languidlion
Dejah Payne, Cartoonist
This is the Official Tumblr Blog of cartoonist and gamedev Dejah Payne, the creator of Princezz and Killer Is Near. (she/her/they)
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Work on the 2nd issue of my anthology series THISTLES is complete and ready to be released next month.
For those of you who might be new, the THISTLES series is where I collect my short stories that transform elements of mysticism, Tarot, Jungian psychology, and folklore into personal expressions of identity and self discovery.
The first issue, released in 2020, mostly explored feelings I had building up to my coming out as a trans woman. Now in 2023, this new issue contains 4 stories that express feelings I’ve had since coming out and living full-time as my true self.
Stories contained in issue 2 include:
ORCHID - a silent comic that expresses my trans joy since beginning HRT in March of 2022. It also symbolizes some of the fears and struggles in that same time.
This story was also published in THANKYOU! magazine earlier this year. That version is on a white background, instead of the paper texture used in the version collected here.
SOAKED! - the story of 2 bros having a good time day drinking, until things begin to get heavy at sunset. A work of fiction inspired by several events that happened way back during the closeted youth of my 20s. (I’m 40 as of writing this.)
ARRIVAL - this one weaves together the legend of Lady Godiva with the folksong “she’ll be comin’ round the mountain” into a wild west story serving as commentary on how news and rumor spread.
IMPERMANENCE - another silent comic. This time an abstraction of time, death, and relationships told through montage.
And just like the first issue, an herbarium page detailing the symbolism of flowers seen in the stories is included.
The book is 24 pages long (plus cover pages), and is digest sized (5.5” x 8.5”) making it a perfect stocking stuff. 😉
Pre-orders for the print edition are now open until November 30 and will ship out in December. Shipping is free during this period. Pre-order your copy now at dejahpayne.bigcartel.com
The digital edition is out now. Get it on Gumroad and Itch.io. It is also included in subscriptions to my Patreon!
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I realized it's been awhile since I last posted anything here. I've been really busy and a lot has happened, so here's some of the stuff I've done since my last post 8 months ago...
New short story to be included in my next issue of THISTLES (hopefully later this year.) You don't have to wait to read it though, you just need to visit https://tapas.io/episode/2658337 to read it for free online!
I also organized a new FREE comix zine, released back in January. Contains comics inspired by actual lost films of the silent film era! There's 4 stories by several other artists. I illustrated the front & back covers and an interior page, in addition to compiling the book and writing the introduction. You can download it from https://anthologies.itch.io/silent-funnies
I released an Patreon exclusive comic back October. And I have more Patron rewards coming through out the year. If you'd like to support my comics making habit visit Patreon.com/DejahPayne
I also just released an image pack for use in your next zine, game, or presentation. The pack contains all the foods seen above, plus line-art versions. The images, which were traditionally inked and then digitally colored, range from roughly 1" to 3" @ 300dpi in size. It's available to all patrons, or you can purchase it at https://syruppirates.itch.io/isometric-food-friends-image-pack
There's a lot of other projects I've done for clients, and have been working on for myself, but I'll just leave with of one of the projects I have currently on the stove-top. The above comic is the first of a series starring myself as part of a detective duo. I have 6 pages done so far, and will try to share them all with you shortly! (or if you can't wait, you can visit my Mastodon or Instagram to see them.)
That about does it for now. See ya again soon!
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New release announcements!
PRINCEZZ PART 2: Dreams On Fire, the sequel to my 2017 graphic novel PRINCEZZ is out now in print and digital. 146 pages including the 120 page story, an afterword, "deleted scenes", and art gallery.
Also available is an all new edition of the first graphic novel, now retitled PRINCEZZ: AN OUTLAW TAIL. This all new edition includes the original 2012 mini-comic (first time in print ever!), an all new afterword, and art gallery. 260 pages!
Shop the PRINCEZZ series on Amazon
buy digitally on Itchio
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PRINCEZZ Part 2: Dreams On Fire is now available!
