April went by so fast but spring is finally here, so how about you spring into some art and comic updates!
Here’s how you can keep up on these newsletters (they’ll always be free)
RSS | Mailing List | Patreon
Public April Art
I try and post fun public art every Friday around 11am. These can be seen & shared over on tumblr, mastodon, cohost, pillowfort, bluesky and jpawlik.com/blog with sketches and thumbnails up early for patrons, VIP members, and kofi members!
Webcomic Updates
Three new Alola Darumaka pages up this month! And if you want early access to pages, sketches and thumbs check out my Patreon, Kofi, or VIP Blog.
Read from the beginning | Read the newest pages
I posted another HRT diary comic this month, we’re on page 6 now! I’m making these pages as changes happen, but I do post them early on Patreon, Kofi, and my VIP Blog, then up 2 months later for free on Topaz Comics.
Read from the beginning | Read the latest page
Two new pages of After All went up for my Private Collector tier! This is a NSFW Jigen/Zenigata comic written by Max and we’re getting to the climax!
Read on Patreon | Read on my VIP Blog
A new page of The Curtain Falls went up this month! This is a Lupin III fancomic I’m working that focuses on Lupin in his 60s and dealing with change and retirement. We’re doing some reflecting now!
Read it on Patreon | Read on my VIP Blog | Read on Kofi
April’s Sketchbook
This month’s sketchbook is up for the Grab Bag tier on Patreon, VIP Blog and Kofi
Another month, another sketchbook! This one is nearly 30 pages and it’s full of a lot of fun doodles and concept art. I’ve been having fun doing messy doodles and sketches again, it feels like it’s been a while but they feel nice for exploring concepts I’d like to flesh out. There’s also Lupin weekly art prompts from the Lupin forum, lots of birds I saw this month, and fun shoutout requests.
TCAF
While I won’t be boothing at TCAF this year I will be wandering around as an attendee AND I’ll be on a panel called “Toronto As a Setting” – it’ll be at 10am on Saturday, May 13th in the Learning Centre (1st floor). I may bring some Dead City books with me, since that’s what I’ll be talking about.
Other things
Busy busy busy with my fulltime contract on a video game still and making really great progress. I cannot wait to share what I’ve been working on with y’all!
While working in video games now I’ve been itching to play some new ones, there’s a few on my radar that’ll be coming out this year which I’m excited about: Yolk Heroes, World of Anterra, and Fantasy Life 2. In the mean time I started playing Final Fantasy 1 which is an absolute delight? I’ve only ever played FF4 and FF6 before. Maybe I’ll draw my party at some point.
I’ve been hosting weekly art prompts over on the Lupin Forum and it’s been a lot of fun to be in a space that isn’t owned by a mega corp.
~~~
April down, tune in at the end of May for the next newsletter!
The end of March is here and it’s an extra long weekend so here’s a newsletter for y’all to read!
Here’s how you can keep up on these newsletters (they’ll always be free)
RSS | Mailing List | Patreon
Public March Art
Fun art goes up every Friday! These can be seen & shared over on tumblr, mastodon, cohost, pillowfort, bluesky and jpawlik.com/blog with sketches and thumbnails up early for patrons, VIP members, and kofi members.
Webcomic Updates
We’re into the 100s now for Alola Darumaka, and three new pages went up this month! And if you want early access to pages, sketches and thumbs check out my Patreon, Kofi, or VIP Blog.
Read from the beginning | Read the newest pages
Page 5 of my HRT diary comic is up! People around me are noticing things and it’s really exciting! I’m currently only making these pages as those changes happen but pages will go up on Tuesdays early on Patreon, Kofi, and my VIP Blog, then up 2 months later for free on Topaz Comics.
Read from the beginning | Read on the latest page
A new page of “After All” went up for my Private Collector tier! This is a NSFW Jigen/Zenigata comic written by Max. It’s been a bit slow coming out lately because I’ve been swamped with other work but we’ve only got four pages left now!
Read on Patreon | Read on my VIP Blog
Two new pages of “The Curtain Falls” are up! This is a Lupin III fancomic I’m working that focuses on Lupin in his 60s and dealing with change and retirement. We’re getting into the meat of the issue now as Lupin monologues a bit.
