HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

An interesting fact:  I'm Canadian, but I came to Canada when I was 11 years old.  In Serbia, where I spent most of my childhood, Christmas is a very religious holiday (I'm Orthodox Christian, though I would say I'm more spiritual than really religious.)  There is no Santa and St. Nicholas comes on a separate holy day.

I'm writing this to explain why Artemis, wearing what is deemed is Santa's hat, is wishing everyone Happy Holidays, when it pretty much appears as if it is all about Christmas.  However, in Serbia the person having the image of Santa Claus brings presents on midnight at the start of a New Year.  The translation of his name in my country is Grandfather Frost.  The Christmas Tree is simply New Year's Fir.

Therefore when Artemis (above) and I wish everyone Happy Holidays--we mean all holidays: Christmas, Hanuka, Kwanzaa, etc.

So: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Mili

Final Illustrations of "The Bridge"

I have been dreadfully sick for the past week with a horrible flu that had me in bed for 4 days, and barely able to sit up until today (day 7), but I'm happy to report that I have finally manged to finish the illustration of the bridge over Danube.

Original Painting

The above is one of the photographs I took of the original painting.  I decided to layer this image over a texture of old paper, which I happily found for free, graciously bestowed by Caleb Krimbrough.

 Caleb Krimbroughs Texture

Bellow you can see several of the final images I came up with combining different photos with the same texture, and playing with levels, layers, saturation, image adjustments, etc. 

 Final Illustration 01

 Final Illustration 02

 Final Illustration 03

 Final Illustration 04

Final Illustration 05

My favourite results are Illustration 03 and 05.  I cannot decide which one I would prefer.  

Which is your favourite?

Someone has already pointed out to me that at that time (105 A.D.) the whole area was probably forested.  However, I deliberately left space for the inclusion of text.  The art director and editor will decide how to crop this image to it's best advantage, that is why I always paint my illustrations bigger than the proportions demand.

I will let you know where you may find these images in print in a future post.

For now, enjoy and thank you for following.

Mili

Levinia's Riddle: Answer for your chance to win!

I just posted a new riddle on my Facebook Page. Answer for your chance to win $1000 worth of Mili Fay Art.

My College Drawing of Levinia

Digital Editing of Traditional Painting

As a member of the Children's Illustration LinkedIn forum, I received a question regarding the integrity of using digital tools to edit traditional paintings.  Though I love traditional art, I am not a puritan.  I'm in favor of using anything you deem necessary to get the work done, and get it done right.

A while ago, I painted a portrait, and thanks to the sharp eyes of David, it was pointed out to me that I made a serious error regarding the subjects eyes.

Original Painting

Having painted this portrait when I had a fever, I felt that there was something not quite right with it, but did not see my error until that moment.

Today, I hopefully rectified that mistake, using a digital editing program.

Edited Version

Thank you digital technology!

Please follow my Facebook Page if you wish to see more of my artwork as I progress.

Thank you for reading!

Mili

WORK IN PROGRESS: What is wrong with this painting?

I have been given a challenge to reconstruct a scene that has not existed for nearly 2000 years. The challenge of historically accurate representation is the lack of readily available information one can use for reference. No wonder there are research departments for historically made movies. It is not just the landscape one has to worry about, but the materials available for use at the time, and the knowledge to create.

I need to illustrate a Roman bridge created in 105 A.D. over Danube, from what is now Serbia to Rumania. This bridge was completely destroyed, and all that remains are a few archeological scars.

However, the Internet provided me with what I will assume are accurate dimensions of the bridge and information about the construction of Roman camps on either side. Books provided more information. Nevertheless, I feel as if I do not know enough, and unfortunately I cannot afford to spend more time researching the period for accuracy. I have to hope that editors in charge will be so good as to point out any discrepancies in my work, before I completely embarrass myself.

The drawing began with a satellite photograph of the area. Though I am aware that 2000 years of erosion has change the landscape considerably, it is the best visual representation I could come up with.

Then I created a flat dimensional map of the bridge. Inventing some dimensions, because unfortunately they were not included in my research.

With a digital program I placed the map over the photographed area, giving me as accurate representation of the bridge as possible, before adding details and completing my drawing.

However, I have no idea what existed around the bridge and the Roman camps (castrum-s), so I tried to create some cottages and farm land surrounded by a deciduous forest.

I decided on the Autumn scene, because I believe that the contrast will make the river and the bridge stand out from the surroundings.

Now, I have been painting the scene for three days and I'm not happy with it. I think I may have figured out the problem, but for the sake of this blog, I ask you:

"What is wrong with this painting?"

CAN YOU SOLVE THIS RIDDLE?

"TUMBLE, a shade of its other name.
But, that name is not what I need.
Second last from the end,
crowned in red, gold and a bit of green.

What is it?"

If you can, you may be able to win $1000 CAN worth of Mili Fay Art.

Just be the first to answer the riddle on my Facebook page.

M

Mini-MEs!

Just to let you know I've posted a new Mini-ME!  If you wish to see it, follow the link below:

Mini-ME!

Thank You!!! Contest: Update

I have finally decided what the Amazing Mystery Prize will be (worth ~ $1000 CAN). Two riddles remain unsolved. Are you clever enough?

https://www.facebook.com/MiliFay

Levinia's Question

Last week no one was able to get the answer to Levinia's question. I just posted another riddle. Are you clever enough to solve it?

:-)

https://www.facebook.com/MiliFay

FACEBOOK: Thank You Contest

It has been almost a year since Mili Fay Art came into existence. To thank you for keeping my name alive on the Internet, and as a special treat, this Halloween I've created a contest with an

AMAZING MYSTERY PRIZE!!!

(Worth ~ $1000 CAN)

(However, since this contest is all about you, if you have something you would wish to receive as a gift from Mili Fay Art feel free to post a suggestion and I will take it under advisement as I make up the prize box.)


The contest is open to anyone, but to play you will need a Facebook Account because it is happening on Mili Fay Art's Facebook Page.

The Thank You Contest runs from today (October 31st 2012), until January 15th 2013.


HOW TO WIN:

Once a week Levinia (the sphinx pictured in the sketch) will ask a riddle.

The first person to answer the riddle correctly will receive a point.

Whoever has the most points by January 15th 2013 wins.

Have fun, and may the best Riddler win!


THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MILI FAY ART.

Mili Fay

Emperor Trajan

Well, the portrait is finally done.  Hopefully, tomorrow I can finish the game cards, and then I can return to AIMH until NG gets back to me.  Considering that I have had no word from them in weeks, I'm starting to think that they may decide to use another artist.

That is my problem.  There are too many things I want to do, and unfortunately I am only a single person.  If I was at least like superman...  Then maybe I could get tasks done much faster, though I doubt it would help with painting--unless it's digital.

