Has this year been going by fast for you? To me it feels like someone dropped a brick on the accelerator and I'm left wondering where it is we're headed. Maybe this is the rubber band snap from time feeling frozen in the years after the pandemic? Or maybe I'm just losing my mind.

Anyhoo, I've been watching anime lately! That's fun, isn't it? So far the best show I've watched is Witch Hat Atelier, and if you look closely (read: at all) you might notice young Coco, witch in training, is here among us now. Less surprising is the addition of a Merry, because of course July is the home of Draw Merry Day, everyone's favorite day to draw everyone's favorite Stuart Gipp Original. Least surprising of all, a collection of Natashas and Bries for your viewing pleasure. I hope they grant you as much pleasure in the viewing as they granted me in the drawing.

June did not see me making much pen on paper art, but I was inspired by a vintage map of the world to work on a similarly baroque map of Natasha's world. It is still far from finished, but I have included a recent WIP version of it here for your enjoyment. I also drew Natasha in a frilly two piece beachy outfit twice in a row so I guess that makes it canonical.

I've also watched more anime recently than I have in years, such things as Zenshu (good), Secrets of the Silent Witch (fine) and Witch Hat Atelier (fantastic). Who can say why a story about a passionate but naive young girl taken in by a man harboring suspicious motives might appeal to me? Sure would be weird if she gets caught up in a battle between larger forces for the future of the world. Anyway don't be surprised if I draw her in the near future.

You may also notice a mysterious Gwynne among the art this month, she's from Jean Caden's lovely comic "What we gained in the fire." I haven't been following Ms. Caden for very long but she seems like someone capable of making a whole ass comic and posting it online, which is cool. I really like her art, and I hope I get to see more of Gwynne in the future.