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