Let's Hope for Better And More In 2024

Sorry I have been MIA... A lot going on but I still want to keep this blog going.

First, still dealing with house issues: insects, cracks, and my mother had to terminate at least two contracts, one dealing with clearing out the vents. 

Had to give up my web host as their costs became even more expensive. 

Next, still trying to working from home as my health has gotten even more unpredictable. 

Because of my 2022 medical emergency, I had to put off things to set up for my freelancing. 

That meant putting off watching virtual and online classes to teach myself new art software and illustrator applications - I couldn't sit up for long periods and I stopped sleeping in my bedroom.

After all this, I needed to change my health insurance.

I also couldn't set up a new website. Plus, I was still debating which hosting companies to use.

I also ended up getting stiffed by a webhost company that did not even have the common decency to have their call times and days on their website, the host never even answered my question about logging in.

I went off on them in an email and they had the nerve to send me the WHOIS registry rules (which I already know as my previous website was 15 years online!) and nothing else! 

I will be dissing them online. 

Now here are some good news: SUMMER TO WINTER the webcomic is now official on my old Tumblr account! I created a secondary blog to host the webcomic. Soon, when I have my website, I might migrate it.

Summer to Winter is also on ComicFury, a longstanding webcomic hosting cooperative I learned about on YouTube

It is also on GlobalComix, a comic platform that showcases independent comics, small publisher, large publisher, and self-published comics! They also have a YouTube channel and offer workshops as well as podcasts and articles about their company and the comic industry. 

So, my webcomic is in good hands!

I will be uploading an episode per month. Sorry, this is my speed for now. Who knows how much faster or slower I will be in the future?

Summer to Winter already has five episodes up and an upcoming special for the March month!

See you in the next post, Dear Readers!

I Hate This...

D@mn. Did I bite off more than I could chew? This month is freakin' wild and I can't get my creative act together. I missed Camp NaNoWriMo for April and decided to make up for one of the "lost projects" by doing two for July Camp. 

And now I may not make my word counts on both because of an unforeseen project and trying to help out with technical issues at home that drain me and make me remember why I never applied at any tech support jobs! 

I am a total night owl introvert when it comes to things like this because, then, people are asleep and I don't have to contend with them getting in the way of my personal creative work being done.

Musings from a journal entry - 11/3/18

[Originally from 11/3/18]

I've never felt comfortable with my technical skills. I envied those book cover artists I grew up admiring. Landscapes, urbanscapes, ruralscapes, I wanted to draw them but think I lacked skill.

I've since used Inktober to do my own Vintage and Art Deco pieces. Studying the whimsical, fluffy, and effervescent backgrounds and settings in illustrated children's books all the way to the highly technical and detailed in many Japanese manga. I bumped up my Watercolor skills last Inktober and this year, I needed interiors and backgrounds. 

I also drew most of my scifi characters from memory. I did five backgrounds - 3 dorm room interiors, and two urbanscape. If I can consistently draw several longstanding characters from memory. If I can do better backgrounds, I could greatly expand and make myself more commercially viable.

Increase the odds of more illustrations published or showcased. With a new medium such as designer markers, it seems I can do just that. And if I use graph-- dot grid journal paper, I feel more comfortable doing buildings and structures. I can do a blend of technical with fine art since I favor impressionistic paintings over photo/hyperrealism.

I Finished INKTOBER 2019

The last day for Inktober was yesterday, Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, or Samhain... And I feel--incredibly sad. 

I'm not sure why, but since I started to participate with Inktober 2016, this was my first year following the prompts. One year, I just drew what I wanted. 

Another year, I practiced urban and interior settings by doing progressions: one day for pencils, the next day, inks, and the third day of the piece would be coloring. 

But now, with the final being a totally cartoonish piece and the last day, I think I grow more as an artist every Inktober. 

This year is particularly poignant because I'm working on outlines and clear goals for where I want to take my writings and my art. From sibling's suggestions, to parent's encouragement, as well as a random stranger on Twitter, I beginning to get a sense of what I want to present to the world as well as how to market it. 

I have had better luck with my writings and how that may go but I have often struggled with my artwork, which has actually been longer with me than the writing. 

Perhaps I'm so close to it that I felt I couldn't release it. And perhaps that's the reason I'm feeling bittersweet... It's time. I finally know what I must do. 

NOTE: As with everything, I will update on website, blogs, and other social media platforms I'm on. And, as always, take care Dear Readers.

