Secret room

Illustrator & writer. I create my own stories and illustrate books. ✦ ☾ ✦ For more contact and art: [email protected]

[clarevins]

Welcome to Katoptrium.

I’m Clare - illustrator and storyteller.

Here I share my original fantasy project set in the city of Eivel.

You can explore the story through tags:

#jack nightwood - character posts about Jack

#jane brier - character posts about Jane

#katoptrium story - worldbuilding and lore

#katoptrium comic - comic pages and short scenes

Katoptrium is a long-term graphic novel about fractures between worlds, light magic, and two agents standing at the edge of something that should have remained sealed.

I also occasionally draw fanart.

You may see works inspired by Love and Deepspace, and I will always have a soft spot for magical worlds - so Hogwarts students are welcome here too.

This is only the beginning.

The fracture is already open.

More:

Instagram

[clarevins]

A small Jane update while I’m slowly rebuilding the world of Katoptrium. ✨

I’ve been testing Clip Studio Paint lately, and so far it feels surprisingly comfortable to work in. While experimenting, I also ended up redesigning Jane a little.

So this is officially her new main look. Of course, Jane would be the first to remind everyone that she changes outfits and hairstyles constantly, so this isn’t the only version of her you’ll see. But this is the look she wears when she’s on duty - when another rift to the Mirror World opens and Katoptrium needs her help.

Still very much a work in progress, but I’m happy with the direction she’s taking. ✨

[clarevins]

💛 COMMISSIONS OPEN 💛

Hello everyone 🌸

I’m excited to finally open commissions for fantasy illustrations, cinematic scenes, character art, comic/sequential work and book-inspired projects.

Below you can find pricing information, commission examples and additional details about the types of work I offer.

If you’re interested in working with me, please fill out the commission form: FORM

Terms of Service: TERMS

💖Thank you for all the support and interest in my art and stories 💖

[clarevins]

After spending the last few weeks immersed in Mermay and my Once Upon a Broken Heart project, I found myself missing these two.

I’ve been revisiting a lot of ideas about my original world lately, and I hope to explore it more deeply in the future and finally share more of Jack and Jane’s story with you.

For now, though, here’s a small sketch — sunshine incarnate Jane and her steady, quiet Jack. ✨

[clarevins]

💛 COMMISSIONS OPEN 💛

Hello everyone 🌸

I’m excited to finally open commissions for fantasy illustrations, cinematic scenes, character art, comic/sequential work and book-inspired projects.

Below you can find pricing information, commission examples and additional details about the types of work I offer.

If you’re interested in working with me, please fill out the commission form: FORM

Terms of Service: TERMS

💖Thank you for all the support and interest in my art and stories 💖

[clarevins]

It’s finally time for Sylus! 🧜‍♂️✨

After the Mermay poll ended in a tie between Ominis and Sylus, I’ve already shared my take on Ominis-and now, I’m so excited to finally present Sylus to you!

If he were a merman in some parallel universe, I just know he’d find his MC no matter where she was hiding in the ocean, and he definitely wouldn't let her go. 🌊⛓️

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the poll! I had such a blast drawing these, and I’m really happy I managed to contribute to Mermay this year, even if just a little🤍

[clarevins]

And so, this little project finally comes to an end ❤️

I’m honestly so happy I got the chance to dive into this story and spend time drawing these characters. Evangeline and Jacks found a permanent place in my heart, and I truly adore them and everything they became together.

Maybe someday I’ll return to this world again and draw more fanart for Once Upon a Broken Heart. But for now, this is my farewell to them ✨

[clarevins]

Since Ominis and Sylus tied in my Mermay poll, Ominis is the first one to dive in! 🫧

As promised, here is our favorite wizard. Let’s imagine that due to a malfunctioning ancient artifact or a stray curse, Ominis ended up with a tail for a while. 🧜‍♂️

•Ominis gets cursed by a mysterious artifact and turns into a merman.

•MC constantly sneaks away from the castle to visit him at the shore.

•He looks so beautiful that MC starts bringing him flower crowns/wreaths. 🌸

•He grumbles: "This is ridiculous, I'm a Gaunt, not a garden."

•But he secretly refuses to take them off because they smell like MC and kindness. 🥺✨

🔱 Sylus (Love and Deepspace) is next!

