Published Cartoonist? Where!?

You're looking at her!!!

Seriously... I'm still kinda beaming about this little surprise that came after I returned from Winter Break. I was almost going to toss that envelope, because it didn't have a return address and I figured it was junk mail. But I opened it anyway, and as it turned out... it was from the people at Student Affairs.com, where I had entered their annual Cartooning Contest! Even though I didn't win the top prizes, they still wanted to use one of my pieces for their upcoming newsletter!

And they paid me for my work!!!

For a girl who's simply been doing comics for fun the past two years, this is HUGE!!! I'm in such awe of how far I've come. I'll definitely be bookmarking this news in my art career. =)

Anyway... this week has been pretty art-centric with the high school kids. I taught a full week of Figure Drawing for 12 really talented kids. I was a bit hesitant to teach after not having managed a classroom in 3 years, but it was very very pleasant. It's awesome when you have students who actually want to learn and be challenged - especially in a subject they hardly get to work with! It kind of kept me on my toes, and I got to use PowerPoint for the first time in over 10 years.

Today the kids got to display their work for the school's art exhibition, and I was so proud of their progress. It's definitely a great feeling to know you helped a kid improve on their creativity.

Such a great week!

Year in Review

Borrowed this idea from someone. =) I'm tryin' to make one last post before 2011, though I should actually be getting ready for the big meet-n-greet over at my grandparents' place. Did I mention I'm in Colombia right now? Anyway...

2010 in Review:

1. Boyfriends. Yep, I got one, and he makes me smile pretty much with anything he says. We met online! It's been a little over a month officially, but we've hung out a lot since way back in May, so the thing we have is definitely special.
2. Job. I'm still in the same place doing the same ole' thing as the 'aninanny,' but I can honestly say now that I'm ready for something else. It's not the kids, or the scenery, or the crazy schedule... it's just a little bit of everything mixed in together and making me feel less adventuresome. I have no idea how people can stay in this job for more than 3 years without feeling old, and jeez... I want to spend the rest of my 20s without any borders.
3. Family. Even though I'm the eldest of three, I still don't think I've outgrown the 'child' in me. I think that's why I dread going home sometimes, because I'm encompassed with people who walk taller, talk faster, and work harder than yours truly. I wish I were kidding. I grew up surrounded by four highly proactive individuals, and I think I've realized this year that if I don't get my crap together, I won't amount to anything.
4. Career. I'm finally getting there! I spent the beginning of this year doing research for art schools, got into one, started taking classes over the summer, found out I'm a crappy artist, but stuck it out because I wanted this so badly. I'm really loving what I study. Don't get me wrong, I do have my 'off' days, but every idea that pops into my head now doesn't scare me to actually try and illustrate it. I've looked into some potential jobs/internships and fellowships for Nickelodeon. Just the ideas get me giddy. =) Hopefully by next year, I'll be ready to hit San Francisco for school full-time.
5. Travel. I got to see Paris with my sisters, went to Madrid with some kids for work, saw San Francisco and gave it a thumbs up for art school, retraced my old stomping grounds in Boston, won a trip to Space Camp in Alabama, and I am now currently visiting my relatives in Cali, Colombia for the New Year! Good good times. I also got accepted to this summer painting intensive program in Italy for next year... which, if I play the finance cards right... can actually happen!
6. Physical Health. Not too shabby. I did feel like a hypochondriac this year, with so many doctor's appointments dealing with everything from my brain, to my spine, to my heart, to my stomach. I guess that's what happens when you're in the mid-20s and your body starts to throw random things at you. In any case, I'm doing just fine, and hopefully the next year will have less paranoia. =)
7. Emotional Health. Could be better. I'm on the pursuit of happiness for next year, not taking things for granted and making the most out of any situation I have. It's amazing how many moments I tend to bomb all because of false expectations. I gotta learn to be versatile and positive all the time, especially when it comes to the work environment. I am happy that I finally got a cat to cuddle me in those stressful days, though.

Alrighty, I think that's it! Gotta head to the party.

Happy New Year!

DONE!!!

1 Art History paper describing the art/philosophy characteristics of the Enlightenment. DONE.

1 Book Report on Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death. DONE.

24 Storyboarding frames, complete with camera direction. DONE

4 Presentation boards, colored and polished. DONE.

1 Weekly Report consisting of the behavioral and academic progress of my 24 girls. DONE.

DONE.

DONE.

DONE!!!!


... oh, wait. I still have to write some grades.

But for tonight, I'm DONE!!!

let the painting begin...

I have to work on my Storyboarding final for the next two weeks, which requires an animation story pitch, a few presentation boards (polished, and in color), and at least 20 frames storyboarding a major scene in the animation. I've decided to hand-paint my presentation boards first. This is one of them!

One quick post about Thanksgiving

(by Rebecca Dautremer - amazing French illustrator!)

I have to say, I'm thankful for a lot of things this year.

It hasn't been an easy year for me. I've had to accept the fact that my drawing skills aren't amazing as I thought they'd be, I've learned that I only let myself be a counselor on the surface of things, and that when all is said and done, I'm afraid of commitment and change. These things have made me break down and cry a few times already, but I know that in order to function and grow, I need to toughen up and be there for those who have it a lot worse than I do.

I'm thankful that both my parents are alive and healthy, and lucky to still have jobs in this less-than-perfect economy. I'm thankful that they still encourage me and my sisters to work hard and do what we love especially when times are tough. I'm thankful to have some really great little sisters, who I look up to as my big sisters most of the time because of their maturity and their ability to work with purpose and have fun at the same time.

I'm thankful to have a job that is rewarding and honest, where I get to see the ups and downs of adolescence and help out by the means of personal experiences. I'm thankful that I get to use my art skills for their amusement, and I'm glad that I'm able to grow as an artist through this job, which is such a luxury. I'm thankful about having some co-workers I can actually share feelings with, not feeling like I'm being judged or ridiculed, but rather making friends though solidarity. I'm also thankful that they put up with my aloofness.

I'm thankful that God has given me so many chances to use my art and writing skills with rewarding experiences. I got to go to Space Camp because of my writing, I'm hoping to teach myself script-writing, and I have an idea for a Young Adult novel that's finally coming to fruition. I've used my art skills to design posters for the school library's reading program, I've sold buttons and jewelry at an anime convention and put my name as an artist out there, and I'm taking classes in drawing and animation for an MFA. I feel lucky to have this opportunity to take classes and actually show me what it takes to be a professional in this field.

I'm thankful for being a world-traveler, and that hopping on a plane doesn't feel at all intimidating or scary. I love that I'm open to new languages and cultures, and I'm thankful to have a family that's proud of its heritage. I'm glad that this travel bug of mine hasn't gone away, that it's pushing me to visit places like Japan, India, and Italy.

I'm thankful for my cat, my indulgence for exotic foods, my love for running, my interest in animation, my never-ending love for reading, my commitment to writing, my therapeutic baking habits, my ear for all kinds of music, my quirks, my attempts to draw anything and everything, my love for singing in the car, and my commitment to shows like Glee and Parenthood.

Finally, all I can say is thanks to those who constantly believe in me and have dealt with my selfishness and my bickering about so many things this year. It's clear that I shouldn't have to complain so much, because I have a great life and great people to share these thoughts with.

I hope you all have a great thanksgiving!