iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 1h

Tried to evoke the spirit of those old Nintendo trading cards from the '80s for this one

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 1h

The first of the sticker set drawings... Classic Link!! I went with the original NES color palette for this (a fave)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 3h

Thanks Loppi!! This was definitely my most ambitious table setup yet, so that makes me very happy to hear 😊

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 3h

Aww thanks Sapphire!! 💖

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

One more close-up of the stickers! (Will post the full-res drawings over the next few days)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I tabled at Retro Game Con in Syracuse, NY this past weekend!! It was my first time tabling at a gaming/fan con, and it was so fun and met so many cool people! Here's a video of my table setup⚡

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Literally what happened to me (no job ➡️ Mind Games)

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Reposted by Orca

Radiant G🌈 @radiantg.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Bad news: I just got laid off due to budget cuts. 10+ years exp Hire me for: 👥 Production 🎙️ Voice Acting 📝 Narrative 🎨 2D Art 🔆 UI Art 📱 Marketing 👨‍💻 Design 🤳 Influencer 📸 Journalism ♿️ Accessibility 🎮 QA Lead 📄 Contract 🔁 RTs Appreciated 🔁 DM or email radiantgbusiness (@) gmail (.) com #IndieDev

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Yea, I only know how bad Nintendo's legal team can get, so I don't wanna get caught up in all that lol. I feel like it's a mixed bag here with the types of Nintendo fan merch being made, but I will keep researching. Thank you!!

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Cool, yea that makes sense. Does the same apply to the main Nintendo IPs, or do you think should those be avoided all together? I was thinking of making a few stickers and prints of some of my old art, but not sure if that's worth the risk

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Yikes, that's good to know, especially since anything I would make would've been Nintendo-related! (this is why I wanna stick with original stuff 😵)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Sweet, this is super helpful, thank you!!

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I've heard that artists get into weird copyright issues with Pokemon fan merch at cons, is that really a thing? Can you not make any??

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Thank you!! A lot to consider hmmm

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

What kinda of merch do people usually expect at artist booths in game cons?? I've only done art/craft markets where I've focused on prints/stickers, but idk if I should make more physical merch like keychains or something??

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Happy birthdayyyyy!!! 🎉🎂🥳

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Austin August 2, Day 17: I debated making this the last pic of the month, but I made this right after I left my job in Dec. 2021, and it was p much vent art of how I felt at the time. But that was also the beginning of my journey with Mind Games/my art as most of you know it, so I think it's fitting

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Austin August 2, Day 16 (belated): I forgot to post something yesterday, so here are two pieces for the price of one! I will just post the last pic of the month tomorrow (Also, I typo in the previous day below *Austin August not Austin Austin LOL, that's my state of mind right now)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Austin Austin 2, Day 15: Back in 2020, Mind Games was going to be a game, but it didn't get very far for many reasons. But I did make some sprites of Austin, and animated some walk cycles

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Austin August 2 Day 14: Did you know Austin has a girlfriend? And her name is J-... Naomi? I haven't drawn her much cuz she appears later in the story, but her character is a bit different now from this version from 2022 (Austin is still a liar though... but not in a slapstick way this time 🙃)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 13: ...I still wish this was real 🥺

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 12: The text in this one speaks for itself

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 11: Why does Austin have so many phases? Because long ago I thought it'd be fun to draw him with different outfits LOL But somehow I salvaged them into one big backstory that (I think) makes sense now... So here's Austin's first job as a "normal" person (aka pizza delivery guy)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 10: I admit, Austin's metal phase is kinda cheesy, and I'm conflicted, but I had my reasons for it... After all, what angsty teen *wouldn't* realize having electric powers is actually pretty metal?

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Really like the new visual direction you're going in! The thicker lines work well with the grit of the paper, and they look so good against the solid color block

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 9: omg I'm sorry I missed two days!! Here are some oldies again of Austin's awkward early-teens when he started becoming more self-conscious (and got his electric powers... Coincidence? 🤔)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Hehe thank yoouu!! It was honestly the most fun to draw! 😆

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Bonus glasses look (also literally how most of the dudes in BK look right now)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 8: After a loooong delay, it's finally here... Austin in 2026/Brooklyn. It was so hard keeping it to four captions, it's kind of satire, and kind of not LOL

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 7: Post-commune Austin was a bundle of other-worldly joy to the citizens of Civilization... until he wasn't.

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

true, I will respect her for her next-level stealthiness 😑👏

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I killed it thinking it didn't get me, but it turned out it did in the most obnoxious way 🙃

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

A mosquito bit me on the back of my head. Not the neck, but the scalp, underneath all the hair... like WHY??

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 6: When I almost scrapped Mind Games in 2021, I got inspired to draw Austin's past to understand him better, particularly his childhood at the hippie commune. What started as a quirky gimmick actually started to make his identity issues and contradictions make sense

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 5: Ok so I unearthed the first real concept of Mind Games™ Austin from 2018... I literally forgot I drew it??? Anyway, here's a comparison of it with the moment Austin went from confident to (uncomfortably) chill in 2022

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Yesss it's meant to be!! you can do itttt!!! 💪

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Hahaha omg thank you!! Honestly his current self is my fave too 😆 (no matter how frustrating he may be LOL)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Hehehe thank youuu, I know he'd appreciate that 🥲💖

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

You shooould, it's so fun!! And fulfilling as an artist to be able to share your work in such a public way, not to mention the convos! It's good to start small to feel it out, so I think that's a great opportunity 😄 Bonus that it's close to you!

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Bonus for today: Austin Evolution over the years (sorry for the crusty quality, it's a screencap from my insta Stories)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 4: 10 years ago, I gave (Splatoon) Austin a guitar to give him a hobby. Now that guitar is the source of his Toil as a struggling artist (ok, he's a bassist, but the guitar is his real true love)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Austin August, Day 3: From even earlier - the first official reference sheet of Austin as we know him (he's looks like such a baby here LOL)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Austin August 2, Day 2: From late 2020, but this was p much the drawing that set the tone for MG

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Almost halfway through August, I decided I want to do Austin August v2 LOL... but only with old drawings of him this time. I need to be reinspired again, so here we go ✌️ (Ironically the person talking to him here was supposed to be Jordan - back when she was more direct, if not a bit sassy)

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Orca @gateaulorange.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I still intend to draw 2026-Brooklyn-Austin, but I realized he will probably look very similar to this old sketch w/ a small mustache and/or miscellaneous facial hair (he would also unironically wear vintage clothes from the 1980s, but now I'm spoiling too much LOL)

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