dubird

Summer has actually been started for about a month, but been cleaning up some things here.  In other news, graduated!!  *happy dance*  There's a couple more classes I'm going to take to add a certificate in UI/UX to my resume, but other that, I think I'm done.  So I've been reorganizing stuff and trying to decide what to do.

Some questions you might ask:
actually, probably not, but I'm going to imagine you are and answer them anyways! XD

Q: So what now in terms of arts?
I'm going to try and start a sketch night every week, for at least an hour.  I will post them here and on tumblr, so if you don't see me posting sketching at least once a week, poke me!  With a very large stick!  Seriously, I've been lacking in motivation this whole year so far, and I need to work through it instead of playing Fallout 4. (ok, not playing so much as building settlements *ahem*)  I have one commission that I'm finishing up, but if I owe any art for anything, please let me know!  All my online stuff has pretty much been lacking due to school, so I'm trying to get that back up and going.


Q: What about websites?
Well, the GWG is pretty much static.  I NEED to finish the database and make a more functional layout, but let's face it, nothing Gundam Wing related has happened in quite a while, so the fact that I've kept it up is pretty much just me being stubborn!  My main site does have a new layout, as well as my portfolio.  Kinda needed to do that for some class stuff, but learned some new stuff and that Bootstrap is pretty damn awesome!

For my free graphics site, I've started going in and converting ALL the layouts to more modern code as well as templates for WordPress and b2evolution (because b2evo needs love too!)  I have other plans, but that's depending my ability to get back into doing arts and websites for myself, essentially.  We'll see.


Q: What about Centuris?!
No, I haven't forgotten her!  Truthfully, that's become a much lower priority.  I want to get arts back up and working before I tackle writing.  Also, it's been so long that I need to reacquaint myself with her story and decide on the direction.


Q: What about your other projects?
You mean the to-do list?  Well, Star Trek Senshi are still something I want to do.  Had some ideas that are still poking my brain.  New art for characters is part of why I'm doing the sketch nights.  The BSP gang is getting a minor makeover, but just haven't had time to sit down and work it out.  Runelords characters is on hold for now.  I'll be working them in between other arts since I do want to finish them!  After all, we spent 5 years in that game, we need a group shot.   

One that's not on there that I still want to do is work out how to build cosplay props.  I've played with peppacora (spell?), and am considering joining the local Makerspace since they have several 3D printers.  And laser cutters.  It's not a high priority, but SOMEDAY I will do the sci-fi armor that I want!


That's really about it for now.  We'll see where the summer takes me and go from there.  I am getting caught up in looking at arts, but there's so much in my watchbox that I won't have time to fav/comment on many of them.  But I am seeing them!!

I think I figured out what my issue is lately.  Lately being the last year or so.  I spend so much creative energy at work and class that I have little to none left for my personal stuff.  *lesigh*

However, this is my last big semester!  I'm taking a couple extra classes afterwards to get a certificate in UX/UI, because why not?  XD  But yeah, the main part will be done.  Then maybe I can get back to my own stuff.

For those I haven't talked to in a long time, I hope you're still around!  I'm not as active online as I used to be, but I'm going to make a point to check in at least a couple times a week to see what people are doing......of course it'll take me a few weeks to go through the backlog *ahem*.....

So yay!  There was a lot of projects to do this semester, and two of my classes were in things I have no actual experience in, so there were a lot of late nights.  One thing I learned is that I really enjoy digital photography!  Enjoyed it enough that I went and bought a new camera.  I had borrowed a friend's to do the class with because I didn't want to spent $1000+ on a hobby I'm not going to enjoy.  But, considering the fact that HSpoon commented that he hadn't seen me so interested in a class yet and the fact that I have ideas for shoots now, yeah.  New camera.  XD  I will probably post some up here from time to time because why not?

Anyhoo, have some projects in mind for this summer:

- Vinyl stickers.  I keep meaning to get on that, but not really feasible during school.  I'll have the summer to build up a library and figure out custom prices.  Thinking of using Etsy, but not decided yet.

- New website stuff.  I need a new layout for my main site, my portfolio, my graphic site, and going to make a new one for a photography portfolio.  Have ideas and mocks, just haven't gotten around to coding them yet.  That's a big one I want to do this summer.

- Revamp commission arts.  Again, might use Etsy for this, though I'll post about it here.  I need to sit down and figure actual time and cost instead of guesstimating.  Means the price will go up.  Don't know if that will help, but we'll see.  If you want to commission art at a lower price, better contact me before I change them!  If we start the process before I change the price, you'll get the lower price.

- Finish some character arts.  I have several I've started but not finished.  I'm going to try and get those done as well.  It's not high on my priority list, but it is there!

- Photos for Sakky!  I promised some car stock drawing photos when I got my new car, and now that it's sunny and warm outside, after Akon that will occur.  Have no idea if any of them will be useful, but I need the practice anyways.  Yeah, that's it.  It's not an excuse to play with my new toy!   XD

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I also want to apologize for the fact that I haven't been in touch with people too often.  The past few years have been rather stressful with school, work and other personal things.  I'm the kind of person that tends to withdrawal when that happens, so talking to people when I'm not having a good time is very hard for me to do.  Mostly because I'm a pity whore, and if I start getting attention for sad things, I will spiral down into full pity whore mode!  Still, I do feel bad that I've dropped out of contact with some people.  There are people here at DA that I know over AIM, but since I don't have it on during work, I never get to talk to them anymore.  I have other friends that I've simply lost touch with, which I don't like but don't know what to do about it.  It's that cycle where I feel guilty about not emailing them so I don't, which makes me feel even more guilty!  Anyone have any suggestions for that?

So, how do you figure your prices?  I'm going through and reorganizing things, but I find myself uncertain of how much to charge for things.  I don't really have a set time on arts, some take longer than others but I've never timed myself so I have no idea how to go about setting prices properly.

My last week of classes until January!  Plus, I will be getting more hours starting next month, which is handy.  Mostly because I can afford a larger car payment so I now have a Mazda3 Grand Touring!  w00t!!!  *happy dance*  Also thinking about starting commissions from people that have been on my list for a while.  Going to give it a few months to make sure everything is good in terms of bills and whatnot.

Taking three classes next semester, but I don't think any of them include much in the way of drawing, so hopefully I'll feel like actually working on other art again.  That's been an issue for me; I spend so much time drawing things for class that I just don't want to do other things.  I'll have some more class art to upload soon, and have some sketching that I'm almost done with.

I've also been getting into painting gaming minis again.  I've figured out how to prop the fig I'm working on so my shaky hands don't screw it up that much, and I've discovered that for larger figs, I do much better with detail.  So I've been roped into painting several dragons for HSpoon's game.  XD  So I may take some pictures of that just for fun.  We'll see.


In other news, if I owe someone art for something, just let me know!  This past year and a half has really been busy r/l, so there's a chance something got lost in my stuff.  ><