Hello! I'm Der-shing Helmer, aka "Shingworks", an Eisner-nominated and Ignatz-winning indie science-fantasy and educational comic artist based in the San Diego Area. I have a biology degree from UC Berkeley and a formal background in science education, but much of my professional life has been spent creating comics. I was an Editor at Vault Comics from 2022-2025, and am currently Vault's VP of Special Projects and Crowdfunding.

I am best known for my original comics THE MEEK and MARE INTERNUM. I am also the creator and editor of the all-ages anthology ELECTRUM. As a crowdfunding campaign manager, I've raised in excess of $250k to fund my own publications, and have raised nearly $3 million in funding at Vault. Past employers and clients include Disney, Autodesk, Sony, First Second, Lerner Books, and more. I've worked on projects involving creative partners such as Slash, Pete Wentz, Def Leppard, Matt Dinniman, and Post Malone. I've spoken on the topic of independent comic publishing to institutions including UCLA, CCA, CCS, and others. And I did it all without owning a smartphone, lol.

What else--? I'm a member, newsletter editor, and Vice President of the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society and board member of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. I have a great love for the genus Dorstenia (if you know what those are, you are highly cultured). I am one-half of the small nursery Pretty Odd Plants. Additionally, I am a novice botanical illustrator, and have contributed paintings to the CSSA journal and other publications.

Feel free to reach out in regards to speaking engagements, portfolio reviews, crowdfunding consultations, interesting projects, the succulent hobby, or just to say hello! If you read to the end and discovered that this vexingly long-winded About section was my method of gatekeeping my email, you've won the prize; feel free to write me at hello [at] shingworks [dot] com.

Thank you for visiting!