Lauren Sparks

@wingedelfgirl

Comics illustrator/painter by night, boring corporate graphic designer by day. ⏱️ She/her, age 39😎 Covington, KY, USA🪴 has 2 cats and a garden 🐈🐈‍⬛🌻 Married to @mtscomics.bsky.social💗

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Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· 4d

An inked panel I personally love from the current project, "Otis and the Sylva Beast" written by @notsosuper.pub! And yes I'm gonna tidy those panel corners with some whiteout. 😅 Also thank you for looking at the pencils for this comic at the NCS mini-con this past Saturday!!

Inked artwork for the children's fantasy graphic novel "Otis and the Sylva Beast", written by Jacques Nyemb. This is panel 5 of page 13, and the edges of the surrounding panels are slightly visible.

It's nighttime in this panel. The main character Otis is falling asleep sitting on top of his sleeping bag next to a backpack; teacup in his hand and glasses slid down his nose. Otis wears sandals, black pants and a black hooded poncho with the hood up. He leans against a fallen tree, surrounded by the bioluminescent fungus-plants of Sylva. In front of him is a small campfire burned low, with a tea kettle heating on a trivet.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· 7d

Some ballpoint airplane sketches from June that I forgot about. Tiny sketchbook foreveeerrrrr 💖

A photo of a small, 4x6"-ish sketchbook page on a gold fabric background (the skirt I happen to be wearing). Sketches by me, Lauren Sparks.

All sketches in ballpoint pen. Top 1/4 of the page is random notes and drawings of a hanging light and someone's face. Bottom 3/4 is the interior of an airplaine, from the perspective of a window seat. Foreground is the back of 2 seats and one person visible between them; background is the curved ceiling and luggage compartments.

A photo of a small, 4x6"-ish sketchbook page on a gold fabric background (the skirt I happen to be wearing). Sketches by me, Lauren Sparks.

A drawing of the view outside the window of a plane, framed by the window itself. The top of a plane wing takes up a large portion of the space, with clouds below and sky above. Sketch is in ballpoint pen.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· 8d

Books I read yesterday during daylight!! From A2CAF & a recent Kickstarter! Thank you for a lovely evening w/ no electricity or internet 🥹 @shinercomics.bsky.social @plaguedoctorpress.bsky.social @yonsoncb.bsky.social @mcapriglioneart.bsky.social @cashbrowns.bsky.social @allsorrows.bsky.social

A photo of a group of comic books spread out on top of a quilt and a blue blanket.
Top row:
S.P.I.R.I.T by Mark Bell and Melissa Capriglione
Issues 1 and 2 of Strange Ranger by Mark Bell and Yonson Carbonell
Romeo & Juliet & Godzilla by Adam Tierney, Sean Peacock, Brian Kolek and Jake Williams
PeePee PooPoo issue# 420 by Caroline Cash

Bottom row:
Shee and the Valley of Wonder
Memento Mori
Memento Mori Sketchbook Zine
All by John G of Shiner Comics

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· 10d

Post a character you think is cool and give no explanation why: (Not the Nazgǔl, but Farmer Maggot)

Painting by JG Jones.
An outdoor scene in a farmyard, with crop fields visible in the distance. In the middle ground stands a Black Rider/Nazgǔl on a black horse, next to a wagon full of hay. In the foreground is Farmer Maggot threatening the Black Rider with a pitchfork, with his dog cowering behind him. They are surrounded by a large pumpkin, basket of mushrooms and barrel of apples.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· 26d

Ballpoint pen sketches made in the dark at Bogarts yesterday 🤓

A photo of a pocket sketchbook (around 4x6") open to a page with many ballpoint pen sketches. Top half of the page is a group of 6 faces, a mixture small and large profiles and 3/4 views. The bottom half has a larger back 3/4 view on the left, then two small full-body sketches.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· 29d

Hello it is flower o'clock

A photo of a hanging basket with a black petunia plant, yellow and orange nasturtiums, and creeping jenny growing over the side. Behind is a large trellis covered in morning glory vines.

A photo of two dark purple morning glories with magenta/white centers, over a background of green vines and lawn. The flowers have white pollen dust on their purple petals.

A photo of plants along a sidewalk, spilling over. Pink coneflowers with greenery of wild false indigo.

