Supernote - EMR Pens

Hi all!

Coming in again with some Supernote thoughts. I received a lovely package from the Supernote team themselves, and it came with the new A5X2 Manta, along with their LAMY Safari Vista ceramic nib pen.

It’s been a bit of an adventure finding the time to use it on top of my intense freelance schedule and holiday balance… but I’ll hopefully have more to note about the Manta sometime. Overall, my first impressions are that… well, if you’ve been wanting an iPad 10.5 sized Supernote, then this will be for you! It isn’t really different from the Nomad except the size, which was something the Supernote team wanted to make sure was the case. From what I can gleam, they wanted to make sure it was lightweight while still being larger, since large devices tend to sacrifice weight and portability. Which they succeeded with in the Manta for sure.

BUT today I’ll chat about EMR pens.

The main EMR pens I use for my Supernote are the Staedtler Mars Lumograph Digital and Wacom One Pilot Dr. Grip Digital. These are non-affiliate links, because I don’t want to sign up for Amazon’s affiliate program.

STAEDTLER MARS LUMOGRAPH DIGITAL

How does it feel?

The body itself is made like the actual pencil, but with an EMR nib. So it feels and smells like a pencil coming out of the packaging. It comes with extra nibs too, in case your initial nib wears down.

The drawing feel is a bit interesting. It’s made of a rubber material, so upon first contact with the device it’ll have a gentle amount of latency, but the springy feeling of the rubber makes the stroke much more similar to a Tombow firm or felt pen. It’s very brush like for me, and somehow makes me more conscious about each stroke. Maybe that’s because of the tiniest latency not going to lie!

It’s my preferred pen(cil) for inking on the Supernote.

What’s the difference between the Mars Lumograph and the Noris?

Nothing, I presume. Just a different body. I used to use a Mars Lumograph for my traditional media before I had moved fully to digital, so I bought it on a whim.

WACOM ONE

How does it feel?

You basically can purchase any kind of Wacom ONE pen as long as you make sure it has EMR in it. I avoided anything that felt like a regular tablet pen, because it tricks my brain into thinking that the Supernote is traditional and to loosen up on my art.

The pens have the same pen feel, but have different housing, so buy a pen according to how you’re feeling just like the Staedtlers.

These EMR pens definitely have a sketchier feel. You’ll be familiar with the easy glide of a wacom pen on the Supernote, which surprisingly can keep up with really fast strokes. This pen is way more responsive compared to the Staedtler due to is hard plastic tip, and will feel more like an actual pencil on the Feelwrite 2 film.

I find myself loving this kind of pen for writing, sketching, and hatching. It’s my everyday pen, but doesn’t necessarily finish up any drawings I have laying around in my files.

What’s the difference between the Pilot Dr. Grip and Mitsu-bishi Hi-Uni and the regular pen?

Nothing again. Just different housing, so different grip feel.

Not to scale. The Mitsu-bishi Hi-Uni is quite smaller in size.

LAMY Safari Vista EMR pen

How does it feel?

I have been really excited to use this pen, because the body of the pen feels great and a bit heavy. It’s also incredibly beautiful because the body is clear! It requires a bit more pressure than both the Staedtler and Wacom One in order for it to register your stroke, but I find the pen to be more for writing. It’s not my favorite to use, unfortunately, for drawing because of this. With some time, you can get used to the pressure you have to add to your screen. I might be biased since my first pens were plastic and rubber, so ceramic feels a little scary for me to use.

I can’t stress enough how beautiful the pen is though. The clear body is SO GOOD, for those fans of LAMY and fountain pens.

A picture of the LAMY Safari Vista EMR Pen, pulled straight from the Supernote website.

What if I can’t afford both a Staedtler and a Wacom One?

Well, I have some good news! If you’re okay with switching out nibs, you can just purchase the nibs you want and replace them! That’s right. Just tested it, but if you have a Staedtler but want that swiftness of a Wacom ONE nib, just buy the Wacom ONE nibs and swap it out! Works entirely the same. Vice versa, if you have a Wacom ONE tablet pen, you can actually buy Staedtler rubber nibs.

So if you prefer your current pen housing but want the feel of another pen… that’s an option! YAY!


Hope this helps anyone looking at these pen options.

If you end up wanting to buy one of the SUPERNOTE related pens, you can use my affiliate link here:

https://supernote.com?sca_ref=7533201.X3B9pIdgJe


Supernote Fever

Hi folks!

Many of you are probably aware, but I recently bought a Supernote A6x2 (Nomad) upon recommendation by my lovely friend, Harry Bogosian. I was at NYCC, and while we tabled together, he pulled out his device for me to try.

I grew up always trying new gadgets and art programs, trying to force many things into my process. As soon as I touched this the device I tossed around the thought of getting my own for a week or so. The feeling of the screen protector and the Wacom One Hi-Uni was just perfect where it felt like real sketching on a notebook. The responsiveness was surprisingly fast and the limitations of the layers along with the undo button were just things I’ve always wanted with a sketchbook.

Sure, I had an iPad with a paper-like, but it takes a lot of energy for me to pick up my iPad. It takes energy to THINK about it, frankly! The iPad requires me to open an art program and fight with it, the pencil and its torturous battery life, and the backlight searing my eyes. Sure, we have traditional media, too. However, I’ve definitely filled an entire shelf of half-empty sketchbooks with the sketch of an original character looking to the left… along with journals and planners that never got past the 2-month marker.

I was wondering, as many of you who have seen me tinker openly with this device… “will this fix me?” I spent some time with Harry over voice calls, just kind of talking through its limitations and watching YouTube videos on how the MicroSD attaches, why I should buy the new x2 instead of an older model, and cruising through Reddit for information on exporting.

Then I made my purchase! I said “FUCK IT”, as I made enough at NYCC to justify something fun. I haven’t drawn much at all this year. I’ve been so burnt out and traveling SO MUCH that I wanted something that would fill this void in my heart. I cried and cried hoping it would fix me! FIX ME SUPERNOTE!

And somehow, it did.

My Device and My Tools

I’m pretty proactive with understanding a product to its fullest when I first get it. So here are my reasons for picking the newest model.

SUPERNOTE NOMAD A6x2

  • Small, can be carried basically anywhere

  • Battery replacement functionality. (Future proofing)

  • MicroSD ability. Not completely reliant on Cloud functionality. (Cloud accepts Gdrive and Dropbox and others)

  • Accepts all sorts of EMR pens. Including WACOM ONE tablet pens.

STAEDTLER MARS LUMOGRAPH DIGITAL

I bought this one because it was cheap, honestly. Also I used a lot of Staedtler pencils back in the day, so it felt nostalgic. The nib is a bit squishy, and maybe a little less responsive than a Wacom One, but I’d say it feels a bit more like a soft lead pencils or a tombow firm fineliner. It gives a bit of a brushy feel.

WACOM ONE PEN

I don’t own one yet, but Harry let me use his! It’s a lot more sketchy feeling. The nib is harder so it feels more like a pencil than the Staedtler’s softer nib.

Some things I wanted to get from the device

A list of things I wanted from the device for my own needs:

  • Switching my thumbnailing process to be on the SN instead of my computer.

  • Having multiple “notebooks” dedicated to my projects, and write things down and doodle again.

  • Making doodle PDFs just to put on the internet or distribute to my friends

  • Something to get me off of my computer and also something to travel with that isn’t my iPad.

  • Ereader


Things I learned upon getting my device

  • You can export using a QR code that will delete itself after 24hrs. Obviously means your art is stored SOMEWHERE for a certain period of time, but if you’re just trying to get your artwork from one device to another, it makes it really simple.

  • You can export full PDFs and individual PNGs. Crazy!

  • Connecting the Cloud is so easy? I use GDrive and I just have a dedicated export folder where I sync to.

  • I should have gotten the more expensive crystal version, since the plastic body on the back is kind of scary to unhook to access the microSD slot. BUT I think with a bit more confidence, it’ll get easier. Definitely look up youtube videos before opening. The crystal version requires a screwdriver, but it’s stiffer acrylic material I believe.

  • Harry warned me that there is NO trash bin in the device. If you delete a file, it’s just GONE. So have backups.

  • The keyboard sucks. You’ll only really use it to rename files. It can connect with a Bluetooth keyboard, but it’s supposedly not the greatest to type on. I haven’t tried yet because I don’t care.

  • Buy a case of some kind! Doesn’t have to be the official case. It’s a very lightweight device and NEEDS screen protection. Harry warned me, so I got one and do NOT regret it.