You can tell I'm tired, since I'm going off on weird tangents.

Enjoy Trajan and wish me luck for Apollodorus.

If you have any suggestions on what an architect wore in ~ 105 AD, please, PLEASE, let me know.

Love,

M

See the progression of painting: https://www.facebook.com/MiliFay

PORTRAIT PAINTING--It's Been a While

I have not heard from NG after sending them my roughs, and I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps they cannot visualise the finished product from my sketches. So, I decided to complete the one painting I do not need the art director's input on, because I have only one vision for it.

If you would like to see the portrait progression, please visit my Facebook Page:
Mili Fay Art

The image included is my progress after ~ 10 hours of painting.

As always, questions and comments are welcome. :-)

M

Tiny Spider In My Teapot

The story you are about to read is true, and has happened....


...a few minutes ago.

TINY SPIDER IN MY TEAPOT

A tiny spider found a home
in my smallish yellow pot.
Opening the teapot's lid,
I have freaked the spider out.
In a frenzy to escape,
dodging shadows, dodging light,
in silly circles he did run,
the tiny spider in my pot.
As I brought the kettle over,
boiling water in to pour,
I noticed the tiny spider
and of one thing I was sure;
a tea bag will serve me better
on this tired autumn's day.
So, I closed my teapot's lid
and took the kettle far away.
Tiny spider in my teapot,
your useless struggles were hard to see,
because today, oh tiny spider,
we resemble Fate and me.

© Mili Fay Art

CHOIR PRACTICE

I went to choir practice for the first time in two years last night.

(For those of you who do not know this, I managed to bend my vocal cords by not breathing properly, and speaking using my throat muscles rather than my diaphragm. At the time I was under so much stress, and dealing with grief over my grandfather's death, that I was breathing really shallow for months. I had a sore throat all the time, and I could barely speak, let alone sing--I sounded as if someone was strangling me while I tried to talk.)

So, choir practice.

I am a first soprano (meaning I sing the highest of the high notes), but I have had no formal training. As a kid my parents could afford only one extra curricular activity and I chose art. Therefore, I know nothing about technique and I cannot read music; I can follow rhythmically, but I have no idea how high or low a specific note sounds.

Last night, everything was going well. As we were warming up with some vocal exercises, I concentrated hard on breathing with my diaphragm, and not using my throat muscles at all. However, as more time passed I realised that last night I was going to be one of only two sopranos present, and the ONLY first soprano.

I was terrified.

I am in a choir for a reason. I sing by memorising the melody of other singers. I need a trained soprano to pick out the tone, and then I latch on to it like a leech and follow along. I do not have the confidence to be a soloist, especially after not singing for two years, and as I already mentioned I cannot read music, but last night I had to do both!

I couldn't concentrate on breathing, and I was so nervous that my breathing became automatically shallow. I tried to pretend that I was alone practicing, and sometimes I managed, but I could feel my throat muscles constricting more often than not. It also did not help matters that the soprano bit for the music we were singing was opera singer high. Most of the notes were in the second octave from the middle C (the middle of the piano), and several times I had to sing G5. Trust me that is high for sustained singing. Even "Think of Me" does not have that note in the song, Christine only goes higher at the very end, but that is vocalised, without a lyric, which is easier.
(Note: Sarah Brightman I think sang G6 when she performed in Toronto.)

My fellow soprano did not even bother to sing the highest notes, so I had my solo there and I think I sounded too much like a train whistle, since my fear was choking me.

Conclusion: I have to get some training.

I will look into finding myself a coach, as soon as my work load is easier. Until then, hopefully I can do something with the CD exercises I picked up a few years ago.

Now, I'm off for a walk, since I'm sick of being shut indoors.

Later!

M

PROJECTS, PROJECTS, PROJECTS...

Well, who would have thunk it, but the moment I returned from my surprise vacation, a few interesting job opportunities landed on my desk.

This of course means that I will have to postpone my own book yet again.  However, these new projects are something I just could not say "no" to.

The first is a job for a friend.  He came up with an amazing new card game, and he wants me to design the cards.  This is another one of those jobs where I will get paid only if the game sells, but I believe in my friend, and I feel this is a reasonable risk to take.  Since these images are supposed to be very graphic, I taught myself some Adobe Illustrator, and borrowed the program so that I could finish the job.  In the past, I have worked exclusively with Photoshop, but I think Illustrator is better for graphic images, because it gives you wonderful crisp lines, and the zoom function is next to endless.  I completed most of my images using the Pen Tool, and some simple shapes tools.  The next bit will be trickier, because I have to draw figures, and I'm not sure how to "clean-up" in Illustrator, but hopefully I'll figure it out.

Unfortunately, I cannot post the images here, because they are game sensitive.  However, once the game is printed I will definitely post some advertising.

The second job is something I have been waiting for so long, that I cannot believe I actually got it.  Thank goodness for connections.  What I need to do is illustrate a reconstructed scene of an ancient bridge ruin, and make it look like it was back in 105 A.D., as well as a portrait of the Roman Emperor Trajan and Apollodorus (the architect).  Do you know where these illustrations will appear?

National Geographic!

OMG!

I'm almost expecting some sort natural or unnatural disaster to happen and squish this opportunity as well.

I've been working my but off, since I finished school and so many projects I've done have come to nothing, that I'm starting to believe I'm cursed.  What good is my talent, if only a small circle of individual ever gets to see my work.

I'm impatient for my career to begin, not just to have work.

Seeing as how this is the biggest job I have ever had, I'm determined to create something so magnificent that people in posterity would seek out those images.

The article should appear in February and I have to get everything done by December.  I've e-mailed very rough images for inspection (very rough--hopefully they will not look at them and think I'm incompetent, but I do not see the point in wasting time on creating several images if they will only choose one--if they need me to create several beautiful mini images, I will do so, but it's waste of time and money).  Hopefully, I did not make a mistake :-I.   So far, my roughs have worked OK with other clients, but THIS IS NG!

I think I fainted a little bit.

So, the article will be published in Easter Europe (since that is where the bride is), and if it gets a good rating (4/5 stars) they will publish it in all the magazines around the world.  The text is really well written, and I will make the illustration so amazing that everyone will just have to have it.

So...

Wish me luck!

On another note, this past Friday, I spent the entire day in front of my computer watching the Free International Freelancer Day Conference.  It was amazing!  I got quite a few excellent tips, and some sources for further study.

I'm dreadfully behind on my Art Help blog, but I hope I can write another article soon.

Tomorrow I'm meeting my fellow IDE members to discuss our fantasy writing.  The way we are going, I think I will have my book edited in about 5 years. :-)  However, I love those ladies, and my fantasy book is the one thing I will not rush.  I love that story so much, and I want everyone who reads it to see it the way I do, and at the moment my writing is just not matching my vision as well as it could.