When Artwork Imitates Writing

Just completed a draft sketch of my feline witch characters and it made the gears start turning again for my story.

I did what is called a 'gesture drawing' and it's when the artist draws a person or people quickly but in a dynamic way.

I started saving my art references not just in Google but as screenshots on my phone so, in case the internet is down, I can have easier access.

Drawing, sketching, drafting calms me but also makes me closer to my characters. Once I have a visual on them, questions occur, personalities start to become real, and I learn new things about them.

If you want to see my work-in-progress, you can hop over to my 'secret account' on Instagram: handdrawnbycarmenjr

More Random Thoughts from Journal Land

Camp NaNoWriMo started but this week took a bit much out of me, plus, I plunked down some hefty funds to get my eyes tested for new prescription frames! I was given a 40% discount but I'm poor until my next paycheck.

More news! Tabber the Red site will have a new look this July! In time for its birthday! So, working on some new Tabber stories set in world while also giving the official website a new face! Ay...

More random notes from the journals - this time, I need to do things on smaller paper or I feel I can't finish it! (Psychologically the same as getting the same amount of food put in a smaller bowl or on a smaller plate)

11x14 paper will be used as drafting/composition ideas!

9x12 will be for larger pieces such as character sheets, profiles, and storyboards.

Finally, 7x10 will be my magic number when it comes to final comic/graphic novel/manga artwork, which can be better scanned and formatted for digital submission.

May God help me with the next coming months. It's gonna be a doozy!

Animate Your Life

I watch a series called "Anime Supernova" which showcases rising star animators in Japan. I still like cartoons and animations as an adult. I also like overseas and foreign cartoons/animations.

I had an art teacher in middle school whom I couldn't stand. She wouldn't really teach us and she let the bullies run the classroom. I often got in trouble with her, not because I was a bully, but because I dared to stand up and fight back those bullies.

With Mother's Day was coming up, that's when she was teaching us how to use a kiln and make our own pottery. I wanted so much to make something but the jerk told me I was in trouble again and allowed the idiots in the class to make drinking mugs for their mothers while I had nothing for my own mom.

The experience hurt me so much that I shied away from pottery for a long time. The only good thing that moron teacher did for me was have us watch a lot of foreign animation shorts. A lot of my classmates were bored by this, but I ate it up. She did this instead of actually teaching, but I didn't care. While in that darkened classroom, I could escape. Dream. There were no troublemakers. And no bad teachers. Only imagination.

Years after I moved on, that teacher gave my dad a message that I must keep in touch with her. I refused. Anyway, I got better art teachers for 11th and 12th grade as well as in community college.

Rearranging... Part 2

Remember my rearrangement post? Well, we purchased a new armoire for the front room, near the kitchen. This one is slimmer and takes up less space. So what happened to the larger one? I replaced my dad's shelf with it as my new art shelves case. It actually holds more of my supplies, artwork, materials, and art references than before. At the bottom also holds books and magazines!

By the way, you can see the pictures of my 'new art armoire' on my Instagram. So, what happened to my dad's old shelf? It's now holding supplies for the house in the utility room. Mom and I just could get rid of it.

Part one - Rearranging 

I'm ranting again

There's so many reference books I'm enjoying reading now while I'm also writing and scripting. I also have some miniature sketchbooks I've been keeping in my purse so ideas don't escape me while I'm at work or out and about.

Will post some of those books because you all may want to read one or two titles!

Anyhoo, I'm still working on the science fiction short story and have a new feline fantasy short story that's been years in the making. If I can finish that as well as two others, I can feel I'm back in the furry game. I actually feel bad that I have not gotten a new Tabber the Red story published in a minute. I'm actually sad.

The artwork for it is also slow in coming and I don't want to make the excuse it's because I worked on other things but it's the excuse and reason I have to make. Because, while I'm working on one thing, something else gets put aside.

It's the reality of being a creative type and it gets me angry when other people don't understand this. Or even think that I and other types are *gasp* wasting our time/fooling around!

I'm taking a breather with some things to focus on other things

Have two micro-reviews on some fabulous graphic novels coming up!

In the meantime, have been busy trying to set up a new desktop computer. It's been slow-going despite having all the tools (external drive and cables) that I need but this Florida summer humidity isn't helping things.

Plus, I've had to do some deep soul-searching to decide to make up more hours at my job while still maintaining my freelancing career. I've given up on the fellowship-hunting for now. Can't be putting out all that energy and not really getting any returns now, can I?

