Hello April!
Shop Update
The Countdown to Relaunch is officially on!
I’m still trying to carve out some time for other projects and sketching. But honestly, I’ve had nothing BUT time to focus on that stuff for the last year. So I figure it’s probably okay to temporarily shift focus to getting my shop ready to re-open…
Overall I’m making pretty good progress, I think, on getting everything ready for May. I can’t wait to share the selection of prints for relaunch, the little details I’ve planned for packaging..and hopefully it all photographs really well too! (Fingers crossed and camera set to auto!)
I’m surprised at how much I’m enjoying this structure of dedicated time to create, and now working on this shop update. I know the pandemic kind of forced me into working this way, but I think it’s definitely one of the habits I’ll probably keep in the “new new normal.”
Art Stuff
I’m still trying to keep some balance and not neglect sketching for weeks while I work on my shop. I did a ton of drawing this last week in my sketchbook, and am still working on my webcomics.
Although lately I’ve been thinking I might want to create a sort of world for my comics, with recurring characters and some settings, to make it more cohesive (without being a single narrative). I’ve noticed most of the comics I enjoy are set up that way…hmmmm….
So, I’ve got a lot of ideas and have something like a plan for my stuff, which is largely why I’ve done so much sketching lately. And think it could be really cool. But I’m not sure how to make that transition… like, should I take a break from my current webcomics until I get it all designed for the new stuff? Do I just jump in with what I have and develop as I go? …I don’t know. But I guess I’ll have to decide soon!
Not Art Stuff
We’ve started watching Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt so I’ll Max Out Defense…again… I think we watched it this time last year too. It’s still so good, and it’s nice to get a break from our usual — The X-Files and The Amazing World of Gumball.
We’ve also started watching our way through the “Conjureverse,” because I’m apparently now one of those people that will watch horror movies all year long?! What?! (We’re supposed to watch the second Annabelle movie next, and I’m just like…why?! How can there be a sequel?! or prequel?! why?!) It’s so dumb. But so fun.
Lastly, I’ve fallen down the studio-vlog rabbit hole on Youtube. Sometimes it can be a little isolating not having coworkers, and I’m not really a part of an artist community. So watching other artists share their processes, experiences, and journey has created a sort of illusion of comradery. Like, “hey I can totally relate to inexplicable printer problems, the excitement of new paint colors, or wondering how to fill a sketchbook! How neat! It’s not just me!” Sometimes I get tempted to try to start my own vlog, but…I think I’ll stick to writing…
Books
Books? What’s that?! Just kidding…but haven’t been reading a ton lately. I’m kinda sorta re-reading Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies again, for the pep talks. I haven’t read Abaddon’s Gate in what feels like ages. Oops. Oh well. It happens.
So I think that’s everything (which seems like a lot to me?!).
Thanks for joining me in the shallow end!
Summer Child Designs 