Read it on Patreon | Read on my VIP Blog | Read on Kofi
March’s Sketchbook
This month’s sketchbook is up for the Grab Bag tier on Patreon, VIP Blog and Kofi
It’s been a real busy month and I wasn’t able to dedicate too much time to sketchbook art but I really like what I did do when I had the time! Lots of original comic concepts in this one, plus a sneak peek to my comic for the upcoming OJST pledge drive, some forum weekly art prompts and more! As ever, thanks to my patrons for their support and shoutout requests.
Other things
I just finished up a secret OJST comic for their Patreon Pledge Drive again this year. It’ll go up sometime in April so keep an eye out for that, then I’ll post it on my own Patreon/VIP blog in December! I posted a sneak peak of it in March’s sketchbook~
Still working fulltime on a video game with a studio until the summer, I’ve been really enjoying the experience and video games might be something I’ll look in to doing more for my daytime work!
Lots of internet stuff happened this month, with more sites like tumblr including more AI garbage and Gumroad and Patreon putting up more walls against NSFW art it’s looking really bleak out there. It was a tough time but I really believe that if people continue to make art that we’ll persevere through all this.
Patreon hasn’t outright banned NSFW art so I’ll continue posting there, but if they ask me to remove it then I’ll have to comply. On the upside I am working on a membership site of my very own that will act a lot like Patreon, my VIP blog it’s not very pretty yet but it does work! It doesn’t have the immense backlog yet like my Patreon does but having a back-up just in case makes me feel better. It does use Stripe because there’s no other options for me right now, but I’ve added a little addendum to my TOS that might be a good work around for now. Here’s hoping Patreon doesn’t give me the boot!
And if you want to fight against payment processors and credit cards banning NSFW media, please check out this form and this petition!
If you want a nice place to hang out and like Lupin III I highly encourage you to check out the Lupin Forum. I’m over there hosting weekly art prompts for folks to feel inspired by. It’s been a real fun time and nice to have somewhere to go that’s a bit more niche and not subject to the whims of big corporations.
~~~
Another month down. Thanks for reading, I like posting these newsletters so I hope you like them too!
Happy February everyone, this month came and went so quickly, but I’ve got some art and comic updates for y’all!
Here’s how you can keep up on these newsletters (they’ll always be free)
RSS | Mailing List | Patreon
Public February Art
I post illustrations and fun art publicly every Friday. These can be seen & shared over on tumblr, mastodon, cohost, pillowfort, bluesky and jpawlik.com/blog with sketches and thumbnails up early for patrons, VIP members, and kofi members, then for free 2 months later.
Webcomic Updates
A new Alola Darumaka page is up and we made it to page 100!
Read early on Patreon | Read from the beginning | Read on Topaz Comics
Page 4 of my HRT diary comic is up! Ch-ch-changes are happening, and I’m currently only making these pages as those changes happen but pages will go up on Tuesdays early on Patreon and then up 2 months later for free on Topaz Comics.
Read early on Patreon | Read on Topaz Comics
A new pages of “After All” went up for my Private Collector tier! This is a NSFW Jigen/Zenigata comic written by Max. Jigen’s having a very good time.
Read on Patreon | Read on my VIP Blog
We’re nearly done After All, here’s a preview of how much we’ve got left. I’m aiming to get this done and printed into a new mini zine this year!
A new The Curtain Falls page also went up this month. I’m a little swamped with other work so it’s taken a bit of a backseat lately BUT getting any pages out is better than nothing. If you’re new, this is a longer Lupin III fancomic I’m working that focuses on Lupin in his 60s and dealing with change and retirement. We’re on some action packed scenes right now where Yata is in danger. What will Lupin do about it?!
Read it on Patreon | Read on my VIP Blog | Read on Kofi
Similar to After All, here’s a preview of how much we’ve got left on The Curtain Falls. I may actually get this done this year and ALSO printed!
