J. L. Barnes
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fishwithatophat.com
J. L. Barnes
@fishwithatophat.com
220 followers 160 following 740 posts
I draw gentlemen animals. I write sci-fi and fantasy. And when I'm not preparing for the zombie apocalypse, I run DragonCrest Studios, 'cause it pays for kibble.

www.fishwithatophat.com
https://www.instagram.com/fishwithatophat/
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fishwithatophat.com
Get you a sister-in-law who expects texts like these.
A pair of texts from me to my SIL: This duck is impressively constructed ... Which is not a sentence I ever expected to type
September 13, 2026 at 1:24 AM
fishwithatophat.com
What's an example of perfect casting?
Peter Falk as Columbo.
September 7, 2026 at 10:57 PM
fishwithatophat.com
I'm slowly illustrating my book's character lineup. 😁 This is Altair... he's a bit stuffy and overly proper, but his heart's in the right place. Usually.
#OCart #characterart #noAI
A proper-looking gentleman in a three-piece suit, with one hand in his pocket and another loose in front of him. A cigarette hangs from his mouth and he looks directly at the viewer.
September 5, 2026 at 6:45 PM
fishwithatophat.com
I got interviewed by Canvas Rebel! If you've ever wanted to know a little more about how I got into art as a disabled creator and my (extremely negative) feelings toward generative AI, this is the interview for you! Check it out here:

canvasrebel.com/meet-jessica...
#noAI #fantasyart #cosplay
August 26, 2026 at 5:50 PM
fishwithatophat.com
I'll be at Colorado Springs Comic Con this weekend with a bunch of other awesome artists! Love to see you there!

Deets:
Broadmoor World Arena
3185 Venetucci Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Times:
Friday: 3PM-9PM (2PM VIP)
Saturday: 10AM-7PM (9AM VIP)
Sunday: 10AM-5PM (9AM VIP)
#cosplay #fantasyart
Me as Harley Quinn in front of some of my art and some comic-themed sound effects. The text reads: Colorado Springs Comic Con 21-23 August 2026 Times: Friday: 3pm-9pm Saturday: 10am-7pm Sunday: 10am-5pm An overall map of Colorado Springs Comic Con's layout, including the upper concourse, arena floor, and ice hall. I'm on the arena floor near the celebrities. Several other awesome artists are also called out on the map. There's a large box reading "Swipe for close-up." A close-up version of the same map, showing my booth location at W24. Other call-outs include Crayon Queen Creations (next to me), Colorado Kale's Art and Cryme Kat Studios (in Artist Alley), and Sin Muse Arts (on the upper concourse).
August 17, 2026 at 7:07 PM
fishwithatophat.com
He has been wandering around the house with it. Not gonna eat it, just gonna hang out with it.

Odd is well named.
Odd lying in a doorway to the hall with his emotional support pear. Odd standing in the kitchen with his emotional support pear.
August 17, 2026 at 6:50 PM
fishwithatophat.com
This is my dog, Odd, and his emotional support Spilled Pear
August 17, 2026 at 6:50 PM
fishwithatophat.com
Throwback Friday isn't a thing, but still: here's some portrait practice I did a while back! She reminds me of a scene in Silent Hill 2, but then... a lot of things remind me of Silent Hill. 😅
#art #noAI #characterart
A rainbow-shaded illustration of a woman with her eyes closed and head tilted up. Her hair has a sense of movement, with a strand caught in her mouth. She has a patterned choker with a butterfly stamped onto a coin in the hollow of her throat. The background is various paint spatters.
August 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
fishwithatophat.com
Well, well. Colorado Springs Comic Con out here earnin' my respect!
#noAI
Excerpt from the vendor policies at Colorado Springs Comic Con that reads "AI Art work is BANNED/PROHIBITED from being sold at Colorado Springs Comic Con. If you are caught selling this at your space at the show you will be banned from all future events at all of our Altered Reality Entertainment shows." Convention staff highlighted this clause (and no others) in red.
July 31, 2026 at 11:34 PM
fishwithatophat.com
A little scorpion-crab has some quiet reflection and likes what they see. :)
#art
Ink illustration of a blue-green scorpion-crab at the shoreline of an endless desert. Their reflection has a happy little smile.
July 23, 2026 at 10:55 PM
fishwithatophat.com
#USPS cuts going as planned.
Error message on USPS.com stating "This service is currently unavailable." Error message on USPS.com stating "Request Timed Out." For creating a new account. It's super helpful.
July 22, 2026 at 4:52 PM
fishwithatophat.com
I haven't given Basil a shirt for the last week or so because it's been so hot... So he's been hiding in his heated crate. Finally I caved and dressed him in a summer shirt so he'd come out.

Dogs are weird.
A basset hound in a striped summer shirt hanging out on the couch. He very much prefers to be dressed, because apparently he's a dapper gentleman.
July 20, 2026 at 10:23 PM
fishwithatophat.com
Stop scrolling & post 2 characters who bring you happiness
Peter Falk as Columbo. I have seen every episode... uncounted times. It is my happy jam. Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote. I was legit named after her. I love all things Angela Lansbury.
July 19, 2026 at 5:03 PM
fishwithatophat.com
I've been doing inventory this week and stumbled across this friend based on my pup, Basil. He's doing his best to be a spoopy ghost! Now up on Redbubble:

www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/1823...

Pet tax included, of course!
#bassethound #spoopy #sausagedog
Cartoon drawing (by me) of a basset hound pretending to be a sheet ghost... but his sheet is a picnic blanket with red checkers. He's saying "rawoo!" Mockup of the same illustration on a onesie. Mockup of the reversed illustration on a hardcover journal. Photo of Basil the basset hound and his best friend, Holmes the grey kitty. Both Basil and Holmes look like they were just caught doing something shocking... like cuddling.
July 19, 2026 at 4:26 PM
fishwithatophat.com
The car's all packed--time for a road trip to @enchanticon.bsky.social! Come hang out with me in St. Louis from 7/10-7/12!

