Been feeling a little out of it

Sorry about everything being so quiet! I'm admittedly trying to figure out a system to keep my plans more organized. I'm mostly focused on getting my room clean at the moment and between then updating my art shops.

I've had an idea of creating a new YouTube channel for speed drawings as a way to show what updates I have. I might even throw in some web designs and animations too. I just need to get a good speaker for these videos.

When I get back into a better flow, I want to also want to share pictures for any fun trips I've been part of around my town and near by cities along with shopping I've done. I've been planning to start collections of gemstones, herbs/spices, candles, and incense for creating spells along with what I consider to be a nostalgic collection that's going to feature toys, CDs, and other older technology that will serve as a way to make me happy due to the fact I'm a nostalgic person in general.

And for any of you who are planning to go into 3D animation, Blender offers a software program for free, so check it out if you're interested!

That's all for now, hopefully the next post will have more interesting tidbits overall.

- Alanna

Looking for free online classes?

https://alison.com/ is a great place to try that has over 700 courses! You can also create a new account just by using Google+

I'm going to use it to brush up on art and learn animation along with brushing up on web design and possibly learn languages, psychology, and history too.

- Alanna

Slowing Sliding in from a Hiatus

Hey, everyone! I'm well aware of how silent I have been, and I can blame that on the last month of my semester with being incredibly busy putting together a portfolio show with my class.

Here are some pictures displayed below of my portfolio stand.

And if you're wondering what my overall mood was putting this together, well... here you go!

I'll be making this into a digital illustration when I have the time.

Because of all this, I am officially done with college! I was initially going to consider a transfer, but graphic design is one of those programs where the portfolio is what really matters in the end, and the degree I went for is an AAS degree, which is specifically a degree designed for going into the career you studied for right afterwards.

Other than that, my summer has been a bit of a lazy one at the moment, besides going to work obviously. I've mostly been getting into the idea of creating a cartoon block by watching a large variety of shows based on the day of the week. Currently it's Tom and Jerry on Mondays, Loony Tunes on Tuesdays, Felix the Cat on Wednesdays, cartoons by the Fleischers (Popeye, Betty Boop, Out of the Inkwell) on Thursdays, Cartoon Network's What a Cartoon! on Fridays, and more current cartoons on the weekends. This is meant to help expand what kind of cartoons I watch, and I want to bring a nostalgic vibe to my life. Why? Nostalgia is one of the main things that keeps me happy. It helps lay out my life in simpler terms which makes it much easier for me to finish anything I need to get done. Learning how to take some time out of the day for a scheduled cartoon I think will also help me manage my time better.

I also want to put time aside to learn how to do web design and animation better along with learning new languages, getting into a proper workout routine, practicing meditation, reading the books my dad loaned me for my Amazon Kindle app, and of course creating designs to sell online.

So I basically have a lot on my plate that I want to get to. I just got to get my room more organized so everything goes more smoothly. It's a lot to improve on, but because I only have work I need to focus on as opposed to college being in the mix, it shouldn't be too hard.

- Alanna

It's been very quiet lately

Hey, everyone. Apologies for the inactivity. My family and I have been very busy with packing and have moved to an apartment. I haven't had internet for a while, but I just purchased an Xfinity internet pass, and I can now get online through my laptop. I now have a room too :D I'm going to be working on creating a desired atmosphere for this room by collecting some fun colorful LED lights, get my desk set-up which I want to place my lamp and various gemstones on top of, and purchase a night stand for my bedside. I'm going for a retro-zen style.

I'm also very busy with getting my portfolio together for the end of the semester and helping my class get our portfolio show ready.

It's a tall order, but I think I can handle it all.

- Alanna

Some Concepts I Did for Class

Damn, I really need to update this blog more, sorry guys. Work, school, and working on art projects end up making me forget about this blog occasionally. But here are some concept logos I made for my group back at the beginning on the semester.

The fonts in the last three were created by one of the people in my group. I just vectored it.

As for right now, this week really hasn't been the best. From getting an intolerable ear infection, to having damaged glasses that will cost over $300 to get them replaced, to needing to reschedule my appointment for new glasses, to getting ready to move out at the end of March, I'm in a low slump right now. I really want to spend time with my friends, but I feel like they're busy right now too.

Still, there's a very good chance I'll finally have my own room when my family and I move, and this Friday night I'll likely be heading out to a roller rink, which will likely be fun!

And for my videos, I'm going to try to create a schedule for them within the time I have, and I'll likely have a video going over stuff around Christmas time, and what's happening right around now too.

That's all for now.

- Alanna

Moving Things Forward

Hey, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. There have been several things I've been meaning to do before Christmas, but there is always next year, so I'll work on those in secret so there ready when the time comes around.

I spent Christmas at home with my family, and my friend's family came over too which was nice. Here is a picture of what I got.

(One of the family's cats Benny snuck her way into this photo)

The picture includes:

• Chocolate and lots of other candy
• A bag of loose leaf tea
• A tea leaf holder that's shaped like a manatee.
• A coffee warmer
• Small tubes to hold shampoo, conditioner, etc. for travel
• Bamboo pencils
• A jar for pencils and brushes
• Buddhist meditation flags
• Chibi Stitch plushie
• Betty Boop pajamas
• Underwear
• A scarf
• And a kettlebell weight

For New Year's Eve, I flew out to spend time with my dad for a few days. First day was mostly watching TV, second day was a lazy day, and third day we did a little shopping.


In addition to being in Pennsylvania for New Year's, I got to meet my dad's dog Sassy! Here's a picture of the lovable little cutie right here:

I've also set up another art shop on Cupick! I'm going to spend my time for now playing catch-up until all my designs are on there. I've had an Etsy account for a long time too (before all of my other shops) that I want to get properly set-up.

And because the new semester started, I've been working on some class designs, which I'll the process to in another post fairly soon.

See ya then!

- Alanna

Holidays Are a Wonderful Time... And a Busy Time

Hello, everyone! I haven't been the most active on this blog, but I figured the best I can do is give an update. The holidays tend to always be a busy time for me. I'm finishing my classes this semester, my job requires me to work more hours because of more customers, and I'm of course busy getting my Christmas designs together.

Luckily I've finished almost all of my Christmas shopping a couple days ago (I might even be completely done, though I'm not entirely sure). I just need to get my Christmas stuff in gift bags, and send some of them to a friend of mine up in Northern Minnesota.

I am also making a personal goal to get the area around my bed clean so I don't end up in a chaotic mess that I can't properly store any gifts I've received away.

In addition to my digital designs, I've been wanting to start on a couple types of crafts. First is creating these ornaments made out of wrapping paper and balls of yarn. The second idea is using boxes I've received for my Seacret skin care products and making decorative boxes out of them by using ribbons and paint.

Other than that, I've been wanting to take the time to watch various Christmas specials for a list I am planning to put together for this blog. I have also been meaning to catch up on numerous cartoons. Lucky for me, most of them are currently on hiatus, which makes things easier and helps pass the time.

The following cartoons include:

• Steven Universe
• Gravity Falls
• Star vs. The Forces of Evil
• We Bare Bears (Just got hooked onto it)
• Bob's Burgers
• Rick and Morty
• Over The Garden Wall
• Possibly others I forgot at the moment

I need to still watch season 19 of South Park too.

Hope you're all having a nice December!

- Alanna