Well...folks...I gotta say, it has been a bit of a doozy working on this page while processing an unexpected death in my family. Life is so strange and fancies itself a poet sometimes. I am sad, but I am ok, and not really tempted to throw myself in the wind just yet (thank goodness). 

In the meantime, I've been coping in my own ways--one of which is drawing silly things to bring a bit of levity to the iPad screen. I was commissioned to do some art for the impeccable Dross' birthday and took the opportunity to draw an interaction between his Creature and mine (and Christine in the role as mediator and emotional support). You can see the full post here! 

If you are not familiar with Dross' work, I urge you to remedy that. Talented artist and a great mind for the gothic fiction/monsters/crossovers, the works.

As always, thank you for reading and for your kind comments <3 

I fear I may have changed my mind about lined vs, lifeless speech bubbles for Rosy Hours. I kind of want to do lined? We will see how it suits me. I keep needing to remind myself that I can change my mind, haha. 

I wanted to give a quick s/o to Mel--whose comment on the last update was so, so encouraging and sweet and got me a little emotional, ngl. Never have I been so frustrated in my inability to figure out comment responses...Until that day, Thank you for the kind words, Mel. 

<3

Abbas, no.... :,((( 

So, back in February, I did some very silly Valentines comic pages that I wanted to post here SO BADLY but knowing that the next couple updates were about death and political assassinations etc..., I couldn't bring myself to put y'all through that tonal whiplash, ha...maybe by the time next Valentines rolls around. I also have an even sillier Halloween comic that may not be up to snuff to post here BUT you can read it on my Tumblr (along with the aforementioned Valentines short). 

Also, thank you as always for the comments! I am still trying to learn how to reply to them! I am 200 years old, I fear. But every comment lifts my spirits, be sure of that. <3

Also, should I post little meantime sketches that I do in the description here? I occasionally have little concept sketches that coincide with pages, or sometimes something completely irrelevant but in possession of some sort of charm(?) perhaps?

For example, this pertains to nothing. I just think it is funny how unnerved and bespook-ed TC/Erik would be by the presence of...The Boy. 

Well...it hasn't been a year since I last uploaded...not for another two days, at least!

This is the reality of hobbies haunting the narrative--life continuously gets in the way, my faculties fail me often. I am, however, at a good place creatively, especially since getting to see Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein in theaters a week ago (my initial thoughts here). Not that the Frankenstein obsession ever leaves me, but I feel like the brain rot has been dialed up to 1000 and I am dangerous to be around right now. :,D 

I should be able to update regularly for the next month or so...which is unusual for me. I have been trying my hand at these "buffers" as they are called...never really mastered them (doubt I ever will) but I have been analyzing and changing some of my comic habits (and mindset surrounding art in general) and-actually, you know what? Best not make any promises, I am going to bask in having some updates ready to go. I am used to a weekly feeling of sadness, wishing I could upload but not having anything ready. 

I am thankful to those of y'all out there still reading <3 

Happy (belated) Halloween from the worms that live in my brain <3

I hope everyone had a safe and spooky week/end! I'll be honest, I mostly devoted my holiday spirits to drawing these silly things. It is very therapeutic and their costumes have no limitations of real-world expense, ha ha. 

• Daroga is Harlequin Lestat (IWTV AMC, that 2nd season, amirite? oof)
• Raoul is...that guy from the Paris Olympic opening ceremony (the phandom has claimed him as a Phantom iteration)
• Christine is Copia/IV from Ghost. Specifically tried to reference RHRN/Ghouvie version. Still working through the sorrow of not getting to watch that in theaters :,{
• TC/Erik is The Ghoul from Prime's Fallout. It was too easy, I had to. 

I thought I would include some of the sketches/exploration that went into the final illustration. Initially, there was a short comic I wanted to do but was unable to complete due to time restraints. 

