iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Dante / The Cost of Living doodle dump! Been practicing with different brushes & just trying to scribble some Dantes here and there to shake off the rust while I mostly focus on writing Book 1. #thecostoflivingcomic #vampire #webcomic #ocart

3 practice comic panels on a black background. Panel 1: a vampire walks vertically up a scraggly pine tree, lit by a beam of moonlight. Panel 2: close-up of vampire making an irritated face and gesture. Panel 3: a guard asks “Name?” to someone out of view. Notes on the side describe the drawing method & brushes used.

An askew comic panel with a closeup of a surprised vampire. Color scheme resembles a pastel dawn.

Bust of vampire in casual black clothes, arms folded. A beam of light cuts across his figure.

Bust of vampire in casual black clothes, arms folded. A beam of subtle blue moonlight cuts across his figure, and shadows appear reddish-brown in comparison.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I spent my afternoon gessoing and sanding and gessoing and sanding and gessoing and #autobio #art

Self portrait doodle in a painting apron holding a foam brush, standing in front of a pile of white canvases. Caption at the bottom reads “Me n my 10 primed canvases against da world.”

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Hyping myself up ahead of going to the rink today 🛼 #ootd #art #rollerskating

Self portrait doodle of myself rollerskating, in exaggerated fish eye perspective

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

The only way I can wind down for bed is to think of my OCs being sleepy too. Normal functioning human behavior. #ocart #webcomic

Digital comic-style drawing of a bored vampire lounging at a bar.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

New merch is starting to come in! :D These will be available at Sonic Boost con, Aug. 15-16 in San Diego. #shadowthehedgehog #sonicthehedgehog #sonicfanart #artistalley #art

Small print & poster print of shadow the hedgehog, sticker of Shadow captioned “Ow the Edge,” and sticker of live action Robotnik sipping on a coffee captioned “Mean Bean Coffee.”

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Reposted by Keely Mikkelsen

Johanna T 👻 📚 @johannamation.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Visible skill: writing good dialogue for a comic Invisible skill: writing good dialogue that’s 1) succinct & uses words short enough to fit inside speech bubbles, 2) in few enough bubbles that won’t cover up the art too much, 3) leads the eye thru the art and 4) still makes complete narrative sense

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I haven’t posted in 5 MONTHS??? Sorry 🙃 have some Dante #sketchbook #sketch #ocart

Ink sketches of a vampire, one full body and one bust. He bares his teeth in a threatening smile.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

James Talarico & Colbert interview is worth watching even for the sole purpose of seeing what the FCC banned & thinking about why. #art #politicalcartoon #politicalart

Digital illustration of James Talarico and Steven Colbert on a blue background with white text that reads “READ BANNED BOOKS & WATCH BANNED INTERVIEWS”

Digital illustration of James Talarico and Steven Colbert on a blue background, with a border painted in light teals and reds. Stacked human stick figures support each other in the painted border on the bottom of the image, and 5 sparse stick figures stand on top of the image. White text reads “The culture wars are a smoke screen because the real fight in this country is not left vs. right, it’s too vs. bottom.”

Digital illustration of James Talarico and Steven Colbert on a blue background.

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Reposted by Keely Mikkelsen

Johanna T 👻 📚 @johannamation.bsky.social · 14/08/2024

Did you know that every time you order my book from Bookshop dot org, you're directly supporting an indie bookstore, AND I get a small kickback? 👻 It's true! Buy my ghost comic, proceeds will go toward feeding my cat and myself 🐈‍⬛ bookshop.org/a/98494/9780... 🌈📚

.This heartwarming, emotionally intelligent tale inspired by Oscar Wilde and his Canterville Ghost novella contains many seamlessly executed examples of healthy communication and relationship dynamics without sacrificing the compelling storyline. An absolute must-read." --Booklist, starred review

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Some fun character design client work I got to do! This was for the audio company Joyfront, they wanted a mascot to print on t-shirts. 🎵 #art #digitalart #characterdesign #joyfront

Illustration of a bubbly futuristic girl with long cyan hair, in cyber-themed clothes.

Sketch of a bubbly futuristic girl with long cyan hair, in cyber-themed clothes. Upper left corner has 6 early rough concept sketches, and upper right corner has a Joyfront over-ear earphone for reference.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Love your neighbors and support your community in any way you can. Even things that seem “small” help. Food donations, donations to detainees for lawyers, documenting ice activity, keeping a watchful eye out, calling reps, protesting. It all matters.

Illustration of ice melting in the grass, with a yellow flower blooming from the meltwater.

White text reads: Beautiful things bloom when ice melts. Illustration of ice melting in the grass, with a yellow flower blooming from the meltwater.

