I’m Kristel Jax, an artist and writer from Toronto. You might know me from Drone Therapy's Podcast & live shows, the Instagram @dyingbutfine, my noise project Brigitte Bardon’t, or my writing. Or maybe you just know my mini pug Lana Del Satan. She says hi.

Thanks for considering signing up! A lot of my work is shared for free and your subscriptions help to pay for my therapy, podcast hosting, groceries, and whatever kibble brand is on sale (Lana likes them all).

On my blog you’ll find my monthly newsletter ILY 4EVER, chances to get IRL mail, pieces of mine that are exclusively available to subscribers including comics, music, short stories, lifestyle videos, bonus podcast episodes.

This page even offers absurdist custom-made videos featuring Lana (who gets lots of treats for her brilliant / sometimes sleepy performances). It's like cameo but... pug-eo.

THE LONG VERSION if you like reading:

My work tries to trace the impossibility of a single narrative by channeling the ambiguity of perception and memory, and shifting perspectives in the digital era through individualized and emotion based story telling. This is a fancy way of saying I’ve turned my emotional labour into an art practice.

If you want to know more, check out my sometimes-updated website: kristeljax.com

I started this Patreon to pay for my psychotherapy, which is ongoing, after a nervous breakdown brought on by years of doing the absolute least to take care of myself mentally. I have an amazing therapist who’s generously lowered her rates for me to $40 per session*, and I’ve been able to fully fund my sessions each month thanks to my patrons. I’m so grateful to everyone for being here.

Your subscription allows me to keep working on my recovery narrative (I know I said I don’t believe in singular narratives but sometimes they serve valuable functions) and keep producing art. I can’t begin to describe how fortunate I feel that people feel connected to what I’m making and want to support it.

Benefits are fulfilled according to the best of my ability, which fluctuates as I figure out my medication, life, etc, meaning some months I’ll post an original piece I just spent hours upon hours labouring over for patrons, other months I’ll post old work that would otherwise be lost to time. Trust that it's all done thoughtfully, I will not post paw paintings done by the dog. Unless requested.

Video requests are similarly chaotic: Lana and I have done everything from reading hour long chapters to recreating The Blair Witch Project in 3 minutes. Sometimes we use a green screen, fancy camera, and professional mic set up, other times it’s my cellphone with a bat filter.

Newsletter topics have ranged from tips for letting go of the past, to using a video game to examine broken familial relationships, to trying to piece together why I obsessively check Ebay for vintage Greyhound bus uniforms.

Some videos, recordings, comics, pieces of writing, etc will eventually make their way out into the world, while others will forever only exist here.

Drone Therapy Podcast specifically is free and ad-free but it costs money to create and host, so your support helps me make more episodes.

Thanks so much for being a pal & hanging w/ me & Lana xo <3

Drone Therapy illustration: @TheWaffleHo
Profile illustration: Scott Waters
Photo: InterAccess

*there are options for free / low-cost counseling programs in Toronto, I have been to many of them (and a few years ago I tried to compile a list here), but the benefits I’ve found from stable weekly sessions with a therapist cannot be overstated.