AlwaysRats

URL update and Twitch

We've updated our Patreon URL from smalltrolls to alwaysrats! Our content of course remains the same, but we'll need to go around amending all old archive links to ensure nothing is broken. Historical tweets and stuff we can't of course change, but anything else that CAN be amended, will be. Do let us know if you find any broken links later down the line!

Miikka and I have decided to start doing shared streams! We'll be sharing some of our stream time and chatting together whe...

11-12 - inks

Yay! All done with this bit of the page process. I drew this from thumbnails to this point through 2 stream nights. If you fancy joining em later for more, you can find my Twitch channel here: https://www.twitch.tv/alwaysrats

Twitch Streaming - info

I've decided to move away from Picarto and start using Twitch for streaming from now on. I've updated to OBS from Xsplit and the difference is huge. We've done a wee test stream already and I'm liking the programs and tools I have so far. Everything's smooth and I'd quite like to give webcam and mic a go too. Ratcam would be really fun.

You can find the profile below! I'm looking into doing some regular streams from now on and drawing Tistow bits and pieces is going to be my main goal. I hope ...

13-14 - Thumbnails and values

One more! This was fun. Not too spoily yet since we've met these little guys before. There's just... ...A lot more of them. Alfie's not keen.

I find thumbnails to be the hardest part of the entire page process. I don't have any issues writing the actual script and sequences down, but panelling them up is very challenging for me. Will be fun to see how these pages progress.

11-12 - thumbnails and values

The first draft was a spread, but as you can see it's been divided. I'm really going to enjoy inking this. It's gonna be a fun experiment with contrast and colour.

Rookeries - concept art

Jotting down sketches of couple of scenes for Chapter 2 so I don't forget anything. There's going to be a massive change in mood, colouring and contrast. In the next couple of pages actually. We're making a jump from cheery and busy streets to much more glum scenery.

Changing hands

Hi everyone!

As you might've already seen Miikka's previous post (if you haven't, please read it), our partner in crime is stepping down from running the Patreon with me.

He is not by any means gone, but the break is very much needed. I'm simply going to take over the running of things which will mean some small changes will need to be made.

Miikka will still be around, just not posting actively and I respect his decision to do so. It's really tough to run a Patreo...

Mikael is not taking money from this Patreon anymore

Right. Mika writing here, the 3rd person thing just for dramatic effect.

I've been struggling with making this decision and I think this will bring me peace and return me back to my focus of doing my best comics, so here goes:

***

The production of Small Trolls was staggered, and recently I have been having serious doubts of myself taking money from here. Because that's what this Patreon was for me; Small Trolls being a thing. I never needed it otherwise

Technically I've tra...

46-49

Compilation! Without text though. Larger versions attached to the post in case Patreon doesn't show you the preview as anything other than a squashed image.

This is the finale of the first Small Trolls chapter! We continue with 2 short bonus comics, one drawn completely by Mika and the other one by Elli. The stories focus on Veeti and Jáhko's evenings separately.

Nice to have got this far!

Elli

48 - colours

Grandma goat~

One more page left of this chapter and we'll be giving you that at the beginning of November. Unless of course we can reach our goal before then!

Text versions will go up as soon as possible. We're still trying to sort out the issues with the website.

47 - Colours

We mentioned in a previous post that we're swapping roles. Inks by Mika and colours by Elli. This page was revised fairly late. Panel amount remained the same but pacing changed slightly.

The last page of this chapter is 49, so we've got couple more for you! Last thing to do is the text revisal.

09-10 - Colours

Whei done! I have no plans to release these on the website at the moment, so these are just for Patrons to see, for now. I've got versions with bubbles and text included, but they need their spelling checked before I can share them.

9-10 - Inks + colour

Bit of a patchwork of bits this one! Muted the colours down.

These pages got massively revised from their original versions so some of them are coloured til finish and others aren't quite there yet. It's taken me a very long time to get these 2 pages finished because of other commitments. But it's getting there.

I'd like nothing more than getting back into the swing of things.

Year In Hereafter Page 389 WIP

Page WIP from Chapter 9! Next on next Thursday. Mikael seems to crack just a tiny bit about something.

- Miikka

YIH Chapter 9 68/100 pages complete

Phew!
My initial promise to myself was to have 70 pages done by new years, and that's pretty much quaranteed now! That said, I can safely and briefly free my evenings from YIH to the Small Trolls pages that we've planned to do, so we can give you the pages that you've helped us fund. <3 And then some.

So, expect to see tiny changes in how Small Trolls looks (in case you missed the earlier update, I'm gonna be inking and Elli does the colours). We're gonna work really hard to h...