146 page 6.75" x 10.25" softcover book. Includes the complete 120 page by Dejah Payne, plus creator afterword, deleted scenes with commentary, pre-production designs (including character model sheets), art gallery, and the early "trailer" posters from 2019.
"Haunted by visions of her dark past, a young woman is driven into the night, where her fears are extinguished by a chance romantic encounter at a nearby night club. Now with a new lover by her side, a brighter future emerges. However, it won’t be long before tensions are reignited by those who would threaten to reveal her secrets."
Print
Amazon
Digital
Amazon Kindle
Itch.io
Patreon
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KICKSTARTER ANNOUNCEMENT!
Written by Brandon Hayes and illustrated by me, Dejah Payne, this mini-comic will be available for backers of Brandon Hayes's latest book THREADY: TUESDAY on Kickstarter.
About Thready:
"Thready is a manic-depressive recluse who, outside of bi-weekly meetings with his treatment team, spends most days alone in his room and is always seen wearing a mask. Recently Thready has been branching out more. However he made the mistake of stacking his calendar too full. Welcome to Thready's Big Week Out. 7 days, 7 issues." (from the Kickstarter page)
Written Brandon Hayes and illustrated by main series artist Utku Yavasca, Brandon has created this series to explore and raise awareness for mental health.
Back it now at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/100percentcomics/thready-tuesday/
#comics#kickstarter#crowd funding#indie comics#100percentcomics#indie books#small press#alt comix#mental health#alternative#art
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Happy Pride Month, Everyone!
I had a great time this weekend at the Annapolis Pride Parade.
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NEW ART!
Recent illustration I created in an effort to capture feelings I've had about the changes in my life as I take my next big steps in to the future. I was undecided on which I prefer (red or blue?), so I've posted both.
#art#illustration#drawing#sketchbook#toons#comic artist#queer creator#girls like us#folklore#symbolist
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when you're happy, but bad at smiling.
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It's been almost a full year since I came out as trans.
And while I've had several personal wins since then, there's a lot that still weighs on my mind - it's been a very horrible year for trans people, especially in the courts.
Specifically, I was thinking today about the TERF term "transtrender" - which is used to dismiss trans people as just following a trend or accuse them of having been pressured in to claiming a trans identity. A lot has been said on this topic already by many others, but I wanted to share my experience relating to the term.
No direct hand asked me to be trans. I was trans all along. it was seeing people I know personally come out that pushed me to want to come out as well. And I've had a few friends come out as trans and nonbinary after I came out (and if any of you are reading this, I want you to know I'm so proud of all of you.) I'm not saying I directly influenced them, especially as they all have other friends who are trans and nonbinary too, but there's a kind of domino effect that happens. When one person comes out, they act as a beacon for the others to follow.
For me, I felt ready to come out last year because a) I felt safer knowing other trans people and 2) I felt more comfortable and confident after seeing their personal strength and the acceptance they received. And I'm sure if I did influence anyone, it was for same/similar reasons.
Seeing other people come out, people I knew and/or related to opened a floodgate of emotions to where I realized I could be and had to be myself finally. There was no denying myself any longer. And if anything, one of things that was holding me in the closet was the possibility of someone accusing me of attention seeking or just following a trend. Which is what the term "transtrender" is designed to do - shame trans people in to not coming out, and then dismiss them when they do.
And did I have a few people close to me, who I'm no longer friends with, question my transness. And once they "made sure" I was wan't a "trender", they would say something like "oh yeah, good. I figured you were legit. Not like <someone else they know, usually one of their family members, that you now feel bad for>" among other icky things. They just let all their bigotry hang-out, as though I'd understand, because I'm one of the "good ones. Not like the other trans girls."
TERFs want us to internalize that trans misogyny though. To continually question ourselves and subsequently stay quiet. But as a community, we make each other stronger.
I probably would have come out as trans much sooner in life, 20 years sooner in high school or at least college, had someone been there to tell me I was trans enough. That I didn't need to meet other people's standards or desires. I don't need to fit neatly in to a binary. I just needed to be me and that would be enough.
