MOTH👑MONARCH ain't dead yet
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mothmonarch.bsky.social
MOTH👑MONARCH ain't dead yet
@mothmonarch.bsky.social
3.7K followers 210 following 2.1K posts
🐛 mothmonar.ch ✨
Bug King • Independent Artist & Designer • aka M. Capaldi 🌟
they/them, queer variety pack, real human artist
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mothmonarch.bsky.social
So! Unfortunately, I will not be at MFF this year. I'm working on getting my shop back up which is involving math to account for US tariff stuff. (It sucks. I'm sorry.) There shall be a sale on reopening, however. Gimmie a bit longer. 🐛
Strip of five cartoon bugs in ink in various poses.
November 24, 2025 at 10:12 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Tidy sketch comm for @dfstarfield.bsky.social! Just a friendly hello!
Digital sketch of a cartoon fox with large fluffy ears, fluffy short hair, and big bright eyes smiling and waving hello. He's wearing a simple open coat and scarf, long slightly tapered pants, and slip-on shoes. Art by Moth Monarch.
November 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
🐜🐜🐜
Photo of sketchbook page with cartoon ants in Copic marker. Top left is one in a sweater and glasses, holding some books under one arm and a pen in the other hand. Upper right and middle of page, various smaller ants in different poses and expressions. Middle right, an ant in a tank top with a sling pouch and a grocery bag walks while talking on the phone, saying, "Hanging in there?" with a response of "Yeah." Across the bottom, an ant in a hoodie and little sneakers looking starry-eyed at something off-screen, then several more ants including one in a vest waving and one in just lines picking some flowering plants. Art by Moth Monarch.
November 19, 2025 at 7:36 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
#TFTuesday Flat color sketch comm for Cody of himself & Jacob getting snakey!
Digital art of two men transforming into naga-style Serperior on the left and Seviper on the right. Each is still wearing a tee-shirt, but the left's legs are totally gone and the right's have shrunken. Most of their lower bodies are completely changed with some changes in their faces without loss of head hair. Left one's hands are starting to change while the right one's arms are changing from the shoulders down. They both look mildly surprised and are saying, "This isn't how I expected to celebrate the year of the snake!" "Me neither!"
November 18, 2025 at 11:23 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
A little dreamer cloaked in stars. 💫
Digital art of a dark purple cartoon firefly in a blue and purple gradient poncho decorated with yellow stars and a moon. They are running to the left with arms out so we get a good look at the poncho, which also has some strings hanging from the hood with little star beads at the end. The firefly is smiling with a little yellow star-shaped sparkle in the pupil of their blue eye, and a slight glow can be seen from beneath the poncho. Stars of various sizes also surround them on the lavender background.
November 14, 2025 at 1:46 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Ink, bugs, and life. 🖋️🐛
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023
Scan of traditional sketchbook page in ink of various cartoon insects. Across the top, a sleepy bug with a red plaid blanket says "g'mornin", a bee sits attentively and a pill bug strikes an active pose. Central, a firefly swings its leg up as if in a fight and a moth dances eyes closed with some decorative swirls. Lower left, another moth and moth bust. Various tiny bugs are doodled between all these. Scan of traditional sketchbook page in ink of various cartoon insects. Across the top, a slouching moth says "WHY" while holding its head, a tiny floating cicada and frowning bee running left, a moth waist-up in a jacket, another moth in a sweater eating, a tiny butterfly, and a very nervous firefly says "...um...". Mid-left, a small bug in a jacket with a backpack stands on a large stone overlooking nature. Low left, a moth dances to music; lower right, a bug on a surfboard with spray coming up from the sea beneath. Scan of traditional sketchbook page in ink of various cartoon insects. Upper left, a moth holds its hands in front of it with eyes closed and smiling - text beside reads "Never forget that you are very loved." Central, a large moth striking an active pose and glancing back with a smile. Other very small bugs fill the rest of the space. Scan of traditional sketchbook page in ink of various cartoon insects. Across the top, moth in a sweater dancing, ant in a scarf with arms up looking down and smiling, tiny moth having coffee, and a few other bugs. Lower left, a moth in a dance-like pose with thin red rays surrounding its head. To the right, a pill bug in a happy pose with one fist up saying "Yes!" A few more tiny moths above it and at the bottom of the page.
November 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Some favorite Ridicudorable badges done for folks over the years!