  • Kindle app can be downloaded if you have that! I just have individual epubs, so I don’t necessarily use it. But I’d imagine it’s helpful to those who export their Libby reads to the kindle.

  • Atelier app can be downloaded, but I am particularly an anti-atelier person. The pencil is REALLY cool, but I think the Notes app is exactly what I need and want to use.

  • The notes app strokes are raster/vector, similar to CSP’s vector layer. It’ll remember your strokes and resize rather nicely. There’s an eraser that will erase entire strokes for you and you can use it as a lasso. Very handy.

  • Lots of really lovely preset templates, but uploading your own template is so easy and there’s quite a large community of people who already have built A6 sized templates and released them for free. https://supernote-templates.mostlyuseful.tech/

I’m still in the process of learning more and more about this device that I could go ON and ON about. The list above isn’t even a comprehensive guide to all the things I have discovered. Like all the Ereader stuff is so fun! Annotating is fun!

Is there anything you’re interested in hearing about? I know there’s a LOT of general information around about the Supernote, but if you want a specific perspective from a cartoonist, let me know!

EDIT - Was reminded once again that I have an affiliate link. Feel free to use this if you want to throw me a couple bucks if you end up buying it! https://supernote.com/?sca_ref=7533201.X3B9pIdgJe

August/September - Residency and New Home - Store Again

Hi folks!

It’s been many months since I last updated, but it’s been quite the ride. I’m blogging as loosely as possible, so grammar and spelling be damned!

SHIRO ONI

I spent a lot of time in Japan for most of June through July. It went by so slow and so quick. I learned a lot from my time there, and mostly that I don’t do well as a solo traveler… now that I have people I want to share my experiences with forever. I love my partner and my best friend dearly that I don’t want to travel out of the country again without them again.

My time at Shiro Oni was lovely but it definitely presented its challenges.

Great things:

  • Was introduced to the locals, and since I participated in the summer music festival, I met a lot of folks who really aren’t around until the festival activities begin.

  • So much quiet time. The town is very sleepy and gentle. You get to learn about the town in little snippets, from people just explaining the history. Stuff I don’t think you can get from anywhere.

  • Lots of great little places to swim, if you’re used to swimming in rivers.

  • You have some time to work on your art, while balancing living in a small town in Japan.

  • Lots of things are biking distance! Going back to Tokyo is so easy as long as you know the rails.

Challenges:

  • Expectations change and fluctuate based on the mood and schedule of the folks in charge. We had a particular challenge of having our exhibition on the same days as the summer festival, and while the sleepy town was so lively and people did come by, it was chaotic figuring out how I could get myself involved in the festival.

  • During the summer festival, they say it has a chaotic schedule that is unpredictable, but there are set events that do happen every year that they could inform the residents of. But they don’t, because it’s simply run by one guy and an assistant.

  • If you don’t do well with the summer heat, artists who are not ceramicists are kind of out of luck. The reservations for more temperate weather months are for ceramics. Sorry to all those with heat intolerance and disabilities. They say they have a room with AC but you are NOT allowed to work on your artwork in there.

  • If you have social anxiety or any kind of mental health issue, it’s kind of a tough place to be. Not having my group of friends I rely on to keep myself together, fighting the heat, and punching through social events while not knowing Japanese was much more of a challenge than I thought. I had the issue of being with only one (1) other resident at the residency… Originally meant to have 5, but 3 had to drop. I think it would have been easier with more than one person to rely on socially. I had many meltdowns, and people would sort of make light of them. Prior residents wouldn’t understand the struggles or make fun of past residents who expressed stress or meltdowns. (Except staff member Megumi. She was an angel and really amazing the whole time.) All these kinds of stories of past residents made me so on edge, and while I’m not disabled, I definitely had my limits with the heat and physical exertion… and those limits made me feel very vulnerable. Do not expect to be supported emotionally!

  • I definitely was made fun of by one UK person and Australians for being American. Lmao…

  • They tell you the exhibition is not important and could just be stuff you’re working on/have in progress. Take it to heart and really spend time focusing on the town. If you’re hoping to have something for the exhibition, because you need it for grant purposes etc, figure out what you’re doing ahead of time. This cuts down on headaches and you can potentially get stuff done sooner. They don’t push these expectations at all, and ceramics folks have different expectations. But just enjoy the town.

  • Unexpected charges for going to parties. This only applies to summer festival people, but hanging out with the locals can be expensive if you pass as male. They do NOT tell you about all the little fees that stack until it becomes “a thing”. If you are going and read this, it’s just Japan customary things, but ask the studio director/assistant about those expectations ahead of time.

I loved my time at Onishi. I think it was really worth it for me to go to the residency because having someone introduce me as an artist and get to know the townsfolk at a more intimate level was VERY important to my future work. I went in wanting to learn about the dams and the locals, and I spent a lot of time learning the customs and the hardships of life in the rural areas. If you go in with the same goals I do, you wont be disappointed even with the challenges. Enjoy the town, and appreciate getting to know the space you get to inhabit… it’s so unforgettable. I have so many regrets, but I look forward to going back on my own time and own terms now that I have connections to the space.

HOUSING

I have been spending August and September working on moving from my apartment to my new house! My house!!!! That thing that was once dirt and now a real house that I’ve been living in for the past month while slowly moving all my things over… yes! IT’S DONE! and I’m typing at my desk in my dream studio with my best friend behind me.

So updates will resume! I am so sorry for the huge delay!

STORE?

It’s crazy to say, but I have new products on the way! I’ll open a members-only store after NYCC, and it will have my ginkgo bags and perhaps my new bolero!

Some extra thoughts

I know folks have been unsubscribing from lack of updates lately and I know that times are changing! Our economy is shit, despite the reports, so I’m not pressed. BUT, I would love to know what you guys are interested in learning from me again! I have time again to write long tutorials and give my thoughts on manufacturers.

Maybe! Just maybe. I’ll do a monthly Manufacturer review. How does that sound?! I am ready to talk about my sources in a private space, I think!

Hope you all have been well. What have you all been up to?! I’m curious!

May/June - TCAF, Kamome Notes, Thoughts, Updates

Hi folks!

Oh wow, May has certainly been a crazy time. I thought April was quite insane, but most of early May I spent sick in my bed. No formal diagnosis, but something had infected my body, something non-contagious according to all the urgency care tests I took. My lymph nodes, which seem to really take some punches for me, were swollen on my neck and I was basically in a land of chills, body weakness, intense headaches, fever, and suppressed appetite for multiple days. Not COVID! Not any regular respiratory illness! So strange!

There was enough time between WWU Queercon and TCAF that I basically recovered the DAY of my flight to Toronto. I got extremely lucky, and didn’t have to rely on my cane. However, I did also learn I suffer from low blood sugar levels in the morning and HAVE to eat something or I will throw up… thanks red-eyed flights.


As most people know, I went to TCAF mainly to see if I could gamble my way to see Shirahama Kamome. During 2018, I went through a ton of hardships, which I made a zine about at the end of that year. It didn’t cover my suicidal ideation from my full-time contract job (animation for Netflix) and how I actually QUIT the job because of it. And how I left without any job waiting on my lap, no financial security or unemployment, and fell into a deep depression about my artwork and self-worth.

But it’s fun to see that when I went to Japan for the first time with my roommates, I was introduced to Kamome’s work. Witch Hat Atelier just released its second volume, and it was uncertain if it was coming to America. I was desperate for more; I wept, looking at how amazing the art was and how incredibly thoughtful the storytelling was (thank you, scanlators). I kept talking about it on social media for what seemed like screaming.

I returned to Japan later that year, and she held a gallery at the GoFa (Gallery of Fantastic Art) in Shibuya. I was so lucky my trip lined up with it because it was after I had left my animation job and really needed a pick-me-up. It changed my brain chemistry FOREVER. For those wanting a glimpse at the gallery and interested in my particular eye for what I’m looking for while scouring originals… here’s the link:

To say I’m “just a fan” feels like a lie. Kamome’s work gave me a lot of hope in being a full-time cartoonist and that things that I enjoy can be loved by many others as well. When it was announced that it was being translated into English, I’m sure someone remembers that I would religiously ask everyone to preorder their copy and announce when the next volume would be released. It was my “chainsaw man” posting before chainsaw man.

