A-kon Prep and Random Observations
One thing that can definitely be said about me beyond all the art stuff is that I am a creature of habit. I have been since I was a child. It may or my not have been a result of my mom being very regimented in keeping a daily routine for me before I started school, but it has very much stuck with me throughout my entire life thus far. I find comfort in routine. I like to know what's coming so I can prepare and be ready for it. The same thing goes for when I make plans with friends and to a much lesser extent, clients. Any of my IRL friends like appletango will tell you I am impossible to make last minute, spur-of-the-moment plans with. I don't like it. I'll do it, but it's always reluctantly. It isn't out of NOT wanting to do something with said person, either, because I enjoy the hell out of the time I spend with her, it just takes me out of my habitual comfort zone.
That routine never seemed to serve much purpose other than convenience for me during my school years, but now that I am past that time in my life (and I don't have a Monday through Friday 9-5) I have discovered the real reason why a routine is important for me now:
If I didn't have a routine I'd never know what damn day it was.
I really wouldn't. If something happens that changes my weekly routine, I have to stop and think about what day it is or what day tomorrow is. I have certain things I do on certain days whether it be groceries, errands, doing things with my dad, or going to the chiropractor. Those things keep me in check as to what day it is. If I go to Piccolo Mondo with my mom for lunch and then the grocery store, it's Friday. If I do errands, it's Tuesday. If I do things with my dad, it's Wednesday. If I'm getting my hair cut, it's a Thursday because that's the only day I can get my stylist and colorist together. If I have a chiropractor appointment, it's Tuesday.
This week my little routine has been flipped on its head solely because convention prep has kept me at home a lot rather than doing my regular things. Yesterday was my uncle's birthday and I had work to do, so instead of going out with my parents to do stuff I stayed home and then went with the rest of my family to the birthday dinner. That COMPLETELY threw me off, and it was compounded by working on The Beast out in the garage today -- a task which is usually reserved for weekends. I spent most of today thinking it was Saturday. I have no idea why. I had to remind myself that no, it was Thursday today, and tomorrow is Friday.
Whenever a con rolls around I'm screwed for a straight week and become completely dependent upon a calendar. It's kind of sad.
As an aside, my dad and I did get out The Beast and did some much needed maintenance on it. It's been "in service" for a full convention season now, having made its debut at A-kon 21. After a year, it was pretty busted up and in need of some TLC. We didn't glue all of the joints correctly when it was first built so some of them had come loose, and the whole thing was battered and chipped as far as paint goes. I re-glued 8 joints the proper way and what started out as a paint touch-up turned into an entire fresh coat all over the whole thing. There were just too many little knicks everywhere. It's sitting in the garage overnight while our cars stay parked outside and then tomorrow while I'm out getting groceries my dad is going to give it another coat of paint and fiddle with the newly glued joints to make sure everything is aligned correctly up top so it doesn't lean. We shouldn't have to glue any of the joints again after this, so I suspect our yearly upkeep on it will be limited solely to a fresh coat of paint every year before A-kon which is what I consider the beginning of my con season.
As for A-kon itself, I still don't know where I'll be in the Artist Alley since the map hasn't been posted yet. All I pray for is that I'm not stuck upstairs in the secure section. They have to close early since the area is roped off and I do NOT want to close by 8PM every night (or whenever they're set to close... whenever it is, it's too early for me).
I'm currently working on two new Black Butler pieces which will mean new magnets, bookmarks, buttons, etc. One is of Sebastian and the other is of Ciel (the piece I've been streaming for the last two nights). I got Ciel to the point of time testing tonight and even after a couple hours away I already have notes jotted down for six little things I need to fix before I declare it finished. This piece was a BITCH. I love the way it's turned out, but it was just a bitch to do with details and coloring. Black Butler is set in turn of the century England, so the clothing and decor are ridiculous. Ornate furniture, frilly clothes, etc. I was masochistic enough to myself to draw ruffled eyelet lace. I am NEVER doing that again. I love the way it turned out, but oh dear God I went cross-eyed drawing and inking it. The whole piece took about 3 hours to tight sketch, 5 and a half hours to ink, and about 9 or 10 hours to color once everything is said and done. I've incorporated more patterning than I ever have before between the wallpaper and furniture, and I've also made my first attempt at painting candle smoke. I personally think it's one of the best pieces I've ever done, and it's really a triumph for me considering the complete lack of motivation I've had lately when it comes to my own work outside of business.
