Lucy Bellwood

Wish I could show off the finished piece but I have to make dumb Photoshop jokes about it instead because Publishing

A road sign marking the city limit of Hell. Population 1, Elevation -4,100,469.

Update.

A sketch of a fucking boat I’m so sick of drawing fucking boats it’s only a little bit inked I’ve already inked it five times and none of them are right this is why I prefer paper you just say good enough and move on but no I had to go do this part on the stupid computer

Hell is empty and all the devils are here

HAVE MERCY

I just finished it after four months of savoring each little segment and couldn’t agree more. Fundamentally shifted the way I’m looking at translation (and adjacent/rhyming fields) while maintaining such a warm, playful tone.

Do you ever print these up as zines in their own right? It’s got such a coherent feel it seems like it could be lovely in the physical world.

This was a powerful read, Tom. Thank you for writing it. And those illustrations! Really turns the whole essay into something special.

Lucy Bellwood, Adventure Cartoonist - XOXO Festival (2016) YouTube video by XOXO Festival

I have so much to say on this subject, always, but I’m on deadline, so I’ll just leave this link to my 2016 @xoxofest.com talk and dip. It’s about money and the chasm between perceived and real “success” and being seen. If you’re struggling I hope it makes you feel better. youtu.be/pLveriJBHeU?...

Two poster sheets polling cartoonists about how much money they make in a “good” year vs. a “bad” year, how long they’ve been making comics, how much they get paid, and how they feel about how much they get paid. (Not able to transcribe the entirety of this poster in the alt text right now because I’m rushing to finish a cover for a graphic novel whose advance ran out three years ago.)

If talking hard numbers in public is hard, try running an anonymous poll with a group of peers. Here’s two examples of what that can look like, taken from an event with a wide mix of cartoonists in attendance.

Content warning: I talk about *actual numbers* in here because I believe the industry doesn’t change if we don’t. Saying you got a “good” advance or are “comfortable” isn’t helpful! We need a sense of scale!

Make It Pay YouTube video by Lucy Bellwood

Oh hey are we talking about money in publishing today? Here‘s a talk I delivered for @scbwi.bsky.social in Kansas City that is about EXACTLY THAT. youtu.be/9Ik42WUYmeQ?...

Much like proper preparation of the humble ham, these things can’t be rushed.

The Oldest Vessel | Lucy Bellwood Get more from Lucy Bellwood on Patreon

If you, like me, are anchored by the existence of Very Old, Very Human Things, this essay is for you: www.patreon.com/posts/148133...

Adam I grabbed this on a whim from my local small town library a couple weeks ago and it was absolutely *stunning*. Such rich characters and gorgeous layouts. Truly blew me away. Thank you for making something so lovely.

I sincerely hope so! @katemilford.bsky.social and I have been hard at work on it for a long while and I think it’ll be worth the wait. Everyone needs a goofy swashbuckling animal caper with unreasonably accurate nautical detailing.

(Also unrelated but HOLY SHIT I cannot wait to dig up the Nice Guys commentary you moderated. One of my absolute favorites.)

Really made my week 💛 I spent the last five years helping to care for him before he died. Your description of the film could easily serve as a description of him as a human being, too! Deeply grateful I ran across this.

Really think a lot of my contemporary friend group can be traced back to Fellow Small Town Kids with Swords.

This is so lovely, Aimee. Thank you 💛 (And how on earth was I not following you already, Fellow Nautical Art Nerd?)

TEN PAGES LEFT I EAT BOATS FOR BREAKFAST

E L E V E N

No joke I am screenshotting this post to print out as motivation for the final sprint. Thank you for knowing Boats enough to call out the little things. (I often only see the stuff that *isn't* right and it drives me batty, but it's good to remember that this is more detail than most would give.)

Every time I see Hannah‘s absurdly good acting/pacing/composition chops in comics I start vibrating at an imperceptible frequency. You can give her money to do MORE OF THAT: www.patreon.com/hannahvardit/

MENSCH

Real “Templeton, we do not squeeze our teabags” energy here.

HOOTIN’
HOLLERIN’
REGRETTING SETTING THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL IN (A BOAT)

A certified gremlin.

Past Lucy:

Mr. Mille, a rat, and Monty Mellivore, a badger, look off-panel as someone bellows “Where’s that badger?”

A horrible panel of a boat with fiddle rigging and a great big wave behind it and so many details, too many details, anyone can see there should not be this many details in a panel this small.

Solely getting anything done right now by swearing violently over Zoom with @andymcmillan.com about how much I hate drawing rigging THIRTEEN PAGES TO GO FML

Having a teary cup of tea about this today. It delights and stuns me to see this kind of thoughtful writing about something my dad had a hand in bringing to life. The art we make keeps moving through the world, even after we’re gone. It can be silly and meaningful all at once.

I was told The Website wouldn’t give me any good feelings, but this is actually lovely