February’s Sketchbook
This month’s sketchbook is up for the Grab Bag tier on Patreon, VIP Blog and Kofi
Another almost 30 page sketchbook, I’ve been really feeling it lately! I’ve got some projects on the go, like finishing up the art for a Lupin Boudoir zine by myself, Max, and my good friend Amiel – hopefully more info on that soon! Working out some more original comic character designs, a bunch of fun Lupin doodles, and some very good shoutouts this month (thank you Private Collectors!)
Did you also see last month I posted my entire 2023 collection of sketchbooks over on the Topaz Comics online shop! It’s a 12 PDF collection of 285 pages of all my sketches, concept art, and fun doodles that I did last year.
Other things
I’m currently working full-time on as the character artist on a VIDEO GAME! So my personal art has taken a bit of a backseat while I do this contract but I’m looking forward to getting back to comics once the game is done. I cannot wait to tell y’all about this game!
I’m also working on a secret OJST comic for their Patreon again this year. It should go up in April.
The state of the internet feels so strange right now and I’m so conflicted about social media and every site wanting to pivot to AI garbage. There’s been a big shift over on tumblr this last week and and I’m feeling completely at a loss as an artist. I’ve been on tumblr for over ten years now. But I will continue to make art and comics regardless, it’s just a matter of ‘where’? My work will always be available on my own sites and Patreon.
And just in case Patreon ever goes under I made a Patreon-like mirror site for myself over at VIP blog, it’s not very pretty yet but I think it works! It doesn’t have the immense backlog yet like my Patreon does but having a back-up just in case makes me feel better. I really hope nothing ever happens with Patreon either way.
Ending on a happier note, over on the Lupin Forum I’m hosting weekly art prompts for folks to feel inspired by. It’s been going really well and if you’re looking for weekly art prompts you should go join the forum.
~~~
And that’s all for this month! Thanks for reading, I really enjoy writing these newsletter posts.
First newsletter of the year! Hello, welcome!
Want some good ways of getting these newsletters? I got you covered (they’re all free forever!)
RSS | Mailing List | Patreon
Public January Art
I post something publicly every Friday (and sometimes more). These can be seen & shared on my various socials: tumblr, mastodon, cohost, pillowfort, bluesky and jpawlik.com/blog with sketches and thumbnails up early for patrons and kofi members, then for free members 2 months later.
Webcomic Updates
Alola Darumaka is back in full-swing! There’s four new pages up on Topazcomics so don’t miss those, there’s some real good ones in there!
Read on Patreon | Read from the beginning | Read starting at page 96
Page 3 of my HRT diary comic is up! I’m going to be posting this as changes happen so there won’t be a schedule for this one other than it’ll go up on a Tuesday!
Read on Patreon | Read on Topaz Comics
Two new pages of “After All” went up for my Private Collector tier! This is a NSFW Jigen/Zenigata comic written by Michelle. And we’re getting over Zenigata’s insecurities!
The Curtain Falls is also back and updating! If you’re new, this is a longer Lupin III fancomic I’m working that focuses on Lupin in his 60s and dealing with change and retirement. There’s a car chase and Yata’s in trouble in the most recent pages. I’m really proud of it, I hope you’ll read it!
January’s Sketchbook
This month’s sketchbook is up for the Grab Bag tier on Patreon and Kofi
First new sketchbook of the year is here! Lots of concept art for some projects I want to work on, some redraw studies, and a new format on how I want to draw shoutout requests (it’s been a long time coming)! For my fun new year’s resolutions this year I’m going to draw every bird I see out in the wild and every book/tv series I finish this year! I did something like that in 2022 and really enjoyed it.
Speaking of sketchbooks, if you’re not a Patreon or Kofi member, I posted my entire 2023 collection of sketchbooks over on the Topaz Comics online shop! It’s a 12 PDF collection of 285 pages of all my sketches, concept art, and fun doodles that I did last year.
Other things
– I’m still working full time at my current contract job so I’ve had less time to do personal art but I’m having a great time on this contract!
– I’m now a part of the Adult Artists Webring. Check it out, there’s some real great artists there.
– I redid my illustration section on my portfolio and I am so proud of the css I did for that! Website coding always feels like a good puzzle for me to solve. I’m absolutely an amateur when it comes to coding, but I can get really in to it if there’s something I want to add to any of my sites.