As you can see, a LOT of my process is just noodling around until I find something attainable. I don't have a mind's eye, so I have to manually input ideas onto the "paper" before I can start the analyze/edit stage. Things take SO long to develop and I often get impatient, but I am trying to respect the mind that I have and appreciate the accomplishments as they come. <3 

Did I have a lot of fun with this page? Yes. Should it have taken as long as it did? Probably not... :}

Lots of little Easter eggs here, so I hope this page is fun for you readers to explore (should you chose to).

Also, I have been trying to post more behind the scenes/concept sketches on my Tumblr--I have so much concept work hoarded, its ridiculous. Some spoilers I want to keep hidden, but others I really don't think are worth hiding at this point. So, if I post anything there, I will try to share something here as well.

Like here, for instance, is some work I am doing on TC/Erik's future sneak-about-town costume/mask get up. 

<3 

Bye, Zeynel! (Again, Zeynel belongs to the incomparable Reimena Yee, you can read his story here!) 

@thedrawingduke on instagram + Tumblr + bluesky

Ohhh my goodness this page! Let's see...had a broken hand scare (just bruised, thank goodness), got covid/the flu, still working with a busted computer...I don't even know what else tried to stop me, but here I am! Better late than never.

More importantly, I got to borrow Reimena Yee's Zeynel for this page! He is from her graphic novel The Carpet Merchant of Konstantiniyya which you can read/purchase here. Highly recommend doing both! 

Reimena's work is...its sumptuous. She is a comics/visual storytelling powerhouse and frankly, a bit of a genius. I don't know what else to say, just go ye (or Yee) and partake of all...any of her work. Can't recommend enough.

@thedrawingduke on instagram + Tumblr + bluesky

Rumor has it, he's still looking for his focus...

Oh, I have had Rosy Hours stuff written and sketched and planned and plotted and dreamed about for so long now...its so exciting to get to share it. <3

I made it! Barely...but yay! I have been aching to get around to this part of the comic for so long. It is a little surreal to be finally putting it on "paper". 

Hope you have a *checks clock* great last 1.5 hours of weekend (central time) <3

@thedrawingduke on bluesy + instagram + Tumblr 

The ramifications...the implications...the plot thickens.

Hope you all are doing well, readers. There seems to be a bout of spring misfortune going around. It's hit me rather hard with a broken dryer, toilet, car A/C and ant infestation. Oh, and my computer is broken and only works if I keep my screen 70% closed. Never a dull moment, I tell you. 

Much to unpack.

This page nearly killed me as well, but I feel like I learned a lot <3

Also, thanks so much for the comments. You readers are a thoughtful, insightful group.

Damn, postmodern Prometheus :,D

Thank you for all the support on the past couple pages. <3 

Part 2! 

Once again, I will try to post full image here (I have been having technical difficulties this evening):

It is nearly midnight, but here is part 1 of 2 Sunday updates! I could not figure out how to post this 2 page spread without breaking it into 2 posts.

Also, I should like to be taken out back and shot for crimes against myself for this page. It was exquisitely painful for me to do. I need to learn 3d modeling...once I am not too burned out to do learn anything. 

Full image here: (once I fix whatever technical difficulty that's afflicting me)

The going got tough, I guess.

<3

I am hoping the new schedule change at my work will allow me to be able to work on this more often! I am continuing to try and find new ways of making comics in a way that is comfortable to me. Your comments really keep me going <3 

Surprise! My sister got married and she took priority for the month of December. It was quite lovely and I'm so proud of her and I am trying very hard not to think about her being in grade school when I started this comic...

ANYWAY...New year, new style (?)...you may notice some slight changes in the comic pages moving forward. I am finally strong enough to admit that I will never be a great inker. I am an impressionist at heart and I want...nay, I need to make my sketches more a part of my finished pages. 

@thedrawingduke on Tumblr + instagram + bluesky

I don't know what to do with all this weight off my shoulders! Secret's out. Some of y'all called it! <3 

Delayed, yet again. But still I persist! 

Also, I've been waiting so long to bring up the DeLaceys!!! 

@thedrawingduke on instagram + Tumblr + Bluesky