Latest Comics

Eighteen Eighty one
Posted on January 29, 2026 by Juan

Edit: thanks to Reddit user garlic_lollipop who pointed out that the comic was missing the last panel! It's fixed now.

New Secret Knots comic: "1881".  If you know someone who you think would like it, you can easily share it with the button to post on Mastodon, Bsky, Facebook, etc. That's how people get here most of the time.

This comic was brought to you thanks to the support of kind Patreon subscribers, such as Phil Gooch.

I'd love to have a palindrome that made sense to add here in the text, but I think I've had enough of flipping things for a while; there will be a full dossier post about this comic, with extras and references, on Patreon soon, though. 

Wait! Here's one: ailihphilia ;)

Comic in progress – “Content”- 02

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Juan

Moving forward with the comic. (This part starts with a couple of previous panels for context) Around 70% done, perhaps?

Some notes:

I’m still not satisfied with the drawing of “her”. I tried a different technique first, an all fuzzy, grainy art, but I couldn’t achieve what I had in mind. Just like our MC, I was unable to bring her to life that way. Greg, on the other hand, was ready in the first, quick drawing. He was right there.

Still not decided on the way to depict the park background. Once it’s settled, I’ll homogenize it in the comic, because I’ve been trying different things. Same with the color of “online”.

I liked the emojis balloons. In the last part, I’ll also try out something to bring the flow of phone scrolling to the comic language. I hope it works.

We have a title drop!

Portrait process video – Botanist Mad Scientist

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Juan

I tried the Clip Studio time-lapse tools with this portrait for patron Kathy, and I wanted to share the result.

The ink pens are a few of the True Grit brushes, plus a custom Pen brush I’ve been fiddling with for some time. This time I didn’t place the photo below in order to trace some features, as I do sometimes. I think I wanted the drawing to have its own personality, with quick, geometrical strokes.

The colors are given by a gradient map layer, modified by another layer in “color” mode. I used a very basic purple to yellow gradient, and I modified the values later. (That gradient is very popular, probably because it has a harmonious, vibrant contrast. You can often tell that someone is using gradient layers by spotting the purple hues). The energy ray is painted on a layer in “add glow” mode.

The music on the video is the song “Hana” by Asa-Chang & Junray.

Mad Scientists!

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Juan

This time, a Pulp mad scientist opens up a reality rift, where an alternate version of herself comes with a warning! Meanwhile, a Reanimator questions a cold-stored brain about their last moments!

I’ve been watching Fringe these days, and some of those plots may have filtered through…