A photo from inside a porch, of the corner column, made of wrought ironwork painted light yellow. Morning glory vines have grown up the wrought iron to the ceiling, with many pink and purple morning glory blooms.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jul 21

Uh... ???????

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jul 12

If you see this, quote with your Night/Dark art! 🌕 (Concept art for @notsosuper.pub's graphic novel #OtisAndTheSylvaBeast!)

Concept art for the children's graphic novel "Otis and the Sylva Beast" written by Jacques Nyemb. Concept from summer 2024.

A watercolor illustration in black ink and monochrome blue. Otis, a Black boy wearing a mostly black costume with a hooded poncho with the hood up, black pants and round glasses. He stands in the center holding up a lantern that lights the left side of his face; his expression is of wonder. He stands on top of a huge toadstool with a glowing edge, covered in more small glowing mushrooms. Around and above him are more mushrooms and funguses the sizes of shrubs and trees.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jul 10

Hello please enjoy this video of my husband @mtscomics.bsky.social torturing our cat Speckle (with kisses) (And occasionally glares at me for my betrayal)

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jul 2

Nothing lifts a day or brings a smile to my sad face like a random missive from Steve Willis 🥹❤️

A photo of 3 black and white ink drawings by Steve Willis, on a background of a blank page with comic panel outlines to hopefully confuse whatever AI programs scrapes this image up later.

Top drawing: on white bristol board. a single panel from "Lituus", Page 64 panel 3. A cartoon clown holds up an unblown balloon and a word balloon that reads, "I'll send in an exploratory balloon dog!"

Center drawing: on brown repurposed cardboard. Top left is a caption "furtive gestures", with a series of wiggly arrows pointing towards a man making unusual arm motions. Labels on the far right read "Morty Comix #15,246. Steve Willis 6-21-26."

Bottom drawing: on white repurposed cardboard. Top caption reads, "cranium alphabet". Below this is a cartoon face with an arrow pointing towards the forehead, and a word balloon that reads, "E is for the ethmoid bone up in the roof of thou nose. You'll find one in everyone, from kings to the lowest schmoes." Labels at the bottom read "Morty comicz #15,281. Steve Willis 6-23-26."

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jun 28

Wow, instagram did something good. They showed me an ad for an instrumental music group called Vethaken, led by guitarist Pravin Thompson, and hot dang is it really good comics-inking music!! 💖 Also here's some comic art I inked today with ✨NO CONTEXT✨😈 #OtisAndTheSylvaBeast @notsosuper.pub

A close-up photo of inked comic page art by Lauren Sparks, from page 15 of the kids fantasy graphic novel "Otis And The Sylva Beast" written by Jacques Nyemb.

The photo shows an intersection of 4 panels full of large mushroom and fungus plants. In the top right panel, Otis walks through the fungus forest wearing his big backpack, holding up a lantern.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jun 25

Ahhh I missed posting this on #makeaterriblecomicday2026 but I swear I drew it yesterday!! Thank you to Paul for making a flight reschedule and airport uber adventure (?) much more fun 🥹

A grayscale photo of an open pocket sketchbook with a mechanical pencil lying on top of it. A 3-panel comic is drawn on the open page with pencil, drawn by Lauren Sparks:

Panel 1 - Lauren sits reading a book next to a small suitcase and bag. A sign above says "airport".
Panel 2 - lauren lowers the book. A word balloon is full of chicken scratch with the word "delayed" standing out.
Panel 3: a caption above a drawing of Lauren talking to a guy named Paul in a line. The caption reads: "Now been standing in line for an hour (drawing this standing) but got to meet Paul + talk about cartoons so at least waiting is a little fun"

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jun 23

Hello, thank you for tagging me in the art share! I'm a comics illustrator, here are a couple inked pages from the current project, a graphic novel called "Otis and the Sylva Beast" written by @notsosuper.pub. These will be colored later by Justin Wood.