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Reposted by Keely Mikkelsen

Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com · 16/01/2026

Cartoonists, I’d love to hear your stories! For local resources, please check out @defend612.bsky.social defend612.com

ICE OUT
Cartoonists against ICE
Calling on cartoonists and artists to tell your stories about the ICE occupation of your towns and cities!

*4-panel comics*
*3:4 Instagram format*
Use this Blue: *There is a color drop block of blue to copy *

Use these hashtags:
#iceout[your city]
#iceoutmpls
#iceoutcomics

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Reposted by Keely Mikkelsen

Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 16/01/2026

If you're a writer, wondering why you should bother writing with the world on fire. It feels like it's not important, I need you to understand that it is. Even if it is just because it keeps you moving forward? Even if it only brings YOU joy, that gives you energy to fight & survive.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

A secret santa gift I made for my wonderful friend Dash Najarian (who still needs a bsky account). This is his character Fishboy, a delightful druid/cleric on a quest to find his mom in my pirate-themed DnD campaign 🐟🌊⛵️ #dndcharacterart #gameart #illustration #art

Illustration of a humanoid orange carp with a determined grin, weilding a sword, riding a dolphin amongst a pod of dolphins.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Had to ring in the new year with my guy Dante 🦇 I started noodling on this drawing back when I was listening to Your Idol on repeat #vampire #ocart #webcomics #art

Digital illustration. Dante, a vampire in fancy aristocratic clothing and dark round sunglasses, looks up, frustrated, to his mysterious, smirking, Sire - body of swirling black smoke, donning an old Roman helm covering his eyes. The smoke trails into a circle that loops around Dante’s neck.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

If you see this, post a magic user Virgil’s my favorite dnd character but I can’t let him know that lest his ego grow even more powerful ⚡️ #warforged #cleric #dungeonsanddragons

Virgil, A Warforged cleric with a slight build, stands in purple and black robes and a wide-brimmed black hat, with an arrogant smile. He readies a ball of lightning in his left hand, and rests a pointed metal staff over a shoulder in his right hand. He wears pointed black boots with a wing coming of of the back.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Hi new folks!! I’m Keely, I do illustration, comic color, color design & bg paint 🎨 My current main project is my webcomic/graphic novel, The Cost of Living! It’s a WIP but you’ll definitely be seeing a lot of Dante (🧛‍♂️) & Simon (🗡️🛡️) here. Enjoy a little sampler, if ya like!👇

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Got permission to share some of my work on Treasure Party! ❄️ These were the first pieces I painted when I started in October. Treasure Party is a Match 3 mobile game, and I help illustrate the collectible cards in game. Layout & Art Direction: Mike Morris #illustration #digitalpainting

Snowball fight! Treasure Hunter girl in winter clothes, and her Shiba Inu, smile and run away from a barrage of snowballs from Ali and Lucky Louie.

Treasure Hunter catches Ali and Lucky Louie in their snow wall hideout, aiming snowballs at them.

Treasure Hunter in a fuzzy pink jacket hugs a friendly polar bear.

Snowballs fly over a snow wall. The wall has two flags at the top, a four leaf clover for Lucky Louie and a magic lamp for Ali.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Dante is a bounty-hunting vampire trying to afford rent, doing all he can to run away from his old life. But between a budding friendship with a goody-two-shoes knight, the rising threat of monster hunters, and the incessant whispers of Dante’s Sire in his ear, it’s getting harder to stay hidden.

A colored digital sketch page featuring a few busts of a scowling vampire in sunglasses, and a side view of the vampire and a knight staring daggers at each other, arms crossed.

A comic cover with a vampire carrying a coffin backpack. A red moon is behind him. Title text at the top reads “The Cost of Living.” Author’s name at the bottom reads “Keely Mikkelsen.”

Colored digital sketch. Scene on a fiery red backdrop. A large vampire with a body of black smoke and an ancient Roman helm obscuring his face smiles at offscreen destruction. A more human-like vampire, Dante, scowls with a feral expression at something off screen. His white shirt is messy and half-untucked, with blood splattered across the sleeves and frilled collar.

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Mossforatu @dinolich.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEENN!!!!! My piece for @chosennamepress.bsky.social's fall issue (which rules btw) #hellaween

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

See you at Lightbox! I’ll be there Saturday. Honestly I’m feeling very employed (and tired, on account of being employed) so I’m mostly going to see friends and enjoy art this year. #lightbox #lightboxexpo

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

If you see this, post a redhead FINALLY!! Dante’s time to shine ✨ #art #vampire #comics

Digital drawing of Dante (left), a tall vampire man with long ginger hair, slouching, hands in pockets, and Simon (right), a shorter, stouter man with salt and pepper hair and a curled mustache. Dante wears black drawstring shorts, black socks, black earphones around his neck, a black T-Shirt with a drawing of a vampire saying the Will Wood lyric “if anybody needs me I’ll be in my coffin.” Simon wears a green shirt with a Legend of Zelda symbol on it, khaki cargo shorts, brown Birkenstocks, an eyebrow piercing, and small hoop earring.