Pre-orders really do matter! It really shows the publisher the interests of their fans and how many of their books they need to be producing! I’ve seen the numbers, and I’ve heard the numbers of copies of books being cut to prioritize other books!!! It’s real! So, thank you to those who picked up a copy and continue to make the book thrive. LOL I’m so happy that it’s successful and continues to be garnering more fans. Just wait until the anime comes out, then there will be EVEN MORE!


There was so so much that happened at TCAF that recapping would be insane. Summary, people were crazy and rude on Saturday, but I got lucky and my pal Zach Clemente, publisher of Bulgilhan Press, offered me his tickets to see her talk on Sunday. On top of that, I won a ticket to get something signed by her and say something to her. It was… really! everything I could have asked for from the trip. I’m grateful for everyone in my life that allowed for this to happen.

So here’s a link to my notes I took at the Sunday talk, and a copy of the notes someone else took at the Saturday panel.

Sunday:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X_fPv6BTc_pqDNwn2CUtr3SduoaEO6GbhFH6Ump6_QY/

Saturday:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gythZxcM-at1KOhJlP6vBpku3zPCcg_6t-mXlX1xQBQ/edit

Being a person with social anxiety, I’m glad I got to meet some people and had some folks invite me to hang out with them. I’m so so grateful.

Thank you to Nur, Kyla, Aria, Juby, Blue, Kay, Zach, Ari for being there and keeping me company. It truly made my week.

JAPAN

It’s!!! happening! June 9th, I take off. I’ll be on Instagram and Tiktok, and I will be updating there with photos and other junk! On top of that, I’m closing on my house soon! Everything is crazy! I’m stressed! I’m so grateful for this opportunity, but now I gotta pack! BOTH MY LUGGAGE AND HOUSE. AHHHHHH.

I have updated the downloads with a new artwork PSD to pick through! Feel free to take a look!

OH ALSO ALSO I will be making a NEW 5.5x8.5 Template soon! I have one that works well with MIXAM, and need to put together a little zip file. More to come.

April - STAPLE Austin and other junk!

Hi all!

Writing here to give some cool updates! Just got back from my trip to Austin for the lovely STAPLE! It’s been about five years since they last hosted the beloved indie comic festival, but it was a blast. There is such a rich culture of artists and cartoonists in Austin (or in the tri-city area) that you’ll meet a lot of incredible locals. I went back in 2019, coincidentally the last time they’d have STAPLE prior to the pandemic, and I came back MOSTLY so I could see my friends. So, let’s quickly break this fest down.

Costs and Profits

A decent amount, for me, at least! Almost 2k in total, and for something that was supposed to be a small trip to see pals, that was honestly great. Now, mind you, I did stay at a friend’s place for no cost, I bought food and gas, paid for the table and flight. So overall, I’d say I have some good walking around money afterward!

That being said, I think people who should go to STAPLE are people who are: well established, have friends to keep the costs super low, and or local. It’s not a place to make TONS of money, it’s to make connections and to have fun. I am fortunate that my art has found its place that it’s marketable on its own, and that I have prior funding to have merchandise sitting around. But also, to have friends who will house me for the days I was there, AND drive me around for only food and gas.

New Merch?

Yeah! I’ve been working on a really BIG item again. My purses are in production, and my samples for my bolero are being finished up as I type this. It’s been a long time coming, but the manufacturer I’m working with is SO COOL. The back side has been soooo finicky but it’s so close! Can’t wait to get this sample in my arms, I will cry!

That’s all for now!

March - Maddness!

Hi Folks!

Starting off the month with so much stuff happening. I know I’ve been hinting at things hitting the fan on my BSKY, but it really is so so much. I’ll start with life before talking about ECCC!

Residency at Shiro Oni Studio is a go!

I’m excited to participate in something I’ve been dreaming of before the pandemic. I never thought I’d have the money for something like this in my life, and although I do make frequent trips around the world, I usually budget for under 1200 USD when I do for like 2 weeks travel. So this has been the perfect storm where everything feels like it’s lining up.

I think I’ll be making casual, very small Tiktok vlogging and Instagrams for my friends. You can join me in watching my adventures come mid-June. I’ll link to the account formally when things start to roll! But you can find me at my usual handles if you want to follow sooner.

Suddenly, house?!

I have been in the process of buying a house. It’s been A LOT. I’ve been scrambling around for papers, scanning things, signing things, looking at the “show house” that is basically a replica of what my house will look like once it’s built. CRAZY! House purchasing feels like an utter scam! It’s all moving so quickly. I spoke to other people, and apparently this feeling of being scammed is just what it is!

But this has been in my 5-year plan! It took me 4 years! This is everything I’ve wanted in a long time, a place to call HOME and to house my friends and potentially a place for other artist friends to get back on their feet if they’re struggling. It’s got quite a bit of space for the place I live, and I look forward to making it the best it can be.

So coming August and September, my life will be all over the place.

MERCHANDISE

I told you all I would update you on the cardigan and glass!

The glass turned out amazing. I believe it’s some sort of heated sticker/UV that’s placed onto glass, since there’s white opaqueness on the back of the design, so it’s not sublimation. It’s also NOT dishwasher and microwave-safe, so this makes me wonder what the application process is like.

Unfortunately didn’t take a picture of them, but this is generally what they looked like! I probably won't do this design again, but maybe stick to something patterned and smaller.

The cardigan was a hit! It sold out on the first day, which was wild. The quality is fantastic?! I think I enjoy the thinner material than something extremely plush. It gives it more versatility when layering your own wardrobe with it.

These photos aren’t super great since I just took them real quick with the help of my roommate, but they get the job done! It’s cozy!

I had to do a lot of tinkering with the original art, and LOTS of crossing my fingers. But it turned out CRAZY good for something print on demand.

Check out FOURTHWALL, if you also want to try out some of your work? It’s definitely NOT for folks who want to order and sell at conventions, but the quality for POD is insane. I hope I can start integrating it to my Squarespace sometime for passive income.

Con bust?

Well, not really! I made all my money back and a little more, but it really was a close call for my local event. I have quite a bit of left over stock, which is a good and bad thing, but I’ll have enough to really get me through a chunk of the year.

The things I sold out on though, are my lower priced items. Sticky notes and bookmarks did really great! Along with my highest priced items, my cardigans. Maybe someday I’ll have my purses and cardigans (and my secret merch that I’m putting together right now) will be all in one place someday!

I spent about 2-3k, and made about 3k. It really wasn’t a good year, at least for me. I wonder why! Maybe our economy and all the tech layoffs really doing numbers! Along with the many celebrities! Gah! Hopefully, I’ll be able to justify going again next year…

Or I’ll have to make up some income through online sales. GAH! Scary!

That’s all for now folks! My brain is scattered with taxes, and I’ll update you with something else SOON!

February - ECCC, Pitching, Kickstarter, Interviews!

Hi Folks!

January was so calm that February hit me INSTANTLY with responsibilities and work. Quite like flipping a switch. I have been writing this blog for over a month. Things kept happening after I thought I was finished. I’d have to lie down and then take another stab at writing the blog again.

EMERALD CITY COMIC CON

I’ve been making new merch for Emerald City Comic Con, and have been picking up a bunch of OLDER pieces again. I used to be the type to abandon work, especially if it’s several months old because my art has changed. But lately, looking back at old unfinished work gives me such a spark! Like I have to finish it! I haven’t had much energy to come up with new concepts lately, so it’s a great way to show people “new” things without having to put too much thought into concepts.

I’m trying out a new POD (Print on Demand) website that an art peer was also trying out. I’m testing out printing cardigans and glass! I’ll let you all know how everything turns out in the next month, and give you my honest take on this new website before sharing it!

Above is a digital preview of the knitted cardigan! Crossing my fingers that the final result will be good, but I’m so hesitant. If it turns out amazing, this could be a game-changer for smaller merch designers! (like me! and you?!)

This year is going to be wild! ECCC 2024 is crazily one of the biggest cons for me of the year (mostly in scale, not income), and the guest/exhibitor/artist alley lists are popping off! I’m incredibly nervous. I have been spending a lot of months thinking about my place in the world, and how I think no one knows me and that my art has no reason to exist. But it’s been fading away slowly as boxes of merch arrive at my front step and I’m able to hold my art in my hands. I forgot how tactile and real my art gets when it’s in a physical space. And maybe my art means something to someone out there when they hold it in their hands too.

