astrid elle jo❄️(jewel of the nihil)
@ellejohara.com
Artisanal comics written and stylus-rendered with authentic human pathos by Astrid Elle Jo
🧜🏻♀️ 🤖 🧙🏻♀️ • PNW • 51
🏳️⚧️ queer • trans (they/them) • ♠️ ace
💬 ellejohara.com/threads
🧜🏻♀️ 🤖 🧙🏻♀️ • PNW • 51
🏳️⚧️ queer • trans (they/them) • ♠️ ace
💬 ellejohara.com/threads
Pinned
I would like to make friends with my art peers, but I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with me and it drives people away.
Every time I try to connect, I fuck something up somehow.
So I don't try anymore.
Every time I try to connect, I fuck something up somehow.
So I don't try anymore.
December 28, 2025 at 2:34 AM
I would like to make friends with my art peers, but I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with me and it drives people away.
Every time I try to connect, I fuck something up somehow.
So I don't try anymore.
Every time I try to connect, I fuck something up somehow.
So I don't try anymore.
Iskander cameo in today's (yesterday's) Dumbing of Age. Cool.
(Not actually a cameo. Just a similar looking bearded cop. But it's fun to imagine my characters making random appearances in other comics.)
www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b...
(Not actually a cameo. Just a similar looking bearded cop. But it's fun to imagine my characters making random appearances in other comics.)
www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b...
![Page 316 of my comic "Threads from the Blue Rock Tapestry". Sergeant Iskander gets called in to the Chief's office.
1.
[Iskander sighs as he knocks on the Chief's slighly open door.]
Chief (off panel): Come in.
2.
[Over the shoulder shot of Chief Yultaz Qaya. She's holding a yellow mug of tea. In the doorframe is Iskander.]
Iskander: I understand you want to have a word with me.
Chief: Sit.
3.
[The Chief hands Iskander a case file and he takes it.]
Chief: I found it interesting that the woman in the hospital turned out to be a housemate of your palace sewer divers here.
Chief: I have no doubt she's why you were there this weekend.
4.
[Iskander stares at the file as the Chief continues.]
Chief (off panel): What's even more interesting, the cop who rescued that woman now in the hospital, was himself attacked two days after she was.
5.
[The Chief sips at her tea.]
Chief: Now, I want you to spell out to me exactly what it is you think you've been investigating this past week or so...
6.
[Single of Iskander staring directly into camera.]
Chief (off panel): And if you're very lucky, you might still get to be a cop when you leave my office.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:smfbrzsfsmjotl42ibwscqua/bafkreiaglxsrqh2lrrqfzvomqjqvtjd2vtveqbvbh7ofvh4gdudguiyvry@jpeg)
December 27, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Iskander cameo in today's (yesterday's) Dumbing of Age. Cool.
(Not actually a cameo. Just a similar looking bearded cop. But it's fun to imagine my characters making random appearances in other comics.)
www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b...
(Not actually a cameo. Just a similar looking bearded cop. But it's fun to imagine my characters making random appearances in other comics.)
www.dumbingofage.com/2025/comic/b...
A core ethos of my webcomic is that immigration, diversity, and when cultures mix to create unique new things, these are all good and desirable for humanity.
Homogeneity is the heat death of culture.
Homogeneity is the heat death of culture.
December 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
A core ethos of my webcomic is that immigration, diversity, and when cultures mix to create unique new things, these are all good and desirable for humanity.
Homogeneity is the heat death of culture.
Homogeneity is the heat death of culture.
I didn't make as much art this year as I did last year, but I did make more art this year than I thought I did.
Art vs Artist 2025
Art vs Artist 2025
December 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I didn't make as much art this year as I did last year, but I did make more art this year than I thought I did.
Art vs Artist 2025
Art vs Artist 2025
Left-handed scribble of Sholani, Ardi, and Ronza made in Procreate with some brushes I don't usually use.
