SOME NOTES
I still love video and sound editing. I love the OCD-ness of it. I haven't edited with iMovie since 2007 and I hate the new version of it, I was using it for a short while for this project and hated it; so I switched to Adobe Premiere which I haven't edited with since 2000. Once I figured out the latest version, I was getting a hang of it and remembered how much I love putting images and sound together. (I also felt like I was back in the editing rooms in art school.)
At some point, if I ever get a real paying job again--and I will... one day. Soon. Crossing fingers.--I really need to get a wacom or bamboo tablet and a better computer or laptop. I got a cheap drawing tablet, but didn't have much control, but it got the job done for this project. For my comic I want to get a bamboo tablet, so I can do the handwriting on the computer. I borrowed my brother's computer to do the video editing. I've learned that these are essential tools I need for what I've been doing with my artwork lately. Esp. with my comic book work. This project made me excited for other illustration works to be taken to a different level with video and sound.
Once the illustrations I created for the video were done and scanned in, I really enjoyed going to coffeeshops and doing all my photoshop work zoning out in public with headphones and good, strong tea.
After this, I'm going to fix the formatting and font sizes on my artist and job resume and call it finished. Then onto few personal drawings, another commission--unpaid; But I'm happy to be doing this one--for Movie Mitten Project. I'll be creating the award for the 2011 Film Short of The Year to be presented January 3rd; January and mid-February will be all about finishing my comic in time to turn it in on February 24 for the last Xeric Grant. If I don't win, it's all cool. It will be so good to finally have it finished after over five years in the making. I will also be taking Christian Slade's (of "Korgi") advice and submit my stuff to Top Shelf Productions. I'm still blown away by his statement that I should be sharing my stuff w/Top Shelf; So many of my favorite comic book artists are with this publisher.
Key things that helped me through to see the completion of this project:
- Matcha tea. Remember that scene in Karate Kid 2? It's my favorite tea right now. The caffeine release is slow; You don't receive the crash you get from coffee. I feel healthier. I get better sleep at night. I also feel this has been helping me with my energy, stamina, focus. The weather has been the usual crappy mid-west weather; Normally, my lupus body is dragging this time of year and lately I haven't been feeling my usual lupus fatigue. All of this could be because of the matcha tea (which is more potent than most green teas since you're not drinking just the water of the leaves that were steeped, but rather the tea leaves itself in powder form) AND/OR the apple vinegar cider I've been drinking daily. I've also been drinking other Japanese teas: genmaicha and sencha, which I love, but since I've been drinking matcha, it's hard to go back on these two. It's sort of like when you drink a nicer, more expensive beer, like Chimay and then go back to something less, but still good, like Bass. You love them all, but you liked the Chimay better. Sometimes I'll drink Chinese green teas, jasmine and oolong.
- Apple cider vinegar. I've been drinking this the beginning of the day, middle of the day, towards the evening. 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in with a cup or cup and a half of water and sometimes with a little bit of honey.
- Big Mama Thorton Pandora Channel.
- Nina Simone Pandora Channel.
- 9.47 Classic Rock radio station.
- Matisyahu "Live at Stubb's," "Light," & "Shake Off The Dust... Arise."
- Water. With all this drinking of water, green tea, & the apple cider vinegar concoction, my body has been displeased with soda, coffee, and any drinks with sugar lately.
- Good snacks. I've been helping myself to clementines, Barbara's whole wheat or multi-grain fig bars, bananas, Trader Joe's whole wheat english muffins w/Sleeping Bear Farms honey creme raspberry spread.
- My brother going for a food run at 1 in the morning while I edit.
- Quiet workspace. I've been working at my brother's house while him and his family are gone during the day. Much needed for no interruptions.
- Social breaks. I didn't want to break away, but it was Thanksgiving and some out of town friends were around. It would be ludicrous not to. Also got to see The Rickety Nelsons play twice. Always good energy.