Sebastian will be sooooo much easier to color after this. :|
Okay, make that seven eight nine things to fix on Ciel. I found more after writing this entry. This is why I time test, kids.
That routine never seemed to serve much purpose other than convenience for me during my school years, but now that I am past that time in my life (and I don't have a Monday through Friday 9-5) I have discovered the real reason why a routine is important for me now:
If I didn't have a routine I'd never know what damn day it was.
I really wouldn't. If something happens that changes my weekly routine, I have to stop and think about what day it is or what day tomorrow is. I have certain things I do on certain days whether it be groceries, errands, doing things with my dad, or going to the chiropractor. Those things keep me in check as to what day it is. If I go to Piccolo Mondo with my mom for lunch and then the grocery store, it's Friday. If I do errands, it's Tuesday. If I do things with my dad, it's Wednesday. If I'm getting my hair cut, it's a Thursday because that's the only day I can get my stylist and colorist together. If I have a chiropractor appointment, it's Tuesday.
This week my little routine has been flipped on its head solely because convention prep has kept me at home a lot rather than doing my regular things. Yesterday was my uncle's birthday and I had work to do, so instead of going out with my parents to do stuff I stayed home and then went with the rest of my family to the birthday dinner. That COMPLETELY threw me off, and it was compounded by working on The Beast out in the garage today -- a task which is usually reserved for weekends. I spent most of today thinking it was Saturday. I have no idea why. I had to remind myself that no, it was Thursday today, and tomorrow is Friday.
Whenever a con rolls around I'm screwed for a straight week and become completely dependent upon a calendar. It's kind of sad.
As an aside, my dad and I did get out The Beast and did some much needed maintenance on it. It's been "in service" for a full convention season now, having made its debut at A-kon 21. After a year, it was pretty busted up and in need of some TLC. We didn't glue all of the joints correctly when it was first built so some of them had come loose, and the whole thing was battered and chipped as far as paint goes. I re-glued 8 joints the proper way and what started out as a paint touch-up turned into an entire fresh coat all over the whole thing. There were just too many little knicks everywhere. It's sitting in the garage overnight while our cars stay parked outside and then tomorrow while I'm out getting groceries my dad is going to give it another coat of paint and fiddle with the newly glued joints to make sure everything is aligned correctly up top so it doesn't lean. We shouldn't have to glue any of the joints again after this, so I suspect our yearly upkeep on it will be limited solely to a fresh coat of paint every year before A-kon which is what I consider the beginning of my con season.
As for A-kon itself, I still don't know where I'll be in the Artist Alley since the map hasn't been posted yet. All I pray for is that I'm not stuck upstairs in the secure section. They have to close early since the area is roped off and I do NOT want to close by 8PM every night (or whenever they're set to close... whenever it is, it's too early for me).
I'm currently working on two new Black Butler pieces which will mean new magnets, bookmarks, buttons, etc. One is of Sebastian and the other is of Ciel (the piece I've been streaming for the last two nights). I got Ciel to the point of time testing tonight and even after a couple hours away I already have notes jotted down for six little things I need to fix before I declare it finished. This piece was a BITCH. I love the way it's turned out, but it was just a bitch to do with details and coloring. Black Butler is set in turn of the century England, so the clothing and decor are ridiculous. Ornate furniture, frilly clothes, etc. I was masochistic enough to myself to draw ruffled eyelet lace. I am NEVER doing that again. I love the way it turned out, but oh dear God I went cross-eyed drawing and inking it. The whole piece took about 3 hours to tight sketch, 5 and a half hours to ink, and about 9 or 10 hours to color once everything is said and done. I've incorporated more patterning than I ever have before between the wallpaper and furniture, and I've also made my first attempt at painting candle smoke. I personally think it's one of the best pieces I've ever done, and it's really a triumph for me considering the complete lack of motivation I've had lately when it comes to my own work outside of business.
Sebastian will be sooooo much easier to color after this. :|
Okay, make that seven eight nine things to fix on Ciel. I found more after writing this entry. This is why I time test, kids.