December 26, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Left-handed scribble of Sholani, Ardi, and Ronza made in Procreate with some brushes I don't usually use.
Reposted by astrid elle jo❄️(jewel of the nihil)
Sometimes I draw things. Just like it says in my bio: Artisanal comics written and stylus-rendered with authentic human pathos by Astrid Elle Jo.
December 24, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Sometimes I draw things. Just like it says in my bio: Artisanal comics written and stylus-rendered with authentic human pathos by Astrid Elle Jo.
Sometimes I draw things. Just like it says in my bio: Artisanal comics written and stylus-rendered with authentic human pathos by Astrid Elle Jo.
December 24, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Sometimes I draw things. Just like it says in my bio: Artisanal comics written and stylus-rendered with authentic human pathos by Astrid Elle Jo.
Well, I've figured out why I won't be able to switch from Photoshop to Pixelmator Pro for my comics. It's the same reason I couldn't switch to Clip Studio Paint. The keyboard shortcuts for the Dvorak keyboard layout are completely broken.
Disappointing, because I kinda like Pixelmator Pro.
Disappointing, because I kinda like Pixelmator Pro.
December 24, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Well, I've figured out why I won't be able to switch from Photoshop to Pixelmator Pro for my comics. It's the same reason I couldn't switch to Clip Studio Paint. The keyboard shortcuts for the Dvorak keyboard layout are completely broken.
Disappointing, because I kinda like Pixelmator Pro.
Disappointing, because I kinda like Pixelmator Pro.
Reposted by astrid elle jo❄️(jewel of the nihil)
Like, unfortunately I just didn't find anything that happened in Avatar very compelling or memorable - but I fucking lost my mind the first time I saw that scene where the possessed bed eats a bucket of fried chicken and then takes an antacid.
It is fine if you like the Avatar movies, they just Aren't For Me. 🤷
... And it's important that you understand that I think Death Bed: The Bed That Eats is great cinema.
... And it's important that you understand that I think Death Bed: The Bed That Eats is great cinema.
December 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Like, unfortunately I just didn't find anything that happened in Avatar very compelling or memorable - but I fucking lost my mind the first time I saw that scene where the possessed bed eats a bucket of fried chicken and then takes an antacid.
I feel like cinema color grading went from, "Ooo! Lets make it look kinda old-timey sepiatone-y!" to "Whatever. The underpaid, overworked digital artists can add the color in post."
File this in the same folder as "audio engineers who can't hear above 15 kHz and don't know what a spectrogram is".
File this in the same folder as "audio engineers who can't hear above 15 kHz and don't know what a spectrogram is".
December 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I feel like cinema color grading went from, "Ooo! Lets make it look kinda old-timey sepiatone-y!" to "Whatever. The underpaid, overworked digital artists can add the color in post."
File this in the same folder as "audio engineers who can't hear above 15 kHz and don't know what a spectrogram is".
File this in the same folder as "audio engineers who can't hear above 15 kHz and don't know what a spectrogram is".
Did you know the people of the ancient world knew about pigment and that their world was very colorful?
Hollywood doesn't.
Hollywood doesn't.
December 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Did you know the people of the ancient world knew about pigment and that their world was very colorful?
Hollywood doesn't.
Hollywood doesn't.
First art of the new solar year: My monk/waterbender Callindra. Haven't drawn her in a while.
Also my first right-handed drawing in almost 11 weeks. I think the tendonitis is healing! But OMG is that a slow process.
Also my first right-handed drawing in almost 11 weeks. I think the tendonitis is healing! But OMG is that a slow process.
December 22, 2025 at 12:13 AM
First art of the new solar year: My monk/waterbender Callindra. Haven't drawn her in a while.
Also my first right-handed drawing in almost 11 weeks. I think the tendonitis is healing! But OMG is that a slow process.
Also my first right-handed drawing in almost 11 weeks. I think the tendonitis is healing! But OMG is that a slow process.