Keep an eye out for the next post—you’re going to love what I have planned for him. Stay tuned! 💫

[clarevins]

I definitely couldn't leave you (or myself!) without a proper kiss scene, so here we are. I’m absolutely obsessed with this moment under the tree - finally, they can just be together. 🏹🍎

Please enjoy this piece as much as I enjoyed drawing it! My little Once Upon a Broken Heart project is nearly complete, I just have the cover art left to finish.

Also, for those who have been asking, I’ll be posting my commission info very soon! Stay tuned 💫

P.S. Mermay is still in full swing! Ominis is already at the coloring stage, so Sylus and Ominis are coming your way shortly. Thank you for staying with me! ✨

[clarevins]

I definitely couldn't leave you (or myself!) without a proper kiss scene, so here we are. I’m absolutely obsessed with this moment under the tree - finally, they can just be together. 🏹🍎

Please enjoy this piece as much as I enjoyed drawing it! My little Once Upon a Broken Heart project is nearly complete, I just have the cover art left to finish.

Also, for those who have been asking, I’ll be posting my commission info very soon! Stay tuned 💫

P.S. Mermay is still in full swing! Ominis is already at the coloring stage, so Sylus and Ominis are coming your way shortly. Thank you for staying with me! ✨

[clarevins]

Ominis x Sylus: It’s a tie! 🌊

I’m currently juggling a million projects, but the first Mermay candidate is officially in the works. Here’s a little sneak peek of Ominis! I really hope you’ll like the final result as much as I’m enjoying the process.

I’ve already got some fun ideas for Sylus too, but I just had to start with Ominis first. Stay tuned for more updates!

P.S. I’m also working on something for Evangeline and Jacks. Sometimes I’m genuinely sad that a day only has 24 hours... I have two hands, but only one of them draws (the left one! haha). ✍️✨

WIP!⚠️

[clarevins]

While we were all busy deciding who to draw for Mermay, I finally finished this spread! ✨

The wedding of Evangeline and Apollo... but my heart is entirely with Jacks, watching them from the sidelines. I’m absolutely obsessed with the tension between him and Evangeline here. To me, this was yet another devastating turning point in their story. 🍎💔

I have one more concept in mind to complete my portfolio for this series, so... stay tuned! You’ll see it very soon! 😁

[clarevins]

While we were all busy deciding who to draw for Mermay, I finally finished this spread! ✨

The wedding of Evangeline and Apollo... but my heart is entirely with Jacks, watching them from the sidelines. I’m absolutely obsessed with the tension between him and Evangeline here. To me, this was yet another devastating turning point in their story. 🍎💔

I have one more concept in mind to complete my portfolio for this series, so... stay tuned! You’ll see it very soon! 😁

[clarevins]

I’m looking at the results and I’m almost laughing - it’s a tie! You guys worked so hard that we ended up with two winners. I guess I’ll be busy making both of them happen!

I’ll do my best to finish Ominis and Sylus in their mermaid forms by the end of May. Thanks for voting and for the inspiration. Wishing you a creative Mermay! If you’re drawing mermaids too, I’d love to see them - let’s do this together! 🧜‍♂️

[clarevins]

Help me choose my next Mermay project! 🧜‍♂️

I’m really excited to participate in Mermay this year! Since my schedule is a bit tight, I’ve decided to focus on one specific character for a high-quality mermaid/merman piece.

But I can’t decide who it should be... so I’m leaving it up to you! Who would you like to see as a merman in my style?

Help me choose…

Sylus (Love and Deepspace)

Ominis Gaunt (Hogwarts Legacy)

Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy)

Jacks (Once Upon a Broken Heart)

Jack (Catoptrium - My Original Story)

Someone else? (Drop a name in my Asks!)

Voting ended onMay 5

Can’t wait to see who wins! ✨

[clarevins]

While I'm working on another book spread for this story, I kept thinking about one particular moment that always makes me laugh.

Do you remember when Evangeline and Jacks finally escaped the vampire lair and spent the night in that crypt? While Evangeline was frantically trying to find them a place to hide, Jacks—who was briefly mortal and exhausted—kept falling asleep every two steps. At one point, he literally found a newspaper and just went to sleep under it. 😂

It’s such a hilarious image that I just couldn't get it out of my head, so I had to make this quick sketch!

[clarevins]

WIP✏️

A heart worth breaking. Still working on this spread for Once Upon a Broken Heart, but I couldn't resist sharing the progress. There’s just something about the drama of Evangeline and Apollo’s wedding... 🍎🦊