The Next Stage

Well, tomorrow's the day.

After 2 1/2 years, I finally will have a place to call...

HOME.

What makes a home?  I think it's all about comfort level.  I'm not someone who is comfortable in other people's space.  Because my fibromyalgia issues can overwhelm me fairly easily... especially on bad days... it's important for me to have a "greater than average" control over my surroundings.  If I don't?  I end up unfocused and ultimately non-productive.

Now I'll have my own space... shared with no one other than dogs and guests.  I can unpack boxes that have been packed since October of 2008.  I can break out the art supplies, D&D books, and the crockpot to make hot nacho dip.  I can take a shower so long and steamy that I run out the water heater, eat breakfast in my underwear and think about the future.  I can get some work done.  I can take a nap.

I can finally breathe.

My life's still a work in progress, but I've learned that just about anyone who's paying attention could say the same.

Bring on the next stage!

PS:  You know what else makes a house a home?  A puppy!   Thank you to Aria Borzoi in Texas for sending me Rhett's nephew, Phantom.  Yes, he's still a puppy... not even a year old yet!

Pushing the Paperwork...

Oh yes... it will be mine! :D

Unfinished Art- Dragonborn Warrior

Here's what I was working on today. This is a Dragonborn Warrior, a character in a Pathfinder D&D game.   You can see the progression from rough sketch to partially finished ink.

Usually I like to get the character name before I'm drawing 'em.  Sometimes, the name really suggests the character- pose, gear, and facial expression.

 But this poor dude?  No name... well, he's got one.  I just don't know it.

I shot these with just the phone on my camera, so I could keep showing 'em off to the player during the workday.  I figured, some places have "casual Friday."  He should get "character Friday."

This will look really cool when it's done, I think.  Also, I'll be attempting my first "digital colorize" on my computer, using "Autodesk Sketchbook Pro 2011" and my really cool Lenovo X220 Convertable Tablet laptop.

Just thought this would be a little fun to show off.  Eventually I'll have the finished piece on my art site and, of course, DeviantArt.  My account on DeviantArt is "evermancer."  

Don't forget to look this guy up, if you wanna see him finished.  Good old dragonface what's-his-name...

NewHardware, New Software, New Beginnings....

 So, I had to buy a new laptop. Well, maybe not HAD. But it was definitel y time for an upgrade. The Toshiba Satellite I'd gotten in 2006 had all its keys worn off, plus it ran constantly, with the hard drive making these wierd clunking sounds.  Yikes!

 About 6 months ago I picked up a Wacom tablet from a Kid on Craigslist for -$25. Kind of clunky, but it piqued my interest. I started researching tablet PC's then, hoping I could find something with a pressure sensitive screen, that I could actually afford. I saw a friend's ipad  while I was on vacation, but I  couldn't get past the fact it wouldn't play FLASH for all that $! Then, I experimented with a Nook color.  Got a used one off Craigslist, and rooted it to an Android operating system with a little help from a friend.  Totally love it! But it's not robust enough for art-at least not any SERIOUS art. For reading, checking emails, and generally goofing off online, it's awesome! Fits in my purse and everything... but, I digress.

 I had work lined up that was going to require teleconferencing capabilities beyond what any of my machines could do  so I thought it was probably time to take the plunge. Enter the Lenovo X220 Tablet PC! This thing is VERY cool! A laptop or a tablet as you need it; just flip the screen around and you're set. Sadly, the new gig fell through, but this thing is So neat I can't even feel guilty about spending the money.

 There's a learning curve to figuring this out, I'm finding out. My art's probably going to look real primitive as I'm gaining proficiency,but I don't care. Full steam ahead! Or, at least as much steam as I have to offer!  Look for my art here, on www.thegildedshackle.com  or on DeviantArt.com.  My handle is "evermancer."

Julie and Julia ain't got nothin'...

Visiting with my friends Jim and Tara in California this weekend, and last night they made "boef bourguignon" right out of Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking."  My first and only exposure to this recipe and that book was from the movie "Julie and Julia" and the book that I read later because I liked the movie so much.

I don't normally use words like "sublime" unless someone's paying me to, but... wow!  I didn't take a picture, but I should have.  The subtle layering of flavors is almost impossible to describe.  TOTALLY impossible today, the the fibro-flare I've got going, but that was one of the best dinners I've ever had in my whole life.

It's funny- I've always considered myself a good cook.  But the more I see the more I realize how much there is for me to learn.

Anyone know where to get a really good bottle of balsamic vinegar?  ;)

Zombietime!

Here's a souvenir of the morning I spent with my nephew a couple days ago.  He's been playing the computer game "Plants vs. Zombies" a lot, and wanted me to draw him a zombie of his own.  


I figured all zombies should have ties with smiley faces on 'em.  Seriously!  

The Joy of the Quickie

No, you pervs- not THAT kind of "quickie!"

I'm talking about art.  Fast art.  Art that's just a sketch, with no planning or foresight- just a doodle, mainly.

Was doing some drawing with Trevor last night, and he asked me for a quick sketch of some of the characters from The Gilded Shackle.  Usually I put up this kind of stuff on the site I have for my game world art and trivia, Atheneum Adventures but I thought this would be kind of fun to put up here, too.

This took me about a half hour.  The cute little guy on the pony is Marne, the tall Human boy is Teine (he's the main character), the big dog is "Stinky", the "horse-lizard-dog-critter-thing" is Willis, and the girl is Leis.  Go me! :D