Here are some new stickers I’ll have there too! YAHOO!

pitching

It’s been slow going. A little bumpy road for my mental space. I have forgotten how much art school hurt me, so the writing process and sharing it with someone in the early stages (that I do not normally share it with, bless Molly’s soul) has been painful. But I want to tell a story of my own, that maybe could have a space on a bookshelf that isn’t a tiny zine. Hopefully, it will be someday soon. I’ll be sure to let you all know when it’s done, and maybe I can ask my agent/future editor if I can share the process of making a pitch! or well. at least MY pitch. Hahaha

Kickstarter

Can you believe it! It’s been a month now since the Kickstarter finished. I have sent off the appropriate funds to the manufacturer and now we’re all twiddling our thumbs for the next few months. I’m surprised that’s the only update on this, but that’s really it!

Interviews

I just finished two big interviews, one for an artist residency called Shiro Oni Studio in Japan, and one for a popular company right now that I’m not sure I’ll get hired for. I got accepted to the residency, which has been a lifetime dream. To the person who told me about this studio many many moons ago, before the pandemic, thank you. Not only am I doing a story about dams and rural towns someday, but I think being able to talk to locals about this stuff and how it directly affects them will not only enhance my feelings about their importance but also their effect on people’s lives.

I’ve moved on to the second interview with said big company though. With the help of a referral from a friend, I hope that I’ll be able to live a small dream of mine to be a production merch designer. Crossing my fingers for this, and will probably write about what happens next month. If I get the job, it’ll be a big shift in how I operate as a freelancer… meaning NO MORE FREELANCE! HUZZAH! I love the flexibility of freelance, not going to lie, but stability. Healthcare. Not having to be on the big internet anymore to make a living. AND I get to be pickier about what I take on for work and stuff. It’ll be a dream to run this blog without it feeling like I’m trying to hustle all the dang time.

Next month I will try and comb through comments and answer them! I am really moving head first into merch and drawing my OCs again. It’s been very quiet and nice. Maybe I will also talk about my relationship with social media lately, which has been hard on me, but I’ve been finding some balance.

January - Added Downloads, Purse Success, The Future!

Hello Folks!

It has been one incredible year of this blog. I really want to be more consistent in updating every month, or at least realistically giving more downloads throughout the year.

November was a huge bust. Some of you may know, but I headed over to Minnesota in hopes to give my best friend/editor/business partner a place to keep themselves safe from their grandparent’s house of horror (second hand smoke), while they visited their grandfather who has cancer. My parents, however, had another thing up their sleeve and gave me and my best friend COVID for the first time ever! It wasn’t looking good, and my body really wasn’t handling the illness that well. Luckily, for Minnesotans, they have a really great government program that allows folks both in state and out of state within MN to get Paxlovid for free (which i don’t know if it’s free anymore). That was a lifesaver, as I’m still feeling the side effects of it all.

My best friend’s grandfather got COVID and went to the ER because of it. Luckily we think he has recovered, but it’s a lot to process when you start believing you could be the cause of someone’s death. I was in a really rough place, and although he’s better now, I’m sitting with how awful the whole situation was and what COULD have happened.

Looking back, I’m glad I got to hang out with several people before getting sick (AND NOT GETTING THEM SICK)! It was refreshing to be back in MN and the reminder that I spent a big chunk of my life there and how I miss it sometimes. But also thinking about how much I love Washington and that I consider this place my home now. The people I’ve connected with simply by being here has been refreshing, and I care deeply about them, and how I feel that care in return…

ANYWAY, onto some news!

I finished up a really tiny 6 paged comic for a client. I can’t say what, but maybe the new downloads have a hint. Nudge nudge. It was a bit grueling to work through because I had such a limited amount of space to tell a story, and for the specific audience it’s made for… but I had the help of my good friend Tom Walker who was basically my ghost editor throughout. He helped me shape the comic to be something cute and lovely. If you’re my editor or agent reading this, you didn’t see this. Go away, shoo shoo.

Kickstarter success!

I wanted to make sure my purses were funded into 2024 so I wouldn’t have to look at the taxes until next year, that’s the main reason. But also, while I could have planned and hyped the purses up beforehand, I’m “allergic to money” and always find myself way too impatient. Though, we did get funded in the first day, and hit my internal goal of over 20k. So that really is a great thing!!! Most of it is going to manufacturing, fees, taxes, and to White Squirrel (the fulfillment group I’m working with, hooray Andrea), but I will be hopefully using the extra money to fund a small future business as a… stationery guy? I unno. I want to try pushing the envelope with my merchandise again. Not that I’m going to be making anything special, but it’ll be nice to see what I can make with what I have.

Maybe I’m saying I want this because the economy is crumbling and finding a job has been fruitless thus far.

I’m really grateful for anyone who backed the kickstarter, and is making this thing happen at all. I hope to bring them back to my storefront again later this year. Much… much later.

Future

My goals… oh goals. I’m trying not to make any, but I inevitably do.

House

Biggest goal is to get a house. This has been in my 5 year plan since I moved to Washington, and with my best friend, Danya, and my income combined, we can probably get one now. But this ultimately means I will be working extra hard this year to make things happen and to find some extra income.

Perhaps I’ll take commissions again. If you’re interested in one, feel free to email me at aluhnim@gmail.com and we can talk over what you’re thinking. I’ll do basically anything within reason for folks who are subscribed here.

Store

I already said this a few paragraphs above, but to start up an online store again would be great. I’m really determined! I’m not doing a great job right now because I need to get my files and junk in order!!! and the Lunar New Years is right around the corner, so most manufacturers are on break! (Hint, if you see some places taking a month off due to maintenance in February, you can note they work with folks overseas wink wink)

But I am thinking of making more bookmarks. I feel like I’ve tapped into something that’s really fun that is low cost for both myself and customers! Cheers to more of that!

Pitch

I’m going to be pitching a comic soon. BRRRRR!!!! It gives me the shivers thinking about that. Molly, my agent, has been SO incredibly encouraging while I’m scared out of my MIND. If that doesn’t work out, I have something else up my sleeve. But below is all I can share for now.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday! And if you got sick with the big surge of COVID, I wish you good health soon. Let me know what your big goals are this year, and if there’s any way I can help (advice, resources), comment below!

October - SPX, Book tours, and Book Announcement!

Hi folks!

I was supposed to write a blog post for the month of September, but truly it was the most insane month I had. Small Press Expo, COVID, Boise Comic Arts Festival, Cancer?! I’ll break down what has been happening behind the scenes lately, and hopefully it’ll be interesting to hear!

SPX

What a wonderful show. I usually have immense anxiety right before and during the show, but everything went so smoothly this time. I organized a room with my close friends, Madeline McGrane and Harry Bogosian and set up went quickly the morning of the show.

Overall, the show went really well for me! I love to be transparent about my numbers, but if you don’t like reading that, no problem. Just skip this to the other sections.

I made about $2,000 in card sales and a few in cash. I usually keep my overhead costs low by sharing rooms or going with Airbnb, and taking red-eye flights… I have no idea what other folks see as a “successful” convention, but if I can break even, that’s what I usually strive for. My profits usually end up being 1-2 thousand more than what I’ve spent, both in merchandise, room, and travel. I also know that my product tends to be sold on the lower end, so I need higher sale transactions in order to meet my break. Many folks tell me to raise my prices, but I spend a lot of my efforts providing my art to folks who may have a few bucks to throw my way after they’re done spending on bigger names! I am still a little guy who has no real vision of a brand or what I want from my work. So, to people who appreciate my work… they really mean a lot to me.

I had a good time, and my sales were good for two days! Smaller products moved the most. Bookmarks, washi, stickers, and sticky notes moved reliably. My friend, Harry, brought his two giant tomes and sold them with a tote bag at $50, and he sold out completely! While I heard some of my favorite peers didn’t move as much as they wanted. It was a very mixed bag it seems, but I recommend thinking about smaller products if you’re thinking of attending shows.

I spent time isolating before and after SPX to make sure everyone I loved and cared for was safe from the risk of my choice of going to a big convention. I also wore my FLOMASK during the convention hours, and a KN95 during dinners and speaking to people outside during the after parties. I was so shocked to see so many people without their masks literally outside the show. We aren’t just masking to protect ourselves from attendees, everyone is supposed to mask so we protect one another. Fortunately, I only noticed a few people get COVID from the show afterward because of the masking protocols. I only hung out with a handful of people, and some of them wore their masks, too, during off hours. I was very grateful for not being the only one.

