Who am I?
Hi! I'm Kelly Fitzpatrick, a comic book colorist and illustrator.
Over the past decade I've worked for almost every major comic publisher in North America, including Aftershock, Archie (and Dark Circle), Black Mask, Boom (and Archaia), Dark Horse, DC (and Young Animal), Dynamite, IDW, Image, Marvel, Oni, Z2, as well as many other indie publishers. I've worked on over 500 issues at this point!
I'm mostly known for my coloring work on Shade the Changing Girl, Bitch Planet, Supergirl: Being Super, and Gwenpool, but I also draw and paint illustrations and self- publish my own zines!
I love working as a colorist! I've been able to take on dream jobs and collaborate with the most amazing people that I'd never thought I'd be lucky enough to work with! However, freelancing full-time is also costly and difficult. I have to pay flatters, cover software subscriptions, buy my own health insurance, pay for my own website, pay for travel and hotel expenses for conventions, and that's just the tip of the iceberg!
In 2018 I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and it completely changed my life. I had to adapt my home for accessibility, start on a specific diet that requires me to spend more money and time to make everything I eat, see doctors and specialists and have special tests and bloodwork done frequently, a BUNCH of medications, a pain relief toolkit that includes salon pas and a tens unit, and I struggle with mild cognitive impairment which slows down my ability to do everything. My life became infinitely more expensive, exhausting, painful, and everything took me 4x the amount of time to do- meaning I went from working on 5 books a month and covers to coloring a little over 1 comic a month. I ended up moving back in with my parents in 2021 to pay off my ever growing pile of medical debt.
Why subscribe?
I would love for you to subscribe if you like my art, my comics coloring, or if you’d like to support me directly every month and help me pay off my medical bills and debt. THIS IN NO WAY MEANS I WANT TO STOP COLORING COMICS. I love working in the comics industry. I would love to add more balance to my schedule and have the freedom to continue to pursue creating my solo work.
By being a part of my SUBSTACK, you'll be supporting my solo work, allowing me to create more of it, and getting access to behind-the scenes looks at it that I don't post anywhere else.
I’m also outspoken and committed to educating others on topics such as: kink, fibromyalgia/ chronic pain, equity and civil rights, asexuality, and anxiety/depression.
Thank you for continuing to support my work and telling others about what I do-- and for spreading the word about the #coloristilluminati.
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Awards// Recognitions:
2023: Nominated for Best Humor Comic in the Ringo Awards (My Bad TPB)// Nominated for Best Anthology and Best Adaptation from Another Medium in the Eisner Awards (Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes, The Graphic Album)— Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 40X40: Bad Reputation/I Love Rock-n-Roll and Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes, The Graphic Album were also nominated for best Best Publication Design in the Eisners as well
2021: Recognized by Comicsbookcase.com for Best Single Issue (My Bad #2)
2020: Nominated for Best Single Issue or Story in the Ringo Awards (Bitter Root Red Summer Special)
2019: Winner for Best Anthology and Best Non-fiction Comic Work in the Ringo Awards (Where We Live, A Benefit for the Survivors in Las Vegas)// Nominated for Best Anthology in the Ringo Awards (Femme Magnifique: 50 Magnificent Women Who Changed the World)// Nominated for Best Anthology in the Eisner Awards (Femme Magnifique: 50 Magnificent Women Who Changed the World) and (Where We Live, A Benefit for the Survivors in Las Vegas)
2018: Recognized by PopCultHQ as Colorist of the Month for February// Nominated for Best Graphic Story in the Hugo Awards (Bitch Planet Volume 2: President Bitch)// Nominated for Book of the Year in the Harvey Awards (Shade the Changing Girl)
2017: Recognized by Comicbook.com for 8 Best Colorists of 2017// Nominated for Best Single Issue from a Mainstream Publisher (Supergirl: Begin Super) in the Prism Awards// Nominated for GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for DC: Bombshells and Love is Love Anthology// Winner for Best Anthology in the Ringo Awards (Love is Love)// Winner for Best Anthology in the Eisner Awards (Love is Love)
2016: Winner for Favorite Indie Book (Bitch Planet) Favorite Single Issue (Bitch Planet #8), Favorite Comic (Bitch Planet)// Nominated for Best Colorist, Favorite Big 2 Book (DC: Bombshells) in the Autostraddle Comic Awards
2015: Nominated for Best Colorist in the Ghastly Awards
2014: Recognized by Comicbook.com for the 10 Best Colorists of 2014
Named a Literacy Champion by the nonprofit COMICS4KIDS INC.
