Scrappy Dispatch
A new episode of ill fame and some new random characters
With cool hues and a spit in the air, we get to the last calm episode before the inevitable storm as we reach the ending of ill fame. There are still a fair few episodes left, but this is the big fight with the big bad that everything has been leading up to: our Witch Queen Frankie coming up against her cruel father and the elusive Sea King to claim her autonomy.
But first: the calm, relatively speaking.
Frankie and Rhys, Bertie and Patrick, our wayfaring heroes who have been following their desires like a dog tracking a scent, have finally been called home and are expected to sit quietly next to their master's chair. Of course, our group cannot abide by such notions anymore, and I enjoy expressing their independence through spats and colloquies; it is nice to be able to say what you want to say, for once. Frankie and Rhys’ defiance has become an ambient mood of unease and intrigue within the Sea Realm - rumour has it they are trouble - but our gleaming knight Patrick, with all his former prestige, expertise, and gleaming armour, is the most noticeable and unexpected apostate. Shame. He was such a good knight.
Fun fact: Did you know that Wrack really is the smallest kingdom in the archipelago? Only sixteen seals live on Wrack (seventeen inhabitants if you include Rhys). And we see them all this episode. It was nice to draw all their faces again, their questioning nature in full force as they barrage our returning princess/queen with thoughts and expectations.
There is a few call backs in this episode:
Frankie's speech about "conceding" is in reference to episode 23
Bessie and Queen Augustine's story in ill fame is, I'll admit, been more of an ambient tragedy in the background, and one that, if I had more time, I would of liked to put more panels and episodes into. The main episodes that hint at their romance are episodes 30 and episode 90.
Episode 108 is now finished and is available to read onto the patreon, along with episodes 105, 106 and 107. We are thoroughly in the storm now with these chapters, and episode 109, which I’m currently sketching out, might be the biggest storm of them all. Until episode 110, that is.
Here’s a little preview of episode 105, available to read on webtoon canvas August 18th.
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Unfortunately, my traditional art practice has been put on the backburner as of late for the ~secret project~ I’ve been working on. I won’t say much of that here, but I will share some super scrappy paintings and drawings that have been occupying my free time.
Some more experiments on acid-free craft paper, trying to work out more the kind of way I want to paint on this paper. Tried gouache, pencil, just watercolour: here we see the best outcome with a mix of Indian ink and watercolour (the gold watercolour just about showing up); the craft paper is a bit too rough for pencil, but perfect for inks. (You might recognise some aspects of this illustation, as I cribbed from myself, utilising the bunting Robin decorated his bonfire with in episode 80.)
Gouache and pencil drawing of my nephew in the sketchbook.
Another sketchbook painting in gouache and watercolour of bindweed reaching for the sky.
A few more sketchbook pages of random characters that had risen up in my thoughts. What I will do with them I don’t know; they seem content to meander around in the background of my mind for now. Mixture of biro, neocolours, watercolour and gouache. I still have not quite figured out how to use neocolours.
Thank you for reading, and have a great day!
P.S. Thank you everyone that brought a copy of From the Depths. The limited first printing is now sold out, but if there is enough demand for a second printing then I will set that up. Let me know if you’re interested.