Well, this has been a long post.  Thank you for reading it.

Love,

M

Meet Nini!

In honour of my sister's birthday I created a new character for my Horsing Around Series.  Of course, a print will not be available for sale until I'm able to create a watercolour drawing.

Nini is an aspiring vet, who is always there to fix all the hurts, kiss them and make them better.

M

Legend of Korra Character Design: Fun Pack

****Fun Pack link found at the end of this post.****

For those of you who know me, or at least for those of you who have bothered to read my biography, you know I wanted to be an animator.  Since I was 12 all I ever wanted to do is classical animation.  If you are familiar with the classical animation industry that statement may mean that I wanted to do anything from conceptual work to final painting of the cells, or even post production.  However, when I say "classical animation", I mean classical animation--I wanted to sit 16 hours/day, making characters move with the help of loose sheets of paper and my beloved blue pencil.

However, since classical animation virtually vanished in my second year of college (there are still some positions over seas), I turned to illustration and other traditional art jobs.  After a lot of soul searching, I discovered that I like to draw (traditionally) even more thank I like to animate.  It is a shame really, since my teachers did tell me that I had a natural ability for animating: rhythm and timing came easily, and any issues I had had to do with my lack of drawing ability at the time.

In all the years since college, there was not a single job opening that tempted me to give up building my personal career to work in an animation studio.  That is, not until recently.

By accident I came across a Character Designer position for the sequel to my favourite animated series ("Avatar: The Last Air Bender"--if you have not seen it--do), "The Legend of Korra".  Well, I knew I would always regret not trying out for that position, so I rolled up my sleeves and worked my ass off for three days, trying to create an impressive portfolio.

I only had three days, because my friends have invited me to visit PEI, a place I wanted to see since I first saw "Anne of Green Gables" when I was a little girl.

Why didn't they advertise that job opening a month earlier?  Then I would have given it my all, but no matter how much I wanted to work on that show, I could not say no to visiting PEI.  I may never have another chance to visit the island, and the probability of me getting the character animation job was not high.

As it turns out, it was pretty much non-existent, but I'll write more about that later.

So, for those three days I delved into the world of animation, trying to learn the character style, and draw with the economy of line, something I have not needed to do for years.  I loved it!  I had so much fun, even though I could not get the style quite right (Avatar is very detailed and angular, while I've been drawing simplified round forms).  I did create a number of decent drawings, and any artist who looked at them could have seen that I had the ability to do the work with competence.  (The problem with art jobs is that Human Resources has a first pass at your portfolio and application, and unless you make them happy your work may never be viewed by an artist at all.)

On the day I was supposed to leave for PEI, I tried submitting my portfolio online, but there were all these glitches.  I would try to upload the "release form", and my resume would vanish, or my personal information would be deleted, or one of my schools would disappear.  Since my time has run out, I submitted the thing as best as I could, aware that my "release form" did not go through, and I enlisted my sister's help in submitting the form if she could.

Upon my return, I went back to the submission site, attempting to figure out what was wrong with it.  Then, as I finally read Terms of Service, I discovered that I had to be a US citizen to use the site.

I'm Canadian.

I was planing of creating a flat book and submitting it physically to the animation studio, but in the mean time the position has been filled out.  In the future, I will submit a portfolio for that show.  Who knows, they may need someone to work on characters for the following season?

However, clearly it is time for me to refocus on my own work and finish AIMH.  Not to mention that I've gotten another job--designing game cards.

So, all that is left for me to do is bid goodbye to the animation field again, and post a link to the artwork I created here for your examination.

What you will see by clicking on the link below is a website version of what we in college called a Fun Pack--a fun pack is a collection of sketches and artwork suggesting the design for the film, with the full knowledge that the designs have not yet reached their final state.

I forget what they call the final booklet with "on-model" designs.  Maybe "Design Manual"?

Anyway, here is the link:

http://artofmili.ca/Character_Design_Portfolio/Character_Design_Portfolio_Welcome_Page.htm

Enjoy!  And, as always, comments are welcomed and appreciated!

Mili

Please note that I sketched in Korra for reference, to see if my designs can stand with her, however, she is not one of my designs--she is copyrighted by Nickelodeon.  Everything else is mine.  :-)

ARDANIAN BROOMINICKS!!!

Every household should have one.  :-)

This is one of the creatures from my fantasy novel, WofV, which I have been writing since I was 16.  English not being my first language, I've never felt confident enough about grammar and style to send it to a publisher.  However, now that I'm a member of an amazing fantasy writing group, IDE, I hope to finally polish my novel enough to brave sending it to prospective publishers.

The above is a sketchy pen drawing (sketched over blue pencil), that I've spent far too long digitally colouring.  You can tell it's digital, because it looks so shiny!  However, it's been a while since I've done anything digitally, so I figured--why not?

Though I bought books on digital painting, I have done no more than look through the pretty pictures.  Hopefully, I'll be able to pick up some fancy techniques soon.

Drawing this was fun!  However, this is not the style I'll be working with when I illustrate my novel.

Enjoy Broominicks!

Love,

M

PICASSO AT AGO

Have you ever wondered what you would look like as a Picasso portrait? Well, I need not wonder anymore. It was quite creepy to see my face from a series of four portraits in the AGO's "PICASSO: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris" exhibit.

I didn't have enough foresight to write down the name of the work, because as I stood by the work the other visitors kept staring at me in wonder. Quite unnerving, so I got myself away from those portraits as quickly as I could. All I remember is that they are located across from the wall displaying a photographic progress of Picasso creating "Guernica". So, if you visit the exhibit in its remaining 26 days, look for me there.

Another embarrassing discovery I made at the exhibit (that has nothing to do with Picasso) is that umbrellas are not allowed. Perhaps this should have been obvious to me, but as none of the staff said anything until I was in the show, I thought there was no problem. Then, out of the blue, a tiny security woman came up to me, looked at me as if I was a terrorist about to strike, and told me that umbrellas are not allowed. I can take the umbrella down to the coat check myself, or she can have someone bring me a ticket while I continue to view the show. Feeling as if every guard in the gallery was ready to take me down if I made a sudden move, I slowly let the woman know that I chose the latter option. She confiscated my umbrella as if I intended to swing it around and brandish it like a weapon at the unsuspecting guests. I acted all cool, but deep down I was embarrassed. I do not like drawing attention to myself under the best of circumstances, and being reprimanded and treated as a naughty child in a gallery show does make one stand out. It does not help that I'm 5' 9" and was wearing a somewhat-fancy red dress (after the gallery I was going to the theatre). So, I had plenty of people staring at me. The security lady was polite enough about it, but I felt dreadful nevertheless.

In the end, there was no one who could be spared to bring me a coat-check ticket, so I got my umbrella back, with the warning to be careful with it. I tucked it against my front and assured the woman that I would be careful, while in my head I imagined swinging the umbrella like a sword at the visitors of the exhibit. Really, what am I, five?