Book Tour

Funnily enough, my book tour for ENLIGHTEN ME didn’t happen! My writer, Minh, had to do it all by himself! My partner contracted COVID from his job, and we weren’t sure if I was infected as well. To be extra careful and to be conscious of all the schools we would go meet, the Little Brown team and I agreed that I should cancel and stay home. I ended up not contracting COVID, thankfully and spent my energy taking care of my partner (from afar) and cheering on Minh (also from afar).

My first book was released during the pandemic, and Scholastic never really helped me organize any book tour or events as things became a tad safer. This would be my FIRST book tour, and that didn’t happen. It’s a big bummer, and I think it’s been affecting me more than usual. There are many things that I feel like I “missed out” on simply because of circumstances or because I’ve been forgotten. It’s been rough!

However, I went to the Tweens Read Book Festival in Houston, Texas, in October, and it was a delight. There’s so much that I could talk about, but I highly recommend going if you ever get invited. Blue Willow Bookshop, the host and programmer of the festival, is amazing and at the forefront of fighting censorship in Texas. I wish them the best, because they’re really really cool and so good.

Boise Comic Arts Festival

THE BEST. I can’t explain to people how this is one of the best festivals for folks who are invited. It is run by the Boise Library and funded by the government. They’re very anti-book banning and provide so much support to their local teachers and librarians. Because the government fully funds them, they pay every guest for the full flight, board, and meals! I feel like a king every time I go, and it’s the most relaxed I see guests ever!!! Sales are never an issue because it’s all profit! Everyone there is so so nice! Anything chaotic that happens, well that’s excused by how chill we all are! I make my time for this show any time I’m invited.

BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT

I’m going to be working on a book with Hans Lindahl called “I'M GOING THROUGH SOMETHING” which is about a character who is intersex and the experience of growing up learning about it. This script landed in my inbox and I could not put down my phone until I was done. It’ll be something extremely special.

Molly advocated for my need for a 2+ year timeline AND helped me get my partner to be my assistant. It’s a bit of a secret due to the complications of book publishing, but he has been helping me with my graphic novels for the past several years. I could not have completed them in the timeline they gave me without his help, and it’s about time he gets paid and credited. I hope that my negotiations will help other artists advocate for themselves, too, because Scholastic and publishers DO have the ability to hire more help and push their schedules out.

Phew! That was a long post… with not much art to show for it! YIKES! Next time!!!

For now, I’m looking for a part-time job to help with supplementary income while I house hunt.

Wishing y’all the best!

August - Visualizing Merch

Hi folks!

Got a lovely question from the last blog post and have been ruminating on it for quite a long time.

A reader asked how I go about designing merch! So I’ll break the general process down from pins to purses. This process won’t work for everyone because it requires a lot of spatial awareness and being able to imagine objects in space, which not everyone has that ability! There ARE ways to capture the feeling of imagining your project in your hands, but it requires more steps like measuring or finding objects with a similar likeness.

What do I want to make? How do I know if it’s possible?

I put the two questions together because sometimes I don’t know what I want to make! And at times, I don’t know if something is possible until I see it being done by someone else.

A lot of folks use Pinterest, which works! I think the wariness that I’ve faced in my own experience is that making boards and looking at a lot of similar projects makes me more susceptible to taking ideas from other artists, and I have immense anxiety about plagiarism by proxy (my own phrase for spending time intaking a lot of work, but forgetting what you were inspired by and potentially copying something you had just seen in the past, and then someone online will cancel you).

So, how do I use Pinterest to get ideas? While I’m not anyone’s coach or any kind of authority figure at all, I found it really useful to see what manufacturing techniques are possible and work on a design that encompasses how excellent that technique is.

Here is an example of what I’m talking about:

I thought this pin had a lot of great techniques! Soft enamel means it is known to have the color sink in, and the metal sits above the color, which gives it a texture. While hard Enamel means the color of the piece is flat and flush with the metal. Knowing this, you can see and imagine the silver metal ridges of the vinyl will be raised! It’ll have such a stunning hand feel. Alongside that, you can see that on the right side, the record player, not all of the tiny details are filled with enamel. It’s just recessed metal! It helps add depth to the space but does not detract from the overall shiny silver look of the piece, which is very strategic and appealing. The more tiny spots the manufacturer has to fill, the more potential there is for mistakes since colors are manually filled by humans!

It’s a good example of how I wanted to build my own enamel pin that was purely metal, no enamel:

This piece is one inch, which would be extremely hard to fill at its size. It was worth just playing around with the metal to make the tiny details stand out. I thought of how cool challenge coins look, and they also use very similar techniques. The antiquing is the finish so the recessed spaces would look darker, and make sure the raised edges were popping.

Another place to get inspiration is by literally going to stores! I tend to go to places like Hot Topic, Box Lunch, anime stores, Target/Walmart, DAISO, and any place that sells blind boxes. While these goods are made by artists and designers, they’re made for corporations, so their work is already influenced by boutiques, other indie artists, and what marketing deems acceptable. With that in mind, it can give you an idea of what’s selling in the market, and if you’re savvy, you can gleam at what is to come!

At times, even with loads of experience, it’s hard to imagine what a product will look or feel like without seeing it in person. So, I recently went to a Box Lunch to take a closer look at this Howl’s Moving Castle purse.

From the promotional images, you can see it looks like it’s printed on the front, but weirdly enough… Howl and Sophie are actually debossed?! (When a design is basically indented/pushed in.) It was such a weird choice when everything else on the purse was printed, though it was cool to see how thin they got the lines on PU leather. They also have nice rounded studded bottoms that weren’t shown in the sample images. There was a lot to appreciate, especially the puffy nature of the purse to give it that authentic quilted feel.

how to translate your art into merch

This is a herculean task to break down since I had to take a whole semester course just to set good practices for this kind of work!

Here are some tips I can give, though:

Find something equivalent in product AND in size

For things like enamel pins and stickers, it’s easy to find stuff that you may have already bought or are on store shelves to reference. Use those objects as a way for you to understand the size and scope of your merch before you commit to the size. Stickers and prints have a little less leeway than enamel pins and purses. Why? With stickers and prints, they’re primarily rasters… so as to avoid pixelization, you have to be sure how to set up your files beforehand to give yourself more mobility. For enamel pins, for example, the manufacturer basically vectorizes your work, and through that, you can dictate the length and size through charts/specs. Here’s an example of my pin, which I do all my vectors and specs myself:

Of course, please do not send this to manufacturers and steal my product. I know this is a given, but just in case.

Even after the manufacturer comes back to you with a proof of your design, you can tell them to change the sizes etc., as that will only effect the cost of the product at that point.

Feel free to use the template above for enamel pin manufacturing. It’s beneficial to them, and it gives you a lot of control over your design.

Make items specifically for the medium… or don’t!

Sometimes I find myself banging my head against a wall coming up with a design to fit a medium. I love to make new designs for stickers and pins etc etc but that doesn’t need to be the case! You can just put an old doodle into the fray or and old drawing and that works just as well.

Obviously, this comes with its hardships, for example, if you have an elaborate illustration it may not be translatable to be a pin. Be practical, of course. But sometimes I forget that I can just put a previously made drawing onto a sticker, and it’s allowed to be a sticker despite not being designed with the expressed intention of being one! Vice versa, if you’re struggling to make your premade work into a product, maybe try making a piece with the product in mind!

Get to know merch terminology.

This is my biggest one. Learning the terms gives me more agency over my product. I can tell what can and can’t be done if I know how things work. Unfortunately, product design is such an ENORMOUS category that terms are somewhat specific to the type of merch you make. However, here’s a small list, from the top of my head, that has lots of overlapping features.

  • PANTONE COLOR SYSTEMS / PMS - People typically refer to the PMS Color Book as “SOLID COATED.” Most useful when making merch that doesn’t use CMYK printing, such as enamel pins, screen printing, purse making, etc…

  • Emboss / Deboss or Recessed

  • Margin / Trim / Bleed - For any printing

  • Spot Color / Spot UV / Foil

  • Diecut / Kisscut

  • MM / CM / IN - Be familiar with both millimeters, centimeters, and inches. Have a measuring tape with both on it if possible.

  • Finishes - Books: Gloss, matte, semi-gloss, satin Pins: gold, silver, antique, hard, soft, screenprint, dyed


These are just very common words I come across when making merch, and if you’re thinking about making stuff, again, it’s good to get acquainted with it! Searching terms is hard, so using keywords on a search engine such as “common enamel pin product design terms” or “common printing product design terms” can give some results.

