Ashanti Fortson

Hi all. In the wake of the US elections, many of us have been feeling exhaustion, dread, hopelessness, and more. I was lucky enough to attend my cousin’s queer wedding last weekend (a few days after the election; more on that soon), which renewed for me the importance of joy— and of using what we have to support others. As we enter the holiday gifting/retail/shopping season here in the US, I want to ask you all to please consider gifting support to my friend Maha. She is currently in G-za, where prices are astronomical and life is difficult. She is the mother of three adult children who are in different parts of G-za. Since losing her brother, she has had to survive on her own. Maha is struggling to stay optimistic, but she has hope that she and her family can raise funds to evacuate to Egypt. Times are tough for most of us, but those of us with relative stability can still do something to support the most vulnerable. The cost of a coffee, the cost of a rideshare, the cost of a new fit, and so on. Whatever you can spare goes a long way, and it helps Maha continue to hope. ❤️‍🩹 I’ve put Maha’s campaign in my bio. Thank you for reading this far. All we have is each other. 💖

🍉 evacuation commissions NOW OPEN! I am opening limited color character commissions, with 100% of proceeds going toward three campaigns for families and individuals trying to evacuate G-za. You can find more information at the commission request form linked in my bio, which is where you can submit your information if you’re interested in commissioning. I’m using a sliding scale model, which you can also read more about in the “pricing” section of the form. Please reach out if you have any questions! All shares extremely appreciated. ❤️🍉

🗣️ Book announcement! 📚 Excited to be starting work on TALKING BOOKS, a picture book about the inventor of the audiobook. Written by @jennylacika , illustrated by me, edited by @plumarosareading ! Can’t wait to share more down the line. 💛 🏷 #bookannouncement #picturebooks #picturebookartist #picturebookillustrator #bookillustrator #bookartist

Tabling at @birchandpen Holiday Market today (Friday), Saturday, and Sunday! 12-6 pm each day, come on by! Will be tabling with @binglin.work . We’ll have graphic novels, zines, prints, bead embroidery, felted sculptures, felted/embroidered magnets, and more. Lots of other cool vendors too!

Ignatz Award winning artists Emma Jayne and Ashanti Fortson come together to bring you the story of two women and their clones as they are thrown into crisis: THE OTHER JAY & EVE! Coming Spring 2025! In a society where human cloning became the best way to make some quick cash, reluctant roommates Jay and Eve didn't hesitate to donate their genes. However, when the two attend a reunion with their counterpart homunculi six years later, an evening to be tolerated becomes a nightmare. Existing tensions between the four women escalate to new heights at the news that, to the original Jay and Eve's horror, the two clones are engaged to be married. Once the fallout begins, will any of them make it through the night unscathed? THE OTHER JAY & EVE by Emma Jayne and Ashanti Fortson is part of our stacked Spring 2025 slate and will be hitting shelves this taurus season May 2025. Pre-Orders are now open so be sure to snag a copy for yourself along with any exclusives that'll come with it

Rounding up a couple of the artworks I’ve done for lovely generous commissioners, with all proceeds going directly to displaced families. 🍉 The Nausicaä piece was an original done at SPX; the other two are more “standard” samples for these. Reminder that I have a commission request form for these in my bio! Prices are sliding scale with three different price/complexity brackets, outlined in the form. I do not take a cut or even touch the money; all goes from you to families in need of aid. I can draw your favorite character, your tabletop character, your partner/friend/family member, you, etc! Please consider taking a look. ❤️

THE BROKEN HEART AT THE CENTER OF COMICS In self-contained zine format for the first time, this collaborative essay discusses comics, burnout, and capitalism. It was originally commissioned by @blackjoseipress for Gladiolus Magazine in 2023. This self-contained edition won’t be online until October, but it’ll be debuting in print at @spxcomics ! Find it at M12B (Ashanti Fortson), W2B (Sunmi), and with Lillie J. Harris at the Radiator Comics table (i9). Huge thanks to @jamilarowser for editing this essay and believing in it and making it happen and so much more. 💜 Another huge thanks to @binglin.work for the amazing cover design, layout design, and printing help! 💕

Another illustration set I did last year for season 5 of Million Bazillion, a podcast for kids about financial literacy. This one is about claw machines and how they work! I learned some cool stuff from the episode too. 🕹️

SPX TABLE M12B! “B” there…or “B” square… I’ll be debuting two new zines at @spxcomics : - “A Visit to Popham Beach”: drawings and reflections about the ocean, belonging, and drifting away - “The Broken Heart at the Center of Comics”: the first self-contained zine edition of the essay published in Gladiolus Magazine (Black Josei Press). Written by me, Sunmi, Lillie J. Harris, and Shannon Wright. Separate post coming for this one soon. Will also have copies of BROWNSTONE (hi I did the color design), the WhoHQ Frida GN I illustrated, SHADES OF FEAR, LEAF LACE, and more. Also, felted and embroidered handcrafted goods. Come say hi, and please wear a mask! Additionally: on Saturday, I will be on the 4pm panel, “Queer in All Universes” with an absolutely stacked lineup. This is not a panel to miss!

Is that… a new zine?? Debuting at SPX next weekend??? A VISIT TO POPHAM BEACH is a 13-page zine about the ocean, belonging, and drifting away. Written reflections are placed alongside drawings done at Popham Beach State Park in Southern Maine. You can get the brand-new zine in print at @spxcomics next weekend (Sept. 14-15). I have also put the digital version on my itch.io page for a dollar; the link to that is in my bio. All sales from my itch.io page for the foreseeable future will be donated to my friend Abod’s evacuation fu/ndraiser. If you want to get some cheap comic/zine PDFs and do a bit of tangible good as well, check out my itch.io page! I will share donation receipts/confirmations in my stories (& compile them afterwards) as sales come in. 💕

Who sets the price of rent? 🏠 Just realized I never posted this illustration & mini comic page I did last year for podcast Million Bazillion’s season 5 (@marketplaceapm ). I still like how they came out, though! ☺️ My website needs an overhaul, so hopefully I can get all of my Million Bazillion illustrations up there soon. My amazing spouse @binglin.work is taking over as the illustrator for the podcast’s upcoming season, keep an eye out~ While you’re here— please check out my post before this as well ❤️

Sick Girl Summer, AKA “what do you do as an immunocompromised person when everyone around you has fully stopped masking?” Been thinking a lot recently about what many of my sick & disabled homies have been going through, this summer especially. It’s not too late to show support and care for the people in your community by re-adopting COVID precautions— even just masking in public indoor spaces is a positive step to take. COVID didn’t go away, even if precautionary policies did (for profit-centered reasons, not health-centered reasons). Also, shoutout to all of the organizers of indoor events that still require masking. As a disabled artist who attends markets and conventions for work, it makes a big difference in keeping people like me safe. 💖 . Looking for more editorial illustration work in this visual style. If you’d like to work together, hit me up via email (no DMs about work please): ✉️ [email protected] ✉️ #editorialillustration