Cute badge of a black and white husky furry with some bright blue markings in brown and gold-edged magic robe with a barista apron over it, grinning with a wink and holding a coffee in one hand with magic steam coming out of it while conjuring a latte art shape with the other hand. The background is part of a coffee shop with cups and lids stacked and such things. The name written in stylized glowing letters at the bottom says "Trayco" Cute badge of a purple and blue frog in an agender flag tank top and sushi roll print shorts holding a massive salmon nigiri with both hands and wrapping their long tongue around it. They have a happy expression with closed eyes and two large silver piercings in one of their eyebrows. The background is a gradient pattern of sushi and onigiri. Name to the upper right is "Nedge" Cute badge of a smiling furry racoon in gold-framed sunglasses, a leather jacket with a vaporwave tee underneath, jeans, and colorful shoes sitting on some steps in pink and blue neon light. Name around the upper left corner reads "Dan Raccoon" Cute badge of a red and white furry-esque creature with a devil tail and very large claws on their first toes in a witch hat, smiling and holding out a hand to levitate a ball of purple fire. Their eyes have the alchemical symbol for sulfur for purpils. Behind them is a bubbling cauldron and other witchy things. Name along the left side is "Brimstone"
November 10, 2025 at 10:12 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
The October review is out for patrons! 🐛
www.patreon.com/posts/142783...
Photo of sketchbook pages of cartoon insects in colorful marker. A square-shaped book on the left rests on top of a larger book, to the right and slightly out of focus. The characters are assorted species and poses: moths, ants, bees, a firefly, a damselfly, etc.
November 6, 2025 at 11:04 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Black and white digital doodle of a cartoon moth sitting with a somber expression to the left; text to the right reads "I have some healing to do." A tiny cartoon crown rests below the text with the artist's signature lower right.
November 6, 2025 at 12:35 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Flat color sketch from a bit ago for Leo the Ninja Lion. I dunno what happened but you're gonna want to watch your step! 🏙️
Digital art in mostly flat color of a cartoon anime-ish lion furry character in a tank top, pants with kneepads, and lower arm wraps who is towering over most buildings in a city (Toronto, as the CN tower is near to the right). He is glancing down with a worried expression as one of his feet hovers over a roof. Word bubbles from him read, "Oh geeze..." "Was there something weird in that pizza?" A tiny character hovering to the right of his head has a bubble coming from them magnifying their appearance: a moth frantically waving with exclamation points over their head. Signed Moth Monarch.
November 2, 2025 at 10:00 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
many years ago, shortly after my dad died, I spent spare time with friends in Starbound (newly out in public beta) as a black Avian character named Memoria, burning off grief in a way. We'd play musical instruments as the ship flew long distances. Gymnopédie No. 1 always takes me back there. 🪉
Screenshot from Starbound during the early beta days, late 2013/early 2014. Two players sit and play musical instruments (roughly center) in a heavily decorated ship.
October 31, 2025 at 2:25 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
My health battle continues. Just wanted to check in. I'm doing what I can, OK? 💜
Photo of sketchbook page in purple lead, marker, and paint, mostly of cartoon moths and other insects.
October 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
I'm not giving up.
Black and white digital sketch of a cartoon moth standing on a pile of rocks with the wind blowing, shown by small leaves and debris moving right across the upper part of the image. The moth is looking into the wind; their expression is simple and unclear.
October 20, 2025 at 9:22 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
He got his due a few years back!
Anthrocon 2022 banner design by Moth Monarch. Among tall grasses, a green grasshopper, right of center, dances sprightly on a small barren patch of ground while playing a fiddle. He has a blue cap on with some tiny leaves as accents. A brown ant left of center carrying a basket full of grain strapped around them for stability tosses a coin into his open instrument case on the ground as they smile at each other. Other ants among the tall grain are working on gathering tasks. To the lower right of the grasshopper, a backpack and bedroll rest on the edge of the grasses. The sky above is blue with fluffy white clouds; some green hills can be seen in the distance. The scene is framed with a thin gold border featuring leafy accents with grapes at the corners. Top text reads "Welcome Anthrocon June 30 - July 3" for 2022. Bottom right corner has the Visit Pittsburgh logo.
October 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
The September review is out for patrons!
www.patreon.com/posts/140629...
