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December 21, 2005

Year In Review: January

I started off the year right, by of course drawing this page. I did that symbolically, showing that I was going to really focus on my craft over this year. My intention was to get myself to a professional level by year's end. I'll leave that up to your tastes on whether I accomplished that or not. But, I guess by definition, I am, since I'm getting paid for my art. So there.

Here's what it looked like when I moved the first marble over:

My first thought after that first marble?

"Fuck."

Will Eisner died on the third of January. Here's what I had to say about this giant's passing:

"Will Eisner probably understood sequential storytelling better than anyone else alive. His absence in our world will be sorely noticed.

The first thing I did this morning, after the shock had worn off over his passing, was to draw. I don't think there's any way to better honor his memory than to make sure that the medium he so actively advocated will continue to thrive and prosper.

This one, and all of them to come, are all in part for you, Mr. Eisner."

I switched to Firefox on the seventh. Best thing I ever did for my computer.

I got to my 100th panel on 22, Three Sixty Five. Man, that shit made no sense at all. But, doing a daily panel did wonders for my work ethic.

I started coloring with my Wacom tablet. Here was my first attempt:

I think I've improved a little bit since then.

I added three marbles for what I felt needed to be adjusted on the original plan.

This was what was, at the time, my best piece. Man, I have learned so much since doing this thing:

Finally, my run-down on January:

Exercise 3 Green Marbles

Got treadmill moved into apartment
Started realistic weekly regime
One month down

Day Job 1 Black Marble

Stayed out of the bullshit office politics

Finance 3 Blue Marbles

Made a list of expenses and income
Made a plan for decreasing expenses
Stayed to the plan

Comix 7 Red Marbles

Started worksite for Black Chamber
Stayed on task all month
Worked on Black Chamber
Completed four pages of 'Bad'
Complete month of '22, Three Sixty Five'

Personal 3 Silver Marbles

Did chores around apartment
Two pleasant surprises


ADJUSTMENTS:

Added 3 red marbles to better represent the work needed done for Black Chamber
Added 48 green marbles, as I have found that a week's goal for the workout regime works better than a month

SETBACKS:

Screwed up on not opening the savings account. I should rectify that in the next week.
Becoming CCN prez is not on the agenda anymore
The Tsunami relief anthologies appear to be a figment of my hopes and aspirations

I think the CCN, as it currently stands, is a dead horse getting beaten like one of Hillary Swank's opponents in Million Dollar Baby. It's unfortunate, but there's good things on the horizon.


A very strong start, I think.

Posted by Schamberger at December 21, 2005 06:39 AM