Alice Cao
@alicecaoillo.bsky.social
110 followers 75 following 20 posts
Vietnamese ink-wielding illustrator by day, local cackling witch by night, haunting the streets of Shrewsbury, Shropshire 🌱🖋️✨
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alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Hello! I’m Alice! Vietnamese pen and ink illustrator currently based in Shropshire, UK. I like illustrating for books, anything historical and fantastical, ESPECIALLY if it involves knights and swords and people in distress ⚔️✨

Portfolio: alicecao.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alicecaoillu...
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
The miniature landmarks were inspired by two things — the 1945 pictorial map of Cambridge by Kerry Lee, and The Field of the Cloth of Gold, one of my favourite paintings of all time 😌
An antique pictorial map of Cambridge with landmarks drawn like a miniature set and an elaborate border showing the many Cambridge coats of arms A painting of The Field of the Cloth of Gold with a dragon in the sky, rolling hills, adorably elaborate temporary lodging structures and the procession of two kings
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Me: I see we’re going to have a lot of ocean on this map. May I please use this as an excuse to draw a stupidly elaborate compass rose and a sea monster completely unrelated to the story?

Alix’s editor: Yes, but only if you can squeeze my bullet pointed list of things into the border

Me: Deal 😎
alixeharrow.bsky.social
most people don't know this but you're not technically a fantasy writer until your book has a map in it. with the topography drawn in charming miniature. and at least one dragon
fantasy map, on exactly the style described
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Draw fanart of all the things you love! You never know where it may lead. Sometimes it leads to getting to draw lady knights for your favourite author with elaborate borders where we tried our damnest to squeeze as many Easter eggs in as possible 😌
alixeharrow.bsky.social
what if i told you the everlasting (out oct. 28th) has ILLUSTRATIONS and a MAP drawn by the incredible @alicecaoillo.bsky.social ??? what then???
pen and ink art in a neo-victorian style, showing a lady knight on a bier. there's cool stuff in the border, too, like a pistol and a boy reading a book knight kneeling before a queen, who looks like a yassified margaret thatcher man and a woman beneath a really tight tree. there's a cute cottage in the border
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
The Apennine Colossus is the more direct reference I used for him. Resemblance to Blake is purely coincidental but one I cannot be more pleased about 😁
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
You probably have seen it already, but if distraction is phone based, have you tried Focus Friend? I can’t hold me accountable for myself, but I would rather die than let a little knitting bean down 😤😤
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Tariffs! On the dopamine! It’s an economic and health and safety HAZARD DON’T YOU KNOW HOW DARE YOU
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
The EU: You need an EU representative to ensure your product meets health and safety standards also follow these twenty pages of packaging rules

The US: flat tariffs, for everything. $80-$200. Don’t care what your product is

Me and my little Etsy shop: Babes it’s literally ink on paper 😭
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
I have your St George print and it’s one of my favourite things on my bedroom wall. Time to get him a buddy ☺️✨
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Been a huge fan of your work and meaning to buy a print for a while. Today’s the day! 😌
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Oh no that’s so sad! Discovering you was the highlight of my MCM Londo n experience last year! 🥲
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
QTP with powerful women ♥️

Grendel’s mother, from Beowulf. I love her so much you don’t understand 😌
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Thank you! I’ve no idea what I’m doing 😂
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
That time I got got given the Inkheart job and discovered I only want to draw fight scenes if I can charge them through the roof with homoeroticism 😌
Two characters from the book Inkheart by Cornelia Funke having a fight in a dungeon at sunset. One man has a knife to the other’s throat while pressing him against the wall.
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Qrp with an art piece you’re proud of!

Pen and ink

I wanted to draw this scene from Piranesi from the moment I read it. I loooove drawing statues, and drama. Took me weeks on and off, and every moment was a delight 😌
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Death & The Maiden 💀💃🏻✨
Reposted by Alice Cao
logandria.bsky.social
If you see this, post a knight!

She’s technically a queen, but… she’s on the battlefield nonetheless ⚔️
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
Hello! I’m Alice! Vietnamese pen and ink illustrator currently based in Shropshire, UK. I like illustrating for books, anything historical and fantastical, ESPECIALLY if it involves knights and swords and people in distress ⚔️✨

Portfolio: alicecao.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alicecaoillu...
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
If you see this, post a knight (compromising position optional 😉) 🗡️
Reposted by Alice Cao
aemiron.bsky.social
If you see this, post a knight! 🗡️
alicecaoillo.bsky.social
I feel it’s fun to make this kind of video once because you get to feel all “ooooh my life is like a film!” But filming and editing take so long. A filming day cannot also be a productive work day. A lot of them just edit the same footage over and over because not everyday can be like a film.