VERVAIN

art / comics / design

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In which I update for February

⟫ My new pen arrived! The old one is still nowhere to be seen, but the new one is a slight upgrade to it, I think, so it's all gucci.

⟫ Between commission work, Ive returned to working on my webcomic/s. I'm back to drawing APOCRYPHA, after reworking the first five chapters of script: since my co-author is no longer attached to this project, I've got to shift the words into my own voice to keep it consistent. She was a much stronger writer than me, but I think I'm improving in my own writing day by day.

⟫ My second webcomic, 9 MOON CURSE, is still being written. The beginning is written, the end is... sort of written, and I'm going through filling in the gaps. It's very much a 'monster of the day' type story, so structure-wise, it's pretty simple to outline.

⟫ Regarding FANART stuff, I've got an idea for a new illustrated series with FF villains. I'll post more about that when I have something to show.

⟫ And finally, my friends and I are working on expanding the indie murder mystery rpg game @bd-bandkanon is heading, CORPSE FLOWERS! I've written a new murder mystery scenario for it. It involves a piano. There is a dog. You can play the gamejam version/first demo of it from Itch.io! Link here

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So my wacom pen decided to, as a friend put it, 'no-clip' through the floor. It goes AWOL often, but this time... It's escaped. It's in the backrooms. Gone. D4C'd.

I've bought a new one, which should hopefully arrive next week. 'Til then I'm stuck without digital art.

In the meantime, I've been sitting down to do boring admin stuff, which includes organising this blog and my website behind the scenes, refining the script for my webcomic and opening a patreon to help me keep on track as I dive into continuing my comic and get my new one off the ground (before it also no-clips into the backrooms)

My heart is very much all-in on my personal projects this year.

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its Machiavillain from Megamind I swear it is.

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We made a game for the 2024 "Spooky Surprises" Game Jam, hosted by riggy2k3 and PhillyGameMechanics!

This quick little crime mystery was cobbled together within a week by @bd-bandkanon, @vervain-art, @silverfire113, @griffxnhearts and @asheanon. It is very likely that we will adapt this small gamejam entry into a much bigger, longform game with multiple scenarios and a spooky overarching story!

Please play Corpse Flowers and enjoy!

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Friends and I put together a game jam game! It's a murder mystery with a flower.

I mostly helped make the puzzle system and minimal direction (@bd-bandkanon did most of the heavy lifting on this one and isn't taking enough credit haha)

It's getting a lot of updates and will slowly become a full length game, so give it a try if you like the look of it!

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Finally remembered my login here! Hello!

Expect a lot of updates now that I'm back in, there's a lot to share <3

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PASTEL KUJA KEYCHAIN

$8 AUD. Available on my etsy store for a very limited moment in the present.

These were my first attempt at making keychains. They came out very pastel though my camera doesn't capture it well. I've got four left looking for homes (Not homes, palaces probably, but in keychain form he doesn't get a choice).

If you'd like one, you can grab him at my Etsy store. If etsy doesn't work, just send me a message!

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This is Masa (Uemae-no-Masa, 植前の雅). He's a nogitsune OC that I've recently polished up and made into a proper character now.

Some Facts:

Looks far more elegant of a creature than he really is. He's a rather vulgar fellow, and sometimes has trouble balancing in his stupid platform shoes. Likes to feel tall.

Has five tails, which are worn most of the time as the fur on his robes.

Lives in a desecrated, possessed, inari shrine, which travels around. Think howls moving castle, but a relatively small shrine on stick legs.

Deathly afraid of dogs. Even puppies.

Has a number of servants of the tsukumogami variety. You know, those cute possessed household objects like umbrellas and lanterns.

He claims to be a descendant of Tamamo no Mae, though whether or not this is true...

Very prone to one sided grudges.

Credit to my friend @asheanon who suggested he be associated with japanese maple which is perfect yes this is happening.

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Discordia - Villains of Final Fantasy I-X

I have a new mini zine out~! It's 20 pages filled with illustrations of Final Fantasy villains from I-X and comes with a free bookmark~

Have a look at it here on my kofi!

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Convention Summary

Soooo...

First I just want to say that the people running the convention are great people. Lovely people. Those guys did a great job on the day with what they had.

But.

I can't say it went well. I can't even say it was worth attending. In total, I made a little over table cost. I know there are times when people don't even make table cost-- but my accommodation and travel costs weren't even close to covered, so I'm in the red~.

Honestly, I wouldn't be as annoyed about it if the table price was fairer for the size of the event.

The cost of the table was exactly the same as it is at another very popular, larger 2 day convention held in Sydney, and yet there was very little for attendees to do. There was a cosplay contest on the Saturday, an auction on the Sunday, two DnD themed panels... and that was it. There were no special guests to draw people in. No dealers hall-- Not even the largest and best known comic/manga/pop culture store in the city it was held in had a presence there.

A lot of people who held weekend passes didn't return on the Sunday... We had to leave early anyway so maybe it was just as well it was pretty dead by the time we packed up.

There were some wonderfully talented people vending in the AA there, and I'm sure some of them made profit... I just hope it was as much profit as they deserved for their efforts. I managed to spend a chunk of my earnings on the Saturday buying things from them, haha.

So yeah.

That's my report. Unless they are able to get more funding to put on a larger event (at least have more panels or a special guest for people to see), or lower the table costs, I don't think I'll go back.

TOP SELLING ITEMS: Wooden bookmarks Stickers Live drawings

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So the convention is done and... Well. I have some things to say about it.

But I'm real worn out as one gets after these things so that'll be for later.

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Live sketches at the convention

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Commissions Open!

Order here via KoFi or send me a message!

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Here at Taspop to set up! My aunt is helping me run my table and has made rocks to sell. They’re really good right?

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important update: a rock has been sold

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day 1 of the con! I can’t take good photos to save my life but it looks better in person I promise.

I am regretting not bringing larger prints, but they didn’t sell last time. Maybe something to think about for next time if people ask about them…

My aunt has a space for her rocks.

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Here at Taspop to set up! My aunt is helping me run my table and has made rocks to sell. They’re really good right?

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Mauler

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Packed up all the Manderville gentlemen~.

These are the 'seconds'... There was a printing error where they were printed double sided (flipped) instead of front/back. So I figured they'd be perfect to sell in person. They're fine, they're just not as cool as the proper ones.

On another note, there is 0 reference for how to package standees online. How do other people even do this...???