If you’re seriously looking to get into fashion or accessories related to clothing, I highly recommend Fashionpedia. It’s been my lifesaver. I own their Bag Design and Textilepedia book as well. It’s the most comprehensive book I’ve ever run across that gives you terms for every piece of clothing!


You will mess up!

I feel like I mess up from time to time. Following my ruleset of “measure twice, cut once” works, but there are times I just mess up. Or the manufacturer messes up, and you just make do with what you have. If something is messed up, run it by your friends or peers to see if it’s sellable. AND take their word for it. Usually, people will say it’s salvageable, buy it, see no mistakes, or take it as a discount. No matter what, most products can be sold or given away. Don’t let it rot in your closet. If you genuinely detest it, give it away to people who give you a nice conversation or as gifts or trades. Make the most out of a mistake! Never let it go to waste!

If there’s any specific product type you’d like me to break down in the future, I’d love to hear from you! This was a general overview, but I am happy to talk about anything in particular. Thanks for reading and your patience this month!

July - Need your input! Shortbox! Merchandise!

Hi folks!

Life has been wobbling a lot lately since my birthday. There was another death in the family (best friend’s side again) and that had a lot of issues that came with it. Along with Twitter crashing into the ground coinciding with my immense depression, I’ve been having a lot of highs and lows.

That said, I might be starting another big big BIG project soon. This news has come with a lot of intense introspection on what I want to be doing in life and how I am going to interact with folks.

Let’s start with some news:

Shortbox Comic Fair!

My comic is nearly complete. After scrapping a 30+ paged comic, I ended up with a small 16 paged comic (which is the minimum page count) that I’ll be presenting instead. I haven’t said much about it, but posted some tidbits online. It’s VERY self indulgent, and kind of says nothing! Which means, once again, my comic will be available for free for everyone who will be shopping online at the fair. Hehehe! I’ll have it available for download for free after the fair here as well.

Here are some of the pages without tones or text!

MERCHANDISE!

Excited to get back into making merchandise. I’m making a bunch of small things in preparations for SPX (Small Press Expo) but I’m going to aim for making more purses and having preorders available on Kickstarter really soon. When? Not sure! My life is a bit chaotic right now!

My plans are to:

  • Make more bags!

  • Make button up shirts!

  • Make collars!

  • Make more enamel pins!

Would love your input on this!

I’m hoping to catalog all my merch production and suppliers, with reviews and common issues I run into. Is there anything else you all would be interested in me talking about in general, or things I should include in my merch production?

TAKE CARE! Another update soon to come.

May Update - Stories and the future for myself

Hello Folks!

It’s May 15th and it’s my birthday! Which means I’m 30 now. So old, considering how much the internet wishes to believe anyone over the age of 25 doesn’t exist! haha, just kidding.

Reflections of my twenties

It’s a milestone that I never thought I would get to. There was a time where some people compared my work ethic to someone like Tezuka, which gave me this irrational fear that I would die at 25. Why 25? I don’t know. I was young and in my early-twenties working 3 part-time jobs and going to school full-time while commuting and paying my tuition out of pocket as much as possible. I had internships to fulfill and eventually I found my partner of 10ish years now.

I learned so much about myself, and how mentally ill I was. Which really… all of that made me calm down on my output. I’m still a bit of a workaholic, as some would suggest, but I think it’s a very healthy amount.

After my time with the Baby-Sitters Club, the royalties have been something I’ve been coasting on for the past year or so. It was a life-changing amount of money, so if you (a cartoonist) ever get approached by Scholastic to work on BSC, do NOT turn it down unless you work in tech and make almost 6 figures a year. There was so many hardships working on that series, especially since I worked during the beginning and through the height of the pandemic. Along with my best friend’s step-father was murdered by cops, ahhhh! All so much!

Reflections of my art

Lately, art has been more and more of a duty and a means to an end for me. Maybe that’s a very blunt way to put it, but art pays for me to live! This is truly a dream for many! I’m so lucky for it, but the feelings I had when making it as a teen has severely faded. I hope that doesn’t discourage people from following or supporting my work, but I know many artists who may be deemed “successful” feel the same.

I love to make art, but I personally feel like my art doesn’t have a real place in this world anymore. Even after writing my story “My Voice”, it’s still painful to create anything. I’ve lost a lot of my ability to come up with stories and worlds due to the harsh reality of the world around me. I have been having difficulties just loving what I have been making, and having trouble believing people think it’s worth anything. And you know the saying, make art for yourself!

But when art is what keeps the dinner on the table and the roof over your head, how else are you supposed to quantify your work from an external standpoint?

So what does that mean for me?

I wont stop making art! But I need to find a path that allows me to enjoy making art without it being my lifeline anymore. I don’t mind it being adjacent to art, but centering my CREATIVITY to be my personality and worth has done a number to my health.

Before I’m 40, I hope to finish two big series that I’ve been meaning to make forever. I want to make We are all Superstitious as a GN and make a webcomic with my best friend and writer/artist Danya. It’s been in the works for some time, but we need to start shifting into execution mode.

I also want to make a short story every year, then perhaps make a compilation of my shorts into a published book.

Before I’m 50, I’d like to release a book with my pirate blorbos. This will be a severely outdated phrase if I ever look back on this post.

After that, I’m hoping to find maybe a stable part-time job along with being an art manager that gets paid to help folks organize their calendars and convention merchandise. Similar to what George Rohac does for Organized Havoc.

I spent a lot of my 20s helping other artists, and I think that’s where my heart has always been. I love innovation but I also love being an advocate and resource for my peers. I am not that great at what I do, and I am still very shy… unless I got sicko business mode… but I hope that maybe I can start turning this blog into a guide for artists who need a help starting out in Artist Alley and promotion.

Wishing you all the very best!

Kaoru Mori Exhibit - 2023

Hi folks!

Most of you may have already known, but I took a spontaneous trip to Japan in February. Our primary goal was to see this Kaoru Mori exhibit since we didn’t know if there would be one in the near future, and we had the funds for it… so why not!

It has taken me a while to make this write-up because there is a lot of information I’ve transcribed. I’ve also included some information about my trip to the Manga Museum that we went to!

The ZIP file will be available for direct download through a link at the bottom.

We luckily found a place in Yokote, Akita! It was quite the… time to go. On top of it being WINTER up there, we found out that the days we were going we during the Kamakura Festival, so hotels were basically BOOKED. But I managed to find one that only had a Japanese website, only accepts payment at the hotel, and they had a lovely onsen! So happy we managed!

It was so so cool to see the Kamakura, because it’s such an iconic festival that happens up there.

Here is a Kamakura that was right in front of hotel!

A free flyer we got from our hotel!

To the Museum!

We took a very confusing bus ride over to the Yokote Manga Museum. It’s the home of mangaka Takao Yaguchi, who was best known for Fisherman Sanpei! He really pushed for a museum in his hometown that specializes in archiving original pages.

Here’s some images of his work, and some really cool things I was allowed to take pictures of! There were so many things I wanted to photograph, but couldn’t… but if you’re interested in seeing some of the artists who had original work up for their permanent exhibit, click here!

Ohhh the Kamakura… it’s so cute to see Yaguchi draw inspiration from his hometown. It really inspired me.

Here’s some original artwork celebrating the new year and the museum itself!

The people at the museum were SO NICE. They did NOT speak English at all, but we used our translation app and our rudimentary Japanese to the best of our abilities. But after we started settling in, they found a person who spoke English within their staff to welcome us!!! It was REALLY CUTE. It’s a very, very small space, and I don’t think they often get foreign visitors.

Kaoru Mori

Here’s some art from the many photos we took! Click to ENLARGE! Or just download the folder at the bottom.

Here’s some interview highlights, which are also all included in the zip file!

If you could give advice to your younger self when you first started drawing manga, what would you say?

  • In any case, do body sketches. The better you get at them, the faster you'll get.

  • Get enough sleep and proper nutrition like it's your job. Have the courage to sleep.

  • Be careful of the perfectionism trap. Don't be afraid to suck at first.

  • Read manga. Read it all.

  • Read books, too. Read more.

  • Keep putting out drafts that are a bit better than the last one. To be extreme, that's all that matters.

  • There are people out there who will approve of your slightly questionable hobbies. Rather a lot.

  • You're not the only one who's a bit crazy. So don't worry about it and just draw.

What are your favorite tools you usually use for drawing manga?

