to boldly blog…

WELCOME!Hi there, and thank you so much for joining me on this journey! I’ve always been a writer, but it’s not easy for me to talk about myself. This way, I can document what’s going on in my creative process while still feeling like I’m making contributions!This blog will cover art, digital drawing, photography, writing, and any other updates on this that might be needed. It begins for an Arts Entrepeneurship class I’m taking at UNM, but I’m hoping it’ll help with the promo aspect of my personal businesses too!Posts from the previous weeks will be all the way at the bottom, in a special place called The Archive!I’ll also be including a comments box below in case anyone has questions about the process, wants advice, or just has feedback for me!

Reflection and ClosingFunnily enough, I think my favorite thing I learned in this semester is that it’s okay to just create for myself and not make any money off of it. As someone living in a motel right now, I was really stressed about making money and while I still am, of course, just knowing that my art can bring in money but doesn’t have to is a relief. When I was expecting art and writing to be my only income, it put a lot of pressure and undervalued my work, especially when I wasn’t getting any customers. I also learned this semester that everything takes time, and even though things are fast paced in my life and I do need money and feel the pressure of social media and interaction, I’m only 24. I know people working conventions who are over 70! So I was happy to learn that I don’t have to put that pressure on myself or my artwork.
I also really enjoyed taking the time and effort to understand why I make art, what I want from it, and how to get that. As a lot of my classmates have said, we don’t realise the pressure we put on our creativity when it’s something that we’re good at and so badly wish to make a career. I have so much more to do in this life than just try and make money to struggle every month!I likely won’t be updating this blog more than once a month, but please know that I’m thankful to all my subscribers and I’m still creating away!

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Week 10, November
*NANOWRIMO and CriticismWriting:
I’m making a lot of good progress on my second book this semester! I feel really good about where I’m at, and I can happily announce that chapters 1-3 for Body Bag are complete! I’m very excited to keep working on it and to see my results at the end of the month.Thoughts on Feedback:
I think that the topic of taking criticism and understanding that it's okay to better yourself, even if it's uncomfortable, is really interesting. As a writer and an artist, criticism and feedback is a huge part of what I do. Even this week for my writing class, I had to submit a piece of work for peer eval. I chose the entire first chapter of my second novel, and I had to take everyone's words with a grain of salt. Knowing that people's input is so crucial to making edits and just making my book better, it helps but doesn't make it easier to hear "I think you should change this or this". I automatically want to feel defensive, but why? What is the point of being defensive when others are only trying to help? I think it's partly because ego tells us "of course you're right, their idea is stupid" versus knowing that someone's idea COULD make yours better.

Week 9, November
NANOWRIMO, art, and lifeWriting:
I’m making a lot of good progress on my second book this semester! Between NANO and having 2 different writing classes, I’m feeling more motivated and super happy with my creativity lately. I think that knowing I’m going to be making strides in my writing.Art:
I’ve been doing a lot of good work on my Muses series and enjoying that! Unfortunately I haven’t heard much back about commissions, but I’m also really enjoying just making art for myself and doing what I want to do with it.Life:
We’ve finally got a solid lead on a couple RVs and are waiting to hear back about being approved. I’m really excited about moving into that and starting that next phase of my life and making sure that I am where I need to be in order to be the best and happiest I can. <3

Week 8, November
NANO and PhotosWriting:
NANOWRIMO is here! I absolutely am so psyched to tackle this challenge, even amid of the housing and other stressors I'm going through right now. Writing has always been extremely therapeutic for me, and I'm really looking forward to working on my book. I'm hoping between NANO and all the stupid stress I'm dealing with, I can at least have a final first draft done for Body Bag!!! AAAAhPhotography:
I did another session last week with a friend, and they came out SO GOOD! I absolutely adore doing fantasy shoots and I had so much fun working with these two. Props, sunshine, and some green grass made the perfect medieval backdrop.
More photoshoot spots are now open, including pets, family shoots, and holiday themes! Please reach out for a booking in order for me to get stuff done for holiday season/cards. Thank you!

Week 7, October
General UpdatesArt:
No real updates here, but I have my commissions wide open to anyone who needs art!Photography:
This is really the only thing getting an update this week, as I’m finding it very hard to be creative right now. Struggling with money and housing has taken priority, so I’m doing my best to stay positive.

Week 6, October
NANOWRIMO!Book stuff:
Woohoo! I decided that I have enough spare time to try Nano this year. Last time I participated was in 2018, and I got just over 30k in for Time of Death!
I’m hoping that 1. I don’t go insane with this on my plate, and 2. that it helps me make big strides towards finishing the first drafts and getting into the editing process. We’re a little closer now!If you've got five minutes you could give me, I'd be so grateful for a review for the first one, and if you haven’t read it; where have you been?

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Art Stuff:
I’ve been struggling with the loss of all my files, but the positive to come out of that is that I’m more motivated to draw new things! I think part of the reason I was so stuck on my artwork is that I felt like I had too many options- with none of my WIPs to fuss over, I feel like I can just draw whatever I want again.My holiday commissions are open! I can’t wait to start getting requests for gifts. If you need a lovely handmade gift for the holidays, please leave me a message or email me! I can do fandom inserts, original character designs, couples, families, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.Photography:
I’m also finally able to start working on my photography stuff again! If anyone needs a photoshoot, let me know! I do graduation, families, holidays, spicy shoots, pets, and whatever else you can think of!

