It's May! It's Mer-May! I can't wait to send out these prints and stickers. This illustration really helped me unlock some techniques for my Classics But Make It Gay illustration.
I love drawing these feathery mermaid tails. It's my fave kind of mermaid tail. I also really like the translucent side fins on the sticker mermaid <3
2021-05-05 17:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post
For one of my monthly Patreon commissions! Stay tuned for more <3
2021-05-03 21:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Shared canvases (for my birthday, I made everyone draw Griddlehark) and some other doodles from the month!
2021-05-01 03:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
I think the Venus di Milo and Nike of Samothrace should be gfs. I'm gonna break into the Louvre and push them together.
Here's a sneak peek of the illustration I'm working on for the anthology, and the charm design that goes with it! The Kickstarter is still going on for like, one more week. So check it out!
2021-04-28 23:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Today is my birthday and I'm making my friends draw Griddlehark. This one was an excuse to practice backgrounds and a new coloring method for backgrounds. I'm gonna be doing lots of practice these next few weeks. Woops!
2021-04-10 15:47:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Somethin' a little angelic. A little bit about being perceived. A little bit about perceiving? 👀
Reminder that print tier supporters will be getting this angel in the mail!
2021-04-05 17:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post
End of the month! I think end of the month is a good time to do sketch dump recaps like this? Sketches that I don't necessarily want to share to socials, and some that I do (and did). It'll encourage me to just draw without turning everything into a presentable social media piece.
Also, we're really close to unlocking my Patreon goal of monthly slice-of-life comics! So this is good practice for getting into regular autobio drawing in preparation.
2021-03-31 22:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Howdy B)
CW: death 👇
This month has been a rough one. With the passing of my girlfriend's mom (and said deceased's birthday immediately following), things have been a little heavy in my world.
But I've also gotten really, really good news and excitement at the same time? Time just keeps going forward.
-end CW- 👆
Anyway, I wanted to show you these Griddlehark doodles and a shared canvas I did with some friends. Please enjoy...
2021-03-23 21:19:55 +0000 UTC View Post
I did spend my stimulus check on new clothes, thank you for asking. I am so ready to have eyes on me :)
Do you get it? Daffodils... narcissus... spring... Aries........ it works on lots of levels.
This comic goes live on Autostraddle this Saturday. Check here for that!
2021-03-18 20:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's a sneak peek at the comic I'm working on for the BitterSweet anthology! There's so many talented artists in this project, and I can't wait to show y'all the finished work.
Check out the anthology's Twitter here and stay tuned for when the KS goes live!
2021-03-16 00:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Just a little bonus doodle from earlier this month when I was listening to a book about emotionally stunted death cultists while weeding the garden.
Nice bright sunshine, birds chirping, plants, and uh, oh yeah, a little side of NECROMANTIC VIOLENCE.
2021-03-13 01:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
The theme this month is swords. And survival. Amaranth flowers for immortality.
2021-03-08 16:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post
A little behind the scenes look at this illustration series I whipped up thanks to a tumblr user who said "Griddlehark + this quote"
I am really enjoying this exploration of a more quick and painterly style! I tried it out in my normal blocky lineart style and it wasn't hitting the effect I wanted.
It's fun to paint???
Sending these out to the print tier supporters <3
2021-03-05 16:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post
It's done! This is the most complicated thing I've ever made and every step of the way I said to myself "what if I made it MORE complicated"
Adding fur to their cloaks, stained glass, Harrow's exoskeleton...... I just couldn't say no. I also worked on this while watching Portrait of a Lady on Fire with friends (for the, like, third or fourth time) and again, I was struck by how much I miss oil painting. New years resolution, set up my oil painting corner.
Anyway, Fran and I are go...
2021-02-12 16:49:59 +0000 UTC View Post
I promise I will not spam your inbox with too many of these updates, but this is a very ambitious project and I am excited about it!
Some notes
- finally got to the stage where i can toggle off the sketch layer and actually begin painting but...
- ...i think i actually am going to extend the canvas, it needs more empty space to the left of the composition, and i want to bring in that second candelabra
- i want to add some very dark stain glass to the window becau...
2021-02-10 02:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Gideon the Ninth is rotting my brain, specifically Griddlehark. I'm gonna work on this painting, it's gonna be a big project and I will be listening to ONE SONG on REPEAT the ENTIRE TIME.
I want to include Gideon's sword, but idk where in the composition would make sense... It's early enough that I could expand the canvas a bit, but even so... hm... but she needs her sword!!!!! Oh well.
