New Year, New Stuff

Finally got a chance to update my website. I've been diligently working on my Tarot card set; I've been at them for over three years now. I'm amazed, because normally I give up on stuff if it takes me too long. I'm determined to get this project finished; I can't wait to feel that sense of accomplishment when I hold in my hands a printed, shiny deck of cards I created entirely by myself! I'm wondering if anyone would actually be interested in buying a set? Hmm ...

Anyways, a lot of stuff going on for me. Next month (Feb. 2009) my artwork is going to be on the cover of On The Town magazine, the Arts and Entertainment magazine of West Michigan. Basically this is HUGE for me ... my illustration is going to be seen anywhere On The Town is offered!! I was also "interviewed" via email by the assistant editor, Melissa Black, so there's going to be a small editorial about me in the same issue. I can't friggin WAIT until it comes out!!! As soon as they print the magazine, I'm going to post my illustration on my website. I don't want to ruin the surprise! Just to be a tease, I'll tell you the name of it is "Rupert." :) I'm really hoping (and please cross your fingers for me!) that maybe something will happen because of my exposure. A new job, perhaps? Cool new commissions? Only time will tell. It sure would be nice to do art full-time, but I know how unlikely that is so I'm not getting my hopes up TOO high.

I'm also in the midst of doing four more black and white illustrations for the Wizard of Oz RPG. Look for those images soonish.

In other, non-art-related news, Fiona is growing and growing. She likes to squeal loudly, and is learning how to sit up. I've already noticed the beginnings of crawling, so I'm preparing myself for the horrors of a mobile child. ;) Time to start packing up all the valuables and little decorative trinkets I have scattered across my house.

For Christmas I was given *gasp* a PS3 and the new Prince of Persia game from my in-laws. (I'm so spoiled!) I just finished the game a few nights ago; I loved it! The ending, I'll admit, pissed me off at first. Now I have to wait forever for the sequel... anyways, I really like the new Prince. I didn't think Ubisoft could top the Sands of Time Prince, but they did. (They certainly ruined him with Warrior Within, as far as I'm concerned ...) My favorite, however, was Elika. She's awesome, and not your regular damsel-in-distress type character video games tend to make of the female leads. I really enjoy how she's the one saving the Prince's ass all the time. I'm about to take a break from Tarot card drawings to work on a Prince of Persia fan-art illustration that I get excited just thinking about!

A couple new Tarot cards

Almost done with commissions! I even had some time to get a few Tarot cards scanned that I was able to finish during the usual slow Sunday at work.

Christmas Commissions Galore!

I THINK I'm done with them all for the time being. I can take a breath, finally! And maybe get back to doing my own work ...
Check out the three Christmas cards I cranked out the past few weeks.


For my Mom, who takes precedence over all, naturally. This is her Samoyed Blizzard, otherwise known as Blizzolf the red-nosed reindog.















For my great-aunt Diana, this is the card that took me the longest and was the most-involved. Seventeen people are on this card!




















And finally, my own card. I had to sneak this in really quick, so that's why Rory looks rather ... wonky. :(

Living in History

How exciting! I can tell Fiona that she was there with me when I voted for the first black president of the US. I put my "I voted" sticker in her baby book. :) I know change won't happen over night, but I'm very hopeful for how things are going to be the next four years. God knows this country needs something different! I really like Michelle Obama; she's intelligent and very well-spoken, and the fact that she is a mother, college-educated, and has a young family really appeals to me. (MUCH more than Sarah Palin, that's for sure!)
I forgot to mention Halloween in my last post, so here's a picture of me dressed as a Native American, She-Who-Harvests-Peas. You'll see why I was given that name. :)

The Busy Seasons

So I suddenly find myself immensely busy with commissions of a sort. I've been making my Mom's Christmas cards (well not MAKING per se, but drawing) for the past two years now, and now all of a sudden a bunch of my other family members want some of their own. Cool, right? Well, yeah, because it's more money and more chances to get my work out there, but all at once?! It's rather stressful, especially since my free time is basically nil since Fiona was born. I'm getting a crash course in time management, one that has been long overdue methinks.
Anyways, work is the same as when I left it almost four months ago. Depressing, because it wasn't good. I had hopes of things getting better, but it seems they must get worse before that can happen. (And worse it is) I guess I should count my blessings that I even HAVE a job, given the current state of the economy. And I am hugely blessed in other areas of my life, particularly my family. Fiona is growing so fast, and gets cuter and cuter every day! Rory is such a huge help and is so good with her, and I can't believe how lucky I am to have married him! My Mom helps out a lot, like buying her tons of clothes and taking days off to come down to GR to watch her. I wish she could babysit more often (and I know she does too!!)
Fiona's just started rolling over from her back to her tummy. Takes her a little bit, and her arm gets in the way a lot, but she gets determined and keeps trying. She is quite the talker! And so smiley! I like to show her off, so here's a picture of her fropm a couple days ago all bundled up for a walk.

So tired ....

I really need to update this more! But I'm back to work and I spent a five day marathon there, so you can understand my need for sleep. Especially since I have to wake up early tomorrow! I'll try to update more tomorrow evening after I get a chance at some much needed free time. Until then, feast your eyes upon my adorable baby girl!

Only 4 weeks of freedom left!

Of course I'm talking about going back to work. I know I shouldn't complain; at least I have a job, right? But I have been dreading going back basically since Fiona was born. I'm luckier than most, because I was able to take the full 12 weeks allotted off for childbirth. Granted, it was all unpaid, but Rory and I were able to save enough for me to be able to do that. Most women only get 6 weeks off and are already back to work full-time. I can't even imagine how hard that is. I know I'm going to have a really hard time of it when October 13 rolls around ...
It's strange to think that I'd rather be a stay at home Mom than a working mother. I have a college degree, and I always was of the opinion that women are more empowered by working, that I'd never be a housewife, etc etc. Now, that's what I want to do! Being a mother does totally change my perspective. Anyone know of any work-from-home deals that really work? ;)
Other than an impending sense of doom (God I wish I had a different job) things are OK. Fiona is growing like a little weed. Here's a picture I took a few days ago. Is it even possible she could get cuter than she was??
I've gotten a few commissions while I've been off work. In fact, I did two portraits for the local Arts and Entertainment magazine here in Grand Rapids, On The Town. I had to draw the editor and assistant editor, and their portraits are going to be in the magazine indefinitely. Pretty cool, eh? I might even be illustrating the cover for February's issue, which will hopefully get me some more hits on my website, and more freelance work. Maybe even a real art job!!
Off to take care of the little squirmer, and hopefully find a chance to update my website as well!