Happy Easter!
On the Topic of Cartoon Fingers
in this newsletter:
On The Topic of Cartoon Fingers
Another New Book Alert!
You’re Not From Around Here, Are You? By Clarissa Willis
Interview with Author Diana Aleksandrova
BONK! Newest Cartoons
Tapas
ComicFury
Whale & Aphid Seasonal Products
Easter Celebration
Retro Sweets
Now on candles, tea towels, and gift wrap
Patreon
What a Little Lantern tier subscription can do for you
A newsletter shoutout
Two exclusive mini-prints
BONK! Backstory, concept art, and lore tidbits
BONK! Digital coloring pages
Occasional digital gifts (wallpapers, Discord emojis, printables)
A reminder about Art Classes
70% off A Preply Trial Lesson
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Happy Friday, Creative Hearth!
I can’t believe another month has come and gone! 2026 is moving forward at an incredible pace, and with each passing month there seems to be another new exciting project to talk about!
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But first...
✌️On the Topic of Cartoon Fingers✌️
I’m going to say something divisive: I DON’T CARE about how many fingers your cartoon characters have.
Let me explain.
In my last newsletter, I wrote about how I was accused of using AI- but the crazier thing is, that SAME day it was published, I was accused again.
Their apparent reasoning for thinking this was because in one image, my character (Peb, from the BONK! comic), has four fingers, and in another, he clearly has five.
First and foremost, that black and white image on the right, was intentionally a tribute to the Fleischer Studios rubber-hose style of character design. The style itself incorporates certain attributes, including four-fingered white-gloved hands.
There is so much more to it, though.
Obviously, if your character has six or more fingers- unless it’s intentionally inhuman (i.e. alien or monstrous in design)- it will look unnatural (as in the image below).
That is part of the reason why AI-generated images are problematic and easily-spotted.
Traditionally, though, cartoon characters have tended to have four fingers, and there are many reasons for that.
Early animation was drawn frame by frame, so every extra line meant more time and money. Removing one finger did may things:
Reduced drawing time, resulting in fewer lines to animate across thousands of frames.
Simplified motion, because the pinky rarely moves independently, so its absence doesn’t affect gestures.
Cut production costs, which was especially important in the early studio era.
This wasn’t just for convenience; it shaped the visual language of animation.
Add to that the fact that stylized characters rely on clear silhouettes. Four‑fingered hands were able to:
Read more clearly on small or low‑resolution screens.
Match simplified character designs, where everything is reduced to essential shapes.
Avoid uncanny realism, keeping characters comfortably cartoony rather than too human.
This is why even modern shows like The Simpsons, Futurama, and Dexter’s Lab still use the four‑finger standard.
Over time, this became a visual shorthand: five fingers = realistic, four fingers = cartoon world.
What started as a practical shortcut evolved into a recognizable aesthetic.
So why did I flip-flop?
Short answer- because I am an adult with free will.
This is a cartoon world and suspension of disbelief is, in fact, allowed.
I save my BONK! Lore and Tidbits for my paid subscribers, but I did broach this topic on finger inconsistency back when I started this whole thing as a project:
But, again, there’s more to it than that.
In my cartoonist’s mind, (and again, I’m sure this will be controversial), you’re allowed to make exceptions and cross boundaries on purpose for the sake of driving home a solid POINT.
There has been a lot of talk about overtly-exaggerated facial expressions and gestures in modern cartoons- and, maybe I’m old-school for thinking so- but THAT’S WHAT CARTOONS DO.
These Ren & Stimpy stills are a great example.
When I use a close-up or solid and intentional fist or hand gesture with Peb, it’s only natural that more detail (and extra fingers) will become apparent.
Exaggeration is a key force in visual storytelling, ESPECIALLY with cartoon characters.
Moreover, context is also key, and it happens that with certain characters under certain conditions, there is flexibility depending on the scenario.