So, there I was, secure in the knowledge that the security lady from the first room let every other security person know about the "trouble making tall woman in the read dress with a black umbrella"; secure, because none of the other guards mentions it again. Then, in the last room, an old gentleman security guard approached me and said politely: "Miss, that is quite a long umbrella you have there?"

Believe me, I will never, NEVER, bring an umbrella into the gallery, ever again!

Now, let me get back to Picasso.

I confess: I am not a fan of Picasso.

I can see how his work may have been shocking and innovative back in the day, but as I looked at it without considering its historical value, all I could think about was that if I created something like it in school, I would have gotten an F. His sculptures--guitars and violins--looked like bunch of garbage stuck together. I stared at them, baffled that there are people in this world who would pay millions for something like that, while my fellow artists are struggling to make a living.

Even though I am not a fan of Picasso, there are some pieces that I did like. I liked the long, vertical cubist paintings in the second room. They have been commissioned for a library, but when Picasso finished them, the patron rejected the work and refused to pay him for it. Typical!

In the first room, there is a painting of his dead friend who committed suicide for love. It is fairly realistic and very small, but I found it beautiful. I could really feel Picasso's sorrow, and I can understand his despicable treatment of women after seeing that work.

According to scholars, Picasso developed his style, because "he could paint like Rafael by the time he was 12". I'm not sure I agree. Seeing a few realistic painting represented in the show, I believe he could have spent more time developing realism. Even the quite beautiful painting "La Célestine", lacks structural integrity seen in the works of Rafael.

I do like "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" and other works influenced by African art. They are beautiful broad pieces of muted colour that look great on a wall, and yet their themes tend to be disturbing. That is another aspect of Picasso I was not aware of as a child studying art. All those bright colours and cartoony shapes representing blatant sexual poses and acts.

I love the bright colours of "The Reader" and Dora Maar's portrait. I think Dora Maar's portrait may be my favourite work of the exhibit.

There was also a sculpture with a burning candle and a scull. It looked like something Tim Burton may create, and it is the one piece in the show I would buy if it was for sale and I had the money. I just love the combination of energy, darkness and silliness.

I also remember a nice sculpture of a goat.

What I find tragic about Picasso's work is that after he developed his style he stopped growing as an artist. His work in his 30s looked new and fresh, but later... It stayed the same to the end of his life and I found it quite tiresome.

So, as an artist I can appreciate what he has done for the art world, but I cannot pretend to be a fan of his work.

I do believe that you should go to the exhibit and see it, despite my lack of enthusiasm, because it is historical, and who knows, you may find something in Picasso's work that speaks to you, and you may find it absolutely brilliant.

That is the one thing I love and hate about art: it is all subjective.

Checking In!

Dearest Alex,

I've finally posted my "Elements of Design: Point" article, that I should have posted in May!

Check it out at Art: Help!.

Other than that I'm on the third last illustration for AIMH.  Almost done!  However, the images I need to draw are somewhat complicated, so I imagine it will take me at least a week to do one, if I get the time.

I'm the lady of the house for the following two weeks, which means I'm in charge of cooking, cleaning, gardening, washing...

I love my new writing group (IDA), so hopefully my novel will be polished enough for me to send samples to publishers.  However, AIMH is my my focus at the moment.

Too many things to do!  (And all I want to do is go outside and enjoy this warm weather we are having.)

So, what do I need to get done:

AIMH
WofV
Update Website (practically recreate website)
Reboot Horsing Around
Finish the landscape painting
Learn to play piano...

I must go, but before I do I'll post a recent illustration.

Hope you like it!

M

Fantasy Writers!

Dearest Alex,

I am six illustrations away from finishing AIMH.  I can't believe it.  However, the past week has not gone well concerning drawing.

I have not been feeling well for a while.  I can't seem to scrape enough energy in the morning to get up, and by mid afternoon I'm desperate for a nap.  Also, this past Thursday was my first ever Fantasy Writer's group meeting.  I have not seen my novel for over a year, and I did not want to give my fellow group members something dreadful, so I spent two days editing, using notes given me by my friends.

I don't know if I've mentioned this in the past, but my fantasy novel is supposed to be a story, within a story, within a story.  However, I do agree with my friends' comments that such structure takes a while for the reader to get into the meat of the novel, so with a heavy heart I chopped 2 introductory chapters.  Instead of showing the concept of a story within a story and giving a prologue on the creation of my mythical land (Ardan), I dive into the story assuming that the reader is familiar with the land.  I have added a bit of a hymn at the very beginning explaining that Mistress Nature created Ardan to save all magical creatures, and I do give a blurb about the creation of Warriors of Virtue, but from then on, the story begins with the monumental even that is necessary to start an epic along in Western literature.  If you do not believe me, just read whatever is out there on story structure, sometimes called "The Hero's Journey".  Be aware, that once you do read this, it will be very difficult for a movie or book to surprise you.

I have also submitted my query letter, that curse of all writers, to my group for inspection.  And one of my new friends, pointed out that my query is too long.  I honestly think it is far easier to write an entire novel, than to write a query letter.  Query letters are illogical!  How can one distill 600 pages into one page and make it sound interesting?  No wonder J. K. Rowling faced rejections.  Her plot is nothing new, it's the characters and style of her writing that make Harry Potter interesting.

Oh, well.  Hopefully, I'll create something that will prompt a tired, jaded editor to read a bit of my novel.

Well, that's it for now.

I'm starving!

So, before I expire from lack of food, I'll say "au revoir"!

M

Working Away...

Dearest Alex,

It has been a crazy few weeks. I don't even remember all the things I've done. All I remember is rush, rush, rush... Even now I do not have time to write. Deadlines are approaching, and sadly my blogging suffers.

I do remember struggling like crazy with the ballet drawing. The woman's angled head... I don't know why it looks awful, but it does, so I'm leaving that one drawing for now.

I'm progressing nicely regarding AIMH. I have to get back to painting.

I'll be happy when that project is finally over, so I could create something more realistic and paint some canvases. I'm tired of cartoons. Who knew that I would ever get tired of cartoons? That is another reason why if I was still in animation I would like to work on features. You finish a movie and move on to a different style. Though I would not mind working on an amazing TV series like Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I do miss animating. Maybe when this craze passes, I'll classically animate a simple birthday greeting for my friends.

My computer marketing is suffering. I have not updated my website in so long, nor have I posted anything new. I know I have to keep up on that front, but I'm enjoying working at the moment and I figure I'll update my site once this book is done.

I've written the Art: Help! article for May (Element of Design: Point), but it needs serious editing and my brain is too tired in the evening. Besides, I need to find or create some art to illustrate my points. Hopefully, I'll post soon.

