Ugh - it's been a while since I updated this. I apologize to those people who have tried to contact me through this site. I've been through another move, and am presently between homes until I can get some lasting employment.

On the plus side, I've had more reason to familiarize myself with my Wacom tablet. My art desk is in storage, and getting out the Bristol board and eraser is a bit messier a proposition right now. It's much easier for me to sit here in this comfy chair with my laptop on a TV-tray and my Wacom tablet in my lap.

I've been working on making a habit of drawing every day, even if it's just a bit of doodling. I want to become more proficient with my tablet, and I would like to pick up a few more tricks in Photoshop.

So expect to see a bit more work funneling through here, but at the same time, be warned: not everything I post here will be something I've given my all to. The point is to keep drawing as a lasting daily habit.

I think I've decided to give the San Diego Comic-Con a pass this year. I know it's the 40th Anniversary, and it's the place to meet other artists and make contacts, etc., etc., but I did the convention last year and came out of it with nothing aside from a single constructive portfolio review with Dark Horse. It was the most crowded place I've ever been to, and cost us a significant chunk of change. If I were able to attend as a geek and nothing more, I could have had a grand old time, I'm certain (my wife got to attend several great panels, such as ones featuring most of the casts of "Battlestar Galactica" and "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"), but going as a professional looking for work was, I think, a waste of time. There's nothing I can do there that I can't do from my computer at home aside from shake hands and submit my portfolio to DC. It's just not worth the investment; certainly not now.

Besides, my parents are offering to pay for us to go on vacation with them in the Grand Canyon that same weekend. Which would I regret missing more, an overcrowded sensory overload or time with my family in a beautiful natural locale?

Instead, my beloved and I are considering trying out the Alternative Press Expo. I've never been, though I've always been curious about it. I've had a friend or two whom I respect go to show his stuff there, so it's always been on my to-do list. Since my wife and I spent our honeymoon in San Francisco, this would also be a nice opportunity for us to try a do-over (I got sick during our first visit).

Speaking of getting sick, my wife and I just recovered from having El Influenza. That knocked me out for a week, which was more of a problem for her than for me, since I'm currently unemployed. Still, I don't recommend it.

Nothing new to report. I'm looking for a job - student loans know no mercy.

I've been putting together some pieces oriented more toward character and concept design, with some emphasis on digital coloring. I'm becoming much more comfortable with Photoshop for that purpose, but there are still a lot of tricks and shortcuts out there that I'd like to pick up. Like anything else, though, it's practice, practice, practice.

Not much to report, except that I'm still looking for paying work. Comics, illustrations, storyboarding - I'm open.

I'm trying to do more digital work, to make myself more comfortable with both Photoshop and with working on my Wacom tablet. I've been discovering some tricks and shortcuts that I think will come in handy for paying gigs.

San Diego Comic-Con didn't yield many results, but one positive thing I did get was a portfolio review from an editor at Dark Horse. He gave me some good criticisms and pointed me in the right direction to improve my work. He also encouraged me by telling me he thought I was *very* close to where I needed to be.

I would have preferred a job offer, obviously, but failing that, I probably couldn't have asked for much more.

Still, I envy my wife for being able to kick back and enjoy the convention. And I missed FallCon this year, for the obvious reason that I'm stuck in Los Angeles. I find myself increasingly missing Minneapolis.

Well, it's done - I've passed my last class at MCAD. Now I'm just waiting for my Bachelor's Degree in Comic Art to arrive in the mail.

Actually, that's not entirely true. I'm not just waiting - I'm actively looking for work. Preferrably work in the comics field, but failing that, I'm also interested in storyboarding work. Or illustration, character design, and the like.

In other words, I'd like to make a paycheck. My grace period on paying back my massive student loans ends next month, so my wife and I both need the money to begin rolling in.

Employers: I'm hungry for work! And I don't want to go hungry!