Steph is a 2011 graduate of Gettysburg College (majored in history, minored in Civil War Era studies) and current graduate student at Pratt Institute (library science with a focus in Archival Studies) who loves baseball, anime, writing, drawing, Rogue Squadron, cars (and Top Gear), comedy (especially its history and, naturally, the British variety) and her cats and Old English Sheepdogs. Fond of Stanford even though she doesn't go there. Has Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism. Created the 30-Day Baseball Meme. One time she made a music video about Buster Keaton's love affair with trains. Since she's an archivist-in-training, she often preserves things on her own. See her scans here.
Author of the webcomic The Historians, the excuse to draw dead comedians called Comedian Heaven, and Londinium, a novel in the making set in 1863 London. Scriptwriter for the webcomic Home By Now, a story about time travel, music, history and general hijinks (meet the incredible artist here!).
Very occasionally posts about herself when she's not posting about baseball, dead people, Top Gear or her pets.
Dustin is very, very near and dear to my heart. I’ve briefly discussed his origins as a character both here and here on the actual Londinium blog, but I’m pretty sure neither of those posts mentions how I got the idea for him.
It’s a stupid story, but I’ll be quick. I was babysitting the kids around the corner. They were watching the Disney Channel and That’s So Raven was on. The episode concerned a play about climbing boys (children forced by master chimney sweeps to physically climb up the flues to clean them, a practice fortunately abolished by the middle of the 19th century). This being December 2004, a commercial soon followed for the 40th anniversary DVD release of Mary Poppins.
Dustin existed by the end of the night.
He was originally much more interested in the comic singing aspects of music hall, but sooner or later my brain kicked in and let him be a piano player. Since 2007, he’s been working as a sweep during the day and a piano player in a pub by night (until he meets Basil, anyway). Also since 2007, his characterization has been primarily inspired by Dudley Moore. They’re even the same height (5’2”).
I should note that once upon a time, Dustin was actually 5’8”. He shrunk.
Londinium as an entity was meant at one point to be poignant and meaningful. As a sophomore in high school I genuinely believed I could write something that was powerful. I soon realized it wasn’t working and reverted to my usual satirical writing style, and Londinium became the comedy it is now.
This article on the Londinium blog details the ‘symbol’ Dustin was intended to be initially because I was stupid and fifteen years old.
I don’t think I’ve put more effort into any other characters than Dustin, Ells and Basil, seriously. Those three are the ones who mean the most to me, and I hope it shows.
I started this yesterday and had way too much time before class today so I finished it now. Here you are, not that you care about how my two OCs became a double act or anything.
I hadn’t drawn these idiots in a while.
Dustin and Basil for an art trade with 1863-project! WHEW sorry that took so long, these two are a ton of fun to draw oh gosh.
I read they liked to post stupidly for publicity SO HERE YOU GO. I imagine they’re probably doing a gag where Basil thought he saw a rat crawl across his foot or something, hehehe.
Hope you like it! :>
OH GOD MY BABIES I LOVE YOU FOREVER FOR THIS
(I’m so touched to know that they’re fun to draw, too! <3 And their stupid posing, YES! They’re so precious!)
Sometimes I have feelings about that book I’m trying to write.
Quick drawing of Dustin to get into the Victorian mindset for my second art trade. This is also a reminder that Dustin is 5’2” and none of his clothes fit because they’re too big for him.
Also, he likes posing stupidly for pictures. Comedians do that even when they’re from the 19th century.
Two drawings of Dustin Thatcher I’ve done.
Left: 12/30/2004
Right: 2/22/2013
Never stop practicing. Your art will get better, no matter how bad you feel about it right now. Just keep working to improve, and you will.
thank for following my lame art blog HERE’S A THING FOR YOU
(I am sorry if I made them look blatantly American I haven’t educated myself on British 1860s attire much aaaa)
HOW DID I COMPLETELY MISS THAT YOU DREW BASIL AND DUSTIN OH MY GOSH MY BABIES I LOVE YOU <3333
This started out as a loose sketch of one of my Londinium leading men. It ended up looking good to me, so I inked and colored it, and now I think it’s one of the best drawings I’ve ever done of him in the eight years he’s been working with me.
I love how sometimes your best art comes when you’re not taking it seriously or trying too hard.
Basil and Dustin doing a sight gag.
Sometimes Basil and Dustin pose stupidly for publicity stuff since they’re comedians. This is one of those times.
Here’s a bit of insight into my writing process. This was recorded from my phone, so it’s difficult to hear the differences I do between their voices, but this is Basil and Dustin rambling about a Wikipedia article for nine minutes.
The article in question is here.