I discovered this nice sketching app (I think it's called Autodesk Sketchbook, or something), and though I find it difficult to sketch with my finger, I'm slowly getting use to it. I need more time to explore the app, but I think I may get the pro version if I improve.

I've also decided to teach myself piano. Will let you know how that progresses. I did play a few bars of the Ode to Joy (Beethoven's 9th symphony) yesterday as part of my first lesson. However, I do have to cut my nails. They are short already, but I think to play a piano they have to be non existent.

Gotta run.

Write to you later!

M

Checking In!

Dearest Alex,

Not much to write this week.  I've been struggling since Monday.  Feeling tired and exhausted all the time.  Must be the weather.

I'm working on the next illustration.  If I manage to finish AIMH by the end of May, I'll treat myself to a musical.  I need to come up with a goal, because the closer I get to the finish the more I want to procrastinate.

My theory on that is that I'm afraid of failing, so I do not want to get this book done.  Silly, I know, but emotions were never logical.  After all, I've taken a huge risk, taking so much time off to get this book done.  Failure is not an option.

Honestly, I don't believe my book will fail.  However, there are days, when everything appears gray.  I seem to be shifting between days of optimism and pessimism.  Am feeling very out of balance.  Hopefully, when the weather gets a bit better, I can get back to yoga and center myself more.

Adira and I are determined to organize a fantasy writing group, so maybe I will finally rework my novel, to the stage where I feel it will be ready for publication.

I want to create a novel, where every life is a story, so there are stories within stories (kind of like the marbles in Men in Black). My friend, said that this way I have way too much exposition before the story even starts.  I do see his point, looking short term, but considering books yet to come, I have no idea how I could present this idea without having exposition.  Introducing storytelling characters later on is a possibility, but it will not be as seamless...

ARGH!

I'm off to have some dinner and watch Big Bang Theory.  Let the problems simmer in my mind.  Hopefully, I'll come up with a solution.

Love,

M

Help me!

Dearest Alex,

I need to draw to ballet dancers, and I found some compositions that I like.  They are rough, but I cannot choose which one I should do.  I'd like to do them both, but if I do not have the time, which one do I draw first?

This is Tatijana and Evgenije Onjegin

("Onegin" ballet--don't know why it's written like that in English.)

This is from "Italian Straw Hat".

So, any ideas?  Which one should I draw?

On another note, I've finished another two-page spread for AIMH.  Here you can take a look at my Eastern Cougar.  I don't know if they have blue eyes, or yellow eyes--because I found pictures with both colours.  However, I thought yellow looked more dangerous, so for this, the most realistic of images in my book, I decided to go with yellow.

Eastern Cougar

So, what do you think?

Would appreciate any comments.

My choir is performing tonight at Kearner Hall (I think that's how you spell it), so I must go and get ready.  I'm not singing, since I lost my voice when I was sick and have forgotten how to breathe properly, but my dad is singing.  It will be nice to be in the audience for a change.  When I use to sing, all I could hear are tenors and sopranos.  Now, hopefully, I'll get the full impact of the entire choir. :-)

Later!

M 

More Art!!!

Dearest Alex,

I've finally finished that massive piece of artwork; the three piece painting.  For the past several days, I've been putting it together and fixing wrinkles and such things, because as you know, my page unstuck itself halfway through my work.  However, I did manage to salvage it, and after all the editing it looks fine :-)  I'm happy, if you can't tell :-)

:-D...

I will not be including the whole illustration, because that would give my book's ending away, but here is a little piece for you to enjoy!

Hope you like it!

The original size is 32'' x 13'' approximately.  This bit belongs middle, bottom, right.

Love,

M

Progress!

Dearest Alex,

It's been a while since I wrote last, and so much has happened that I'm not sure where to begin.

I suppose I should begin with CANSCAIP's Illustration Night. Barbara Reid and Michael Martchenko were the guest illustrators and it was a fun night. I'm sure I would have been more excited if I grew up in Canada and therefore would have grown up with their books. However, the talk was amusing and I've never seen anything like Reid's work before. I never would have thought that one could paint with plasticine.

I did meet two lovely ladies, and have enjoyed talking with them. Stephanie B. is an aspiring author and illustrator. Her illustrations are very cheerful and absolutely perfect for children's books. You can check out her blog here: http://sbmedia.ca/blog/.

Ishtar M. is a writer and she critiques those awfully difficult query letters. You can find her blog here: www.ishtamercurio.blogspot.ca.

Today, it's been a week since that night. The weekend went by quickly. We had guests for Good Friday (though I'm not very religious I do like Easter and I am Orthodox), Saturday was cleaning day, Easter on Sunday, and Monday I finally managed to get my April "Art: Help!" article done. This article introduces visual language and elements and principles of design. If you are serious about studying art and/or have personal thoughts on the subject, please visit the blog.

Yesterday, I finally finished those three paintings for AIMH. Now, I need to fit them together and figure out the placement of the text. However, I think I want to ink the next pages for painting first.

I feel very tired and my mind is muddy. I think it has something to do with all the medicine I'm swallowing daily. Apparently, my body is not as cleansed as it should be, so my naturopath suggested a more powerful regime. It leaves me feeling as weak as a vegetable, and I barely have the strength to leave my bed in the morning--I who have always been a morning person.

My skin is ruined, covered in acne and pocked-marked sores. I can't leave the house without a thick layer of makeup. I'm sick of wearing makeup, so I hide indoors, like some modern Phantom of the Opera. However, I do believe I will brave the outside today, as soon as I have a short nap.

20 min. should do it.

Later,

M

IT WORKED!!!

Dearest Alex,

It worked!!!

My crazy, heavy-book pressing idea worked. The paint did not transfer to the blank paper, and the page has flattened considerably. It is still not perfectly flat, but I did manage to tape it down again, and I believe I can work with what I have now.

So, on to painting!

With all the guests and responsibilities that have occupied my time at the beginning of this month, I still have not managed to finish my new article, but hopefully I can get to it today, and post it sometime this week on my "Art: Help!" blog.

Did not sleep well last night, so I'm feeling tired. I really have to get to bed between 10 and 11...

Love always,

Mili

"Stupid tape!!!"

Dearest Alex,

I'm sure you know that I use the green painter's tape to tape down my paper before I work with watercolour. Well, the stupid tape got unstuck when I was not there to see it, and now my page is all wrinkled!!! I spent a week painting three drawings (because they all belong to the same illustration) at the same time. Now, one of them is wrinkled and I have no idea what to do...

I've watered the page, and have pressed it with a heavy book (the way I press flowers, or leaves if I wish to preserve them), hoping that it may flatten the paper. However, several things may result from this desperate attempt:

1. This crazy idea may work.

2. The paper may flatten, but the paint will be peeled off.

3. I will have to re-trace all three drawings in ink (2 days of work) and begin again.

Option 2 is preferable to option 3. Maybe I can somehow repaint the missing layer of paint and get it to the same consistency as the other two paintings. However, that will also result in wasted time, and if it doesn't work, I will have to fall back on option 3.