Week 5, October
Troubleshooting and New Art Prompts

Sad art updates this week:
Pro- I got a new iPad and an upgraded pencil, so I can make better drawings for longer!Unfortunately, the rest of the experience is bad. Since Apple and everything else in this world is a money-grabbing, hungry, all consuming wasteland, they started to charge for iCloud storage. While this would normally be fine at 0.99cents a month (and believe me, now I’m paying for it in more ways than one), they refuse to make it explicitly obvious that without iCloud, a transfer might malfunction.This week I lost the entire year of data from my iPad. The only information I have was uploaded on January 15th, 2023. Every piece of art, every homework assignment, all my books and other files, my photos and videos, everything is gone. Procreate does not save things to a cloud, but the iPad itself, and there was an… error… apparently, while transferring my data. So because Apple is a greedy company, I lost a year of work, all my sketches, and probably over $100 of information and commission work.I cried, and I got really angry. I feel hopeless because I will never recover that stuff. No drafts, no art, no schoolwork. I’m struggling with getting a grasp on how I’m going to tell people that their commissions can’t be fulfilled, and most of them I don’t have a contact with anyway. It’s really scary to be dependant on the greed of technology, but I’m trying.I’m trying hard to be positive about it. I got a new machine, I can always make more art. Maybe this will mean I can make better art.Anyway, I’m absolutely desperate so please lmk if there’s anything I can draw for you.
My commissions are fully open currently, and now is the time to start getting your holiday requests in! I can do fandom inserts, original character designs, couples, families, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. Just shoot me a message on Instagram or Facebook!Thanks for reading, I hope you have a lovely week!

Week 4, October
General Creative UpdatesBook stuff:
Still trying to figure out audiobook stuff. However, in the meantime, working in my final 2 English classes has helped me make a lot of progress on Book 2, and I can confidently say it’s about 3/4 of the way done!! I’m hoping to have it in edits by the new year.Check out the first book below and please review it if you haven’t! The amazon ones don’t go through to goodreads, either, so that would be super helpful. Thank you!

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Art Stuff:
I’ve been trying to do a lot of looser, non-streamlined artworks so I think maybe I’ll give an Inktober challenge a shot! I have been struggling a lot with ‘what to draw’ and finding my creativity lately, so I’m hoping prompts can help.My commissions are fully open currently, and now is the time to start getting your holiday requests in! I can do fandom inserts, original character designs, couples, families, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. Just shoot me a message on Instagram or Facebook!Thanks for reading, I hope you have a lovely week!

Week 3, September
General Creative UpdatesBook stuff:
The work I’ve been doing for the audiobook is a very slow process, but it’s really fun! Who better than to have the perfect cadence, accents, and style than the person who knows what the characters sound like? It’s a really exciting time, and I’m happy to be working with a really cool audio producer.
Check out the book below and please review it if you haven’t! The amazon ones don’t go through to goodreads, either, so that would be super helpful. Thank you!

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Art Stuff:
Not much going on with art, but I am planning to continue my artwork of the 9 muses! School has me pretty busy, so I haven’t worked on art for a while.Streaming:
While I haven’t been playing any ps4 games, I’m mostly trying to fill out my Arceus pokedex! It’s taking a while but I love to 100% a game. I want to stream more, though, so be on the lookout for my twitch posts.Looking forward to this journey, and thanks for sticking with me!

Week 2, September
General Creative UpdatesBook stuff:
Reader response to Time of Death has been amazing! And I really hope you've had a chance to read it too.
If you enjoyed the book, you'd make my day by taking the time to leave a review on Amazon. If not, I’d be happy to sign a copy for you!
Reviews make such a tremendous difference to small independent authors like me, who want to give readers stories they'll love.
So if you've got five minutes you could give me, I'd be so grateful for a review.
I will also be starting the process of recording the Time of Death audiobook this month! I’m hoping to have that and a hardcover edition of the book out on amazon by Christmastime.

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Art Stuff:
In other news, I’m working on a lot of new art stuff! My Aesthetic Project is still trucking along, and I’m doing a custom one for one of my closest friends. It’s one of my favorite things to do with my spare time, so I’m excited for more requests.
I have also been commissioned for a television show tattoo sleeve, which is awesome! I can’t wait to continue my work on that, and I’m so honored to have my art on someone else’s body <3Streaming:
I know that I’m very funny, so I’ve decided to set up a twitch account! I talk to myself when I game, which makes the fact that most of what I play action and horror even better. Come watch me scare the crap out of myself for a laugh, or use it as background noise for doing other stuff! My link will be in my regular website as well as below.Looking forward to this journey, and thanks for sticking with me!

Week 1, September
Thoughts on Luck and Making ItI believe that even if you’re doing your best and have been working hard your whole life, it still takes luck and money to make it in this world. I have poured thousands of hours into my artwork, my writing, and I’m still struggling every day. It’s all about connections that you can make, how you know people, and the effort you put into keeping those connections, in addition to any talent or skill that you may have.My main thoughts from this week are that making those connections and being privileged enough to keep them will take you far. For example- I have worked a lot of conventions and comic cons over the last year or so. I’ve made a lot of great friends, including those who can help offer me resources- filmmakers and writers who have been with Disney, voice actors in different animes worldwide, artists who have millions of followers, volunteers who handle famous actors. I met Henry Winkler! However, just knowing these people and attending these cons isn’t enough. I need to be able to have the financial stability and luck to attend con after con in order to maintain those connections. This also applies to my work as an artist- successful vending at a convention, unfortunately, is hugely dependent on where you are at the con, who you know, and who you’re surrounded by.I’m personally very spiritual, so I do think there are certain things we can do to get luck and positive energies from the world around us. However, that’s not the only thing that needs to be done in order to be successful. I try charms and different crystals in order to attract what I seek, luck and financial gain included. I am trying to be more positive about what I put out into the world, too, so that more positive things come back to me. I enjoy making others happy and I love making art, but it’s extremely discouraging trying to do it for a living when you struggle to survive each month.