– I made a Patreon-like mirror site for myself over at VIP blog, it’s not very pretty yet but I think it works! This is a side project I’ve been working on for around a year now, just in case Patreon ever goes under I’ll have a back up.
~~~
Going to do my best to keep up with the monthly newsletters for y’all! Here’s to a good year!
Last Newsletter of the YEAR! Happy New Year everyone!
Want some good ways of getting these newsletters? I got you covered (they’re all free forever!)
RSS | Mailing List | Patreon
Public December Art
I post something publicly every Friday (and sometimes extras) and these can be seen & shared on my various socials: tumblr, mastodon, cohost, pillowfort, bluesky and jpawlik.com/blog with sketches and thumbnails up early for patrons and then for free members 2 months later.
Webcomic Updates
Finished up another two page Lupin one-shot! Be sure to read both pages of “What Happened”.
I started keeping an HRT diary now that I’m on T. I just couldn’t stay away from autobio comics could I? I suppose this is a kind of spiritual successor to Gender Slices. There’s two pages up on Topaz Comics, and four on Patreon!
Read on Patreon | Read on Topaz Comics
The Private Collector tier on Patreon also got another “After All” page, a NSFW Jigen/Zenigata comic written by Michelle. If you wanna see Jigen and Zenigata smooch and more, this is the comic for you!
In lieu of The Curtain Falls pages this month I’ve been posting this paywall exclusive comic that I did for Oh Joy Sex Toy back in April. It’s a 5 page comic about my experience GMing for the first time. Four pages are up so far and the last will be up next week.
Read the comic on Patreon | Read it on Ko-Fi
December’s Sketchbook
This month’s sketchbook is up for the Grab Bag tier on Patreon & Kofi
I managed to get this sketchbook up just in time!
I also managed to finish my Lupin Advent Calendar art, all 24 days worth. It felt a lot like when I’d do inktober back in the day. I had a good time trying something new and doing just a lot of art this month. I hope y’all got to relax and enjoy the festive season.
New Years Resolutions
My new year’s resolutions for 2024 are turning out to be a lot more laid back than they have in previous years. I usually try and go all out, but after such a busy year I thought I’d go easy on myself.
Mottos
– Make stuff because YOU like it (INDULGENT)
– Take time to work on improving (QUALITY)
– Don’t compare yourself to the wide internet (SELF CARE)
– Let yourself be uncomfortable (MISOPHONIA)
– Use things that make you happy (JOY)
Comics
– Finish a comic
– Start a comic
– Print a book
– Contribute to a zine/anthology
– Take a personal art month
Personal
– Bird watching, and reading up on each bird after I spot them
– Daily wrist strengtheners and stretches
– Journal daily
– Go for more walks
– Bind a book
Other things
– Not much, the holidays were good but extremely busy!
– I bought a new tiny phone that I’m excited to use when it comes in
– I’m working full time at my current contract job, which has been a blast so far!
– I’m now a part of the Adult Artists Webring. Check it out, there’s some real great artists there!
~~~
That’s a whole year of newsletters! How’re these feeling to y’all? Are they helpful in spite of current social media?
November is always such a busy month with my birthday, my spouse’s birthday and our anniversary! This year we also tabled and had just a lot of work happening!
Want some good ways of getting these newsletters? I got you covered (they’re all free forever!)
RSS | Mailing List | Patreon
Public November Art
I post something publicly every Friday (and sometimes extras) and these can be seen & shared on my various socials: tumblr, mastodon, cohost, pillowfort, bluesky and jpawlik.com/blog with sketches and thumbnails up early for patrons and then for free members 2 months later.
Webcomic Updates
All four pages of a short Lupin III comic that Michelle and I did for the fanzine “Between Heists” collection are up!
Now that “Between Heists” is complete, I’ve got two Lupin Zero pages to post. One of which is already up to read for free.
The Grab Bag tier on Patreon & Kofi got a new page of my Lupin III fancomic “The Curtain Falls”, a comic about Lupin in his 60s. Pages go up when I finish them but it’s usually every other Wednesday.
Read on Patreon | Read on Kofi
The Private Collector tier on Patreon also got another “After All” page, a NSFW Jigen/Zenigata comic written by Michelle. It’s heatin’ up in here!
