It's alright it's just a matter of time 'till I find my feet

One of my goals for a while now has been to learn how to storyboard. I've been feeling a bit discouraged--like the resources I need to learn this skill are inaccessible to me--so I decided to jump in and learn by doing. I plan to storyboard short scenes from a variety of my favorite movies. I need to learn the basics, and for now I think that this will provide me with plenty to work on. (If anyone has experience storyboarding and feels like giving me a critique either in a comment or an e-mail, I would appreciate it. I have no ego about this--just trying to learn.)

Here's my first attempt:




It's from the beginning of this clip from Kill Bill Vol. 1:

All the joy life sends family and friends

New art:

We'll sing a happy song and you can sing along

Folks, we are just 5 weeks away from Emerald City ComiCon!

I will be sitting with Periscope Studio at space 122 (see the floor plan here). And did you hear the news? I've officially joined Periscope!!! I put my name on an overnight drawer yesterday! :D

Something in my mind just got away

More Fringe fan art! I have so much love for that show and for Olivia! <3 <3 <3

The sun has left and forgotten me

Had a night reminiscent of my last-minute research paper nights in college. I got my priorities a bit backwards this week, and left myself with a hefty number of pages to pencil in 4 days. So what do you do when you find yourself in that position? Without hurting yourself (taking breaks, never working through pain, and remembering that the world will not end if you miss the deadline), you pencil every waking hour, drink a good amount of coffee, and make yourself a pump-up playlist.

You know what makes for the best pump-up playlists? Disney songs. Fo sho.

We can't rewind we've gone too far

I got last-minute tickets to the Hood to Coast premiere last night at the Keller Auditorium here in Portland. I took my roommate Hannah and we concur: that movie is fantastic. If you live in the northwest, you've got to see it. Portland/Oregon looks soooo beautiful in this film, and the people they interview are just awesome. I had a huge grin plastered on my face for the entire thing (minus the parts where I was crying...the good kind of crying, I promise). The Thunder and Laikaning team was my favorite part - Hannah and I burst into laughter during pretty much every scene they were in.
People at the premier dressed up but wore running shoes--adorable! Wish we had gotten the memo in time to join in.

Tell me what you want from me

Hey! I'm going to be on the radio tomorrow! :D

94.7 fm is a Portland radio station. They play a different listener's 5-song 'Perfect Playlist' every weekday at 5pm. Mine will play tomorrow, and I will be in the station to talk with DJ Gustav between songs. I am very, very excited! If you want to listen but are outside of broadcasting range, you can listen online here! :)

If you are curious about what I've been up to in these seemingly quiet months, you'll want to tune in! Or, you know, if you are just curious what my 5-song perfect playlist is. :P (Hint: IT'S ALL HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL SONGS. ALL OF IT.)

Edit: Here's my playlist :)

1. Garbage “Tell Me Where It Hurts”
2. Fastball “Drifting Away”
3. Jet “She’s A Genius”
4. Cake “Let Me Go”
5. Ben Folds “Video Killed The Radio Star”

Made me see there was something missing

Two new pieces of fan art this week, both for Ron Swanson from NBC's Parks and Recreation! I'm rewatching season 2 and doing fan art for my favorite quotes as I find the time. You can see the fan art I did for the show last spring in this gallery. Stay tuned for more! Donna's up next~!! 8-D




If you aren't watching this show, there might be something wrong with you. Make sure to tune in to NBC on January 20 at 9:30 for the season 3 premiere!

Can't think of anything I need

I can't believe I get to do this during the workday.

I'm penciling three projects right now and it's driving me a bit batty trying to keep the 3 styles and character designs straight. Very VERY excited to tell you more about them as I am able to.

No way this year anyone's gonna die and it's gonna be totally awesome!

EDIT: I forgot that the year of the rabbit is coming, too! 8D It's my Chinese Zodiac sign and I am very excited. (/NERRRRRD)



2010 was a GREAT year. I wrapped up school, survived the thesis process, dated a wonderful man, road tripped with my mom, went to 4 fun and productive comic conventions, went to the east coast for the first time, worked at the Oregon Zoo (which I've wanted to do since grade school!), was approved by JET (a goal I've had since age 14), moved out of my parents' house, moved into downtown Portland with friends, signed my first contract for a graphic novel, and started life as an independent freelancer. 2011, that may look like a lot to live up to, but I am excited for whatever you have in store! I think there are some great things ahead.

In the interest of closure, let's look back at my 2010 goals:

1) Make a GREAT thesis
Check! Passed with the HC's highest distinction

2) Graduate
Check!

3) Have fun and sell stuff at ECCC and Stumptown
Checkity check!

4) Finish Between Gears
Aaaah...

5) Start my next big comic
Check!

6) Get a JOB!
Check!

7) Move out of my parents' house
Check!

8) Move into a super awesome bachelorette pad
Sure...

9) Maintain my friendships
I think so!

10) Boyfriend???
Yes and then no

....And set some 2011 goals:

1) Stay financially independent (learn how to do taxes, secure enough freelance work to pay for my lifestyle, get a day job if I have to, but try not to!)

2) Stay ahead of my deadlines on my big projects

3) Have great shows at ECCC and Stumptown; save enough money to do a third show next year (and I'm gonna TRYYYYY to save enough to go to SPX in September so I can visit my friend Mary in DC...!)

4) Study French with Mom (this is a long-term goal...we want to go to Angoulême in 2013 and speak French when we do!)
There's definitely a theme of 勉強し直そう in 2011 for me. I'm returning to French and karate--things that I studied in the past but didn't see through properly in my eyes. I want to go back and relearn them right this time. It reminds me of that verse from 明日があるさ...


5) Stay healthy (exercise regularly, sleep and eat well, regular check-ups, and stick to karate class!)

6) Pitch *** and *** (and hooooopefully get one approved!)

7) Finish Between Gears, 1-2 more chapters of Over the Surface