EDIT 06.21.09:
Updating because I'm bored, and Basara isn't as good as I'd hoped it to be. (Date Masamune, though, you are very pretty.) Anyhow, and I are doing a collaboration picture for AX, and we want it to be fanart. Do you have suggestions? Try not to make it something that like, one artist could do by themselves. It will be her base sketch, my alterations and shading, her colors and further alterations.

EDIT 06.15.09:
Too much work to do to worry about con seating. Here's a table map. Find me at AX. Buy things from me. I have to recoup my flight. OTL OTL OTL



EDIT 06.07.09: Anyone know people who need housing in Piscataway, by Rutgers? Trying to rent out a house there. If you find someone, we'll give you a $100 referrer's bonus. Contact my mom at marionchan@verizon.net .



New month, hopefully things will turn up. I've returned from A-Kon, and it was great fun seeing everyone again as well as meeting new people (some new people whom already heard of me, aha!). Despite a paltry sum of earnings. a lost-sketchbook scare, and plane-flight stomach aches, things worked out in the end. Tomorrow, I return to working at school (teaching assistant position) and then have to hurry up and do my contract work for the Onion.

These past weeks' events have put me quite behind, and I'm still not done with them yet (I type this from a hotel room). So, again, bear with me if I don't respond to things or don't post new things. Thank you everyone for the well-wishes, they're keeping me going in these tough times. I'd say I'm usually one of those pretty level-headed people, but when I crack, I can really go off the deep end. (I sell more by being sensible than by being actually good at art or liking anime, lol!)

Conwise, I've decided there are more important things than churning out fan art prints. No, not that I'm going all-original (seriously, my originals don't sell), I'm just not going to plow through them like last year. I'm going to pay more care towards my fan art and have it represent both my style as well as the series'. And also to do stuff about series I like - things that I actually can bond with fans over (if not as deeply). The success of my Death Note piece has taught me that. In the end, of course, I'll still be an OC-loving commission artist who, believe it or not, can work without reference.

In terms of career, I really need to learn how to go through the concept development process - turnarounds, evolutions of characters, environments. I want a better grasp on composition and color. I will be organizing a concept and three-dimensional portfolio. *nodnod* As an artist, I want to be a "visual problem solver." Not just "draw this idea I had" but "come up with a design that adds to a story I had." Big picture design is a challenge to my very modular, analytical, thinking process. But hey, to try is to learn. I just won't show anyone my failed attempts . (Actually, they're all on my sketchblog.)

Enough about my immutable self-and-art philosophy. Now, just some dumb personal stuff:

- Happy to share with you as always. Hope that, if you have to save my butt next year, that people will realize we're not the same artist.
- Thank you for the sketch! Yes, I really do like waffles.
- Pffbt. I'll see you in a month. Crap, didn't get a picture of your socks.
- I'll see you in two weeks! Sorry for my late-night business philosophy debates.
- If it helps, I'm posting here publicly that I'm not mad at you at all. DD Haha, in fact, I'm very happy you gave me the =Audley print.
- Lol, did you pick up my stuff? Otherwise, they're going to charge me, I think... Anyway, thanks for being such a help. PS, give me your art style.
- OHOHO, I can walk to your house now. I will see you Wednesday, Thursday, Friday night because my parents are out of town, and I will be bored. We need to book AX flights.

Sorry to those who I just kind of talked to briefly. I was quite frazzled throughout most of the event. Many of you, though, I hope to see later this summer.


Again, thank you guys very much for bearing with me and wishing me well. See you at AnimeNext!

Convention Schedule:

AnimeNext - (Somerset, NJ. June 12-14), not sharing
Anime Expo - (Los Angeles, CA. July 2-6), possibly sharing with
Otakon - (Baltimore, MD. July 17-19)