Also posted up an OJST behind the scenes for Private Collectors. This month’s was for “Reminiscing with the WeVibe Tango” and talking about the tools and brushes I use for my comics.
Read the comic on OJST | Read the Behind the Scenes on Patreon
November’s Sketchbook
This month’s sketchbook is up for the Grab Bag tier on Patreon & Kofi
November’s sketchbook is done and here! 28 pages this month with some original comic concept art, life drawing, a bunch of cute Maka doodles, and thumbnails for some projects I’m working on! Plus, as always, very good shoutout requests from the Private Collector crew!
MCX 2023
Other things
– Michelle and I have a 5 page comic in the upcoming Mon Marie zine, sign up for updates on the preorder here (photo from Tsushi’s tumblr post)
– I’ve move to fulltime work on the big contract I’m working on!
– I’m now a part of the Adult Artists Webring. Check it out, there’s some real great artists there!
~~~
I’ll be back with another newsletter at the end of December, so until then happy holidays everyone!
M. Parker and Jey Pawlik (Topaz Comics) will be at MCX this year at booth 103!
Living Arts Centre
4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga
Sun Nov 19
10 am – 4 pm
Free Admission!
We’ll have merch from our shop for sale. A sketch challenge at 11am & an author talk at 1:30pm about running a comics anthology or fanzine!
Come see us!
Hey it’s my birthday so I want to plug my comics!
Alola Darumaka: A 4-koma slice-of-life comic about Daven and his rambunctious partner Pokemon, Darumaka! Daven and Darumaka move to Alola for school. Is Alola ready for Darumaka?
One-shots: One-shot comics just for fun! Various 1-6 page stand alone stories. Includes: original, fanart (mostly Lupin III) and miscellaneous characters.
Dead City: A zombie apocalypse has hit Toronto and Mikael and JP are alone in the city and struggling to survive. While they’re searching for food and shelter they find something else as well.
Gender Slices: A collection of short autobiographical comics about being trans and nonbinary in a ciscentric world. Jey works through their own feelings in short, one page comics that depict their day to day experience.
These are all available to read for free over on https://topazcomics.com!
Oh Joy Sex Toy (NSFW): My autobio comics for the website ohjoysextoy.com where I discuss sex-ed, toy reviews, and navigating life as a trans/nonbinary person. Also available to read for free!
Patreon Exclusives @ https://patreon.com/jpawlik
$1: 2 month early access to my one-shot comics and Alola Darumaka including sketches and thumbnails (plus any illustrations that I’ll be posting on social media)
$5: The Curtain Falls, a Lupin III fancomic about Lupin in his 60s dealing with aging and changes. Pages are posted as I complete them (usually every other Wednesday). Plus my monthly sketchbook PDF.
$10: Any NSFW comics and illustrations. I’m currently working on a NSFW Jigen/Zenigata comic. Pages go up every other Thursday. This tier also gets a monthly art request!
Happy Halloween everyone, enjoy this month’s newsletter!
Want some good ways of getting these newsletters? I got you covered (they’re all free forever!)
RSS | Mailing List | Patreon
Public October Art
I post something publicly every Friday (and sometimes extras) and these can be seen & shared on my various socials: tumblr, twitter, mastodon, cohost, pillowfort, bluesky and jpawlik.com/blog with sketches and thumbnails up early for patrons and for free members 2 months later.
My Ghost Files piece appeared on the Ghost Files Debrief on October 27th and that was super cool!
Webcomic Updates
I finished posting my 7 page comic “Loom”. This is a silent comic written by Clark Moreau for the Twisting Time Anthology.
Now that Loom is complete, I’m posting a short Lupin III comic that Michelle and I did for the fanzine “Between Heists” collection. Two pages are up already and there’s two more to go, updates Tuesdays at 12pmEST
The Grab Bag tier on Patreon got a few more pages of my Lupin III fancomic “The Curtain Falls”, a comic about Lupin in his 60s. Pages go up when I finish them but it’s usually every other Wednesday.
