First Post of 2026…

Let’s start with an intro because I don’t think I’ve ever done a proper intro. Or maybe I have but it’s been years… WHO CARES! Let’s begin.

Hello! My name is Caitlin aka Lady Holmes. I am a freelance illustrator by trade. I know, such a broad label. So what does that mean? To me, the job description entail a jack-of-all-trades in drawing: I love to paint traditionally in watercolor and digitally in Procreate, I love draw and color with alcohol markers (especially for table commissions at conventions), I table in artist alleys at Comic Cons and Anime Cons (mainly in the Midwest), I do commissions traditionally and digitally, AND I love drawing my own comics whether it’s of my Baldur’s Gate tav romancing Gale of Waterdeep or my artist alleys stories, or my DnD inspired comic where I let a d20 determine how things go in the story.

2025 was a rough year for us artists, with the rampant GenAI trash floating around and art tables becoming quite expensive each year. But I think what got me through is a) my refusal to give up on my dreams and ambitions b) my disdain for AI and c) my friends family, and my artist alleys fam! Your support helps keep me going so I’m very thankful for that. Sadly, 2025 was also the year I had to say goodbye to my familiar, Frodo.

He had been with me since the beginning of my freelance career. He had been part of all my marketing as the unofficial mascot. Though he is no longer here in the physical plane, Frodo will always be with me in spirit… and on the logo. I’ve thought about it and I can’t bring myself to ever change the face on the logo. It wouldn’t be right because Frodo has been here since the beginning, as I said.

To save me from the heartbreak of his passing, Frodo did bless me with a new baby boy who needed a mother and a forever home: a sweet whittle void who chose the name Figaro (aka Figs).

There are times when Figs will look at me, I see Frodo’s face/mannerisms. Though Frodo can never be replaced, seeing these glimpses through Figs makes me feel like Frodo is popping in to check on me and saying ‘I love you’ before returning to the rainbow bridge <3 <3 Blessed be.

It’s now the New Year! 2026! FINALLY!!

2025 was slower than slow and a fucking nightmare. So it’s nice to finally have a pallet cleanser and to think of some goals! 2025 goals… I think I put on the back burner or ignored. I blame it on my procrastination and imposter syndrome. This year, I need to set some goals but make them a little more digestible that will lead to big projects being completed. Does that make sense?

GOAL 01 - New Buttons!

2025 has been the year of my button discourse. I used to get my buttons from Stickermule but since Stickermule became a T**mp loving f*scist hub, I had to drop it. I’ve tried a few alternatives but each time my buttons have either come in the wrong sizes or the images are cut wrong. Basically, getting buttons made has become a nightmare and so I stopped ordering buttons, saving up for a button maker so I can make my own buttons, 1.5” and 2.25” sizes. I am truly BLESSED with the most awesome friends and artist alley family ever because they heard my despair and came in with button makers and parts they no longer use and sold them to me (at an affordable price). I have not had a chance to use them yet but I can finally plan out some new button designs thanks to them. So thank you to Astrawitch and JarvsDraws for donating their button stuff to moi. I will put them to good use, I promise. The goal is to start using them in 2026 so my buttons will FINALLY get an upgrade.

GOAL 02 - More OC Artwork!

I’ll still do fan art. Especially for trading cards and stickers and buttons. Maybe the occasional digital painting based on a master work (cause those are super fun). But it would be nice to have more artwork based on my OCs, such as my DnD characters and my characters from my DnD inspired comic. Whenever I draw something relating to my wild mage faun Honey, I get such a big response. It always surprises me when I get people saying they are such fans of that character and it’s like “wait… I’m not the only fan of this character that I made??” LMAO I know, such a silly response. But you know what I mean???? So yeah, more OC stuff this year. Let’s fucking go!

GOAL 03 - Finish Chapter 3 of Marionette!

Remember my imposter syndrome I mentioned in the beginning? Yeaaaaah. Hits me every time I work on my DnD inspired comic, Marionette. I’m still passionate about this story and project, which never happens. That’s huge for me, if you know me. But I keep psyching myself out with “it’s not good enough” “your art is so amateur” “it’s not interesting enough” or “your skills are awful”. I need to just… … work on this comic for me. I love these characters and I have so many ideas and creativity towards this comic that… It’s a comic made for me and if others love it too, then they will be vocal about it and enjoy it with me! I feel like that’s the mind set I need to put forward into this comic so I don’t psych myself out and be more productive with it. I’m treating the first few chapters as the session 0 or ‘prologue’ of the story because it sets up the party and the journey they will go on. I just need to get through the prologue, use it as practice, and get the ball rolling!

Those are the big goals I can think of at the top of my head. I’m sure there’s more but this blog post has gone on a bit long so I’ll close it out here for now. Hope y’all weren’t bored! I hope you had a good holiday and may your 2026 be a good year. Stay creative, lovelies. From me, Figs, Lancelot, and Odie, you’re awesome.