new order

I reordered my "2-Do" list once again... After watching some kiddy shows this past weekend I became enthused with my original idea of doing some motion work with a children's story. It brings me back to the list of all the things I have to learn and all the steps involved in finishing the stories and illustrations I began, what seems like so long ago. If felt a little like I was cleaning out a cluttered closet....Consolidated some of the list and then re-ordered the priorities to put the motion idea back at the top of my list.  It's great to feel redirected, refocused and enthused again. 

surviving a christmas card...

This year's Christmas card (which has a more involved design than what is shown above) took me a great deal longer than I had thought it would or really that it should, BUT it began with the concept of moving one step closer to the writing and illustrating of a children's book.  I wanted to do a complete project using some of the concepts and lessons I have learned so far. The poem woke me up one night and from there it all became a delightful, deeply involving project. After I completed the card and mailed them all out, I tried (in vain so far) to put the card to motion, in both Flash and AfterEffects.  I actually did both but I still haven't figured out how to make it look good on the internet.  My idea was to present the card, in motion here on the blog.  I haven't given up yet, but to be honest I can't figure out what I have done wrong.  The file "renders" either too large (way too large) or the graphics just aren't very crisp.  Even though this hasn't worked, the process of taking time each day to write, illustrate, design, and then to learn some Flash and AfterEffects has been great.   Inch by inch, I love the learning process and just imagining what I could do next!   By next Christmas I hope to have the "motion" idea down pat. 

Hour by hour this already has been such a great journey so far.

One Christmas Check off

It's done! The Christmas card is ready!  Printing & mailing this week!  One more project crossed off this list. 
HOUR TO SPARE note: 
It worked particularly well this year with my card.  Of course to be honest, in the beginning, I didn't spend one hour each night in any disciplined manner.... more like 3 hours one night and then none for three nights - then 12 hours all in one day!  But the putting together & tweaking was done in hour spurts and that was what pulled it all together.   Once I get them out in the mail I include the drawings in the blog!
Merry Christmas!  (in case I don't get anything posted before then.)
Ho-Ho-Ho!

inching along...

Hour by hour, inch by inch I am working my way down the list.  My newest (and really, my oldest) lesson has been time and the time we think each project will involve.  Because of the calendar (December & Christmas) I moved my Christmas card up the list and, of course, that has taken much, much more time than I planned.  In fact, yesterday I spent the day (almost 12 full hours) doing the final sketches and color work on my card.  I am going to include one of the drawings here and will put all of it up after I can get the cards in the mail.  I came up with an ambitious idea (my usual dilemma) and now feel compelled to get it done.  Anyway, here's a glimpse.  I am heading back to hour by hour (maybe I can get this finished within the next hour!)

Working behind the scenes

I realized this weekend that it looks as if I haven't been busy if you only look at my posting dates...

Not true.  Actually, I have been doing the "Hour to Spare" -  honestly, not every night but most nights.  In one way or another, sometimes silently either at the drawing board or behind the scenes with some writing or tweaking I have been pretty consistent with putting the time in on this project.  The biggest problem I am finding is keeping on track, following the"to-do" listing (2do page on this blog) in what I had originally thought was the most organized way of getting everything finished.  Forget that.... the projects and their priorities seem to jump around, depending on ideas and issues each day.  I can work an hour on some writing if it's being carried with me - I can do some computer work if I can't sleep at night... Little hours stuck in here and there fulfill the self-requirement of an hour each day (sorry, almost each day), but there are times it's definitely not in the prioritized order.  This brings me to the realization that the jumping around is what made getting things done so difficult and so very unproductive in the first place. I knew this, and I know this.... so back to the list and the "drawing board" I go.

Cross Another - OFF!

I sold some of my note cards this weekend, and I have to say - it felt good.... which, of course, sent me off track once again.  (It really doesn't take much to get me running in another direction!)  On my "...an Hour to Spare" list I am supposed to be finishing the portfolio for my note cards - I haven't finished that yet.  Instead, I opened an Etsy account. Check it out!
www.etsy.com/shop/redbootz

(Of course there are something like 145,000 cards for sale on etsy - who will ever find me? But then, it's been said, "...if you build it, they will come,"  or something like that.)

A thought:  This "Hour to Spare".... works.  Amazingly, I have found is that even when I am soooo tired, thinking I am TOO tired to sit, disciplined, for an hour, once I begin the time flies by and I find I have to be disciplined enough to stop!  

Illustration Friday - Week of Oct. 15th

"Spooky" - This is my first attempt at "Illustration Friday".  Not really "spooky" but I am hoping the touch of clever might create the link....  I am looking forward to the next topic!