Patrick Star is my favorite example of this. His fingers come and go as the context dictates:
This is the beauty of cartoons.
Squash and stretch. Suspension of disbelief. Context and design.
Like the infamous em-dash with writing, if finger count is your deciding factor on whether an image or character is AI-generated, I am sorry to tell you that you are sorely underinformed.
Now, go forth and watch a cartoon!
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Now, on to the fun stuff!
📚New Book Alert!📚
Picture this: a birthday getaway to Sedona, complete with shiny new cowboy boots, a snazzy hat, and the camping trip of a lifetime. Mack, with his trusty dog, Huey, steps out of the tent and bumps into someone who’s definitely not a local!
With a sprinkle of help and a dash of understanding, these two unexpected pals find themselves on an adventure that’s truly Out of this World!
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📚Creator Interview📚
Diana Aleksandrova
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I have known and been working with Diana for a while now.
We first met through mutal publisher Maclaren Cochrane, where I had the opportunity to illustrate her debut chapter book, Tux at the Zoo.
Since then, we have worked together on multiple projects, and now she owns and operates her own publishing imprint, Dedoni Books. Her work largely focuses on getting hesitant readers interested in reading, by engaging them with relatable characters, humor for all ages, and whimsical settings. In her writing, she has also taught about the power of the mind through manifestation and positive thinking.
Diana is truly an inspiration, and I wanted to take a moment to share her extraordinary insights on creating books for kids.
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🎨 About Your Creative Spark
• What was the very first seed of inspiration for your Young Dream Makers series?
I have always been interested in manifestation and the power of my mind, but I have never found anything geared toward kids that is accessible and fun. Then came the idea of the little wizards and their first lessons, and the two ideas naturally merged into The Magic Wands, the first book in my Young Dream Makers series. Because what better metaphor for manifestation than wizard powers?
• Do you remember the moment a character “clicked” for you?
Every time I write a book, I am mindful of how kids would relate to my characters. One thing I am always afraid of is that boys would have trouble identifying with a girl as the main character, and vice versa. When I came up with the idea of having twins, a girl and a boy, as main characters, it all fell into place for me. For some reason, I love including twins in my books. For this book, and the following in the series, twins with different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses made the most sense and made the book memorable in my opinion.
✏️ Writing & Craft
• Picture books look simple, but they’re incredibly precise. What part of the writing process do you find most challenging or most joyful?
Every stage of the writing process can be both challenging and fun. I enjoy the process of developing an idea into a full story, and I get a rush of adrenaline when all the parts “click,” but it drives me crazy when something doesn’t quite feel right. Some ideas become Picture Books in one sitting, while others take a long time and numerous drafts. I have gotten better at identifying picture-book-worthy ideas over time. If I had to pick the part I enjoy most, I would say editing is probably my favorite. I already have the idea fleshed out, and at this stage, I am working on making it sparkle. It might sound strange for a lot of authors, but I do enjoy editing and seeing progress.
🖼️ Illustration Collaboration
• Do you write with visuals in mind, or do you prefer to leave space for the illustrator’s imagination?
To be honest, the illustrations usually come out better than I envision. I like to give the illustrators I work with minimal instruction, just to clarify my overall vision for the book, but then let them do their magic. For The Magic Wands, I wanted whimsical, black-and-white, and purple illustrations with a pop of color to emphasize the magic in the ordinary world. I love how it turned out, and so far, the feedback from readers is really positive.
🌈 Themes & Heart
• What emotional truth or message were you hoping young readers would carry with them after reading?
“I can!”
It might sound like a cliché, but I want kids to identify with the little wizards in The Magic Wands and believe in their own powers. I hope the books in that series inspire kids to try something new, to dream big, and to give them the confidence they need to be successful.
✨ For Aspiring Authors
• What advice would you give someone dreaming of writing their first picture book?