A young vampire man with large bat wings on his back, long ginger hair, a red cape, and a shiny gold chestplate flies through the air of a burning old European city. He looks determined, eyeing something offscreen.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Breaking news: Dante experiences a moment of happiness Color comp for an upcoming moment in my script 💛 Sometimes I need to jot down sketches like this as memos alongside my script so I don’t forget the tone & motifs I wanna use in the visuals of a scene. #webcomic #vampire #thecostoflivingcomic

Digital painting - closeup shot of a vampire looking off to the side, with a small genuine smile. His face is mostly in a cool blue shadow, but the back of his neck is lit from the warmth of the lanterns at an outdoor festival.

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Reposted by Keely Mikkelsen

Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Friend of mine requested the boys in modern casual clothes so of course I needed to oblige ⚰️⚔️🩸 #vampire #zeldashirt #originalcharacter #webcomics #art #thecostoflivingcomic

Digital drawing of a Dante (left), a tall vampire man with long ginger hair, slouching, hands in pockets and Simon (right), a shorter, stouter man with salt and pepper hair and a curled mustache. Dante wears black drawstring shorts, black socks, black earphones around his neck, a black T-Shirt with a drawing of a vampire saying the Will Wood lyric “if anybody needs me I’ll be in my coffin.” Simon wears a green shirt with a Legend of Zelda symbol on it, khaki cargo shorts, brown Birkenstocks, an eyebrow piercing, and small hoop earring.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Friend of mine requested the boys in modern casual clothes so of course I needed to oblige ⚰️⚔️🩸 #vampire #zeldashirt #originalcharacter #webcomics #art #thecostoflivingcomic

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Comic practice & hypotheticals :) I love giving Dante big ol’ bat wings, but I still have to see how it would come up in the canon. #vampire #webcomic #originalcharacter

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Words of wisdom from my BJJ coach that I will now be applying to all aspects of my life 🥋 #brazilianjiujitsu #jiujitsu #autobiocomic #art #doodle #sketch

Cartoon of me laying in the BJJ mat saying “Why is this the hardest thing I’ve ever done???” while my coach stands over me and says “Because you keep telling yourself it’s scary!”

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

(CW:🩸) Dante Style Experiments! I like using a lot of styles, so I’m seeing how I might be able to combine different things I like into one style. I’m excited to see how it affects the final look of the comic 👀 . . . #thecostoflivingcomic #digitalpainting #illustration #vampire #originalcharacter

Digital painterly style depicting a vampire looking back over his shoulder, baring his teeth. His eyes reflect like a cat, and long orange hair hangs messy over his face. He has two small scars on the side of his hand.

Digital painterly style with sketchy white outlines and sketchy red depictions of blood. A vampire looking back over his shoulder, baring his teeth. His eyes reflect like a cat, and long orange hair hangs messy over his face. He has two small scars on the side of his hand.

Black canvas, only using scratchy white outlines and sketchy red depictions of blood. A vampire looking back over his shoulder, baring his teeth. Long hair hangs messy over his face. He has two small scars on the side of his hand.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Learning combat for my comic is, uh… going well (Jk I actually love BJJ most days, and I’ve improved a lot since I started 6 months ago! But takedown day leaves me so sore 😩)

Silly doodle of a blue belt in my BJJ class obliterating me with a double-leg takedown as a catch air in my last pain-free moments before slamming the ground.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Another work #ootd for a warmup! Got to revisit my old Gallery Assistant days to help sell at our shows this summer. Excited to get back to comic writing now though :) . There’s suncatchers so we have nice office rainbows in the afternoon. 🌈 . . . #selfportrait #doodle #autobio

Self portrait digital sketch. Wearing a business casual gray blazer and pants, holding a laptop under one arm and coffee mug in the other. Wearing shiny silver oxfords, and rainbow lights shine on a blank wall behind me.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Little self-portrait at my office :) I’ve been working part-time in marketing at an art school for about a year and a half and I really enjoy it. It’s been very chill, and I feel lucky to have this + freelance as the animation industry sorts itself out. #selfportrait #ootd #autobio #doodle #sketch

Sketchy, colorful digital self portrait. I sit at my desk looking out the window to a Stellar’s Jay perched on a red Adirondack chair.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Something tells me this might not be their hay cart… #thecostoflivingcomic #originalcharacter #myoc #ocart #sketch

Sketch of two friends hitching a ride on the back of a fast-moving hay cart. The stout knight on the left holds on for dear life, and the tall vampire on the right smiles and enjoys the thrill.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