I love this paper I am using, but I don't know how to tape the paper so the tape does not peel off when the drawing is wet, but it peels easily when the drawing is dry. Any suggestions?

We artists need a scientist to solve this little problem for us. So, if whoever is reading this is a scientist looking for the next big invention: Get cracking!

Will report my results (hopefully soon).

At the brink of frustrated tears,

M

EASTER GREETING CARD

Dearest Alex,

I had this cute image in my head for an Easter Card, so I just had to draw it.

Here is the result:

It did not turn out too badly.  So Happy Easter to all those celebrating this week.  Христос Воскресе to all those celebrating next week.  And, to the rest of you, HAPPY LONG WEEKEND!!!

Oh, if you wish to use this image for a card, print the image below and cut the ~ 6'' x 3.5'' card (removing the green margin).

Love,

M

Not a good week...

Dearest Alex,

It's been a while, since I wrote last, but what could I do?

Between working hard, my temperature spiking, and my dad being rushed to a hospital, I did not feel much like writing.

I'm still worried about my dad.  His systolic blood pressure is extremely high 160s to 190s (it was once 207), while the diastolic is somewhere in high 80s.  The difference between the two is horrific.  He is also a diabetic and in his late 50s.  I have not slept well in days; since he came home on Wednesday from work and was rushed to the hospital.  I keep having nightmares.  Among others, there was one of me giving birth to a dead baby, and last night I dreamed I was with my whole family as a kid, only to wake up and realize that too many of them have passed on.

My dad seems fine, but both my grandfathers seemed fine, before they suddenly dropped dead.  So, I worry, hoping that I'm just panicking needlessly.

Yesterday, I've seen my Naturopath and the treatment prescribed is not working as well as it should.  She suggest I go back to an extreme diet, but I fear that extreme diets may result in something worse.  A friend who went on an extreme diet ended up lactose intolerant.  I love cheese.  I gave up sugar, I can live without sugar, but life is not worth living without cheese and dark chocolate.

I feel weak, and tired and I'm sick of being sick.

I don't know if I mentioned this mysterious redness on my hands.  It spread slowly for months, because I could not see a dermatologist.  On the day of my appointment, the poor doctor ended up in a hospital, and I've only managed to see his wife this past Monday.  I hope her husband is going to be alright.  She seems to think that the redness is caused by allergy to some substance, maybe some of my art supplies or something.  The good news is I got this steroid cream and the redness is almost gone!  I keep waiting for it to come back, because I thought it was going away before, and then it just spread, but it looks like it is really gone this time.

So, yey, good news!

As far as art goes, I'm finally painting the three paintings at the same time--the ones that will make up the last two-page spread of my book.  My mother is going nuts over my using the dining-room table, but it is the only surface large enough in my entire house.  I'm trying not to rush the job, and I've already made two mistakes, but I hope I could edit them out on the computer when the illustration is painted.

Today, I've filled a Horsing Around Order, have updated the donation report, and have noted my expenses and other tax stuff for this month.

Now, I'm expecting guests; a dear friend and her tiny baby boy.  Haven't seen him in months.

I'm falling asleep as I type this.

I'll try to keep this blog updated more frequently.

Love,

M

P.S.  Almost done with the Visual Language article for my other blog, just need to define elements and principles of design, and find an assignment I did years ago...

A Good Day

Dearest Alex,

Today was a good day. I've had such trouble getting my drawings to behave lately, so to have everything work out splendidly today came as somewhat of a surprise.

My intention, when I woke up, was to finish the last third of a very complex two-page spread in ink (yes, the drawing is complex enough to require me to split it into 3 parts and make it very "wide screen" for me to tell the story the way it should be told) and then to take the three pages outside and paint in this glorious, unusually warm March weather. As is usual with intentions, this intention did not come to pass. The last drawing proved very intricate, then I had to go back on the computer and add the floor design I forgot to add with my initial printout, then I traced that design with ink as well... By the time I was done, and have consumed some lunch, it was 15:30. Too late in the day to begin painting outside. Instead, I finally had a shower, lathered on sunscreen, and took my iPad and Harold Speed's book on Oil Painting to read.

I could barely focus on the pages--the sun was that bright--so I got my wide brimmed hat and sunglasses, reposed in a collapsible chair and spent the following two hours reading and taking notes. There was quite a nice passage about art being an expression of that something intangible, a proof that there is a world outside of our perceptions... But, I did not copy that down, focusing on phrases I may quote in some of my upcoming articles.

I also flirted with the idea of writing my April article, but I decided that needed more intellectual stimulation than I could give lulled by the warm sun. However, I did decide (while I was in the shower) to focus my article on introducing elements and principles of design, and then exploring the most useful drawing tool: the line. I will have to create a number of sketches to illustrate my point, so I should get moving on the article soon.

Jay is the only one of my friends who contributed his sketch page for my previous article, but there were a few others who said they will contribute in the future. I do not understand why all of them are so reluctant. We should help each other as much as we can, instead I find most people threatened by other's talent. I cannot see the downside. They can watermark their sketches if they so wish, the way I do, and I will link to their site and spread the word about them. Sure, my blog is new so it does not have as many followers, but that will change as more and more people discover the wealth of free information available to them with each article I write.

Yes, I know I do not know everything, but I've been well educated, and I continue to educate myself, so I know something, and every little bit helps.

So, despite my not getting to paint as I wished, I did have a wonderful and productive day.

The weather will worsen by Friday, so I'll stay indoors again, and maybe by next week I'll have that 3 part painting done, and another giant hurdle crossed off my illustration path.

Tomorrow, if I manage to get tickets, I'm off to see Seagull at the National Ballet of Canada.

Life is good.

Love,

M

Testing the phone app

Just want to test the phone app, so I can see if justification works.

Guess I'll find out soon enough. This typing is somewhat irritating. The keyboard is tiny. Why don't they have this app for iPad?

Questions?

New Art Help! Article

Dearest Alex,

The new Art Help! article on Sketching is finally up.  I've written it ages ago, but I did not have the time to scan images into the computer to illustrate what I wished to say.  As it is my illustrations are very rough, but then again, the whole point of the article is rough sketches.  If you wish to see it, you can click on the following link:

Art: Help!: Sketching

I well remember those days when I was obsessed with making perfect sketches, and that is just not constructive.  Nowadays, my initial sketches tend to be mostly squiggles only artists can interpret.  For example the sketch below.

This sketch is tiny, maybe inch by inch.  However, it contains all the information I need to create something bigger and more beautiful.