It's Yule, y'all! Happy Longest Night of the Year!
I brought my Apple Pencil battery down to 18% in a many-hour hyperfocus drawing in Procreate because I'm drawing with my right hand (dominant hand) again! (No pain!!!)
I'm taking it easy, though. 20 minute breaks every hour. No exceptions.
I brought my Apple Pencil battery down to 18% in a many-hour hyperfocus drawing in Procreate because I'm drawing with my right hand (dominant hand) again! (No pain!!!)
I'm taking it easy, though. 20 minute breaks every hour. No exceptions.
December 22, 2025 at 12:03 AM
It's Yule, y'all! Happy Longest Night of the Year!
I brought my Apple Pencil battery down to 18% in a many-hour hyperfocus drawing in Procreate because I'm drawing with my right hand (dominant hand) again! (No pain!!!)
I'm taking it easy, though. 20 minute breaks every hour. No exceptions.
I brought my Apple Pencil battery down to 18% in a many-hour hyperfocus drawing in Procreate because I'm drawing with my right hand (dominant hand) again! (No pain!!!)
I'm taking it easy, though. 20 minute breaks every hour. No exceptions.
Okay, this piqued my curiosity something fierce. So I grabbed the first WAV that showed up at the top of a search and dragged it into Audacity. Look at those horizontal bars at 13kHz and above. That's wild!
I can't hear it. I'm old. And I'm more interested in infrasound anyway (< 20 Hz).
I can't hear it. I'm old. And I'm more interested in infrasound anyway (< 20 Hz).
December 20, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Okay, this piqued my curiosity something fierce. So I grabbed the first WAV that showed up at the top of a search and dragged it into Audacity. Look at those horizontal bars at 13kHz and above. That's wild!
I can't hear it. I'm old. And I'm more interested in infrasound anyway (< 20 Hz).
I can't hear it. I'm old. And I'm more interested in infrasound anyway (< 20 Hz).
Reposted by astrid elle jo❄️(jewel of the nihil)
"You are valid!"
Okay, thanks I guess, but I'm not parking. What I need more than platitudes is my right to do what I want with my own body.
You know, bodily autonomy, and the broader freedom to exist in public life.
Okay, thanks I guess, but I'm not parking. What I need more than platitudes is my right to do what I want with my own body.
You know, bodily autonomy, and the broader freedom to exist in public life.
January 30, 2025 at 11:46 PM
"You are valid!"
Okay, thanks I guess, but I'm not parking. What I need more than platitudes is my right to do what I want with my own body.
You know, bodily autonomy, and the broader freedom to exist in public life.
Okay, thanks I guess, but I'm not parking. What I need more than platitudes is my right to do what I want with my own body.
You know, bodily autonomy, and the broader freedom to exist in public life.
Had (am having) the first really big vestibular fuckery knockdown of the season. It's every bit as much fun as the spring ones were. Yay.
December 19, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Had (am having) the first really big vestibular fuckery knockdown of the season. It's every bit as much fun as the spring ones were. Yay.
Today marks two full months of not drawing with my right hand in an effort to heal the tendonitis in my palm.
I said I'd go for three, but I think I'm gonna give myself a Yule gift and stop two weeks early.
Besides, I have *zero* webcomic buffer.
I said I'd go for three, but I think I'm gonna give myself a Yule gift and stop two weeks early.
Besides, I have *zero* webcomic buffer.
December 10, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Today marks two full months of not drawing with my right hand in an effort to heal the tendonitis in my palm.
I said I'd go for three, but I think I'm gonna give myself a Yule gift and stop two weeks early.
Besides, I have *zero* webcomic buffer.
I said I'd go for three, but I think I'm gonna give myself a Yule gift and stop two weeks early.
Besides, I have *zero* webcomic buffer.
I lost use of my voice and started learning/using sign language—and I still feel really really guilty about it because I'm not deaf.
(Except in winter. Sometimes. IDK it's weird.)
