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Admin Post: Drawing Challenge #80 - Toon Someone

2026-08-07T06:13:05Z

Posted by: mific

Thanks to goss for suggesting this one!

 Challenge #80: Toon Someone

This is a portrait challenge adapted from the ToonMe challenge where artists draw from a photo reference, making part of the selfie a cartoonized version in a variety of styles.

For our challenge, we're widening that to include cartoonizing a pic of anyone in the public domain (e.g. actors playing your favorite characters, or other celebrities), a pet, a selfie, or anyone else who gives you the okay to post the finished work here. Any art style or medium for the drawing is fine.

Posts can be a composite image like in the ToonMe examples, but that's technically tricky and not necessary. You can just post the reference pic alongside the cartoon version, or simply post the cartoon version by itself if you want the greater anonymity offered by a cartoon. :D

A round-up post for submissions to this challenge will be done at the end of August.

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Admin Post: drawing challenge 79 - pride 2026 - Round-Up Post

2026-08-07T05:31:20Z

Posted by: mific

Entries submitted for Drawing Challenge 79 - pride 2026:

mekare posted two artworks for the challenge - portraits in Kaos fandom: Caeneus and Euridice (both G)

As usual, this challenge as well as all of our previous challenges will remain open, so you can continue to submit entries to the community any time after the Round Up date. Be sure to tag your art post with the challenge name, so that it can be added to the list.

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Admin Post: art roundup, drawing challenge 78 - mermay 2026 - Round-Up Post

2026-08-07T05:21:31Z

Posted by: mific

Congrats to those who took part in this challenge!

Entries submitted for drawing challenge 78 - mermay 2026:

Happily there were too many to list separately - the challenge tag is here to scroll through them all. The artists were leecetheartist (who once again managed a pic for every day of the month !), mekare, and mific. Fandoms were original works, Heated Rivalry, and One Piece.

As usual, this challenge as well as all of our previous challenges will remain open, so you can continue to submit entries to the community any time after the Round Up date. Be sure to tag your art post with the challenge name, so that it can be added to the list.

Thanks to all who participated in this challenge! :)

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Admin Post: drawing challenge 77 - windows and openings - Round-Up Post

2026-08-07T04:59:47Z

Posted by: mific

Entries submitted for Drawing Challenge 77 - windows and openings:

Both were by mific - one for Minoan Culture fandom, and one (also for Mermay) for Heated Rivalry.

As usual, this challenge as well as all of our previous challenges will remain open, so you can continue to submit entries to the community any time after the Round Up date. Be sure to tag your art post with the challenge name, so that it can be added to the list.

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Challenge: Pride

2026-06-13T17:06:50Z

Posted by: mekare

Title: In Love With
Artist: mekare
Rating: G
Fandom: Kaos
Character: Caeneus
Content Notes: Ink and watercolour, digital background

Preview:

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A New Woman

2026-06-11T20:06:53Z

Posted by: mekare

Title: A New Woman
Artist: mekare
Rating: G
Fandom: Kaos
Characters/Pairings: Euridice/Riddy
Content Notes: ink and watercolour

Preview:

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drawesome @ 2026-06-07T12:50:00

2026-06-07T01:06:28Z

Posted by: mific

Challenge #79: Pride!

It's Pride month once again in the USA and many other places, so that's our theme for June. You can draw or paint LGBTQ+ characters from canon or fandom, original characters representing some aspect of Pride, key historical LGBTQ figures, art based on the colours of the Pride flags, rainbows - wherever your imagination takes you!

It's fine to depict slash, femslash, trans, poly, ace etc. characters and relationships beloved of fandom, whether or not they're explicit in canon. Or show your favourite characters taking part in Pride activities like parades, marches, or parties - anything linked with Pride and the LGBTQ+ community.

A round-up post for submissions to this challenge will be done at the end of June.

(round-up from Mermay coming shortly)

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Mermay colouring page

2026-05-31T15:08:50Z

Posted by: mekare

Title: Eel Guy has a snack
Artist: leecetheartist (lineart), mekare+BB (colouring)
Rating: Gen
Fandom: original work
Notes: This is the Mermay art for May 27th made by leecetheartist. BB and I had a lot of fun with markers this weekend!

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Thirtyfirst of MerMay 2026 and done!

2026-05-31T10:30:14Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Swancon 50 Merswans

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: Swancon

Characters/Pairings: n/a

Notes:

So the last day of MerMay it seemed like everyone at Swancon 50 wanted to talk, for me to get them things, and to bump the table. But me and the Kakimori and the bottle of Rainbow Scarab got through it all.

It's been a great MerMay, and thank you for traveling along with me.

