So I'm sitting here, in my bedroom in Tucson, realizing I don't know when the next time I'll see it will be. June is the earliest, but there's a good chance I won't come home next summer. It's a little frightening to think that I don't know when I'll be back, or if I want to be.

I'm sitting here alone, and I'm realizing there are a few people who are really important to me, that I really want to be with right now, and always. One of them is my sister. I really hate that being away from here and the tension and the bad memories means being away from her.

I look back at the past year and realize how much I've grown, but I still feel like such a child. I don't know where I'm headed or what I want, but I know how to move forward and I can keep doing that.

I'm going to try to draw more, to write more, to laugh more, to live more. But I'm going to try to reflect more, to appreciate more, and to slow down sometimes. The world moves faster the older you get, it seems, and there's so much more to miss. I want to try and start journaling every night, or at least every week. I want to start drawing once a week. I want to start photographing once a week. Exercising. Reading. Working hard. I want to push myself like I used to, and get everything I can out of every moment. I want to be proud of myself again, and not just contented.

Overall, I'm feeling a little lost right now, and while I don't necessarily want to feel found, I want to feel like I've got my feet on my ground and an adventure in front of me. I want to just be able to be myself.

But I'm glad for the reflection, and I'm glad for the growth. New Year's has been my favorite holiday for awhile now.

May the days bring you joy, and the year wisdom.

And always, always love.

Taylor

Does anyone know how to open a Photoshop file in Illustrator, or convert it, and still be able to draw on it in Illustrator?

Thanks,

Taylor

Hey kiddies,

and I are going to be going back and forth challenging each other with quick drawing exercises. I will be posting the prompts, deadlines, and finished images here so you can see them all side by side. If anyone else wants to participate, feel free to note me the link to the image and you can be here too. Hopefully this will lead to more drawing and more technical skill.

Best of luck,

Tillary

TASK SIX WILL GO UP IN EARLY JANUARY. SEE YOU THEN.

TASK 1:
Deadline:12/1/09 11:59:59 PM
Challenge:Must use title and color scheme from the following. Subject matter is your choice.

COMPLETED IMAGES:
by ~CaliMica
by =mesapoo
by *autumncoloredmelodie

TASK 2:
Deadline:12/4/09 11:59:59 PM
Challenge: Draw a character you've never drawn/uploaded before. The image must be inspired by candlelight.
COMPLETED IMAGES:
by ~enuf4forever
by *autumncoloredmelodie
by ~CaliMica
by =mesapoo

TASK 3 (Edit):
Deadline:12/7/09 11:59:59 PM
Challenge: People have a ton of shiz that they are attached to/other people associate them with, but characters rarely do! Draw one of your characters with at least four props. The character must be interacting with at least one! List the props in your artist's description.
COMPLETED IMAGES:
by ~CaliMica
by =mesapoo
by ~enuf4forever
by *autumncoloredmelodie

TASK 4:
Deadline: 12/11/09 11:59:59 PM
Challenge: This is a short challenge so FANART TIME. Draw a Disney princess, but try to make her your style, update her, change her time period, or do some other odd thing to her.
COMPLETED IMAGES:
by ~CaliMica
by :devmercurymidnight:
by ~Arylas
by =mesapoo
Mel and Tillary, the creators of this challenge, suck at life and had a bye-challenge. But Mel finished it so I posted hers anyways.

TASK 5:
Deadline: 12/17/09 11:59:59 PM YEAH I KNOW EVERYONE IS REALLY BUSY RIGHT NOW SO TWO MORE DAYS. YOU'D BETTER SUBMIT NOW, KIDDIES
Challenge: A historical figure's life is being turned into a video game! Make and epic poster design to promote its upcoming release! The drawing doesn't have to include text, but you artist's description should give a brief summary of the real person, and a brief blurb about the game. While the character needs to be a real historical figure (no novel characters, etc.) the game concept can be completely fabricated, but should take inspiration from the figure.
COMPLETED IMAGES:
by ~CaliMica
by =mesapoo
by *autumncoloredmelodie
by ~enuf4forever