What if Dante eventually wears his gloves less and his sunglasses less and keeps his hair down more to show he’s becoming more open and doesn’t care what others think of him… hmmmmm…. #ocart #myoc #fantasy #webcomic #vampire #thecostoflivingcomic #art

Colored digital sketch of vampire man with tattered black and red bat wings, long ginger hair, a gold armor chest plate, and all-black outfit strikes a defensive pose, looking up to some off-screen threat above him.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

I don’t draw Branch too often since I’m working more on The Cost of Living these days but I still like the world building around this dude and wanna expand on his story someday #originalcharacter #ocart #myoc #art

Drawing of a slender gas mask creature in an all-black military-style uniform, cape blowing in the wind - he holds a cutlass in front of himself defensively. Background is hazy clouds of orange and yellow.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

This has been one of my favorite things to grace my eyes and I always make anyone I know who has seen either of these shows read this too

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Had a nice sendoff dinner in my grandparents’ backyard before the new buyer moves in. Spent nearly everyday after school here as a kid ❤️ (this basic uniball pen is so buttery to draw with actually) #pleinair #inksketch #sketchbook

Pen sketch of a gazebo in a lush backyard. The gazebo is reflected in wavy lines on the surface of a pool.

Pen sketch of an elegant light on a chain, hanging in front of a wall of jasmine.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Single-layer cooldown painting to help me practice, since I’ve been getting more into traditional acrylics lately. Feat. Dante because he consumes my brain. . . . #thecostoflivingcomic #vampire #digitalpainting #ocart #procreate

Painterly digital art of a vampire character on an orange background, using only midtone to light values, holding a hand against a wall, streaking some blood behind him. He wears round sunglasses, a red cape, and fancy black and white clothes.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

I forgot I did these Quincy sketches! Her design/vibe still feels like it’s missing some last puzzle piece but it’s getting there. #thecostoflivingcomic #monsterhunter #vampirehunter #myoc #art #webcomic #graphicnovel

Digital sketch page of a young, serious-looking monster hunter woman. She wears an all-black, clean, uniform-style coat and a wide-brimmed hat. She carries 2 silver daggers across her back, 1 wooden stake tied to her belt, and wears a cross necklace. There are 4 grayscale busts with serious expressions, 1 color bust with a snarky grin, and 1 grayscale full body sketch in the center of the page.

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Reposted by Keely Mikkelsen

AAAAHH-lex Plante 🐀👑 @aplante.com · 26/05/2025

industry standard method of making comics

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Been playing Virgil as my Baldur’s Gate 3 Tav on a multiplayer file with friends! He’s a Level 5 Tempest Cleric, and he may have to LOOK human but he’s still a warforged in my heart ⚡️ . . #baldursgate3 #baldursgate3fanart #dungeonsanddragons

Digital art of a human fantasy cleric. He wears silver plate armor and a purple cape. He has messy shoulder-length black hair and a scowl on his face. He holds spiked shield in his left hand, and a glowing staff over his right shoulder, with lightning crackling off of it. The background is a simple purple backdrop with a ground plane, and the cleric’s cast shadow.

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Decided to throw some more paint on this Dante. This isn’t a spoiler cause it’s just a for-funsies hypothetical. A lot of my ideas start as “this would be fun let’s try it” and then weaving the ones that actually make sense into the plot #thecostoflivingcomic #vampire #gothart #illustration #art

An illustration of a vampire in all-black attire and long wispy ginger hair, floating, face half-shaded, and glowing red eye gazing at the viewer, raises a hand to command a horde of bats.

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Reposted by Keely Mikkelsen

Nate Piekos of Blambot @blambot.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

A periodic friendly reminder that Blambot's Indie Use clause may allow you to use Blambot's designated indie fonts in your small press comics free of charge, even if you're making money on your project! More on licenses: blambot.com/pages/licenses

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

I’m once again tabling at Comic Con Revolution in Ontario, CA again in a few weeks!! Find me and my homie @amatusart.bsky.social at table G17! I’ll be bringing some freebie Dantes again :) #comicconrevolution #ccr #artistalley #convention

Title says: Comic Con Revolution (Ontario CA) on sale now May 17-18 2025 - I’m Tabling. Cartoon self portrait says: Find me at able G17.

Artist Alley map with G17 circled. It is near the back entrance of the exhibit hall in Ontario Convention Center near “Banner 3”

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Keely Mikkelsen @keelymikkelsen.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

A week-long celebration of my favorite comic? Don’t mind if I do 👀 Here’s my fav Miles for #hellaweenweek Day 2! . Hellaween by @dinolich.bsky.social . . . #hellaween #hellaweenfanart #vampire #graphicnovel

A vampire kid in a Hawaiian shirt, sipping blood from a paper cup, holds a skateboard and floats in front of a crescent moon.

Hellaween Fan Week list of prompts for 7 days. The day 2 prompt is “Draw your favorite monster character.”

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