SEA Report

So the past two days I was at the Self Employment in the Arts Conference, an annual conference hosted by my school every year. It's always been a really good time in that I learn lots of things and get lots on insights, but this year has been the best, hands down, so far.

First off, I presented Akari in a book proposal to Jennifer McCord, a really big name in the publishing business. She gave me lots of great critique, but it was most unexpected when she told me that the book proposal itself was "excellent", that it really made her intrigued and made her want to read more, and that I had an excellent story idea that is very appealing. I'm on the right track.
But there's still a long way to go. She gave some good suggestions I'm considering, but it will require a lot of work to change them.

Next, I met with Micah Farritor, an illustrator and graphic novel artist who is an alumni from my school. He looked over my pages and gave more good suggestions and said that it looked really cool! I'm pretty happy, because I thought my work really sucked. I've been working hard, but...I still have lots to learn about art and drawing, even writing (though I think my writing is light years away from my art in terms of quality).

I'm excited, because it feels like I'm finally in a position to get up and go (if I take the opportunities and work hard rather than being a forgetful lazy bum) but it is a bit daunting. Other people my age are already selling their manuscripts. My friends on deviantart have way more hits on their pages and are selling commissions while I can't even get comments on most of my work. Hell, I don't even have any comments on this blog. But...I'll keep going. I'll find a way to become a graphic novel artist and get my books out there. If nothing else, at least I'll be a really bitchin art history professor.

I also can't wait to write another book proposal, particularly for my next serious work, Dresden 1945
~6H

Rolling Along! But I Forgot to Update the Blog...

Currently: Penciling Chapter 1 Sc IV, CH. 2 Sc II
Inking:Ch 1 Sc 3
Painting: Ch1 Sc I and II
Artist's Status: Embaressed

Embaressed cause I haven't update this in FOREVER! So here's an update, all you people who don't even read my blog!!! HERE IT IS!!!!!

We're starting to pump out the final pages. Everything else is done. Except for the thumbnails for chapter II Sc III, a scene I, not lying, bullshitted on the spot. I am sooooo not a professional....Whoops.
~6H

It's been awhile! But the Project continues full speed Ahead!

THUMBNAILS:Done
SCRIPT: DONE
FINAL PAGES STARTED!
Currently drawing: Chapter 1 Sc II

HUZZAH!
That how I feel when I think that I have the whole story of "Akari" done in some form, that I know every that's going to happen. However, at the same time I'm quite far behind, so I'm worried. I was able to pencil 15 pages in about 4 days, which wasn't too bad considering that the paper came in late. (Even though they made me pay 15 dollars for shipping! FIFTEEN!!!)
Then my advsior wanted a typed up copy of the script. That took from monday till today with much non stop typing, except that Tuesday night I got sick so yesterday I couldn't work on it very much. I was able to finish typing it this morning, at least, but no pages have been worked on this week and I jsut don't feel with it enough. Also, the inking takes FOREVER, and I'm being totally anal about everything. But oh well.

Back to taking cold meds! AWAY!
~6H

Is it a Post for the Sake of a Post? Or Has Something Important Happened? Well, Someone Gets Shot!

Curretnly Scripting: Chapter 5, Scene 1 (it's kinda long)
Storyboards: ON HOLD
Artist's Status: Discontent

QUITE DISCONTENT! With this layout! I wish I understood better the language of HTML. But if I couldn't learn French in four years, then there's no chance of HTML happening. I used to know some basics, but you can't FTP anything on this site, so I'm at a lost of how to upload my images...I guess I have to get one of them image hosting sites? Hmmm...

In other news, someone gets shot in Chapter 5. You'll have to wait to find out who though!!! *evil laugh*

I'm really starting to fall in love with my characters though. I was showing some of my production sketches to the painting teacher here who's standing in for the REAL painting professor. Real painting prof is a jerkface. This one is lovely. She sad Akari was "beautiful!" WOW! And she loves my page layouts! I feel so awesome from that.

I'm gonna do some artwork soon. Like, offical Akari artwork, so that I can show you guys what the characters look like. And also, so that I can get some images in the blog layout. Seroiusly, how the hell am I supposed to edit this thing! I AM SO INADEQAUTE! RAWR!!!!!!

And that is all.
~6H

Somehow, Work is Getting Done. Honest!

Currently Scripting: Chapter 4, Scene 3
Storyboards: Chapter 1 Scene 2
Status: Relaxed

First of all, I like Romanian pop music too much. Way too much. Remember that internet fad, the Numa-numa song? It's actually "Dragostea din Tei" by Moldovian/Romanian pop group O-ZONE. Now I'm really into a group called Akcent. I've gotten two of their albums already and I just love it. Oh Romanian...your music is so good.

In other news, after a few decisions that had to be made, I am going home for the summer. Hopefully, this will be condusive to honor thesis work. Though I probably won't be able to do many color illustrations, because bringing my water colors home will be a pain. Hmmm...but I'm almost finished with the chaper 1 scene 2 storyboards. Yay! It's not looking too bad so far either! Now if only I could find my thesis director...she's an associate dean of students at my school in addition to being a professor, so she gets really busy. But I have to fill out this learning agreement for the thesis by Week 10 and we're going on Week 7! AH!

Just as I predicted, once I started work on the storyboards, work on the script stopped. Whoops. I'll at least try and finish chapter 4 soon!

Also, I'm working on my proposal for an art show at school next year, which will feature works from Akari and will highlight the creative process. I'm so excited for it! I'm alredy deciding what food to serve!

May is a fantatic month. Not only is it warm out and there are lilacs, but there is (at least this month), The Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, Monaco next weekend, and the Eurovision Song Contest after that! It doesn't get any better than this... ^_^
~6H