Now, that the article and taxes are done, I'm looking forward to continuing AIMH.  I did do a layout sketch for the last two-page spread in the book, but I'm still not 100% happy with it.

What do you think?

I may either stick the text some where on the image, but since this image will likely be smaller than the format of the pages, maybe I'll have the text written above and/or below.

I need to fix the structure, maybe get more bend in the characters, emotions...  

I've scaled the image up, so I'll be able to get into the details of the faces better--I need to figure out the design for the people as well.

Tomorrow, I'm going to see a dermatologist (FINALLY!).  I think I've developed some allergy to the medicine I'm taking, and there is an awful red rash thing on my hands (especially on my drawing hand).  I haven't slept well in weeks, the gauze on my hand is irritating, and the rash is itchy so I keep waking up if my hand touches my pillow a certain way.

However, I do believe that my overall health is improving.  I just need to get back to doing regular cardio.  I've lost my routine in Cuba and have not gotten it back since.

Yesterday was a glorious day!

I planned to finish the article yesterday, but it was too beautiful to say indoors.

Will let you know as soon as something interesting happens.

Love,

M

P.S.  Whenever I try to write on my iPad the words get mushed together, so I guess I won't be able to keep writing as regularly as I would wish.  Unless there is a blogger app...

Checking In

Tax season. Oy vay. What more can I say? M

DESPAIR

"I do not care much for Despair,

But Despair cares for me.

He dragged me into darkness

(There!)

In all his cruelty."

Dearest Alex,

The last few weeks have not been good.

I keep missing my grandfather, and I wake up from miserable dreams desperately unhappy.  It does not help that my new therapy is making me break out again, and now I have some weird red-rash-looking-thing on my drawing hand.  I know my naturopath said it will take time, but I'm tired of fighting.

You know how when you watch movies, or read books, you hear that expression (I'm paraphrasing here): "Life is crap, but at least you have your health."

I have not had my health for a very long time.  It's terrible to complain, because there are people so much worse off than I am, but though I'm not terminally ill, I have not been well for years.  A decade maybe.  I can't remember the last time there was absolutely nothing wrong with me.

So, I'm sad.

I try to work, but these past few days I can't see the point.  Does anyone care about anything I do?  I know my family cares.  I know my close friends care, but does anyone else?

I'm a ridiculously good artist.  I know I can be better, and I will improve with age like fine wine--that's the way of a hard working artist, but how can I be an artist when I'm too tired and miserable to draw.  Some would say that I should take this misery and pour it into my work, but I do not want to do that.  I do not want to share, and therefore spread, misery.  I want to make other people happy.  I want to solve world problems.  I want to make this world a better place.

Perhaps it is too much to ask, but if I give up, why should others fight either?

I wish I was stronger.

At the moment, I can't get the image in my mind onto paper.  It looks wrong.  No matter what I do, it looks wrong.

Perhaps tomorrow, if I can get some sleep tonight, I'll be able to figure out what it is that I'm doing wrong.

My article on sketching is roughed out, but I want to find some images to illustrate my point, so it may take me a few days more to finish.

On the bright side, I have sold a few more prints, and maybe soon I'll be able to donate my first check to Sick Kids.  It's not much, but every little bit helps.  Maybe when people out there figure out I exist, I'll be able to raise more funds.

Talk to you later.

M

AIMH--Another Page Done!

Dearest Alex,

I just have to write and say that another page (or actually 4 pages if you want to be precise, since I merged 2 two-page spreads into a 1 two-page spread) is done.  Finally, I can move on to cougars and more drawing.

I need to update my site, but I'm tired of computers, so I'll leave that for another day.  I also need to finish my Horsing Around Blog, but I don't have it in me at the moment.

I miss drawing, so that's what I intend to do.

Anyway, I'm including a portion of the image I completed to "wet the appetite", as they say.

Will write more later!

M

WEBSITE DOWN!!!

Alex!

 My website is down and I have no idea what to do! I've sent a message to 4goodhosting, but unless they can help me, I'm lost! The server seems to be down. I think I or Skype may have crashed it. I'm not computer savvy, so I have no idea what could be wrong. I will not panic!

Aaaaaaaaaaaa....rgh.

M

P.S. 4goodhosting fixed it almost immediately.  :-)  

Dreamweaver: How To Link Within the Page?

Dearest Alex,

I've been trying to figure out how to link within the page in Dreamweaver.  I've come across something called Name Anchors, but so far I can't seem to make them work.  What do I do?

M

2 h later...

I figured it out.  My goodness was the web confusing.  They give you the HTML code, but they do not tell you where to place it.  I guess, because it's logical after you KNOW what you're doing.

So, here's the solution in Dreamweaver.

Say you have a list of questions that you want to link to answers on the page.

1.  You click your cursor (design view) in front of the answer.
2.  From the top bar, pick Insert>Named Anchor
3.  Name your anchor.  For example: Answer01.
4.  Select the text you want to link from.  For example: Question01.
5.  In the Properties tab, make sure you've clicked on HTML and not CSS.  In the HTML tab you will see a window named Link and next to it a round type of symbol.
6.  Take that symbol (your Question 1 is selected) and drag it to the anchor point in front of your Answer 01.

That's it.  The Anchor symbol is visible in the design view, but it is not visible once you go to live view and test your page in the browser.

Now it's 10:57 and I'm going to bed.

Later!

M

Running Late!

Dearest Alex!

I'm so busy I don't know what to do first, so this will be a very quick update.

I have finally set up "Art: Help!" blog, I did not even know that blogger would allow me to have more than one blog.  When I found out, I figured it would be better to keep these blogs separate.  I've also decided to create a Horsing Around Blog that will focus on raising funds for local children's hospitals, and maybe somehow manage to reach potential customers in a more user friendly way.   However, I do not have a time to fix it up at the moment.

My personal site is begging for updating, and I hope I'll be able to get to it soon.

Now, my first priority is to set up this new blog, so that people can use it, and then get back to my work.

The winner of the Valentine Contest is my good old friend, whom I have not seen in ages, Jay Edry.  I loved his idea, and will be posting my vision of his idea soon.

Gotta run!

WTYL

M

I Think I'm Paralyzed

Dearest Alex,

I'm paralyzed! I woke up this morning intending to go throug my usual routine, or rather, to get back to my usual routine, because I have not gone through my usual routine in over a week, but tennis interfered. Đoković was playing against Murrey, and though I intended to do Pilates to stretch my mind and body, I got distracted. Giving up on Pilates! I prepared breakfast and was about to watch some tennis and enjoy Novak's victory, when he started to loose! He was leading 5 2 in games in the last set, and then Murrey won 3 games! I started to feel sick in my stomach, so I stopped watching. (Few hours later my dad informed me that Nole managed to get into the finals.)

Why am I writing this?