A photo of an open 11x17" portfolio showing two inked comic pages from the graphic novel "Otis And The Sylva Beast" by Jacques Nyemb. On the left is page 8 out of 63, with 4 panels showing Otis running from the fungus woods out to a clearing. On the right is page 10 of 63, with 2 panels showing Otis looking out to a town on a hill in the distance with smoke pouring out, and then smiling and adjusting his glasses.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jun 17

I loved this idea, these words, from @mspackyetti.bsky.social so much I had to make a silly IG story and now you have to read it because it's HOPEFUL AND GOOD 😤🔥💖

A background photo of Lauren Sparks' feet wearing chucks standing on grass and clover. More importantly, a quote from Brittany Packnett Cunningham is overlaid on the photo:

"Inevitability often feels like this marketing tool used to create false momentum, so people buy into something because they believe there’s no world without it, right? But there WAS a world without it! There was a world before all this stuff… There is nothing inevitable about the things people create. We have the power to decide if, how, when, where and why they function, for whom they function, and how to do that in a way that is equitable and responsible."
- Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Undistracted podcast, May 21, 2026

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jun 15

Spying on @electricabyss.bsky.social earlier because they NEVER STOP DRAWING 🔥🔥🔥

A photo over Heidi Black's shoulder as they work on a marker drawing while at their table at A2CAF 2026 in Ann Arbor MI.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jun 14

Headed back to Cinci from A2CAF with @electricabyss.bsky.social! I forgot to take many pictures, just these of Heidi and Jay of @messedcomics.bsky.social the Cincinnati crew 🤓

A photo of Heidi Black's Electric Abyss booth, with red tablecloth and drapes covered in pins, prints and original paintings. Photo taken at A2CAF in Ann Arbor MI, June 14, 2026.

A photo of Jay Kalagayan's MeSseD Comics booth, with a blue banner for the book Filipino Assassin most prominent on the front of the table and more comics shelved on the tabletop. Photo taken at A2CAF in Ann Arbor MI, June 14, 2026.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· Jun 14

Also, very important: apparently the Ann Arbor library has a mascot?? A beautiful sight 🥹💖

A photo in the lobby of the Ann Arbor, MI downtown library. A large costumed mascot strikes a pose! The mascot is a large, round black bear wearing a yellow stocking cap, large glasses, blue library lanyard, a blue vest with a yellow and white stripe, and brown boots. A librarian in a matching yellow hat, maroon shirt and black pants/apron stands on the right, in front of library bookshelves and some patrons.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 31

The last couple weeks I've warmed up for comics inking by sketching my left hand or a hand in the comic that I'm working on, no planning, just nib to paper. Started with a regular G then had a lot of fun with the tiny Nikko 659. (I'm using both of these to ink the comic) Ok back to work now 🤓

Close-up photo of fingers holding a small Nikko 659 nob in a dark plastic holder, resting on top of a sketchbook page. On the sketchbook page are 3 small warm-up ink sketches of a left hand. Photo/sketches by Lauren Sparks.

Photo closeup of a sketchbook page; on the left side rests a G nib in a wooden holder. The left half are simpler warmup sketches of hands with G nib, the right half are more detailed/crosshatched sketches with Nikko 659 nib. Photo/sketches by Lauren Sparks.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 29

5 days left!! The first few stretch goals are unlocked!!! 🎉 So can we PLEASE get to the stretch goal with the flaming car with flags magnet? I. NEED. IIIIIIIIT 🔥🔥🔥

A screencapture of an illustration by Mars Heyward, to be printed as a magnet. The illustration is a black car (70s Nova) with a black road and red sky with speed lines. Flames coming from the tires, lights and grille, and 3 flags flying from the back: pride, trans, and Black lives matter flags.

The Kickstarter fundraiser this is from: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marsoid/ride-or-die-chapter-3

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 25

Hi, I'm Lauren Sparks from Kentucky in the US, and I'm a comics illustrator. Here's some random panels from the current project, a kids fantasy graphic novel written by @notsosuper.pub called #OtisAndTheSylvaBeast. Sketched all pages with pencil, now using a lightbox to ink with brush and nibs.

An inked panel for the kids fantasy graphic novel Otis and the Sylva Beast, written by Jacques Nyemb of Not So super Publishing. Art by Lauren Sparks.

A photo of Page 16, panel 3: Otis, an 11-year-old Black boy wearing glasses, a black outfit and carrying a large backpack with sleeping bag. His expression is slightly alarmed, which is appropriate for suddenly encountering a large, imposing-looking unknown adult.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 23

Don't wanna wait til Tuesday. Happy anniversary to my favorite person 🥹💖 14 years married, 18 years together, and ready for 18 more!!! @mtscomics.bsky.social

A photo of Matt Sparks in low blue and purple light, snuggling our tortie cat Speckle.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 16

Well yeah there's 6 MAIN ones, but infinite shades in between 🤔

A representation of the color wheel on a white background. In the middle is a 6-pointed star with the 6 primary and secondary colors, with a circle around the outside with many shades produced by mixing each neighboring pair.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 16

There's more than 6, silly!