I use Tachikawa Spoon nibs for my main lines. I also use Nikko Maru (Mapping) nibs and Zebra titanium G nibs depending on the thickness I need. For paper, I use Muse's B4 135kg sheets, and for ink, I mainly use Pilot Drafting Pen Ink, but I also use Kaimei Lettering Sol Ink for borders and areas I black out. Masking tape comes in handy too when inking a sketch. Acrylic tape used for painting buildings is convenient because it leaves little residue behand and it's not too sticky. If you put tape down along the edges of a panel, it saves time because you don't have to go back and get rid of any cross-hatching or speed lines that would have otherwise gone outside the border.

What advice would you give someone for improving their drawing skills?

Art, like every other form of study, is ultimately about the fundamentals. I think most people want to learn how to draw people well, so that means learning how to sketch bodies. Specifically, it's about understanding and having knowledge of the human structure. Put in terms of English, memorizing the locations and shapes of individual bones and muscles in the human body is like memorizing vocabulary, and learning how they connect, how they work together as a continuous mass of parts like arms, legs, and hands, and the extent to which they can move as one is like learning grammar.

Drawing powerful lines and giving your strokes a personal touch is like giving a speech with an ear-catching intonation; it's an advanced technique built on a strong foundation. If your fundamentals are still iffy, you'll eventually get stuck at some point. If you feel like you're not progressing well in your art, I recommend going back to review all the bones and the muscles in the body and check how they connect. A new special edition of the Morpho: Anatomy for Artists Miniseries was recently released, which I recommend for people who draw because its compact and contains all the information you need.

You should focus on Simplified forms, and if you'd like, you can pick up Joint Forms and Muscular Functions or Hands and Feet too. After that, if you can get your hands on something that explains human proportions, you'd have enough material to serve as a good textbook for drawing. I find this miniseries really useful too, so I always keep it next to me for reference while I draw.

When I tell people to sketch and learn about the human body, a lot of the time they feel obligated to even though they're feeling down. But sketching is supposed to be something that's a lot of fun. Everyone should have some part of the human body that they like drawing. Whether it's breasts, hips, or good-looking muscles, the parts that you want to draw are the ones that you're going to get good at drawing, so have fun mastering it. I'm still learning about the structure of the human body every day too. The joy you feel when you get even slightly better is irreplaceable.

Have you gotten any advice from an editor that has left an impression on you?

I've gotten so much advice that I can't remember it anymore, but I feel like in the beginning they constantly asked me, "When it comes down to it, what is it that you want to draw?" I felt like I needed to give a proper, cool answer, so I'd give an indecipherable response.

But once I realized that wasn't me, I could cheerfully say, "I want to draw a maid! I want her to have glasses, and I want her to get along well with the head of the household!"

I've learned that oftentimes people's real, true feelings are surprisingly based on very mundane preferences, and when it comes to making manga, those are actually better sometimes. Living true to yourself is a beautiful thing.

Hope this was fun! I hope this inspires you as it did for me! There are MANY more photos in the zip, and you can see all the mark-making! Please take a look!

Ta-ta for now!

And here is my 6 ft 4 in partner next to the snow. LOL

Process for "Water and Paint"

Hi folks!

A friend of mine recently told me to show off all the small Works in Progresses in one place during one of our many Discord voice calls. So I decided to post it all here too! Cheers!

There is a Low Resolution file available for download that includes all the layers in the Download Page!

How I Draw Water Effects

Hi Folks!

With my partner having a run in with COVID, I’ve been spending time finish up a lot of admin work such as emails, organizing my papers, taxes, and getting this blog updated. I spent some time at a very small convention out in Ontario, Oregon, in which I promptly got sick with the Norovirus (stomach flu) that has been ravaging the PNW for some time. It’s been a hilarious domino effect of circumstances. So thank you for everyone who is still here and offering me some support.

I don’t know if any of this will be helpful to people, but it breaks down my own fundamental thoughts on how to draw water effects.

Drawing a ribbon

A big aspect of my work are ribbon-esque patterns. They permeate my art from drawing horns, fire, water, folds, and hair. There is a lot of inherit value in learning not only how to draw ribbons but to also visualize them (for those who may have aphantasia, simply having a string or reference right in front of you to toy with will also work).

Some simple rules I follow: the outlines of the ribbon will typically be parallel. One could even copy and paste the first squiggle to be offset to the first and erase overlapping features. Of course there’s a bit more to that ( e.i. making sure the ribbon flattens / is foreshortened in some areas ), but these rules are ultimately meant to keep me aware of all my pieces and how each has a potential to effect one another.

If you can, do some practice ribbons and start learning to visualize them! I usually skip this base drawing when doing any of my artwork because I can simply see it and wrap it around my brain with ease, which all came from practice.

Just draw the water

And that’s it! Just kidding, well sort of.

Now I know what you might be thinking, this is just the owl meme.

But my trick is having memorized a specific set of patterns and then spending some time noodling around ribbon patterns (and other shapes).

When I say patterns, it’s less methodical or mathematical. They are the “symbols” we use to interpret things we see around us, and just regurgitate them onto the page. Like clouds! Unless you’re some intense fan of clouds, most people will just draw them fluffy. That’s what I mean by “patterns” in this context.

Here are the most important patterns I’ve come to use with my water drawings:

The Cloud

I used clouds as an example for a reason! I use my typical cloud patterns as my foundation for sea foam or waves crashing. I struggled so much with sea foam and getting the right consistency, until I remembered a crucial detail. Clouds are made of water too… so that’s why I draw my foam like this! It’s a quick and dirty simplification that works well for me.

The Fire

Used generally for my fire effects, these weird little pointed circles do a great job making sure your waves have crests! They are the foundation to the big sweeping curves and vital for breaking up smooth shapes.

The Stream / The Droplet

These two ideas are kind of linked. If you look up pictures of slow motion water droplets, those images built the basis for these particles. I use them to jut out of the sea foam, especially if there’s a wave crash. They work hand in hand. A stream could have droplets coming out of the end of it, which gives it more motion and dynamics.

Back to the Ribbon

I’ve broken down the water effect with some notes! You still want to keep the main shape intact while you add things that “feel” water-like. Reviewing the patterns I’ve written above, you can generally see how I added the foam and droplets.

When I want the foam or white crests to have to volume, I add those fire circles, cutting into the ribbon shape to keep it more organic, and to make it feel like the water is rushing rather than it convey a steady stream. And of course I added little droplets at the ends to feel like it trails off and has more motion!

With these in mind, try out different shapes! Different ribbon widths and lengths! Make it bubbly! Fluffy! Drippy!

Til next time!

January - Big Update! Bags! Member Store!

Hello folks!

This will be a rambling update, so it will be spaced out into critical points! Please feel free to skim if you’d like.

It’s 2023 now, and I meant to send an update. However, I’ve been smashed over the head with deadlines, merch preparations, and my trip to Japan in the next month.

New gRAPHIC nOVEL

Enlighten Me is now available for preorder and on my website! Click here to see my new page for it.
It’s so exciting to finally see this book out on the internet and not something I have to fret about anymore. The process of making this comic was quite different than when I worked on The BSC, and I have learned a lot about how I like to work (and how I do NOT want to work). My most enormous thanks to my agent, Molly. I don’t know how I’d make it through everything without her.

ginkgo Bags

WOW! My bag drops finally happened, and I’m so happy with the results. I never expect anyone to like my merchandise, comics, or illustrations. So to have my bags sell out in less than a minute… I nearly cried. My friends all laughed at me because they thought it was rather obvious my stuff would sell out, but it’s hard when you’ve been waist-deep in a project and cannot separate yourself from it.

I hope to make more posts in the future about marketing, my take on the algorithm, and my handling of social media… but this post will get really long! However, I’m excited to share some of my analytics with those curious about what it looks like behind the curtains. Why share this? While I enjoy numbers, I think what’s most fascinating is how people view your content.

Mobile takes the cake for my top devices. While maybe not the most exciting or new information, mobile is much more common nowadays, and having a mobile-friendly site is so important! I think it’s something folks don’t tend to think about since most apps or social websites are already optimized for it. Though, if you’re ever looking to make your own website, like myself, it’s something you have to account for (unless you don’t want to, and that’s fair, let’s go Neocities).

Of course, Twitter was my top Source. Though, to my surprise, Direct Links were second?! Where are all these people coming from?! I may never know.
Once I open preorders, it will be really cool to see how far I can take my bag! I hope to expand to Instagram and TikTok (shudders, but the numbers don’t lie).

Member’s Only Store

Speaking of bags… I have opened a store only for members! Surprise!

