Coming Back with Art
I disappeared from a number of online places since February. So I will at least try posting here more. IRONICALLY, thanks to a virtual comic-con, I joined Instagram this year :p. There will be more traditional art posts and maybe a new character as I work on coming back.
In other news, we got a puppy this year. Also, this puppy is growing like Clifford the big red dog! I sold at my first in person con since covid hit (Khemfest) and sold new work, including original pieces I made during lockdown 2020. It was my most successful year with pre and post event selling*. I went to NY Comic Con and (re)met a lot of artists. One of the highlights was talking to Marvel legend Chris Claremont about his original work, cosplay, and The Last Duel movie and cinema's (lack of) boldness with ideas like it.
*I went from dropping art like rain during the summer to hitting a significant rest period for the past month. I worked so hard for Khemfest I became creatively exhausted.
Finally, I've been buying art books like nobody's business. So now I'm running out of space for books <i>again</i>, but it's been good research, not just for art, but for reading about artist's journeys and engaging with their audience. And I certainly can't do that myself without posting art!
That's a snippet of the past year. Please tell me what you guys have been up to too!
Unleash Eclipse!
Seriously, it's not terrible. I like that there is a section on new deviants. I like Popular having it's own category. I love the green color option that makes DA familiar and easier to browse--that color! I like that there aren't 50 categories and subcategories for art, but it's too simple for browsing. Also, no categories for submissions? Model, object, character? I couldn't find where to submit a journal until 40 minutes ago (but I'm posting in the old version).
I've been able to find where all my notifications are (yay!). I miss the look of my main page now, though I admit there was a lot of stuff on one page. Recommended for You is as troublesome on Eclipse as it is on the current version (called Watch). Are llama's gone? I like llamas. I miss my original ID image. I'll need to tweak my title image.
That's about it. I didn't want this current layout, but I grew to love it. I'm sure I'll grow to like this one. Then everyone and me will be angry when the next layout comes out and say this one was good. I await the next phase!
*Scrubs Journal Sign*
I have some 2020 goals, including being more financially independent with my art. I plan to grow my presence on DA and have a theme or character a month. A more personal goal is using the amount of art supplies I have before getting more art supplies I have to use up to make more room for more art supplies. So, simple!
I've been experimenting with ink and alcohol-ink markers and I find some are good for original work while some are good for coloring books. It's surprising how some brands seem bad until you find the right niche for them. The Faber Castell Pitt pens and Le Plume alcohol-ink markers are tied as my top favorites. I'm moving back to Micron pens for inking. Watercolors are taking a small break for now after a banner 2019 of use, including painting with a gold shine watercolor pot. This year is the year of pencil and pen.
So how's everyone doing? Any goals for 2020?
Convention and Update
I've been drawing a lot with different colored graphite, watercolor, color pencils, pitt pens, in digital, and highlighters. I'm bouncing between a mini book a month among three sketchbooks and watercolor paper x_x . Watch this space to see what may pop up.
Round Up 2017!
Sold at Khem Fest 2017
Cons visited: Schomburg Black Comic Book Festival, Khem Fest, New York Comic Con, 1st annual Anime NYC
31 days of gryphons...20ish days
Featured on Tiny Dragons website!
Oil painting working on it. Began using acrylic paint.
Wood burning skills are back!
Did 10 out of 12 months of rare animals, among them the Nilgiri marten, Chinese serow, and Black-chinned monarch (bird)
I read a bunch of books, including a block of Guardians of the Galaxy original novels/chapter books in the spring and dozens of children's books. Disclaimer: I read story time to kids so I have a reason.
Painting signs was steady work over the summer and fall!
Happy New Year folks!