Finally finished something

If you've been following along from poliwog...I've made myself scarce lately, my apologies.

First I quit my job, packed, and tied up all my loose ends in Greeley. Then I moved. Then I went to Ireland. Then I floundered around trying to find a job. That's kind of where I'm at still. I've talked about this stuff over here a bit, all the drudgery of waiting around to be called for jobs. (The move is documented at great length there as well).

So I've reached a strange moment in my kind of art-professional life. For one, I've started to DO stuff again. Ever since sophomore year -- the year I switched majors -- I told myself that once I graduated I would start to build a real portfolio I could start sending people. For weeks and weeks now I wake up at 6, start sending resumes out by 8, break at lunch for food and a nap, and keep at it until either I cannot take it anymore or until there is literally nothing else to apply for. This leaves the afternoons and evenings very open, and with no spending money it gives me quite a bit of time to sit and draw. And I'm starting to wonder if I'll have a working portfolio long before I have a "real" job. And further I'm wondering if, since I have my bills paid for at the moment, if I should pursue this instead of some sort of admin job.

So I've updated my big "Illustration Plan" google-doc., and started to block out my next few pieces. I emailed Aaron Jasinski and received some helpful words, started visiting the design periodicals and the small-business sections of the library. And I started walking around with my sketchbook again. That part would seem obvious I guess, but you'd be amazed what a difference a moment on a bench sketching people waiting for the MAX can make for your psyche. It's like the greatest release. Aaaah. I am doing ART again. Yes.

Realistically, I know that this is not the economy to break into illustration. Anthony comes to visit me here in six days, and so I have eased off on the job hunt and upped the art production. I would like to make a great big art-sprint for the portfolio finish-line during this time. Then I will resume my search, all the harder with my standards lowered again (I have not yet applied for retail and food-industry type stuff, but I think I've gone for everything else), whilst beginning the send-out-the-portfoilo game. That's another endless period of "no," but at least that's one I know for sure. And I feel like this time is a rare opportunity.

Anyway. Last night I finally finished what I started all those months and months ago.