And if you've been planning on coming out, I hope you can realize that you too are enough.
It's inspiring how much visibility and acceptance there is today, much more than I was exposed to growing up, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that our livelihoods and rights are still being hotly debated by politicians and celebrities. We are being scapegoated in a larger cultural divide, which believe me, I still have my fears and my days I feel like going back in the closet (don't worry, I won't do that.)
I long for the day that we can all be happy and thriving as our true selves. Stay safe out there.
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My new zine is out now in print and digital!
HELLO, SHADOW collects a series of 7 illustrations created during my first year of gender transitioning along with commentary (they're like "micro-essays".) Topics include gender, transness, trauma, werewolves, queer romance, and makeup.
While this zine is about my experience, the end-result is what feels a like a positivity book that I hope will inspire others on a similar path, and bring understanding to those exploring the topic.
6"x6" square saddle-stitched booklet.
PRINT ($5): ETSY (US & CA), STORENVY (US ONLY)
DIGITAL ($2): Itch.io
The digital edition is also available to my Patreon subscribers starting at the $1/month tier. If you enjoy my work, please consider pledging, as it helps makes printing possible. In return you'll receive new books and games, plus early access to comics, exclusive behind the scenes looks in to my processes, and lessons too.
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DREAM TAROT No. 4 - The Picnic.
Symbols: Bread, Cake, Gingham table cloth, Ribs, Salad, Tornado, White Horse
This is the 4th card in a series I am currently working on. Each day that I awake from a dream, I will create a new tarot card until there are 22 Major Arcana cards. For more in depth information about the project, see the inaugural card post.
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DREAM TAROT No. 3 - Cake
Symbols: Chocolate Cake, Cigarettes, Pen, Signature Line
This is the 3rd card in a series I am currently working on. Each day that I awake from a dream, I will create a new tarot card until there are 22 Major Arcana cards. For more in depth information about the project, see the inaugural card post.
#tarot#dreams#mysticism#symbolism#symbolist art#cigarettes#cake#dejah payne#queer artist#illustration
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DREAM TAROT No. 2 - THE ACCIDENT.
Symbols: Car on Fire, Despair, Laughter, Night, Police, Trees
This is the 2nd card in a series I am currently working on. Each day that I awake from a dream, I will create a new tarot card until there are 22 Major Arcana cards.
For more in depth information about the project, see the inaugural card post.
#symbolist#art#illlustration#queer artist#jungian#symbolism#tarot#fire#dreams#dream interpretation#dream logic
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DREAM TAROT No. 1 - THE GIFT.
Symbols: Cell Phone, Door, Friends, Kitchen, Peanut Butter, Sneakers, Stilettos, Toast, Toaster
I've kept dream journals since the time I was a teenager, and periodically I will share my dreams or, most often, incorporate their symbolism in to my works - there's a lot of snake and fire symbolism in my comics for instance.
This time I've decided to try something different by turning my dreams in to tarot cards. The rules I'm setting for this project are that I will only use new dreams, beginning with this dream I awoke from on 9/26/2021, and the cards will be numbered in the order that I dreamt them. I plan to create a total of 22 Major Arcana cards.
Each post I make on social media will include a list of the card's dream symbols in alphabetical order. However, while I am titling the cards based on the dreams as I experienced them, I will not be sharing the narratives of my dreams so that you may freely associate your own meanings without further influence from me. This comes with the disclaimer that your interpretation will most likely say more about you than me.
I'm really excited about this project, because it directly brings together my interests in tarot, numerology, symbolist art, dream logic and Jungian dream interpretation. I believe this series will be a lot of fun to work on and I hope you will enjoy it too!
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New illustration!
See the processes on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56515797
#persona#shadow#mask#owl#jungian#queer artist#trans art#trans artist#transformation#demask#unmasked#psychological art#the owls are not what they seem#horror art
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A full moon transformation
I'll be including this illustration in a zine planned for release later this year.
If you like my art, please consider joining my Patreon to see the processes.
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New illustration.
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