(Except in winter. Sometimes. IDK it's weird.)
Counterpoint: Cheaters don't feel shame.
... But people who are newly disabled, have milder versions of disabilities, or have invisible/undiagnosable disabilities feel a LOT of shame.
... But people who are newly disabled, have milder versions of disabilities, or have invisible/undiagnosable disabilities feel a LOT of shame.
Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.
December 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I lost use of my voice and started learning/using sign language—and I still feel really really guilty about it because I'm not deaf.
(Except in winter. Sometimes. IDK it's weird.)
(Except in winter. Sometimes. IDK it's weird.)
Reposted by astrid elle jo❄️(jewel of the nihil)
This is lore-accurate. Clerics are only proficient with bludgeoning weapons.
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
November 29, 2025 at 10:14 PM
This is lore-accurate. Clerics are only proficient with bludgeoning weapons.
Reposted by astrid elle jo❄️(jewel of the nihil)
If you're using AI slop for your video thumbnail, I'm not gonna watch *anything* on your channel even if the subject matter is interesting to me.
Fuck your artificial slop.
Fuck your artificial slop.
November 27, 2025 at 9:43 PM
If you're using AI slop for your video thumbnail, I'm not gonna watch *anything* on your channel even if the subject matter is interesting to me.
Fuck your artificial slop.
Fuck your artificial slop.
Reposted by astrid elle jo❄️(jewel of the nihil)
AI generated content of any kind undermines the credibility of whatever is being communicated
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
November 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
AI generated content of any kind undermines the credibility of whatever is being communicated
What even is this list?
Ani DiFranco x2
Sarah Brightman
Ozomatli
MC Chris
Dave Matthews Band @ the Gorge
Peaches
Ani DiFranco x2
Sarah Brightman
Ozomatli
MC Chris
Dave Matthews Band @ the Gorge
Peaches
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen:
1. Mano Negra
2. Guns n' Roses
3. The Prodigy
4. Iron Maiden
5. Chemical Brothers
1. Mano Negra
2. Guns n' Roses
3. The Prodigy
4. Iron Maiden
5. Chemical Brothers
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen:
1. Duran Duran Notorious
2. Erasure the Innocents
3. Skinny Puppy Too Dark Park
4. Nine Inch Nails Broken (technically between Pretty Hate Machine and Broken)
5. VNV Nation Empires
1. Duran Duran Notorious
2. Erasure the Innocents
3. Skinny Puppy Too Dark Park
4. Nine Inch Nails Broken (technically between Pretty Hate Machine and Broken)
5. VNV Nation Empires
November 28, 2025 at 4:19 AM
What even is this list?
Ani DiFranco x2
Sarah Brightman
Ozomatli
MC Chris
Dave Matthews Band @ the Gorge
Peaches
Ani DiFranco x2
Sarah Brightman
Ozomatli
MC Chris
Dave Matthews Band @ the Gorge
Peaches
If you're using AI slop for your video thumbnail, I'm not gonna watch *anything* on your channel even if the subject matter is interesting to me.
Fuck your artificial slop.
Fuck your artificial slop.
November 27, 2025 at 9:43 PM
If you're using AI slop for your video thumbnail, I'm not gonna watch *anything* on your channel even if the subject matter is interesting to me.
Fuck your artificial slop.
Fuck your artificial slop.
The only reason why I'm able to make my art and comics is because I get total economic support from my mom. Without her in my life, I'd have been dead a long fucking time ago.
Art can be seen by others when a person with money believes in an artist's work and wants that work to be out in the world.
Art can be seen by others when a person with money believes in an artist's work and wants that work to be out in the world.
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
The only reason why I'm able to make my art and comics is because I get total economic support from my mom. Without her in my life, I'd have been dead a long fucking time ago.
Art can be seen by others when a person with money believes in an artist's work and wants that work to be out in the world.
Art can be seen by others when a person with money believes in an artist's work and wants that work to be out in the world.