All the details and tickets are available at www.enchanticon.com.

Vendor Hall open 10AM to 6PM (all days) at St. Louis Union Station.
#enchanticon #fantasyart
Artist ad for Enchanticon, showing my company logo (DragonCrest Studios) and featuring "Enchanticon 2026" and the dates/location in the text (available above). Across the top is a landscape image of me as a witch, sitting cross-legged with a filmy black veil. The smaller images on the right show an illustration of a firefly dragon and an acrylic painting of a silver cat in a yellow dress drinking tea. Map of the Enchanticon convention hall. The portion on the left is "zoomed in" on for the lower half of the page, and shows the DragonCrest Studios booth location as 5C. It's closest to the 20th Street entrance and next to the NEW Ms. Martha's Corset Shoppe.
July 7, 2026 at 4:29 PM
fishwithatophat.com
Some portrait practice from 2024ish! I like to layer Copics and Prismacolor color pencils over each other to get smooth color.

I'm reasonably certain I pulled it into Corel PaintShop Pro and tweaked the saturation and brightness up, too!
#art #tradart
Head shot illustration of a Caucasian woman with bright pink hair and long pink and blue nails. She has a cuff earring ending in a large mirrored ball. The background is abstract swirls over a red-to-orange gradient; two crystals float in the foreground, one blue and one pink.
July 2, 2026 at 5:32 PM
fishwithatophat.com
Midwest folks: I'm coming to see YOU! (Yes, you specifically. I'll be sad if you're not there.) Catch me at @enchanticon.bsky.social in St. Louis from 7/10-7/12!

#art #enchanticon #fantasyart
A composite of two horror drawings and me all dressed up in witchy attire (image on the right). The text reads "Enchanticon 2026, 10-12 July 2026." In the upper left is a picture of a demon/ghost being summoned by a ouija board in a dark attic. The lower left is a totally-friendly lady in a misty forest with white dots for eyes and an umbrella to shade her silhouetted face. A map of the overall con, with a zoomed-in portion to show where I'll be (booth 4F). It's across from Artist Alley and on the way to the main stage.
July 1, 2026 at 5:07 PM
fishwithatophat.com
I've been madly making more sculpts for @enchanticon.bsky.social on 7/10! I've got a whole line of Pride mice on the way. 😁
#pride #rockart #fantasyart
An army of clay mice headed by a little rock goblin.
June 29, 2026 at 8:19 PM
fishwithatophat.com
Some old pieces for your Saturday! I'm pretty sure I want all these women on MY side...
#fantasyart #scifiart #art
Ink illustration of a woman in a purple dress facing off against a shade on neon city streets. Marker and colored-pencil illustration of a woman facing the viewer in a long metal hallway. She's gesturing down the hall with a gun. About halfway down the hall is a napping cat, who's in no way alarmed by the gun-wielding woman. Marker illustration of a woman wearing a green flapper dress with a sun-like globe over one hand. On the opposite side, a raven perches on her shoulder.
June 27, 2026 at 10:00 PM
fishwithatophat.com
Starting the day off right in our #Pathfinder campaign. (I'm Scrimshaw, having a Very Dead moment. It'll clearly turn around. We got this.)

Hopes and prayers I succeed my recovery check(s).
#TTRPG
Screenshot of a Roll20 battlemap. Three players are fighting a large, bird-like snake critter... and by that I mean I (Scrimshaw) am currently being grabbed in its mouth and have 0/106 hit points. We've got notes scribbled on the map, including a skull-and-crossbones pointing at my avatar and "dead men tell no tales" written over my head. Clearly I've lulled the boss into a false sense of security and have him exactly where I want him.
June 27, 2026 at 5:02 PM
fishwithatophat.com
Catch me 7/10-7/12 in St. Louis at @enchanticon.bsky.social, where I'll be rockin' it for the first time ever!

I hear FANTASTIC things about the con, so I can't wait to see you all!

Tickets:
www.enchanticon.com

St. Louis Union Station Hotel
1820 Market St
St. Louis, MO 63103

9 am-6 am all days!
A few illustrations you'll be able to find at the con (a Loch Ness anatomy diagram, creepy mermaid, and dapper bunny), plus all the con details from above. A map of the overall con, with a zoomed-in portion to show where I'll be (booth 4F).
June 25, 2026 at 6:39 PM
fishwithatophat.com
This is a cat checkpoint. Relinquish your most recent cat picture from your phone.
Grey Maine Coon mix leaning into ear scritches.
May 20, 2026 at 5:27 PM
fishwithatophat.com
Life when you're a convention artist's dog
Basset hound Basil snoozin' on the couch next to a window. There's a suitcase and a box crowded on his left, a portfolio book behind him, and layers of tissue paper stacked on top of him. He is not phased.
May 18, 2026 at 9:04 PM
fishwithatophat.com
I'm being watched.
A grey cat sitting almost on top of a dapper basset hound, who wears a blue plaid jacket. Both of them are looking intently at the camera.
May 7, 2026 at 3:47 PM
fishwithatophat.com
I have no idea what I'm doing here but I like it.
#dragons
A dragon lies on a cliff edge surrounded by a surrealistic mix of textures and colors. The dragon has a glowing mane with small pink flowers; its horns and wings are bare branches. In the background, a desert moon meets a snowy mountain.
May 5, 2026 at 1:00 AM