Thicker Than Blood has been in the works since 2021, back when it was only a sketchbook page with Keia's character design on it. Since then, the story has developed, evolved, and definitely changed, and it couldn't have come as far as it did without the small community of people who kept asking about it.
Thanks to a handful of people in a little corner of the internet, this story was able to make it out of the sketchbook and into the world. I created this story because I wanted it to resonate with people out there the same way it resonates with me, and I realized that it has! Whether the story says something to you, you relate to the characters, or you simply like the drawings, I'm happy you're here.
On this page, you can find links to sites where you can find more of me and my work! I believe that access to art should not be locked behind a paywall, and so financial support for the project goes straight to helping me keep this story free for everyone. Whether you save one of the story's playlists or subscribe to the Patreon, every act of support is deeply appreciated. My ultimate goal is simply to reach people and make them feel seen and happy, and interactions like these help me see the results of that.
Patreon
Although Thicker Than Blood is free for everyone to access, it isn't free for me to create. Supporting me on Patreon helps me with the cost of dedicating my time and effort to this project!
Rewards
For $2.75/month (USD), you'll get…
Early access to new chapters
Behind the scenes access to chapter art (like sketches and process posts)
To vote on the next chapters' illustrations
Exclusive private channels in the Discord server
High-resolution wallpapers of any full book illustrations
20% off any commissions
If there is enough demand, I will add extra rewards, and possibly some higher tiers. I would also be happy to include physical rewards (like stickers, postcards, or charms) if there is enough demand!
Where does the money go?
First and foremost, any money earned from Patreon supporters goes towards keeping this website up and running. It's so nice to have your own branded website and not have to see somebody else's company name every time you want to visit it. Unfortunately, that luxury is not free to have. Your Patreon money goes towards keeping this website at thicker-than-blood.com instead of notyourwebsite.thickerthanblood.notyourdomaineither.com :)
Any remaining money will be split into two pools:
1 — To cover any expenses tied to creating more content, such as replacing a broken display tablet or upgrading a software subscription (rest in peace to the days when Photoshop was a one-time purchase).
2 — To save for future additions to the project. This could be things like hiring an editor, adding an online shop, or working towards creating the animated series.
Discord
Join the Discord server to be notified when a new chapter launches, as well as to interact with other creatives, ask questions, share artwork, join events, and make friends. You'll definitely want to make sure you've joined if you're a Patreon subscriber, as most communication happens on there first. Discord is also the easiest way to reach me, as I am frequently online. You don't have to be a Patreon subscriber or even all that interested in Thicker Than Blood to join — the server is open to anyone.
Thicker Than Blood doesn't have a dedicated Instagram page of its own as it means it's yet another thing for me to manage, and I'm only one person who can only do so much in their free time! This might change in the future, but for now, feel free to follow me at @mel10rism to stay caught up with the story, as well as to see artwork from and for it!
Pinterest & Spotify
If you're wanting to get to know the characters and the world a little better, or are simply looking for some new music to listen to while you draw, I invite you to take a look at the Pinterest board and Spotify playlists for Thicker Than Blood! If you do, I would love to hear your thoughts and questions — looking through a character's board or playlist can be so revealing about them!
Collaborations
Whether you want to host a collaborative event together, promote or work on each others' projects, or just want to connect, become friends, and have each other on our respective radars, feel free to reach out. As someone who has worked for indie studios in the past and is now creating an indie project of their own, I cannot stress how much I love hearing from other creators.
Let's build a network of up-and-coming indie projects together!
Work on Thicker Than Blood
The long-term goal of Thicker Than Blood is to found an indie studio and turn it into a 3D-animated series, and I would love your help. Even if you don't have much experience or if you aren't sure what working on the project could look like for you, send me an expression of interest! We can figure out the details later — what matters to me is connecting with likeminded artists in the first place.
Please note that as of right now, I cannot guarantee that artists will be paid to work on this project. A portion of all Patreon proceeds go towards saving to pay future artists, and there are many other sources of funding out there that I intend to apply for. After all the chapters of Thicker Than Blood have been released, I will be looking more deeply into funding opportunities. I am an artist too and I believe we all deserve to be properly compensated for our work! I will do everything that I can to make that happen, and if it isn't possible, you are free to change your mind about working on the project before it starts up.
Currently, I am specifically looking for the following creatives, but if what you do isn't listed here and you would still like to connect, I would be happy to hear from you:
3D modellers, riggers, and animators
Texturing artists
Concept artists (mainly environments/props)
2D FX animators
Musicians/composers
Voice actors