — to enjoy making art!)

I’m excited to start making illustrations with fun anime characters. And to design doodle-cartoon characters for my graphic novel. And keep doing whatever my comic strip is!

Which by the way, I made a new comic! haha. FINALLY.

I also shared on social media a fan art illustration I did a year ago of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. I realized I’m still really really bad at using social media. I hadn’t shared anything all month! …something to work on, I guess…

So yeah. For May, the plan is to just keep at it!

I still have a lot to learn and practice with anime-style drawing. I want to keep playing and having fun working in my sketchbook. But I also have an illustration idea to get started on. (Actually, I’ve turned the one idea into two illustrations! which is exciting!)

I also want to get another comic done this month!

And my graphic novel! I have less than then pages of editing and layouts remaining! YAY! Next steps will be figuring out how to use Clip Studio Paint? And working on character designs. I’ve done super simple scribbles, so I have an idea of what everyone and every thing looks like already. But I think this month I’ll get to start working on the details and refining it all before I start actually drawing it all! Eek!

In theory I’ll share more stuff on social media too as I’m working this month. But if not, at least I know I’ll still share everything here in the next newsletter!

Time to get to work!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. – Don’t forget! You can support my work (and get cool stuff!) by shopping prints, shirts and more at INPRNT and TeePublic!

April 2025 Newsletter

So I kinda sorta accidentally didn’t really make any art in March.

It turns out, I was sooo focused on getting better at my art that I eventually stopped making any.

I mean, I’d spent a lot of time this first part of the year working on “getting better” at my art. I figured I would dedicate my time to make, well, less art, but overall improve my skills for future art! I’d find my own style of anime and cartoon characters. I’d build confidence drawing those human characters. Just spent a lot of time working on quality practice… And well, I’ve been learning a lot!

First I figured out how I wanted to draw anime-style characters after a bunch of trial and error. Last month, I dusted off an anime drawing course book I’d bought a while back (The Complete Guide to Drawing Manga & Anime by Date Naoto) and used it for focused practice. It was really helpful for breaking down the anatomy, even if I was following it precisely (I definitely recommend it!). And I was also using it as a guide for more “Cal-Arts” style cartoon drawing too.

Silly poses

But then, I realized that maybe I didn’t want to do anime-style drawing after all. AGAIN. Even though I really like it as an art, I realized it just doesn’t really match the rest of my drawing work. I mean, it’s hard to imagine an anime-style character in the Summer Myth series. A noodle-armed doodle cartoon, though? Definitely! So I focused on that for the last half of March… I was going to get MUCH BETTER at cartooning now! I could do that! I was still following the anime course book for prompts on what to work on every day TO GET BETTER. My goal was unchanged — make BETTER art!

But then, only in just the last few days or so (while preparing for this newsletter) I realized I haven’t really been making art much at all. Turns out BETTER is a sh*t goal.

For one, it’s too vague. Also, it made me start to feel like I wasn’t already good at all! I was suddenly THE WORST artist. (Which is weird, because when I do make art, I’m really proud of it! I like my art!) And even if I was getting better through practice, I wasn’t noticing anymore, because I was only focused on where there is room for improvement. It was just perfectionism. And it was keeping me from wanting to make anything anymore!

I mean, once I was done with my no-pressure-because-I’m-just-learning daily sketching, I was basically hiding from my work. Avoiding doing any other drawing at all. I managed to do one nice drawing in my cheapest sketchbook… It was originally going to be an illustration, but I totally chickened out! Fortunately, it turned out okay and it’s silly and weird, but I like it!

So yeah. That was March. Not doing much at all.

Now helloooo April!

The good news is I’m now onto Perfectionism’s sneaky schemes. And I’m planning accordingly!

“Get good” is out. “C’mon do something” is in.

I’m making better goals for April. I’m at least trying to be more specific about what I want to do with my time. (I don’t know why, but I don’t care for S.M.A.R.T. goal setting. But there might be something to it, after all).

I’ve also started reading my copy of the book We Need Your Art by Amie McNee (she’s AWESOME). I believe it has a chapter on perfectionism, so I’m hoping it will provide excellent reinforcements to my efforts! I may even dabble in reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic again. I think that’s where I learned the phrase “done is better than perfect” or something like it.

I’m also working on renewing my inspiration for comics. I miss making comics! (I think it was the first to fall to perfectionism, actually). I’m revisiting the work of some of my favorites. Currently, I’m eagerly awaiting new copies of Kate Beaton’s Hark! A Vagrant books. (I had them before, but lost them in a move, alas.) She’s one of my original favorites that inspired me to even consider making my own comics. So I’m excited to read her work again!

And then, you know, at some point in all this I’ll actually make art too!? Because really, I can’t let all this other planning stuff distract me too much either. I need to actually do the work! (And if it’s “bad” let it be bad!)