I will manage this tiny store where you can buy stuff from any time of the year. It will also offer products that are shielded from the general masses. I hope to do some earlier drops for you all in the future, but I did not plan to open my store so soon, and then it was too late.

So what does this all mean?

These are the items that are available right now!

The shop is accessible using the Member’s Homepage, but here is also a direct link.

Oh, I’d like to mention that the member shop allows shipping outside of North America. This way, I can handle these packages personally and as carefully as possible.

I don’t have a lot of people who are signed up for my blog yet, so this gives me ample opportunity to take care of those who choose to interact with me!

Oh, and the new downloadable is available! It’s the year of the rabbit, so there’s a printable calendar!!! I’d love to see if you end up printing your own copy!

THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME!

Twitter's Current State

Hey all!

Sort of a spontaneous post, but I think writing down my thoughts on the matter will help me organize where I am going to take my social media presence and how I will distribute my work going forward.

It’s been so crazy on Twitter over the past months ever since Elon took over. We knew it was a disaster, but a lot of us are still sitting on the rollercoaster ride wondering when Mr. Bones will let us off. I think, in particular, this whole thing stings me a lot. Twitter has been one of the only platforms that have given me so many opportunities, especially when it comes to socializing with other peers and finding work. I never had people who accepted my work as much as Twitter has, so this all pains me as I try to move onto other platforms.

All this to say, I will be doing MORE on this blog. I’ll try my best to find more ways to keep you all informed on what I am up to, and how best to give back to you all for supporting me.

Things I’d like to do that’s on my list:

  • Permanent discount code for my INPRNT

  • Permanent store front for members only!

  • One Illustration a month

  • Perhaps figure out how to send emails with my blog post updates!

I know some of my peers do wallpapers every month, and some have sketches they show… I wonder what folks would like! But maybe I just need to figure out what my niche is.

If you’re reading this AND have something you would like me to do every month, let me know in the comments!

I currently have been finishing up a lot of little odds and ends and hope to focus more on what I’d like to do in 2023. And perhaps, with this, my art will improve ten fold!

Surrounded in Books, Edits, Deadlines, and MORE!

Hi Folks!

Can you believe it?! It’s the end of the year already. Well, not quite. We still have about half a month left. Some CRAZY things have popped up in my life the last few weeks, so I’m currently dealing with that.

I wanted to update at least once more last month, but c’est la vie. I can tell you what has been happening now that I have a moment to breathe.

BOOKS

Some of you may have noticed I had a book sale going on. My Ko-Fi has been doing wonderfully, and I sold out of We are all Superstitious! I have a few more books available, along with Maddi Gonzalez’s book, which I have been doing fulfillment for. It’s been a fun experience. I’m looking forward to maybe doing some more small fulfillment services for my friends next year.

I’ve been slowly shipping out over 150 preorders of Looking for Her… which I do by myself. HA! It’s been quite the journey… I’m humbled as heck that anyone would want my books.

EDITS AND DEADLINES

There were some typical publishing hiccups with my next book that need to be sorted. There is a bit of delay, particularly because of the holidays and my team being sick! It’s been so very stressful that I grew my first grey hair!!! I plucked it because I want to believe the myth is true and that I will grow more grey hairs. (I know this is not how it works.)

I will be retouching some of the colors, which are over 40 pages, along with some overdue commissions that I owe. You know… in the span of a month! Yikes! Incredible how fast time passes.

GINKGO PURSE

It’s happening! My manufacturer had to step away for a few months due to their zero covid policy in China. It’s a relief to hear that my representative is okay and the bags are COMING. I knew they would not arrive this year, but I did not expect them to be here January-February. It’s amazing!

I’m still figuring out how much to sell them, but I might have a discount code for those who are members. OR I may figure out how to launch a tiny Member Only store…

Looking at the tracking number is DAUNTING, as I am going to receive ten whole boxes. This is a problem for future Chan to deal with.

ART

Regarding drawings, I’ve been pushing myself to make something. ANYTHING. It’s not been easy with all the things I’m doing above, but I’ve managed to make some indulgent pieces. They aren’t much. They aren’t outstanding. They feel like regurgitations of things I’ve done before, but I’m forcing myself to learn that it’s okay! It is hard to believe this sometimes, even though I love it when other artists just draw what they love repeatedly. It’s beautiful!

Anyway, some wips!

Clark Kent knight inspired by aspects of the Dark Knights of Steel aesthetics.

This image is a tribute to my love for sewing machines. I do not sew. I like to look and appreciate them though.

This is an old picture of a witch adding paintings to frames. I haven’t picked it up in a while but hope to return to it, even if aspects of it feel quite outdated for this current day Chan.

Thanks for reading! Hope you all are NOT having crazy holidays and will get to relax in the upcoming weeks.

What Digital Brushes do I use?

Hello folks!

Happy November! Things have been crazy, hasn’t it? US folks, I hope you all went out and did your civic duty and voted. It’s a very important thing to do.

Without further ado, a question some folks have asked me during my Twitch streams.

What brushes do you use?

As with most digital artists, I think it’s a complicated question since we all tend to experiment and use a lot of different things we stumble upon. Luckily, the ones I’ve been using regularly have been ones that I’ve kept track of.

BIG NOTE: I have not been sponsored or anything for posting any of the products I talk about. It’s just what I use and I fell in love with as of Nov 2022.

Main Inking and Coloring Brush

The “Chan Brush”

Not a surprise, but my “Chan Brush” was created out of a little frustration. I liked using the Real G-Pen and the HIMOG Zara, but there were some issues with getting the right velocity and pressure when I needed it without switching between the two. So I opted to combine both and just call it my own.

I had a credit question, which is why it’s a little open-ended for me. Feel free to credit where you deem fit, but you don’t need to credit for commercial work or personal stuff. I don’t feel my brush makes any immense breakthroughs!

Pencils/Sketching

Frenden’s Clip Studio Brush Pack

Frenden has been an old reliable throughout the many many years. He had all his brushes separated into neat little categories for a time, all with low prices of around 5 USD. However, he’s done us the ultimate solid and combined all of them into one mega pack for 15 USD. If you’re not sure you’re interested, I will 1000% back these brushes. You’re bound to find something you like in it.

I use the 4B Real Pencil in his pack for all my sketching. My preferred pencil in real life is a 4B+ anyway, and it hits all the notes I need. It also works well for adding texture to a monochromatic layer for some texture!

Textures for Comics

Multiple amazing CSP artist assets

I use these brushes fairly frequently when making comics! These ones are just sort of my default options, but the textures are so amazing for the price! They add amazing tone without going into the half-tone territory, which is amazing! And it saves your hand trouble! EXTRA amazing!

Effect Full Set Clip Studio Assets

The Terrible Hatch Pen

Stippling Brush

True Grit Texutre Supply - Stipple Studio

This brush got some traction when I talked about it on my Twitter, which was a surprise!

I use True Grit Texture Supply’s wonderful Stipple pack! This particular one from the pack is called “Fat Tip - Medium Fill” which gives me a wonderful amount of density without losing its texture from afar.

I use it to soften SOME edges. It’s a way for me to not use blending brushes, to maintain some control over my cel-shading style.

I recommend subscribing to their newsletter to get 20% off, and then unsubscribing if you don’t care about their other products!

That’s all I have for now! These are my regular brushes, and I just make do.

I hope this is helpful and expands your mind just a little!

SLJ Poster FREE GIVEAWAY!

Hi folks!

My poster for the School Library Journal and Children’s Book Council was released a few days back, which was during my trip to Boston, MA for MICE.

I was approached by the lovely Mark Tuchman, creative director for SLJ, to make a poster with LGBTQIA+ as the topic. It was an extremely great experience, and truly humbling to have my work in libraries across the nation.

Here’s some process!

I gave Mark four different options to begin with, a few of them being more illustrative and a bit more trans focused, because of our current climate with book censorship. They chose the more diverse option, which I labeled as “corporate safe” basically. Which I totally understand why they went with it! Maybe I’ll end up making the other posters.

I gave some color options and suggestions at this point. I tried to go for things that I enjoyed but also thought of what maybe people want to see? I was scared at this stage, but I figured something out! Somehow!

This is the final image!

The Every Child a Reader gave me two posters to give away! They came folded upon arrival, so unfortunately they are not in a condition to be hung as mint artwork! However, I will sign them!

This is a First Come First serve situation! Leave a comment below and I’ll email you asking for an address to ship to you.

If you would rather print it out yourself, below is a link to the high resolution download!