Well, I made it through another semester of school. Things are going well enough. Work is kicking me in the butt, but that's supposed to slow up after the summer. Ah well...

I've been totally addicted to manga of late and so I've been devouring book after book. I never really got into manga before, just anime (which are the cartoons). These are the graphic novels and wow do I love them! At $10 a pop though, it's an expensive hobby. I've had to tone things down a bit, lest I dive head first into destitution.

I've started drawing again too. Currently, I'm drawing a random character (he's not an original by me, but I'm enjoying the challenge of drawing him). First of all, I don't draw men very well, so this is a real challenge. Second of all, I don't draw folds of clothing very well, so there again is another challenge. He's actually wearing a gi and that was truly interesting for me to draw. Lastly, I don't draw hair and hands very well and this guy has long hair as well as very expressive hands that are in a different position for me, so that's challenge number 3. He's not finished yet, but so far he's taken me 4 hours to draw. I've almost laid out most of the pencil work and then it's a matter of rendering him and adding the especially dark tones. I'm really impressed with how well his face has come out. In the picture, his head was tossed back a bit and it's turned off to the side a tad, so that is a completely new position for me. (That was challenge number 4, but I've already overcome that one.) I can't wait for him to be done. I almost wish I had some additional wallspace to hang him from, but I don't. He'll have to hang out in my portfolio until I get some more wall space.

I actually impressed one of my long time friends with my artwork that she wants me to draw her a fairy so that she can have it tattooed on her! EEEP! I'll say that I'm a little intimidated by the fact that my artwork will be made permanent on someone's body (or they'll have to spend thousands of dollars to have it removed), but let me tell you that's one hell of an advertisement! :) So that will be my next project after Arrogant Knight is finished.

I'm so glad that SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER! :D