The Private Collector tier on Patreon also got another “After All” page, a NSFW Jigen/Zenigata comic written by Michelle. It’s heatin’ up in here!
October’s Sketchbook
This month’s sketchbook is HERE for the Grab Bag tier on Patreon
October’s sketchbook is pretty big this month at a whopping 30 pages! I’m only now coming back up to my full art potential after hurting my wrist last year. This month’s PDF includes a work life drawing session, lots of Makas in Halloween costumes, and some item concepts for a new original comic Michelle and I have been brainstorming! Plus, of course, some very good shoutout requests from my Private Collector folks!
MCX 2023
The Mississauga Comic Expo is BACK and happening on November 19th this year at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga! It’s free to enter, and Michelle and I will be there as Topaz Comics with all our books and wares!
I’ll be doing a sketch challenge in the theatre at 11am, and then my newest talk “Creating Comic Anthologies and Fanzines” at 1:30pm in the same theatre! Come visit us (booth number TBA)
Other things
– November 5th is my birthday! 33 babeeeeey
– I started HRT after years of debating. Comics are in the works!
– I recovered from covid and it doesn’t look like there’s been any long term side effects for me. I was pretty worried and anxious about that.
~~~
Talk to y’all again at the end of November!
September is over and done, so thus another newsletter is up!
Want some good ways of getting these newsletters? I got you covered (they’re all free forever!)
RSS | Mailing List | Patreon
Public September Art
Here’s some public illustrations that I posted this month! I try to post something publicly every Friday – and all patrons get to see these a whole month early, which include any sketches and thumbs related! All of these can be seen & shared on my various socials: tumblr, twitter, mastodon, cohost, pillowfort, bluesky and jpawlik.com/blog!
OJST: I Got Married
In June, after 10 years of being together, Michelle and I got married! It was a pretty small event but way more work than either of us expected, but I couldn’t be happier with the end result.
Other big news is I’ll be stepping away from doing monthly comics on Oh Joy Sex Toy for a little while as I got offered a really cool contract for a video game! I can’t talk about who it’s for or what it is yet but I’ll be back with one-off comics at some point after I learn the ropes with this new gig. Thank you so much for all your support in having me on as a semi-permanent guest artist for two whole years! A big thank you for Matthew and Erika offering me the role, it was a dream come true to work so closely with people I’ve looked up to for 10 years! And of course, thanks to Ziggy for helping edit my comics, and Hien for being such a great co-worker. Ahhhh, but I’m sure I’ll be back!
Webcomic Updates
I’ve been posting more of my 7 page comic “Loom” once a week until it’s complete. This is a silent comic written by Clark Moreau for the Twisting Time Anthology. I’m so incredibly proud of the research and backgrounds I did for this comic and the last page will go up on October 3rd.
The Grab Bag tier on Patreon got another page of my Lupin III fancomic “The Curtain Falls”, a comic about Lupin in his 60s. Pages go up when I finish them!
The Private Collector tier on Patreon also got another “After All” page, a NSFW Jigen/Zenigata comic written by Michelle. We’re getting to the sexy bits now!
September’s Sketchbook
This month’s sketchbook is HERE for the Grab Bag tier on Patreon
September’s sketchbook is here! A 25 page pdf this time with sketches from a work life drawing session, some studies of the Nausicaa manga, and lots of Lupin in cute gay little outfits! It was a fashion kind of month. And as always some very fun shoutout requests, thanks to the Private Collector gang!
Other things
– I’ll be opening commissions in October once again, but Patrons get 1 week first dibs on the 2 slots.
– I’ve got a bluesky account now, and I’ll be posting my art there as well as all my other places. I still like tumblr the best for now.
– Speaking of bluesky, I made some feeds for it! A network-wide Lupin III feed, my own general art feed, and another for my own Lupin art. Feel free to give those a follow!
– I got covid and it really sucked, but I ended up reading quite a lot of the manga “What Did You Eat Yesterday”, which I’ve been collecting for quite a while. I highly recommend giving it a read!
~~~
I think that about wraps it up for this month. Tune in at the end of October for the next newsletter. How’s this newsletter working? Does it work? Would you rather see things differently? It’s fun to figure out a new way to get info to folks.
