Whoa, where have I been the past nine months? Oh yeah-- working my butt off. I was surprised to pop on here and see that I did at least manage to get Scharra posted (way to go, me!) even though I didn't update the journal.

So-- to catch everyone up: It's March 13th (Happy early Pi day to all the geeks out there) and I've completed 10 cons so far this year, with another 4 happening before the end of March. Things are going well, considering the economy. It's been strange, I'm either doing extremely well at shows or badly, it doesn't seem to be in-between. Luckily the good shows are over-compensating for the bad ones. I will be reviewing my calendar of shows and probably cutting some of the under-performing ones loose. Which is just as well, since I just opened an online shop at etsy (kathardyfantasy.etsy.com) and I want to get back into doing arts and craft fairs, so I will need the time to produce more.

I've got two new paintings in the works, one an oil, which is taking a long while to get prepped. With the technique I use for oil painting these days (which I learned from Chris Seaman a few years ago) I complete a very detailed pencil drawing first, then glaze the oil colors over that (after I scan the b&w just in case I screw up the painting). This one is a full 18x24, so the drawing is taking a while. But, it is almost ready, and is turning out beautifully-- so I can't wait to show you guys!

The other is another watercolor, which also starts off with a pencil drawing, just not as detailed as the oil painting-- (the graphite can wash into your paint and muddy up the colors) but I haven't gotten as far on that one yet.

I am not a multi-tasker; I wish I was-- that would certainly make life easier, but I find that I can only work fully focused on one thing at a time. It used to tick off one of my old bosses (when I used to work for other people) that I would be so focused on what I was doing that I wouldn't hear the phone ring right next to me. I know other artists who can work on two different things at once. I tried it. Did not work. I had two papers set up and ended up working on only the one until it was finished, then went on to the other one.

Oh, well!

I have lots of other things I'm working on, too. I finally got a digital camera, so (in theory) it will be easier for me to post things, especially sculpture or the plush unicorns I make (things that don't fit on a scanner too well). I'm looking forward to sharing all that stuff with you guys.

If it takes me a while to get to it, though, don't be discouraged: I'm just not a multi-tasker!