Write the first draft. Revise and rewrite. Once you feel confident that is the best you can do by yourself, look for feedback. Critique groups and partners are the most valuable partners you will have. The right critique partners don’t just praise your story; they tell you what works and what doesn’t work and why. And the best ones give you suggestions on how to improve your story. They make you grow as an author.
• How do you stay inspired when the creative well runs dry?
I get excited easily, and I get bored as fast. Luckily, I am a genre hopper, and there is always something that keeps me busy. My problem is that I want to work on too many things at once, and that is not how to complete projects. I am trying to be more disciplined, but it is really hard for me. Looking back, I am surprised I was able to write and publish as many books as I did.
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Thank you so much for your insight, Diana!
I just know your words will resonate with readers and aspiring children’s book creators alike!
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Peb: I provide for my friends.
Fish: I provide consequences.
You only live once! Just try not to go extinct...
A reminder that you can now find BONK! on Tapas!
BONK! made its ComicFury debut on September 26th. Since then, Nib & Peb have also made their way to Instagram (@bonk_comic), and, as viewership continues to grow, BONK! has been introduced to the world of web comics on the mobile platform Tapas.
BONK! remains free to view on all platforms. The great thing about Tapas, though, is that it supports monetization through tipping and ad revenue, offering you guys another way to show your support so that I can continue to create my comics.
After 100 subscribers, I can begin to earn ad revenue, and in the meantime, tips can be accepted in lieu of Ko-Fi donations. The amazing benefit for you guys is that it’s free to subscribe, and, when you install the free Tapas mobile app, you’ll receive BONK! updates directly into your Tapas library. You’ll also get access to Tapas’ library of thousands of free online web comics.
I urge you to check out the Tapas mobile app and subscribe to BONK! Again, it doesn’t cost a penny (unless you choose to send a tip)!
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🥕An Easter Celebration🥕
An Easter celebration has been ongoing at Whale & Aphid all month! Have you had a chance to spring in on the festivities?
Hop into spring with this cheerful pattern of bunnies, chicks, colorful eggs, and tiny forget‑me‑nots by @whale_and_aphid; a playful burst of joy perfect for anyone who loves cute, happy vibes!
Available in a variety of springtime colors:
Original 🌿
Plumeria 🌸
Orchid 🫧
Hydrangea 💎
Buttercup 🌻
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🍬Let’s Revisit an Old Favorite🍬
Retro Sweets are back in a BIG WAY!
I’m bringing attention back to my @whale_and_aphid Retro Sweets collection, but putting them on all-new products! 🍰 This year, we’ve added tea towels, candles, and gift wrap to the mix via Zazzle 🕯️✨ Be sure to check them out on my website at the shop link!
And don’t forget- These sweet patterns are ALWAYS available on apparel, tech accessories, bedding, and more via Redbubble!
Be sure to shop around!
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A Reminder About Patreon…
A reminder that you can now find me on Patreon! This is just another small way you can show your artist support- the $7 Little Lantern tier is the popular choice- and gets you:
A newsletter shoutout
Two exclusive mini-prints (Emberling AND Little Lantern)
BONK! Backstory, concept art, and lore tidbits
BONK! Digital coloring pages
Occasional digital gifts (wallpapers, Discord emojis, printables)
That about wraps it up for me!
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot an email or jump into WACreativeHearth on Discord!
Cheers!
🌸Victoria
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P.S.
A Reminder About Art Classes…
Preply is now offering 70% off a trial lesson! This is a huge discount, so now is the time to sign up for a trial even if you’re on the fence about learning illustration, because you can try before you buy without having to invest full price!
During a trial lesson, we take a class session (1 hour) to get to know one another, discuss your portfolio goals, and work out a custom plan to get you to where you want to be at the end of the 20 lessons.
My easygoing course is beginner-friendly, but my custom approach can also hard-focus on specific areas with guided drawing exercises (figure drawing, proportion & composition, character design) for those a little more advanced.
Consider signing up today!
