Every drawing or illustration I start with starts with a story. Each character has their own personality and charm. I currently have seven main characters: Leopold, Beatrice, Eugene, Winston, Tobias, Rupert, and Pedro. Each one of them has their own story and connection to the circus. But it all started with the silliest frog of all: Leopold!
Leopold was my first main character I ever designed. I wanted a character that could embody a bit of my own personality, but with a cute design and the ability to do silly things like work in a circus!
Then came Eugene, my goose character. I have always loved geese, especially the silly ones. Naturally, he had to be a part of the circus with Leopold, which then inspired me with ideas for my next characters!
The rest of the gang actually came to life during a drawing challenge last October. One of the prompts led me to create my own version of The Last Supper, which meant I needed more characters to fill the scene. That’s when Winston, Tobias, Rupert, and Pedro joined the circus crew. And Beatrice came after! Some designs clicked immediately, while others, like Winston (my bear character), needed a little reworking. Just recently, I gave Winston a redesign that finally feels more like how I feel he's meant to be.
As my characters developed, they became more than just drawings; they turned into a full-fledged circus crew with their own roles, personalities, and stories.
Lately, I’ve been exploring a new set of characters—the Teethlings! They’re a collection of six different tooth-themed creatures, each with their own unique name and personality. This project started as a fun experiment, but they’ve quickly become something I’m excited to work on and explore further. Unlike my circus crew, these characters bring a different kind of charm, mixing a little bit of the silly and cute with a little bit of freakiness and weirdness.
Meet the Teethlings:
Pearl – The shiniest of the bunch, Pearl takes great pride in staying spotless. Always polished, always picture-perfect, they dream of starring in a toothpaste commercial.
Munch – The laid-back wisdom tooth that shows up late and takes life at their own pace. They claim to be full of wisdom, but mostly just love snacking and napping.
Bristle – A walking, talking hygiene lecture. Always reminding the others to brush and floss, Bristle takes dental care very seriously. Probably carries a tiny toothbrush at all times.
Nibbs – A quiet and gentle soul, Nibbs is the shyest of the Teethlings. Rather than talking much, he expresses himself through thoughtful little gifts—whether it’s a shiny pebble, a ribbon, or a neatly wrapped candy (approved by Bristle, of course).
Grindy – The anxious one of the group, Grindy tends to overthink everything… and grinds their teeth when stressed. They could probably use a mouthguard and a hug.
Tartar – A mischievous troublemaker with a love for all things sugary. Always sneaking around with candy and avoiding Bristle at all costs. Deep down, they probably want to be a better tooth… maybe.
I’m so excited to share these new characters with you, and there’s even more to come! As always, my characters are a huge part of my creative journey, and I can’t wait to continue exploring their stories and quirks. The Teethlings are just the beginning, and I’m planning some fun things for them—maybe a few more surprises up my sleeve.
Your feedback and support mean the world to me, so if you have any thoughts on the Teethlings, or if you’re excited to see more of my circus gang or other characters, drop a comment below or send me a message over on instagram! I love hearing what you think.
And, if you want to grab a piece of the fun, check out my shop for some great items!
Until next time, stay curious and creative!
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