Happy Monday folks!

I’ve been a little scattered with posting for the past week – but I think you’ll find that it’s for a very good reason. You see, I’ve been quietly putting the finishing touches on Pikaland’s new website for the past few weeks. And it’s going to be ready within the next couple of days!

I have to admit, the design of the current site has been the same for the past 3 years and I felt that it’s time for a change. It was hard to say goodbye to Gemma Correll’s awesome banner and the familiarity of the platform that I’ve used for more than 5 years, but I feel that our community has grown quite a bit (and I’m not just saying numbers!) so I wanted the new website to reflect this. Along with visual changes, there’s going to be additional features that I think you’ll like (hello mobile and tablet users!)

The new site will be a culmination of what I’ve been thinking of for the past few months – a realignment of vision, and a better experience for readers out there. I’ve found the process to be very cathartic too; clearing out the cobwebs have given me new possibilities for moving forward and onward. I’m so excited to show you what’s brewing in the future!

Posting will resume in a few short days and I can’t wait to see you all back here when it’s all done.

I’m so thrilled that Nelleke of Red Cheeks Factory has finally opened up her shop! She’s one of our past students from the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp and she has been busy creating lots and lots of illustrations after the class ended. I’ve been following her work for more than a year, and while we’ve talked about her opening a shop, she mentioned to me that the time wasn’t quite right back then. So when she finally broke the news, I couldn’t be happier!

The name Red Cheeks Factory stands for enthusiasm, but also for shyness and excitement, as Nelleke’s cheeks turns red while working (as do her characters!).

To celebrate, she’s having a giveaway to celebrate as well that ends this Friday! You can shop for prints and cards over at Red Cheeks Factory.

Congrats Nelleke!

I love a good zine and Chelsea Ryoko Wong has made lots of them. I’ve always found zines to be a rambling (and intriguing) conversation of just one person, but with Chelsea’s zines, it’s almost like she’s inviting you into a little private party – hands outstretched.

She’s a featured artist at the San Francisco Art Comission’s PASSPORT event this week so if you’re in the area, be sure to pop by for a visit. A lot of her zines are sold out everywhere, but you can find a copy of Around the World over at Good Press Gallery in the UK.