I’m still going to do no-pressure-just-learning practice sketching. But I also want to do more finished sketches (in my NICE sketchbooks!)… And work on an illustration project. AND do a comic strip this month. AND! come up with new ideas for shirts and stickers and mugs. Because those are a lot of fun and I don’t work on that stuff nearly enough!

(Fortunately, my graphic novel project has been relatively spared from perfectionism’s anxiety. ((Oh man, I hope that doesn’t mean I’m more comfortable as a writer instead… uh, I’m just not going to think about this too hard…)) So anyway… I should just keep truckin’ along there, same as usual. I made solid progress in March and hopefully will be mostly done with layout and editing by the end of April! Yay! And then hopefully I will continue anxiety-free as I start the drawing stages!? Yaaaay!)

Okay… well, now that is a lot to do! And I’m determined to actually get it done! (And who knows, maybe I’ll get better at it along the way. )

Time to get to work!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. – Don’t forget! You can support my work (and get cool stuff!) by shopping prints, shirts and more at INPRNT and TeePublic!

March 2025 Newsletter

Goodbye February!

I finished an illustration! FINALLY! It took forever… But it was fun to work on during little breaks from other projects. Plus, I had to practice drawing simple cartoons (carousels are super intricate!), and draw lots of four-legged horse-ish animals, which can be kinda difficult?!? Also, I had kept trying over and over the figure out the best way to color the piece. Color theory is not my strength — like I get it, but I don’t know how I want to use it. But it turns out the handy coloring tips I’d learned a while ago from the artist Loish (on her Patreon) is STILL my favorite way to color my work. It’s very not color-theory and very much intuitive, but it consistently produces my favorite results… Sooo, maybe next time I’ll just try it that way first and save myself some headaches, yeah? Hmmm??

Anyway, for all the wait, I’m still super pleased with how it turned out!

The Carousel

I also did a whole lot of sketching in February! I kept working on the anime-style I figured out for myself in January. But I also worked on cartooning too because they’re different enough and I want to be sure to improve at both!

I have a hard time deciding how I want to draw cartoon characters still. Every time I start collecting reference to study and practice from, I always end up back at the same sets of artists again and again… And you’d think I’d learn by now and just stick with it!

But, the actual problem is those sets of artists are very different! Do I want to draw more like Skottie Young or like Adventure Time? They are very different! Left to my own devices, I default more to the former, because I’ve practiced it more. But I think I still want to get better at little doodly-noodle-arm cartoons too…

A page of Conan the Barbarian as drawn by Skottie Young. The one on the right is a redraw trying to keep it more doodle-y and cute. I can’t decide which I like more??? Both???

So yeah, lots of sketching! And lots of progress… I think? I think that still counts as progress??? Even though I’m pretty sure I’ve written this newsletter update like a dozen times before…

A couple pages from my sketchbook. Scribbly studies of limbs and faces, a study of a character by Carles Dalmau and a study of Trudi Castle’s Spiderman drawing. As well as a lil’ Beast Boy because Beast Boy is dope.

Lastly I worked on my graphic novel. I’ve still got about 40 or so pages to do layouts and re-writes/editing on. I feel like I’m getting closer to the next steps. I’m almost thinking about thinking about the next steps. Ha. (but also still have 40+ pages to work through…)

And I didn’t do a comic strip. Because I just didn’t want to.

Now, hello March!

I’m hoping I can make some big progress on my graphic novel. I’d love to start actually figuring out next steps. (It’s probably character designs, but also learning like best practices for drawing software and setting up files and stuff like that).

I can’t decide if I should just keep focusing on sketching… or maybe start a new illustration now? A third option would be doing more finished pieces in my sketchbook, like the Conan study. Use ink and alcohol markers (maybe even paint markers???) to make some nicer drawings, but keep it chill and in my sketchbook. That’s probably what will happen. But I’m looking forward to really like leveling up my drawings. I really want to start drawing like fantasy and scifi characters again, and eventually put them into cool illustrated scenes. I think it will be fun but it’s a bit intimidating still! But also I still want to do cute fun anime style stuff too! (And then there’s the silly stuff I still love to draw like donuts and giraffes on carousels…)

At least I have figured out what kind of art I want to make, and seem pretty set on it now. So I know which direction I’m headed, it’s just getting better at it and being patient heading that way! (Maybe I’m supposed to pretend to be an expert here, but like, that ship has sailed, yeah? And also it’s not like I think my art stinks, I’m just really excited to be working on getting better, you know??). Anyway, sketching stuff! Cartoons and anime! Cool scifi and fantasy stuff! And probably not any horse-type creatures again for a while! But who knows?!

And maybe I’ll make a comic. 😉

Time to get to work!

Thanks for reading!

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