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Mating Spiral

2026-05-30T09:11:31Z

Posted by: mific

Title: Mating Spiral on AO3
Artist: mific
Rating: Teen. Not entirely SFW, but suggestive rather than explicit.
Fandom: Heated Rivalry
Characters/Pairings: Ilya Rozanov/Shane Hollander
Summary: Shane's a mer, and Ilya's a tentacle monster.
And of course they're wearing sunscreen - Shane made sure of it.
Notes: Made in Procreate.

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MerMay Thirtieth

2026-05-30T07:34:12Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Swancon 50 Mermaid

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: Swancon

Characters/Pairings: Swancon Mermaid and Swancon Swan

Content Notes: Azure Kingfisher Fountain pen ink and fountain pen.

Super poor light I'm afraid, but we're here in a hotel with dim light and a storm lowering outside, and a hurried drawing in the heritage ballroom.

Off to a Panel soon and then The Masquerade!

I think it's mainly Azure Kingfisher.

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Mermay!

2026-05-29T07:58:05Z

Posted by: mekare

Title: Mermay
Artist: mekare
Rating: G
Fandom: One Piece
Characters/Pairings: Chopper, Nami, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp
Content Notes: ink and watercolour on my new round watercolour pad.

Clicky Preview:

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MerMay Twentyninth 2026

2026-05-29T07:54:34Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Dolphin like mer

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: Gen

Fandom: original work

Characters: Dolphin guy

Notes:

MerMay 29th of 2026.

I am booked in to the hotel of Swancon50 which opens officially tomorrow, so it's going to be very busy for me for the rest of MerMay, but I will get some sort of drawing in for the remaining days hopefully. This is the last one that is going to be of any quality I think, but who knows?

This dolphin like mer guy is on his way somewhere fast!

Drawn with the Kakimori and Rainbow Scarab Ink.

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Eel Guy has a snack - coloured

2026-05-29T06:52:35Z

Posted by: mific

Title: Eel Guy has a snack
Artist: leecetheartist (lineart), mific (colouring)
Rating: Gen
Fandom: original work
Characters: Eel Guy, fishes etc.
Notes: This is the Mermay art for May 27th made by leecetheartist who created this excellent drawing as a colouring page for us to play with. I've done it digitally, in Procreate, after removing the background in Photopea. Click through for full size.

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MerMay 28th

2026-05-28T14:00:07Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Splashy mischief

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: n/a

Characters/Pairings: n/a

Content Notes:

MerMay 28th of 2026.

This mischievous merperson is about to splash someone out of view.

Drawn with the Kakimori nib and who doesn't love Rainbow Scarab from Van Diemen's Ink?

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MerMay The Twentyseventh

2026-05-27T11:40:08Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Eel Guy has a snack

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: n/a

Characters/Pairings: n/a

Content Notes:

MerMay 26th 2026

So something a little different for you this 27th of MerMay 2026 - I drew this today in a spirit of sharing and invite you, if you've a mind to, to print it out and colour it in. Use any colours you like!

If you do, I'd love to see it in a reply here!

May be reproduced for private, non-profit use. Copyright information must remain legible please.

It was drawn as B6 see how you go, dunno how well it'll scale.

It's drawn with my favourite Rotring Art Pen.

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MerMay The Twentysixth

2026-05-26T09:50:06Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Observers

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: n/a

Characters/Pairings: n/a

Content Notes:

MerMay 26th 2026

The merfolk here are bolder than those at home. But their colouration is decidedly more cryptic than I am used to, so they can be closer than one might think. I've quite often been observing groups at a distance only to become aware of individuals only metres away, observing me in turn. In this strange country, it is not lawful to harm or trap merfolk, or indeed any creature of language, so it is refreshing to see the merpeople sporting about the vessel I have chartered. No one I have spoken to yet speaks the language of the local mer, but a couple of villages west of here apparently do - and it is to these we will set sail tomorrow. Dated this 26th Day of MerMay in Good Tidings ink.

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Gloriously Geeky MerMay 25th Towel Day

2026-05-25T14:21:01Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Gloriously Geeky MerMay 25th Towel Day

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: Discworld and HHGTTG which are apparently not listed?

Characters/Pairings: n/a

Content Notes:

I hope everyone is having a lovely and Geekly Proud Glorious 25th of May and knows where their towel is. This mermaid does!

This is really a case of fandoms colliding, what with MerMay and Towel Day and Geek Pride and the Glorious 25th

With love to Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett both sadly missed.

I never met Douglas but I did meet Sir Terry a few times, and he was a lovely, lovely fellow.

Anyway, appropriately enough, this beautiful ink from Diamine and it's called Icy Lavender, and is strong in its chameleon shimmer.

I used the Kakimori nib. I am so tired.