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 7

I've been tagging my irises like wild animals so I can dig them up and regroup them by color. 🤓 And probably dig up more of the lawn to make room for them. And for mooooore 😈

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 7

IRIS ALERT 😍😍😍 Also, a shy tuxedo kitty with no tail kept me company awhile while I dug up extra strawberry plants. And ate a lot of strawberries.

Photo through many iris leaves to a mostly-concealed black and white cat hiding behind.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 3

I hope everyone had a good Free Comic Book Day yesterday, even though half the books said "comics giveaway day" because of some silly Diamond-related trademark shenanigans. Here's the pile at the beginning and later Comics2Games in Florence KY, and @electricabyss.bsky.social at their table outside!

Heidi Black @electricabyss table set up outside the pinball room at Comics2Games in Florence KY for Free Comic Book Day. A couple curious children are checking out the art.

The exterior of the main entrance at Comics2Games in Florence KY, as Tess is hanging up the Free Comic Book Day banner and securing it to the surrounding columns.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 3

AWWWW YEAAAHHHHH fancy fun magnets!! 🤩 Was in Denver CO last week and didn't see many interesting magnets, though I only got to look in a couple places. Got an always-useful clip thing w/metal coin doohickey and a plexi-printed stained glass photo from the Molly Brown house museum

A photo of two magnets on a white faux-stone countertop.
Top magnet: a metal hinged clip with a metal coin mounted on it; coin depicts the rocky mountains and trees, and text says "Colorado 1876 / colorful Colorado" (ironic considering the lack of color in a metal etching.
Bottom magnet: a plexiglass-pritned photo of one of the stained glass windows in the Molly Brown house museum. The stained glass design has a beautiful flower and leaf pattern.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 3

Aw shoot, I mislabeled the page/panel#s in the alt text above. 🫠 Anyway here's a tight rough for page 41,for how I interpreted the stuff in the model, like the walls/window locations, rubble piles and carriage. @notsosuper.pub I showed you the castle model from the previous tweet right? 2023-2024 🤔

A "tight rough" layout of page 41 by Lauren Sparks, for the children's fantasy graphic novel "Otis And The Sylva Beast" written by Jacques Nyemb for Not So Super Publishing.

The page contains 3 panels:
Panel 1: large, covers the top 2/3 pf the page. A long shot showing in the foreground, a character crouched low and covering her ears, hiding behind a tipped-over carriage and pile of rubble. In the middle ground, a giant horned goat-headed monster is waving its arms and roaring. in the background is a tower and damaged wall with a pile of rubble.
Panel 2: A closeup of the hiding character cautiously looking up and starting to uncover her ears.
Panel 3: slightly closer on the same character, starting to cry with her hand over her mouth, with a rough word balloon placement.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 3

Hm, can't share the model file; here's screencaps! I spent lots more time researching architecture. 😅 I sketched the idea for the castle and courtyard, then made a v. bad model with perspective lines on the ground + rubble, & took a bunch of screencaps for specific panels. (more in alt text)

Screencap of a bad Trimble/SketchUp model by Lauren Sparks, used for reference to create the children's fantasy graphic novel "Otis And The Sylva Beast" written by Jacques Nyemb for Not So Super Publishing.

This screencap is for the reference of page 44, panel 3. It's an overhead view a stock 19th century horse-drawn carriage on its side, surrounded by stock rubble and rock groups, and a rough grid of perspective lines on the ground.

In the story, a character runs and hides behind a carriage of this general shape (redesigned for the fantasy setting). The lines on the ground help with the perspective on the large flagstones that this courtyard is paved with, and the rubble piles have been placed in to help keep them consistent across the backgrounds of many panels.

Lauren Sparks@wingedelfgirl· May 2

Hi Orlando! I am not playing but my 22-year-old sibling in law Matty is, and they enjoy your lingo and requested I send you some of theirs (I assume for amusement) 🤓