Hello dear readers!
In this issue: some of the now completed set of NPC miniature designs I did for the Rolling Coast Mausritter setting, as well some news on other creative projects. These include some more modular character sheet assets, potential book cover art and my first attempt at embroidery!
Art Showcase: Rolling Coast Minis!
Last week I finished work on the 16 NPC designs for Ten Acre Games & ManaDawn’s Mausritter setting, Rolling Coast. They were all great fun to draw and I hope backers of the project will enjoy using them in play!
Below are some of the finished designs, as well as photo by Matthew from ManaDawn, showing off some of the printed minis in all their glory!
Pictured above: Corvessa the magpie sorceress and her mind-controlled mouse thrall.
Pictured above: Korbin the magical koi fish and his robed mouse acolyte.
Pictured above: the various rat soldiers and gang members who run the Rolling Coast amusement park’s underground world.
Pictured above: the monstrous snack golem, made up of the various discarded foodstuffs found in the amusement park.
New Modular Character Sheet Expansion: Steampunk!
After my last expansion to the Modular Character Sheet – which was Nature-themed – I received some interest in a steampunk themed expansion. I decided to have a go, but ensuring the pack contained an assortment of other machine-inspired modular assets, also useful for dieselpunk and solarpunk games.
This expansion – in both its digital and printable forms – is my first website exclusive product. Itchio has been a great source of income for me in the past, but its reliability has greatly decreased over the past year or so. I would also prefer to see more people coming to my website in the future.
Potential Book Cover Art for Mirona’s First Adventure!
Against my expectations, I am still having fun writing Mirona the minotaur’s first adventure. Feedback from friends who have read what I have so far has all been positive and very encouraging. Just for fun – and hopefully not putting the cart before the horse – I decided to have a go at designing some possible cover illustrations for the finished book.
Pictured above: Design number 1. This one is meant to be more abstract and stylised. I really like how it looks, but I got bit sick of staring at it after I encountered an annoying issue with the image editing software I’m using. I also need to fiddle a bit more with it as it’s not set for the Lulu(dot)com cover template.
Pictured above: Design number 2. After getting frustrated with deisgn 1, I decided to attempt a more traditional pulpy fantasy paperback illustrated cover. I think this one’s shading needs a little adjusting still, but overall I’m quite happy with this one too!
Getting Crafty: Baby’s First Embroidery!
Last Friday I went to the Abilmente Craft Fair in Turin. While there I saw plenty of cool handmade goodies – as well as some machine-generated slop being sold as handmade. Thankfully that was in the minority.
One particularly lovely stall I visited was run by Neneedle, a fibre artist who makes all sorts of fantastic sewn and stitched goods, as well as embroidery kits for beginners. I purchased a set of forest-themed water soluble pattern stickers and used some to do my first bit of embroidery! I decided to decorate my “bumbag”, a satchel my wife created using one of my old pairs of trousers. With the addition of an embroidered bee, my “bumbag” has now evolved into a “bumblebag”! Below is a gallery of progress pictures, as well as a look at the end result.
Media Spotlight!
- Want to learn more about the various great projects being funded for Mausritter Month along with Rolling Coast? Check out this Mausritter Roundtable stream with some of the creators!
- I recently watched Guillermo DelToro’s Frankenstein adaptation and was left quite disappointed. So much so that I watched this great video by Atun-Shei Films that articulates part of why I was let down. I also purchased a copy of the original book (which is apparently great!).
- A really interesting video essay by Tales of Old on why movies don’t seem to have the deep sensorially immersive feel that they used to.
- If you’re after some slightly classical-inspired “dungeon synth”-sounding music, I heartily recommend giving some of Ulisse Mazzagatti’s work a listen.
- Want more music? Well, here’s Louie Zong’s latest delightful composition: “Delay Lama & Meowsynth“.
That’s all for this month!
As always, thank you so much for reading.
One last reminder that if you feel like supporting my work, you can buy something from my website or itchio, join my Patreon as a paying member, or commission me.
If none of the above are doable for you, please consider spreading the word about my work to your friends!
New subscribers to the Penflower Post get a special discount code to use in the shop, as a thank you.
Until next time,
– Penflower