And in other news, can you believe it? Inktober is just around the corner and I'm already planning on what series I'll be illustrating... May do some comic or graphic novel pages just to see if I can do it within such a lean time and space? May just stick to ink and markers for now.

August just started and there was a blood moon in July I didn't get to see but you know what... "I see a bad moon a-risin'" (folks of a certain age will get the reference).

Until next time, Dear Readers. I haven't abandoned you or this blog. Still too many adventures in this writing and art-working life.

Going back to basics

Buying paper and sketchbooks as an artist is more complicated. After using last of birthday money at my local art store that I need to return the 9 ×12.

Saw a 7 × 10 stack next to that and realized I should've bought two of those instead of purchasing a new 9 × 12. Want to down-scale.
Have been creating a lot of art on this paper but I remember for many years creating on standard 8.5 × 12. So using a 7 × 10 isn't a stretch.

This particular sketchbook paper isn't just any paper. This is Canson, a paper company established in 1557! I've been using their paper for years (Not as long as they've been in existence. Haha) and this sketchbook is for mixed media, 98 lbs, and acid-free.
It brings out vibrant color on designer markers and especially watercolor, which I am now using with my beloved color pencils.

I remember creating a lot of my early works on regular 8.5 x 12 and so I'm returning to those days.

The new skills will bring new creativity and it also has technical practicality. It's easier to scan on my 3-in-1 copier machine or on my mom's copier via wi-fi.

This will make life easier to take pictures and upload to my social media and scan/upload to my online art portfolio account.

This is my life

When people tell me I would make a good fit for other jobs, I stop cold. Despite how I appear and how I carry myself, I wouldn't get involved in a lot of corporate culture or career ladders...

Peers and colleagues assume I would deal well in some management or any kind of 'authority position' but I'm simply an artist at heart.

I've never been the type to show much interests in what I consider other strenuous 'occupational positions'. No matter what, I am happiest when drawing and writing, I don't have the impetus or the drive to do much else. I know in societal terms, this makes me sound incredibly lazy, but, what can I do? This is all I have the strength, the fortitude, and the aptitude to do for the rest of my life.

Though I have the knowledge and skills to do many other things, possibly what may bring me more financial security, I've got to do what I need to in order to succeed in my own way. After all, I'm an artist and a writer.

Inktober 10/30/16 - Submission #26 and #27

Antonio Castellano(c)

Stacey's father. He's a Pullman Porter! An important job that played a historic role in establishing the Black middle-class.

Hobart Hankin Jr.(c)

My guy Castellano's Roma father. And with him, I conclude my Inktober adventures.

 

Thanks everybody for the support, thumbs ups, loves, and encouraging words. 

This is Inktober, the last day of Inktober 2016.

'Til next year, God willing.
 

More Inktober coming up!

Already sketched out my ideas for today, last day for Inktober 2016. I'm sketching the protagonists' fathers next. Will need to stop by art store to stock up on black designer marker and some Staedtler pens (if I can as they're pretty pricier than the designer markers).

Inktober 10/30/16 - Submission #24 and #25

Margarita 'Rita'(c)

Beatrice(c)

Stacey's mother and Castellano's youngest/baby sister. Inktober is helping me recreate updated looks for many characters. My last submissions for tonight. Inktober 2016 finishes tomorrow.

Inktober 10/30/16 - Submission #23

Angela(c)

Here's one of Castellano's sisters. I killed my black designer marker. Now I must buy two this week. So I had to use alternate colors and it worked out well!
Stacey's mom is coming up. Wait for her. This is Inktober 2016.

Inktober 10/29/16 - Submission #22

Gina(c)

This is Castellano's mom. My last Inktober for tonight. I'll be drawing Stacey's mom tomorrow. I was going for 5 pieces but I'll settle for two. By the way, this is illustration #23.
Night, you guys.

Inktober 10/29/16 - Submission #21

Redmond aka "Redboy"(c)

Another character for Inktober.

This is my New Orleans Jazz musician! My first illustration of Redmond. 

Inktober 10/28/16 - Submission #20

Dorothy aka 'Dot'(c)

After work, will do more Inktober submissions. 

This is illustration #21! Another character from Depression-era novel. She's at home. I now realize I should have outlined her shoes in red only and without black ink. Oh well. This is Inktober 2016.

Inktober 10/27/16 - Submission #19

Hortense(c)

5 more days before Inktober ends. My submission of a character who is in my novel and also in my published short story "Night Sounds". I know one person who will be happy to finally see this person visually. Hope you won't be disappointed.