I just spent the better part of the afternoon getting my system restored to a point where I could use my new Wacom Bamboo tablet again. Apparently Vista in all it's wisdom decided the driver was a threat to the system and would repeatidly shut it down, preventing me from using the pen outside of Photoshop (rather irritating when you're juggling between messengers, Photoshop and Explorer).

I think I've about had it with Vista. Along with logging permissions, installing older programs and now this, I think I've had just a much trouble as I had with my parent's Windows ME computer. A bit of a shame as I'll admit it's acctually a stable system... when it decides to acctually run stuff.

I just wanted to throw out there, anyone using Windows 7 yet? Think it'd be worth it to upgrade to that? Or should I in fact downgrade to XP? (Since it seems my old computer won't be comming back from the grave any time soon)

Now that the whole Holoworld series is over and done with, I plan on getting back into posting art again soon.

To anyone who hadn't read about it yet, there's a little contest with the final strip in the series. Correctly identify the source game for the old man in the second comic's first panel, and I'll do a pencil sketch for that person. A simple prize for a simple task (maybe).

Best of luck to anyone participating

It's late at night here, and I've been thinking over a lot of things lately.

As many of you had noticed in my recent behavior on dA, I've perhaps been a little less than cordial with how I've been treating comments on my art. While I still think some of my conerns about this are still valid, I think there's something else at work here that I need to address as a person.

I have been a very angry person of late, but in all reality don't know if what I'm feeling is justified. It has a lot to do with how I feel I'm being perceived and how I felt I've been taken for granted by certain individuals. While some I've come to terms with, others I don't think I've been able to fully communicate my greif with as a lack of will to push the issue further. What it often boils down to is jelously, but at the same time I think I've been treated pretty shitty as well.

But a good freind of mine reminded me that love is something that's a give and a take, and maybe I myself have been taking these people for granted as well. Perhaps it's time that I give shout outs to people whom I've felt special connections to and tell them what they've ment to me over the years.

; You're someone I know I should keep in better touch with, and honestly I can't think of anyone who'se helped me more out of pure freindship. Since our days working together you've always been there to look out for me and help me develop as a person. You and Ryan have always been there for me in times of need, and I can only hope to return the favor someday in ten-fold.

; Never could one ask for a greater freind. We've been through quite a few difficult times together and I suspect we'll help each other through many more. Always there with words of wisdom when I needed it, and never afraid to tell me when I've stepped out of line not just with you but in my dealings with others. You're someone who'se love for his freinds knows little bounds and is something everyone should aspire to.

; If nothing else came from our time together, is that I've learned what I need to do to better myself as a lover and a companion. While things might not have ended how we would have wanted, those 4 years are something I wouldn't trade for the world. You knew how to make someone feel wanted and loved, I only wish I had been able to do the same for you. I hope you find someone who has the patience and caring that you showed me all those years ago.

; Someone who deserves much better than what they get; as hard as times have been for you I've always seen you pushing through with a strength that seems endless and a heart that's always giving. Always willing to offer time and words of kindness and encouragement you're someone who I value greatly as a freind.

; Honesty is a rare commodity and you've given me this in spades. You were never hesitant to tell me what you thought but at the same time it came with a scencerity that told me it was never something of malice. In time I think our freindship has developed that we can tell each other anything without fear of the other taking offence and that we truly respect the ground we each stand on. Your stalwart freindship is something I will always remember.

; Someone with a demenor and knowledge I respect and that I treat as an equal. You always kept things real and never hid your true intentions or feelings. In this sense I feel you're someone I could always trust no matter what the cercomstances are.

; Someone I respect greatly as an artist and a person. Although I've always said I liked your possitive outlook on life, you're also someone I would trust not to use anger or their frustrations as an excuse to hurt others. I think there in lies a purity of heart and innocence that I hope is never tarnished.

; You've treated me with more patience then I deserve. Always showing a generosity that's suprising and never one to abandon freindships no matter how difficult they become. You are a good person and I hope that the future finds you in better health.

; I must thank you for the support you've shown me of late, helping me develop as an artist and advice to remind me why I'm drawing in the first place.

; I can feel a creativity that I miss from my youth and something that I hope you never lose. Although your strong personality might make you at odds with others at times, in time you may be able to learn how to properly direct this honesty with the integrity that expect out of you.

I'm about ready to pass out but I think I've covered everyone whom I've come to respect out of dA. I feel a little better although a few kind words would go a long way, if I may be honest enough to ask. Freinds are something that should be valued, and every so often reminded why they are so. I only hope I've fufilled my part with all of you.

Until next time, TC out

---===REQUEST STATUS===---

; Maxwell Silverhammer picture (0% complete, still in concept stages)
; Characters Byron and Sunny, Playing Bust-A-Move (10% complete, two characters in base sketch)
; Character Mellissa (10% complete, Pencil work restarted)
; Child underwater (5% Complete, pencil work started)

Well the request I've taken are certainly giving me a lot of practice in my drawing. I've pretty much only gone a day or two in the past few weeks without picking up a pencil, and I'm learning quite a lot too. Something else I did when I went shopping last weekend was pick up a basic cartooning book which while looking like something for amatures, reminded me of a few of the basics I'd either forgotten or just never really discovered on my own.

To that end, I realised just how few rules I had when it came to drawing characters. While I've long broken my habits of drawing free hand, I find I leave quite a bit to the imagination and make things up as I go along which makes much of my art very inconsistant.

To that end, I want to start an exersize wherein I draw my character at least once a day, be it either a head-shot or a full body profile. I want to establish some ground-rules when it comes to how I draw him so that I can make him look the same dispite the myrid of poses I can put him through.

I've done a few drawings of him recently, all very basic poses and I may scan and post them either this weekend or early next week. What I want to propose is that you, my audience, give me poses and themes that might be challenging to draw (say from 'doing a hand-stand' to 'Operating heavy machinery under medication'. The more creative the idea, the more likely I'll use it. I'll also give credit as to whom gave me the idea in the comments section of the picture.

Thats about all for now. I'm keeping request open as well, but at this point I might have to keep future ones down to simple pencil sketches since I have enough on my plate as it is.

---===REQUEST STATUS===---

; Maxwell Silverhammer picture (0% complete, still in concept stages)
; Characters Byron and Sunny, Playing Bust-A-Move (10% complete, two characters in base sketch)
; Character Mellissa (50% complete, Lining almost finished)
; Child underwater (5% Complete, pencil work started)

Somehow I feel I might regret this, but I figure this should make up for my behavior the past two weeks.

I'm looking to practice my art a bit more, but I want to branch out a little more from what I normally draw. Therefore I'm asking whomever reads this if they can come up with anything to challenge me. Some general guidelines before we continue though...

1 - Send me a note telling me what you'd like to see me draw. If I feel like it'd be something interesting to try, I'll give it a shot. I may send a note back if I need any specifics.

2 - Once the drawing is complete, I'll either send it back your way with a note. As to weither it will be posted in my gallery depends of the nature of the picture.

3 - I'd prefer to keep the standards of my gallery; that is I won't draw anything overly fetishistic, but I'd like to have some other redeeming value to the art. That is no nudity at all and each request will be personally evaluated.

I think that should cover all the bases. I got a few other request to work on in the meantime. If I accept others I'll put their status in the journal.

; Maxwell Silverhammer picture (0% complete, still in concept stages)
; Characters Byron and Sunny, Playing Bust-A-Move (10% complete, two characters in base sketch)
; Character Mellissa (50% complete, Lining almost finished)
; Child underwater (5% Complete, pencil work started)