nuclear waste aerobics

Also sorry for the lack of comic updates, I’ve had a rough time lately and had to disappear from the internet for a bit. Lots of priorities to juggle atm, but I’m working on new pages as much as I can.

In any case thanks for sticking around, you guys have been consistently awesome and I couldn’t wish for better readers! Sorry again for making you wait!

Anonymous said: I ADORE your art and I get really inspired whenever I read Phantomland - your skill and dedication really are worth recognition and I love reading the comic over and over again. I also fear I have a crush on Jon..

Reading it several times even!! I admire your dedication, thank you so much, it means a lot to me. And welcome to the club with the rest of our Jon fans hahaha…. I feel he’s gotten even more popular now that Nirvana Jon (Jorvana) got introduced

Anonymous said: I once saw a picture of Amber smiling with another guy and had mistaken that for Elias. I thought that’s why they work together with Jon until I realized that was someone else. So how did Amber and Elias end up working for him?

This guy? I didn’t figure he’d look much like Elias at all, but I guess they have pretty similar facial hair! Welp I was thinking of redesigning the character anyway…

Thanks, that’s a good question though. It’s a complicated story how the trio got together. Officially Elias was hired as Jon’s personal medic while Amber showed up to be a “trophy wife”, but it’s not the whole truth and they’re maintaining this facade to keep a low profile. There’s more interesting stuff going on behind the scenes, though it’s spoiler territory so I’ll keep my mouth shuuuut

Hey maaria. I know you probably get these a lot but I know how much they would mean to me to get so here it goes. You’ve inspired me so much. I’ve always been so afraid. So worried about not being good enough. Not being noticed. But after reading and watching you online for so long I realized I shouldn’t be afraid. I know what I want to be and what I want to become. Seeing you work so hard everyday. Never letting anyone get to you or discourage you. You have no idea how much that means to me. Your Art, story, and characters are all an inspiration and motivator. I know I still have so much to learn about art and I still have a long way to go until I’m even close to where I want to be. I just want to say thank you. Even though you unknowingly did so, you’ve really saved me from giving up.

(left out your name in case you prefer that)

Hello! Truth be told I’m such a private person online that it’s actually kinda rare for strangers to open up to me like this. But I really appreciate hearing your thoughts, without it I would’ve had no idea there’s a person like you out there.

I feel really honored that I’ve been an inspiration to someone, that’s just about the best flattery I can think of. Thank you so much for following my blog. I hope you realize, though, that what you see on the internet is only the “highlights reel” of anyone’s life. I may have gotten this far with my artwork but it hasn’t been an easy journey, I too have my share of struggles and insecurities that strike me down sometimes. Everyone has, it’s perfectly normal. But all that pain is absolutely worth it because at the end of the day, creating a thing of your own is AMAZING and a talent that’s always worth cultivating no matter what!

Useful advice I heard sometime, can’t remember from whom: if you don’t like your own art, it means your taste is good but your skill hasn’t caught up to that level yet. Basically you’ve already got what it takes - just figure out the specifics of what you want to learn and keep trying until you get there. I’ve never met a talented artist who isn’t super critical of themselves, it’s a good thing, you’re on the right track. Keep being awesome!!

Here’s the thing though, a pet-peeve I’ve had for years: the whole time I’ve been remotely good at drawing I’ve had the occasional person come up to me and ask if I could draw some porn. I’ve declined basically every time, I’m not really feeling it you know? No biggie right?

But a little too often I’ve met with the implication that people who aren’t into porn are actually just shy/sensitive/naïve/prudish/stuck-up/broken or simply in denial about liking porn. That’s… really kind of a rotten attitude to have, ok? Don’t make judgements on people by their interest or lack of it, we’ll all be much happier that way

(Funnily enough I actually do draw NSFW material once in a blue moon, I just don’t share that stuff online)