Spending the next week as the cartoonist-in-residence at The Map Center in Pawtucket, RI! Wanna come see me inking pages in person AND get your ear talked off about cartography by @mapcenter.com? It’s pretty magical in here.

I made myself a vessel. I know its shape. But not the clay. Life danced me. I know the dances. But I don't know who the dancer is.

thank you and I will add [scent of fresh lime blossom]

Recommendations of 25 medieval manuscripts to explore online. “Almost every institution with a significant collection of medieval manuscripts digitizes many of their most significant works and makes them freely accessible online.” [weirdmedievalguys.substack.com]

I wish all [internet friends] a very [scent of fresh orange blossom]

It’s Friday. We’re doing the dishes. We’re listening to Barry White. We’re eight pages away from finishing a 252-page graphic novel. We’re flying to Rhode Island this afternoon for really normal reasons. Deep breath. youtu.be/fPMoLEjM_K4?...

Following up on the “share actual numbers” energy from earlier this week: SCRATCH IS BACK! An invaluable, vulnerable, vital, HUMAN resource. I loved this conversation about the dance between Actual Numbers and how we feel most like ourselves in a precarious creative market.

"The City mind thinks that sense has been made if a writing is read, if a message is transmitted, but we don’t think that way. In any case, to learn a great deal about those people would be to cry in the ocean; whereas using their bricks in one of our buildings is satisfying to the mind." [1/2]

Never a better example of why Melville begs to be read aloud.

Finished the Seacritters cover design in a mad rush this afternoon, walked outside to holler at the sky in relief, immediately found The Best Free Pile Shirt.

Hell is empty and all the devils are here

Oh hey are we talking about money in publishing today? Here‘s a talk I delivered for @scbwi.bsky.social in Kansas City that is about EXACTLY THAT. youtu.be/9Ik42WUYmeQ?...

If you, like me, are anchored by the existence of Very Old, Very Human Things, this essay is for you: www.patreon.com/posts/148133...

Every time I see Hannah‘s absurdly good acting/pacing/composition chops in comics I start vibrating at an imperceptible frequency. You can give her money to do MORE OF THAT: www.patreon.com/hannahvardit/

Real “Templeton, we do not squeeze our teabags” energy here.

Having a teary cup of tea about this today. It delights and stuns me to see this kind of thoughtful writing about something my dad had a hand in bringing to life. The art we make keeps moving through the world, even after we’re gone. It can be silly and meaningful all at once.

I am a good and normal Secret Santa participant

Missed an opportunity to only come back to social media on the condition that I remain in character as Paddy O’Galleon at all times.

"There's just a lot of comedic potential inherent in the lowly ham."

Now THIS is what I'm talking about.

The map's form: on round thing on e.g. orange It shows: things of value Its purpose: connection

Tale as old as time.

Whale evolution makes me uncomfortable

Some Arizona birding trip sketchbook pages. I’m trying to get into a daily sketchbook habit- drawing more being less worried about making each one perfect. 🪶 #birdart #sciart #naturejournal

Clocking in. Had to dash off some cover design ideas yesterday, but we’re back with 18 pages left. Many of those are half finished and it’s making me feel like I’m going nowhere, which means I am NOT allowed to start any new ones no matter how nice it feels to freehand panel borders. Keep me honest.

Perennial reminder that the light will change.

Can’t wait to read the b’jeebus out of this

Good morning! Yes, this is he

A woman just stopped in at the studio to pick up her anti-ICE fundraiser postcards and it turns out she’s tutoring a kid in town. Gaped at all the comics for a moment and then shyly asked if she might be able to bring him by sometime. Yes, obviously x 1,000,000. This is my favorite thing.

What's that? You want a proper big-ass written Seacritters update with SPREADSHEETS and COLORED ART and FEELINGS? Well okay: www.patreon.com/posts/seacri...

THERE ARE DOZENS OF US

Took some really stellar photos of the lunar eclipse this morning you're welcome

20 pages to go! I am screaming! Did I mention this book is 252 pages long? Did I mention I’ve been working on it off and on for five years? Did I mention I am SO EXCITED FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN‘T ME TO LOOK AT IT?

You ever flip through a book you drew in 2018 and feel like you‘re just living in a time warp?

Returning to the studio today to plug away at the last 23(!) pages of inks for this graphic novel. Mental gymnastics at an all-time high. Feels like I’m living Zeno’s Paradox on the daily. I have always been inking. I will always be inking.

You Can Just Do Stuff

A new(ish) social media platform means getting to present various baubles from my past like some sort of resplendent and flirtatious bird. Here's a view of the Pacific from R/V Falkor's starboard porthole, taken on January 9th, 2017 during my time as the @schmidtocean.bsky.social Artist at Sea.

Finding in these days of chaos that I can’t focus until late at night, so here’s a daytime repost for anyone interested in joining us for maps & comics on Sunday!

I'm so thrilled to be welcoming @mapcenter.com for this month's free Community Zoom Call. On Sunday, February 1st we'll be talking about the intersection of comics and cartography and teaching YOU to map your own unconventional environs. All the details are here: www.patreon.com/posts/maps-f...

Hey it's me, your favorite Social Media Cryptid! I'm running a flash fundraiser for our local anti-ICE community network in Ventura County. These postcards are going out for $5 a pop. I'm @Lucy-Bellwood on Venmo. DM me with how many you'd like and a good mailing address and we'll make it happen 💛

My studio space in downtown Ojai has been a refuge during this last year of graphic novel-making, niche freelancing, community building, and, above all, caregiving. I'm doing a livestream tour at noon today if any of you digital friends wanna come say hello. www.patreon.com/posts/novemb...

Finally made myself a video of a cartoonist warm-up routine from @kriotaw.bsky.social's fantastic book DRAW STRONGER. It ain't high art, but it *has* gotten me to actually do the exercises after years of owning the book. Maybe it'll help you, too: www.patreon.com/posts/draw-s...

Deeply grateful to @sarahgailey.bsky.social for publishing this essay this week. I first drafted it a year ago, and so much has changed in the interim, but the first rain of the season blew through last night and today I'm on my knees, planting. So I guess some things haven't changed much at all.

Hello, Kind People Reposting This & Following Me on Bluesky! Glad you're enjoying this short primer. My luscious lockdown locks are gone, but I still stand by everything I said. I'm not much for feed-based social media these days, but you can always hang with me on Patreon: patreon.com/lucybellwood

Night shift 🌕

Been making a lot of stickers lately. This one has been a slam dunk with small children and seasoned academics alike. buyolympia.com/Item/lucy-be...

BECOME A CARTOONIST, THEY SAID. IT'LL BE FUN, THEY SAID.

Not gonna lie it feels extravagantly weird to post anything in a Twitter-esque container after spending the last four years in deep hiding from the wider web

Had the immense pleasure of designing a logo for the robot-run noodle house in @annaleen.bsky.social's forthcoming novella AUTOMATIC NOODLE! It's racking up starred reviews and comes out on August 5th. Big thanks to @monteiro.bsky.social for bringing me on to make goofy shit. automaticnoodle.website

QUEER WHALES! EMANCIPATION NARRATIVES! SCURVY! I’m infiltrating the International @melville-society.bsky.social Conference this week to bring you the latest and greatest in illustrated academics. (Full versions to come when I’m no longer sleeping aboard a Danish sail training vessel from 1882.)