Kiddywinks! I don't have anywhere near enough time these days to work with my two youngsters, but it's mattered very little. They've been so easy to do little things with. Very proud of both bebes. 🐦🪄🌟 #fjordhorse #icelandichorse

Hi #Portfolioday I'm Elli and I illustrate comics and children's books 💚🐀

Jaro and her giant rats. ❤️ Older pages now, still quite like how these turned out. #comics #rats #fantasy

These are a bit older sketches I don't think I've shared before of Jaro and her two dads. She's found abandoned in the woods as a baby and raised by two giants. #sketch #comics

Jaro and her pals! Venturing into the land of giants. #comics #art

DOG. And the fox in the sky.

Koya is for speed. But not for turning. 💜 Lots of hair, not much brain.

I love her. You do make this a challenge.

To put a more humorous spin on a horrible situation, Robyn & I did the most expensive plane journey of our lives. Thank you air ambulance. In typical Shetland fashion the wind was abysmal so it's a real blessing they managed to land to get us. She's doing better now. Viral meningitis can bog off.

Between baby & work, trying to find time to back the youngsters. But they're pretty much ready out of the box. I've done so many little short sessions with them over the years it was no bother to hop on for the first time. 🥹 I've had Tammie (Fjord) since he was born & Galdra (Icey) since she was 2.

I feel like they did my boy dirty with the mega design. 🥲

The intern has decided the dulcet tones of crime podcasts are great for sleeping. You're barely 4 weeks old, why do we like this? Mate.

Going into week three and we're doing great. 🌱 Little miss has a crib in my office and she sleeps really well in it while I've been figuring out how to work around her schedule and mine. I'm really chuffed. She's a good little bean. ❤️

Had a family member cheerfully announce the amount of hours (100) they've spent writing an article via the prompt goblin. How do I politely and bluntly tell them they've written fuck all?

For goodness sake I feel like I need an emotional break. It simply can't just gently rain down, it gotta be a deluge. I'd prefer the boiler not to be condemned 9 days postpartum. 🫠 Very thankful for the friends and family we have.

"You have that ABC thing" "..Autism, auntie. The word you're looking for is autistic." Affectionately, my family tries, can't fault them there.

Oof what a week. The drunk little hedgehog Robyn joins our team. 🦔 So much has happened and while I'm still feeling poorly, she's perfectly well. She's already visually very easily stimulated little lady. 💚

Wheiii we are go. Sort of. Kiddy decided to start a bit over week early. Lots of waiting around but glad to finally be here.

The little bugger has some long legs and it's not been shy to let me know. :| Lots of niggling problems throughout this whole ordeal and I'm VERY READY to meet them. Can we be done with this already ughhhh.

Awkward teen stage for the lad. He just wants to read his books. #tistow #webcomics

Four years since big madame joined us in Shetland. 💜 A month later she gave us a very special little guy. 💚 And a month from now, I can introduce her to my baby in turn. I just hope the kid ends up liking horses, because I'd love to do that stuff together with them in the future.

Doggg. Grandad from Tistow to be specific. #webcomics #dog #tistow #sketch

Very tired, very done. I'm very ready for this kiddo to arrive. We got the Scottish baby box though! There's so much stuff. It's funny to think I used to sleep in the Finnish version of one as a baby.

Laddie with his rats 🐀💜 #tistow #webcomics #fantasy

Here's me for the longest thinking equestrian socials were the pinnacle of godawful content and.. opinions. I've since discovered a new hell in anything pregnancy or parenting related. I'll stick to art, thanks. At least it's a shitshow I feel comfortable navigating.

Jaro and friends! Comic project I won't look at touching again until the baby is here. #comics #conceptart #sketches

Looking through photos and I really miss doing all kinds of nonsense with the beasties. I'm only able to do a fraction of it right now, very grateful for the help from lots of other folk. Getting back to it after October will be great. #sketch #fjordhorse

The three little Nessies. 🐉 They really enjoyed browsing the loch last year for sweet reeds to eat. #horse #sketch

You can thank the new UK verification ruling for Bsky not letting me us DMs anymore (ugh). I'm super chuffed to see so many links to portfolios in the thread though! Keep em coming and make sure your contact details are up to date (and easy to find)!

📚 Looking for a Cover Artist! 📚 A family member is publishing a book and they're looking to pay for some cover art for it (no AI slop). If you or someone you know does cover art, I'd love to see your portfolios & a rough idea of what you normally charge so I can pass the info on. ❤️

Not drawn my Bariaur girl for a while. BAA #d&d #bariaur #sketch #barbarian #dungeonsanddragons #fanart

I hate trying to work out colour settings for different screens. This looks so bright and almost garish on my monitor but very desaturated on my Cintiq. *kicks the table* #tistow #bear #wolf #sketch

Not long to go now! Not been the easiest 30 weeks but we're almost there and it's kinda, finally, starting to feel more real. #sketch #tistow

Jack has a scrapbook of stories he's collected since he was a kid. Of monsters he's met, folklore he's heard from people around Tael and Fjoldi. He'll find great many more to add to it and study in Tistow. #tistow #webcomics #sketch

Anna's very excitable 🐀 #tistow #webcomics #sketch

Older Jaihko with the same beasties. I like sketching these weird doggos. #tistow #sketch

Grr and stuff. Jaihko and one of the many magical Tistow beasties. Trying to take time to do a sketch just for my own fun every day. #tistow #digitalart

Horf. Shiny Rapidash. Finally got around to playing Arceus in the evenings. #fanart #rapidash #pokemon

Happy little chubby boy. It's really freaking hot out here, for Shetland at least. Third trimester and summer don't go all that well together. I miss doing stuff with the little guy and his mam. #fjordhorse

Aaa I missed #PortfolioDay again! Hi, I'm Elli! I'm a published author from Finland, living in windy Shetland. I draw comics & illustrate children's books. I love rats and they feature heavily in my projects🐀 (..and often sneak their way into my other works too).

Had this scene in my head for a moment where Jaihko bails out of an awkward social gathering by turning into a seal and swimming away. #tistow #seal #webcomics

Got around to redoing the website graphics, now I just need to tidy up the code and patch everything together. Still haven't decided what to do with the Cast page mind, but it'd be nice to have one again. FUN TIMES. 😭

She's doing some gardening for me tonight. With her interns. So Professional. 🐴 #fjordhorse

You're not supposed to be a freaking jumping pony. Tammie decided to hop into someone else's park to hang out with sheep. I'm glad he's a good boy to catch and lead, but could you please be less of a turd.

Woodcarver! He's Jack's mentor before he leaves for Tistow. 🐉 #tistow #webcomics #dragon #art

Jaihko meeting a Taela girl. I reaaally want to do a short story about a yearly festival that's held by the shaman and witch tribes of both Fjoldi and Tael. This would take place when Jack's in his mid teens. Can't decide whether to make it a flashback or a standalone short. #tistow #webcomics #art

Sutka 🦚 One of many Tistow's gods. #dragon #comics #drawing

Ratatatataaat 🐀 #sketch

Stop using generative AI. There is no legitimate use of generative AI. There is no “I hate AI but this is ok”. Not everyone is using it. We do not have to “get used to it or be left behind.” Just don’t. Just stop. Delete the app. Close your account. Save some money. Take the first step. #noai

Fffff the last 6 months have gone quick. Annoyingly tired and forgetful but the bothersome bugger is doing ok. I'm managing to work still but sleeping is getting difficult. We're still cautiously optimistic, I suppose it's still hard to imagine a whole little person joining our lives in September.