I'm writing this, because this incident probably led to my mental paralysis. That's the problem with being an artists; artists are overly sensitive. We have to be, because when we create art it is not the sensible part of us that is at work, but the wild, crazy, emotional part, that the sensible desperately works to control. When an overly emotional event grips an artist's body, the sensible part looses, and you end up behaving in a way that others commonly identify with the "artistic temperament". 

So, the bottom line is that I felt irrationally upset. What does it matter to me who wins and who looses Australian Open? It's not as if my livelyhood depends on tennis outcomes. Nevertheless, there I was my routine disrupted, trying to calm down by playing Dragonvale and reading "Visions in Death" by J. D. Robb.

That should have made me feel better, but instead had me feeling rather inadequate. There I'm reading a book by the author who writes at least 3 or 4 novels a year (maybe more--I don't know how that woman does it), and I cannot finish one measly book.

I also got a critique back from a friend about my novel, and he tells me to chuck my entire opening, because the audience will not care to read it. I understand that people today have little patience with backstory, but the way I wrote the backstory is to set up clues regarding the fantasy universe of my book. It also makes sense to me to include a little of the backstory, because the book is character driven and the characters live in the fantasy worl, so why would they explain bits and pieces of it as the story goes along. They could refer to past events, maybe, but why would they discuss the creation of their universe, when they are neither philosophers, nor scientists? I love my story, and I can see the need for exposition, but others apparently do not, and the key is to find an agent so that I can share my story with the world. Maybe I should just give the chapters without the backstory, and once they read more than a page of my novel, I could discuss with them the need for the backstory with my novel.

What is it with me? Why can't I tread an already beaten path? Nooooo! I have to stubbornly walk in the wilderness of untried uncertainties.

 So, here I am: paralyzed. Should I sell out, adjust my tale to fit established parameters, or should I go with my gut, struggle to get this published the way I feel deep in my soul that it should be published? Why can't I be living in the East where people know how to stop, breathe in, and enjoy something beautiful, without asking: "What's going to happen next?"

I'm paralysed; so many things to do, that I sit here doing nothing, because I do not know what to do first. Should I work on my Website and new blog--so that maybe I can draw some customers and raise money for local hospitals? Should I study "Starting an Online Business for Dummies"? Should I work on my article? My Valentine's greeting card? Should I try drawing my portrait again, because the last 7 I did look nothing like me and I'm beginning to fear that drawing cartoons has robbed me of the ability to draw realism? (Portraiture is my thing, I was always admired because I got people to look exactly like themselves, better than a camera could capture, because drawing and painting trends to bring out the subject's soul, while only a few photographers manage to accomplish such a thing on film.). Should I get back to working on AIMH?

I'm waiting for a response from my client, so I'm afraid to get bogged down by a big job that I cannot stop to work on a client's job once they get back to me. However, they are not getting back to me, and my day is almost gone.

Paralysis is a terrible thing Alex. So, I'll say goodbye for now and get back to painting AIMH. It is what I really need to get done. However, I do wish I had a Roy (Walt Disney's brother who took care of the business side, while Walt handled the creative side). It is overwhelming being an artist and a businesswoman at the same time. All I want to do is draw and paint, while instead I'm wasting precious time researching, handling reports and marketing. I may need to hire someone, but I have serious trust issues when it comes to my work.

Ah, paralysis.

M

Live and Learn

Dearest Alex,

I'm illustrating for someone else again, and that is the reason I've not been here to talk about my struggle to success; because, at the moment, I'm not struggling. I got the job through a friend, the way I usually get jobs (Internet may be a great source, but so far I've only had one job throug that connection :-) ), and I love working with other creative people. There is nothing quite as satisfying as having a collaborator (all my customers are collaborators, because I like to keep them involved in my creative proccess, so they get exactly what they want) say that I've managed to create their vision. It makes me feel all happy and fuzzy inside, and reminds me of the reason I decided to become an artist despite my family urging me to follow in my dad's footsteps and be an engineer.

As a engineer working for some big company, I would not have the same sense of satisfaction. This pleasure at creating someone's vision is what I should remember on those dark days when nothing seems to go right. It is a pleasure that every artist should never forget when they despair in the throes of a work lull.

I'm also continuing to study. "Starting an Online Business for Dummies" by Greg Holden has a lot of answers to questions I came across, but did not know whom I could ask. I have already concluded that I will have to revamp my Website and have made some progress to that end, but I only have time to work on my site when I'm free on the weekend.

Will inform you the moment new changes are posted. So far no one cares to post a suggestion for a Valentine's Day card. I had this idea of two merpeople about to kiss while forming a heart, and if no one comes up with something better I'll just draw that.

Now, I must get back to work! Yeay!

M

VALENTINE'S DAY CONTES!!!

To thank you all for reading this blog, and supporting me on my journey, I decided to hold a contest. All you need to do is answer the following question: What would you like me to draw on a Valentine? Submitt you entry by January 31. 23:59 EST. I will pick the one I like best, and will post it here so you can download it and use it on Valentine's day. Thank you again for your support! <3 M

Art: Help!

Dearest Alex,

I've been reading "Online Business for Dummies" and have discover that I really am a dummy when it comes to business. I said it before and I'll say it again: "The trouble with ignorance is that one does not know one is ignorant until one is no longer ignorant." By reading that book I have discovered that I will have to update my website, streamline it for business purposes, etc.

It was OK in the beginning, because initially I crated the site as a means of having a ready portfolio available online that companies could view. However, now that I have decided to start selling my art in the form of prints and services I'll have to make it more business savvy. But, let's get down to business...

I have always helped art students, and have patiently answered many questions over the years, because I really do believe in helping others. My desire to be helpful probably stems from the fact that I needed a lot of art help growing up and art help, unfortunately, was not available. I was born into a family of engineers and economists.

In my head I have this image of my parents poking me with a stick, asking each other: "What is it?".

I have always been a mystery to them, and I was a mystery to myself until I got to college at 19 and was surrounded by artists just like me.

So, ART HELP: I have decided to write an article at the beginning of each month to answer questions for artists born into families like mine; children, teenager, and curious adults who are not descended from other artists and therefore do not have a readily available art help source. The first in the series of these articles will be about the very beginning--art supplies, where are they? If you would like to help me spread the knowledge and tell me what useful information you have discovered that you would like to pass on regarding shopping for art supples, feel free to do so by commenting on this blog. I'll see if I can gather as much information as I can and organize it into something that a an artstore novice would find useful.

On a personal note, I'm still painting my illustration for AIMH. That book is the stone that I keep rolling up a hill only to have it roll down an flatten me in the process.

BUT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP!

No, I will not let one book defeat me. One day soon it will be done, and it will be beautiful--that I can promise you. I have also managed to get my hands on an iPad (using it at the moment), so it will be easier than ever to reach me online. Next time I'll write about my Valentines Day plan.

Love,

M