In the quiet

We've been working on this in the quiet, but for transparency's sake, here's a little test sample from both of us! Mika's lineart and colours by moi.

As most of you know we're both very busy with different projects and it's especially affected my schedule. Working on Small Trolls has been sluggish and frustratingly slow from my part so we decided to swap roles.

We had planned to do this for the next story of the boys anyway, but we're now going to do it sooner. We don't want to end up wi...

Busy kid days

Little sketch of young Jaakko! Those who have read the Sweetshop know this; Jaakko used to be an orphan.

Valkeala is currently riddled with orphanages ever since the North started to cover up in snow, and countless families and children had to find new homes. And not all of those houses were exactly luxurious.

Most of the children didn't get two considerations before they were assigned to a house, the officials were well in a hurry to give everyone shelter. Backgrounds were ha...

Year In Hereafter Page 387 WIP

Page WIP from Chapter 9! Next on next Thursday. It's a very warm moment.

- Mika

Archive #9 3/10/2018

This is a new list. The #1-8 mega-archive can be accessed in here

New to our Patreon? Is the amount of content overwhelming?
Don't worry, here's everything published on the page so far so you can search back easier!

If there are broken links, please let us know.

Downloads & Patreon Exclusives

• 2018-10-03 11:57:50 +0000 UTC View Post

Small Trolls Page 49 Sketch

Another page sketch! Unfortunately we are lagging on getting these inked and coloured, but we're excited to get to do these when both of our schedules allow.

In fact, page 50 will end the first chapter. After that Elli and I will both do our own short installations, mine being Veeti's aftermath after this chapter, and Elli's being Jáhko's. But there's still some time before getting there : 3

- Mika

Year In Hereafter Page 385 WIP

Page WIP from Chapter 9! Next on next Thursday. I'm really starting to like drawing that house, it's pretty figured out! That bit where Veeti appears in the door from is the entrance to the bathroom.

- Mika

You are the Trolls - Thank you all

It is done! I had a lot of fun drawing this, Elli and I are grateful for the increased support this Patreon has gotten lately. We've had this Patreon for about two years now, and I hope you appreciate this artwork as much as we appreciate the chance of getting to do something like this.
And we'll look at another chance to draw another one.

Thank you everyone who joined in, and obviously we want this to be a thank you to everyone who's ever been a patron of ours.


There ...

Year In Hereafter Page 382 WIP

Page WIP from Chapter 9! Next on next Thursday. Biccies are amazing.

- Mika

Calling for the lost trolls!

Despite my situation right now, I am still determined to deliver this to all of you, it's very special for both of us and you've all been so very sweet while interacting with us and giving us the references for these. You're all unique and I hope I've so far done justice to you all

That being said, there's 4 references missing out of all the people who did want to offer themselves as characters here, this is the last call out! Please check your inbox in case you've missed a message....

Mental health brief

This post is from Mikael and doesn't speak on the other party's behalf.

Right. I lack some ability for transparency when it comes to mental health, mainly because I'm afraid of admitting to what some people will call "laziness". I will encourage anyone to take a rest as soon as they need it, but I do not like to admit that to myself being afraid to be dragged for it.
This punishing mentality has been making me crazy on top of everything.

Should I take a break and ...

Year In Hereafter Page 380 WIP

Page WIP from Chapter 9! Next on next Thursday. I had fun trying to think of the colour scheme for this one. It's very... Versatile?

- Mika

4 tiny cameo spots open in YIH!

Hello! And on that note, 50% of Chapter 9 artwork has been completed. The page count has recently risen to 100, but I'm guessing we'll be looking at 104 at the very end of it.

ANYHOO, I decided to add a brief scene with Valkeala's High Counsel, and there are 4 character spots open. I can't give the characters dialogue or a big appearance that matter (we're talking quite modest caricatures), but the Counsel never the less needs members!

If you have character referenc...

Small Trolls Page 48 Sketch

And here's the sketch for this month's page! This was quite fun, one of my favourite scenes of this chapter. Has to do with feet.

- Mika

You're the trolls!

And here we go! We got 20 responses to our Small Trolls tapestry enquiry, and this is the sketch for it!

We're really happy we get to do this and we're glad so many voiced their interest to join this artwork.

We'll finish this as soon as we can~
- Mika

YIH Chapter 9 Cover WIP

Aand here we go! I'll start uploading 4 step Comic WIPS again, but I'll try to add _some_ changes to them so there won't be that much repetition. If there's anything you'd specifically like to see about the progress, I'd love to know!

I'll be uploading those every thursday - and take a break every now and then, I don't want to run too much ahead this time.

- Mika