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I'm very bad at updating this blog. I'm thinking of moving away from using blogger to maybe posting work on Tumblr or Instagram. But realistically I'll probably just keep using this one. Anyways this is the collection of WIPs from the background I last posted about. It's finished now and can be viewed here: http://bone-fish14.deviantart.com/art/Ruins-616860006

Also there are a lot of unfinished projects/ideas that I don't post because I never plan on finishing them. But I might start posting old/unfinished ideas more often, just so that they don't disappear into the land of forgotten files on my computer never to be seen again.

Here's one unfinished idea:

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 Old background idea that I'm currently re-working. And some fan art of a Leshen - my favorite monster from the Witcher 3.

Also another background I finished earlier this month. I might post WIP images for it but this thing took ages to complete because I kept restarting parts of it over and over.

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Just some sketches. We have a lot of plants in the house right now.

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More work from earlier this year. I feel like I should have posted something different for the 69th post... But this will do.

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Hey I'm back! I have no real reason as to why there is such a big gap between posts other than life getting in the way and art block. But I'm hoping to post more often again and I'll start by posting some old work I've done over the past year. This one is from October and was part of an artist drawing challenge called InkTober. The goal is to do one ink drawing a day for the entire month. InkTober was started in 2009 by Jake Parker as a challenge to improve inking skills and develop positive drawing habits. This was my first time participating.

Click the image below for a larger view ...or Right click "Open Link in New Tab" for the largest view.

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 Failed attempt at painting a cornell box to practice how light interacts with different surfaces... some things should not be started at 4 in the morning. I will be doing many more of these for practice.

Some colour studies from imagination.

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Decorative Armour.

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I haven't posted in awhile so I figured I should share a few things I've been working on. I've also added more to my DA account: Link

 I need to start doing more characters again. I've kinda been taking a break from creating characters for the past couple years just because I've found it very frustrating to work on them. So I took that time to work on my environments more, which (at the time) really sucked. But now that I'm feeling a little more confident with my environments, I need to start working characters back into the equation... because I'm very rusty at drawing people >.>

 I'm wanting to do a set of firehouses in different styles...just because I can. So this will be 1 of 4. Or hopefully 4....I've been starting so meny projects lately and then just stopping them cause I get burnt out or lose confidence in myself.

And I've been trying to do more colourful, whimsical things.......but I don't think it's working out very well. I'll keep trying though.

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I've reached my wits end again. I'm burnt out and I don't know which direction I should head in, but I know I need to do something cause I can't live like this anymore. Some days I'm a chicken running around with it's head chopped off, and other days I just feel like curling up in a corner and crying. It's hard to think when I feel like this. I know I'm being stupid...but I just don't know what I'm doing anymore.

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I also did a bit of animating. Nothing amazing, but I just wanted to make sure after effects still worked on my computer. I'm thinking of more things to animate at the moment.

MangaMinx Title Sequence from Carolyn Fisk on Vimeo.

I also entered a couple contests on this site so if you want to check them out and maybe vote for them if you like them:

1) http://creativeallies.com/creations/2dn2/contests/766/design-a-dress-for-joy-formidable

2) http://creativeallies.com/creations/z8n2/contests/771/design-commemorative-art-for-onerepublic

3) http://creativeallies.com/creations/x8n2/contests/771/design-commemorative-art-for-onerepublic

4) http://creativeallies.com/creations/t8n2/contests/771/design-commemorative-art-for-onerepublic

5) http://creativeallies.com/creations/l8n2/contests/771/design-commemorative-art-for-onerepublic

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So I painted another 2.5" micro munny and this time I wanted it to look like it had a wood inlay. I think it turned out well.

And I finally finished this....yay?

Also check out my 'awesome' photo shoot set up...... yeah this is how I do it. That box with stuff taped to it is the 'tripod' for my iphone to sit in to take pictures.

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So I made another entry for the Tomb Raider contest. I didn't go with my original idea for the 2nd entry because it was too similar to my first entry and I wanted to do something drastically different. Here is what I started for the "other 2nd entry" that never came to be and the BW for the one I went with.

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This is the final image for my first entry to the Tomb Raider contest on DA: (Link)

If you want to help me out, you can head on over to DA where my entry (Link) is and leave a comment, critique, or even a favourite if you like it. You will need to be a member on the site though.

Here are some process pictures for this image. I tried to remember to take some while I worked, but by the time I got to working on "Lara" I forgot to take some....and I was working all in one layer for her :/

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I'm going to enter the Tomb Raider contest on Deviantart (link) and these are the roughs I have so far:

Thanks Mel for helping adjust a few things <3 Anyone else is also free to critique and make suggestions. I'll be working on the final for the crouching pose first and will be starting the standing pose later (standing pose needs legs adjusted). The background for the crouching pose feels too empty so I'll probably add more forest canopy and maybe a few buildings/structures.

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Another experiment...not really refined too much.

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Experiment.

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Finished.

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So this is where I'm at with this... I was wanting to do some really crazy design work for the background but I might be rethinking that idea... I'm not sure I want to sink a too many more hours into this. I've decided to work on other things until I figure out what to do with the background.

So I worked on this one since it's something I started awhile ago and never finished, even though it was so close to being done. I still feel like something is missing from it. But I'll finish it up later today and post the WIP's.

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In other news...

Since I don't have any illustration work to do for my contract job atm.... I really need to take the time to update my portfolio. The job hunt has not been going well....the probability of my parent's house (where I still live) being sold looms closer....and if I tried to move out at this point I financially wouldn't last a month.

So I need a job (full time/part time/temp)....but I don't think I can mentally handle working another customer service job....and other than applying to various studios, etc (that haven't amounted to much).... I'm not very good at brain storming work opportunities that don't involve being a cashier or a server at some place. I'm a very hard worker, but it's frustrating and upsetting to do a job that I can't use my skills in. I just end up flailing in the wind looking like a fool. Unfortunately saying all this has me coming off as sounding whiny and entitled (I should just shut up. Find any job. And do it.). Which is why I usually don't say anything. I just send my resumes off quietly.... have a couple of slightly hopeful conversations with various HR from different places which amount to "your work is very good, but try your luck next time"....."position is filled"..."maybe try somewhere in the states?".....etc. I feel like an idiot not having a job/not finding a job I can support myself with. I'm probably just not looking or working hard enough...

At least I've become very good at writing cover letters, resumes, and other formal documents. I've learned more about presenting myself professionally, building a network, and building a portfolio on my own (and through friends) then I ever did in school. And I know I need to work on my portfolio; I can do better and show more variety. I almost feel like I need to go back to school to learn more so I can apply to other positions...but I don't have the money for that and there is no guarantee it would help me either.

My nerves are just shot from all the uncertainty...the stress...the depression....those times when everything looked like it was going to be better only to suddenly take a nose dive a moment later...I guess that's life.

Sorry for the rant.

Anyways, I've also been thinking about animating again. I have more ideas for possible short films, but my projects are limited to what my current computer can handle. It handles photoshop fairly well, but other programs are touch and go depending on how complex/large the project. But I'm going to see how far I can get with what I have. I just have to get around to doing it.

** I may read this back to myself later, realize it sounds stupid, and delete it. So read it while it's still here.

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Update on that sketch I was doing. Refining some details and blocking in the background.

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So I wanted to practice drawing without reference, and it was mostly successful. I'll fix the mistakes and finish this one later....along with all the other half started projects.