For those keeping up with my projects, this month I am working on:
-commissions
-Fe...
2021-02-05 22:32:28 +0000 UTC View Post
A romantic late afternoon spent daydreaming~ This month's theme is strawberries! Sweet berries comin to sticker club tiers.
& this postcard-sized print is comin to print tiers! This shade of pink is impossible to match in CMYK lol but I did my best!
2021-02-05 21:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey y'all! Commissions are open. And as Patreon supporters, y'all get first dibs 🧡
Shoot me an email renstrapp@gmail.com and let's talk about your ideas!
Note: there's no guarantee commissions will be ready in time for Valentine's Day, but they will definitely be done by the end of the month.
(Oh, and a reminder that Déesse tier supporters can get a monthly sketch commission from me!)
2021-02-03 00:05:59 +0000 UTC View Post
I spent my day off drawing something for fun!! I think drawing architecture is actually really meditative and soothing. Also maybe this is a hint at next month's theme~
2021-01-27 18:07:28 +0000 UTC View Post
Okay, so this is extremely WIP. In fact, it's more of a character study brainstorm first draft. I'm working on this butch4butch cottagecore/egirl couple for an upcoming anthology!
I can't decide if I want to do an illustration... or a comic of their first date 🤔
What do y'all think? Also, what are some name ideas for these characters? 😂
2021-01-25 23:39:56 +0000 UTC View Post
January's theme is THE PANDEMIC because it's a new year, but we're on the same shit. Winter is prime germ spreading time, and just because a vaccine exists doesn't mean we can be lax now.
This month's print is on recycled paper! In addition to more eco-friendly packaging for shop orders, I'm experimenting with recycled paper for Patreon prints. Hand it to a stranger in the grocery store who needs a little reminder 🙃
2021-01-08 22:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
"Thank god 2020 is over!" OHOHOHOHO!! you still gotta wear your masks tho. So here's a friendly reminder you can give to your family or slap around town. Keep wearing those masks! We're practically professionals now, right?
I think this is my first square cut sticker 🤔 I like them!
2021-01-04 23:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm opening up couple portrait commissions! Valentine's Day is like a month and change away, so if you want a pic for your sweetheart... Get in touch with me!
renstrapp@gmail.com
Patrons get first dibs. I'm not sure how many commissions I'll be taking on this month, so it's first come first serve.
(Alternatively, you can join the Déesse tier and receive a sketch commission for a less expensive rate~ Déesse tier commissions are looser and less refined than the above example...
2021-01-04 01:14:43 +0000 UTC View Post
I got to do this very sweet commission for an ADORABLE couple who I met last year at Kumoricon. It fills my heart with joy to work on commissions like this.
I'll be opening up commissions publicly soon!
(Reminder that Deesse tier supporters get a monthly commission from me ✨)
2020-12-28 00:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's a peek behind the scenes at how indecisive I am at coloring. I've been loving the blue outline style recently. And I downloaded a bunch of texture brushes that I'm experimenting with. My first instinct is always to color for realism, but I'm trying to push past that! Do you have a favorite?
ALSO PRINT UPDATE
This months prints have not been sent to me yet 😭 it's the holidays and COVID, so please forgive the delay. Those in the print reward tiers will receive their holiday ...
For this month's illustration, something simple and sweet. This turned out really cute as a print. I can't wait to send them out! Like little greeting cards.
I hope you all are having a safe, warm December.
2020-12-08 16:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Gay tidings to you and yours ✨🎁🎄 this sticker has a brushed metallic finish! I'll be sending these out soon. Happy holidays and stay warm this winter! We're almost finished with 2020. Stay safe xoxoxo
2020-12-04 17:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Because I'm a big dummy who is good at time management, I finished this zine *after* doing my Small Business Saturday socmed boosts. Oh well.
Look @ Me is a risograph-style 16 page zine about lesbian as a gender identity and the mortification of being perceived. It's a raw, sketchy perzine and I hope you enjoy it!
It's live in my shops right now, but I'm not posting about it to social media for a few days. This is a project I've been sitting on for months. Even though it's short, ...
2020-11-29 22:44:50 +0000 UTC View Post
Let me tell you. I was working from home before the pandemic started. But this is *hard mode* working from home. I miss going to cafes and restaurants to sit and work, you know?
I mean, I still talked to the cats in the before times. Talking to the robot vacuum is new.
This comic will be up on Autostraddle this Saturday!
2020-11-23 17:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post