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MerMay The Twentyfourth of 2026 a little late

2026-05-25T01:21:14Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Acrobatic Mer youth

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: N/A

Characters/Pairings: N/A

Acrobatic Mer for the 24th of MerMay, posting late but never mind.

I was flat out yesterday but I did this energetic fellow yesterday before sleeping, with the other Platinum Plaisir Aura Fountain Pen I got as a cheapy. The ink is some random cartridge.

For today, the glorious 25th, I'll have to think of something...

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MerMay The Twentythird

2026-05-23T09:40:55Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: The Shell Game

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: N/A

Characters/Pairings: N/A

The Shell Game. MerMay the 23rd of 2026. Nothing like so ambitious as the last one, a simple sketch with the Platinum Plaisir Aura Fountain Pen which I got as a cheapy. It's nice and and light! I hadn't used it for months but it drew first time.

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MerMay The Twentysecond of 2026

2026-05-23T02:32:01Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Poetic Mermaid
Artist: leecetheartist
Rating: G
Fandom: N/A
Characters/Pairings: N/A

So yesterday was pretty busy for me, from digging in some tubestock on the verge, taking some chairs to the skip for mum, having my sister-in-law visit. Then in the evening setting up a schedule for my smart telescope and putting it on the roof, also GMing my, coincidentally, GURPS merfolk player characters through the adventure with the giant shark, the sunken ship, and the mysterious deaths. (But not at Styles)

Before all of this I espied a nice photo of a poet acquaintance sovay on Dreamwidth looking particularly like a sprite of the sea, so I asked her if it was okay to MerMay her. She agreed, I found out what colours she likes, and before my GURPS game started got her fin sorted.

GMing duties over for the evening, I returned to finish the drawing. It was finished before midnight, so I sent the model a preview, and went to bed before I got a reply. Which is why you will hopefully get two drawings today, as this is a catch up post. It was drawn on the 22nd though.

I used the Kakimori nib again, as I used multiple inks in keeping with the lovely poet's likes. She's said she likes the colours, so score there!

You can check out her website if you like, appropriately, her poems are immersive and will wrap around you like the songs of beautiful prescient birds from forests of spirit memories.

https://sonyataaffe.com

#MerMay #DipPen #FountainPenInk #NoAI #DrawingWithoutANet #TraditionalArt #GURPS #Poetry #FantasyArt

Thank you to her and photographer Rob for letting me play.

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MerMay The Twentyfirst of 2026

2026-05-21T10:45:35Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: The Mermaid and the Lighthouse

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: N/A

Characters/Pairings: N/A

Notes: Back to some colour for MerMay the 21st of 2026 with The Mermaid and The Lighthouse.

I took up the Kakimori steel nib in the pretty seaglass reminiscent holder rdm printed for me, and had a go with the Diamine in Skulls & Roses. It has a lovely sheen doesn't it?

I did a bit of a wash with a waterbrush for the seascape, and then finished off with some of the Pelikan Gold Lapis.

This mermaid is working up the courage to visit the lighthouse keeper and thank him for his work. She is very glad that bits of ship and drowning sailors aren't messing up Stormstruck Bay so much any more!

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Coils: Heated Rivalry

2026-05-21T02:51:11Z

Posted by: mific

Title: Coils on AO3
Artist: mific
Rating: Teen
Fandom: Heated Rivalry
Characters/Pairings: Ilya Rozanov/Shane Hollander
Summary: Coiled, sliding together, joining.
Notes: Made in Procreate for Mermay.

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MerMay The Twentieth

2026-05-20T13:35:12Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Melusine's Bubblebath

Artist:leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: n/a

Characters/Pairings: n/a

Portrayed in the happy days before her husband broke his promise, Melusine enjoys her 'me' time.

Melusine is an elusive creature, being variously described as one of the Fay, or a devil, or a serpent or dragon, or water spirit. She's occasionally been described as having two tails, which sounded interesting, so I went with that.

She has some association with water Fay so she certainly has a place in MerMay, so here she is.

Drawn with a Rotring Art Pen, and, as usual, freehand, no pencil, drawing without a net as I call it.

To embiggen, click on the image.

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MerMay The Nineteenth

2026-05-19T11:01:10Z

Posted by: leecetheartist

Title: Sea Centaur

Artist: leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: n/a

Characters/Pairings: n/a

It's the 19th day of Mermay 2026 and I've used my favourite fountain pen of all time, the Rotring Art Pen, sadly no longer being made.

This was a quick one as I've been out most of the day, and not in a situation where I could draw. Well I could have, but then I wouldn't have gotten in any excercise.

This guy is an ichthyocentaur - but apparently that's a fairly recent term. According to Wikipedia. The ancient greeks just called them sea centaurs, however that translated into Greek.

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