A rough month for me, but I still did what I could. 💚
Photo of part of a sketchbook page in Copic art marker of cartoon insects and various accents themed around autumn and harvest time. Large to the center-right, an ant in a beige brimmed hat and green neckerchief looks at the viewer with a smile with many fruits and vegetables doodled around it. A note in tiny handwriting reads "Something about autumn & ants... maybe it's the harvest". Other bits partly cropped include more ant characters and a teeny scribbly scene of a bug walking through a forest with colorful leaves, with a note underneath reading "autumnal piece in sepia ink w/metallic leaves & foliage details??" Art by Moth Monarch.
October 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Some recent pencil drawings compared to their original sketches from 2013. Seeking precision and commitment through sketching in ink taught me things I took back to pencil!
Page of pencil artwork of several cartoon moths with crops of much older drawings inserted beside each one using the same or similar species and poses.
October 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
I've had some of my Copics 12+ years and they still haven't dried out.
Photo at an angle of a sketchbook page of various cartoon insects drawn in colorful Copic markers. Some Copics visible on the desk to the right of the page.
October 5, 2025 at 8:39 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
This isn't so bad honestly. My hand pinches now and then from the IV but I'm otherwise just vibing.
Point of view shot in a hospital bed of a Nintendo Switch and a cute Ditto plushie in the lap of the bed's occupant. The Switch has Picross on the screen. The Ditto appears to be looking at the viewer smiling.
September 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Still weaving magic. 🪄
Photo of open sketchbook with assorted pencils, pens etc. to the right. A cartoon moth in a whimsical magic outfit waves a wand with arms out, eyes closed. Blue and golden metallic swirls come from the wand and wrap around the character. The moth's outfit is dress-like, with a large pleated skirt and longer front piece, round buttons over a layered top, puffy upper sleeves, gloves, and long boots with little crescent moons on the feet. They also have a witch-like hat with a crescent moon decoration on the brim. Most of the rest of the page is blank except for a tiny bug in a simple outfit carrying a glowing staff doodled in the space to the upper left. Art by Moth Monarch.
September 21, 2025 at 10:11 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Iron infusions got scheduled to start near the end of the month. I am hobbling my way there. The fatigue is unreal. I've tried to ride out health stuff several times before, but I know people worry about me more if I'm silent too long. Thanks for being around.
Photo of sketchbook page in art markers of cartoon insects. Left, bust of a red-eyed black cicada in a blue and white jacket over a thin gray hoodie, holding onto the jacket zipper sides and smiling. Central, a tiny green cicada with the lower part of a bug wearing a brown jacket, jeans, and brown shoes visible above. Part of a brown stripey moth next right, then a tiny bee and an orange and red moth with squiggly waves of red and yellow surrounding it.
September 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
The August review is out for patrons! 🍂
www.patreon.com/posts/137902...
Sketchbook explorations in various media, digital commission work, and a status update.
Grayscale pencil drawing in progress of a cartoon moth person. They have comet or madagascan moon moth patterns on their wings: large round eyespots and darkened wingtips with tails on their hind wings. They're posed with lower arms held out, one leg bent, and looking to their side with large, alert eyes. One of the wings is still sketchy and unrefined with the rest of the drawing largely finished. Two pencils rest on the page to the right of the art.
September 8, 2025 at 9:49 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Went out for groceries with @catmonkshiro.bsky.social and was not having the best day. Then he saw me admiring these unusual painted roses. Who wouldn't?!
Bouquet of five real roses painted with galaxy colors. The centers are dark, close to black, with blue and pink-purple coloration on their outer petals and flecks of white sprinkled on them. A pale hand is holding the bouquet up against an off-white wall.
September 7, 2025 at 11:13 PM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
It's been a long road. 🖋🐛
Scan of sketchbook page in ink dated May 2013. Assorted freehand cartoon moths in a simple style. Compared to the following page, these are crude with less line control. Scan of sketchbook page in ink dated June 2025. Assorted freehand cartoon insects in a simple style. Compared to the previous image, these are far more refined.
September 4, 2025 at 4:01 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
this was back at like FE but it still makes me laugh when I look at it
Pale hand in a leather jacket sleeve holding a Starbucks bag and coffee. The image focuses primarily on the label on the bag, with the name "Moss." The person's name is Moth. Oops.
August 31, 2025 at 3:39 AM
mothmonarch.bsky.social
Adeeno! #silksong
Sketchbook page with a drawing of Hornet from the Hollow Knight games in ink and Copic marker. She's standing with her nail at her back, turning to look left. A pen and a marker rest on top of the page. Art by Moth Monarch.
August 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM