April has been the longest month of mixed blessings, so it’s time for a big update! While there’s going to be a bit of bad news in this post, there is some glimmer of hope at the end, so hang in there!
The Setbacks
To begin with the worst of it, my husband and I face the reality of him once again being laid off from his job yet again (this was an interim job after being laid off from his job in IT 2 years ago).
Once more, we find ourselves trying to find a place we can fit in the world. Both of our professions in Illustration and Tech have been hit hard by AI displacement and COVID overhiring that it feels so impossible to find available work right now. Even trying to find temporary work in alternate fields has been tricky, while everyone feels the strain with world events at the moment.
But rather than go insane while we wait for job callbacks, we’re trying to keep it moving doing what we can to stay positive and hope that change is in the wind as long as we keep up hope and keep putting ourselves out there!
The Successes
But it’s not all doom and gloom. I have been blessed with a full queue of private art commissions for very amazing and patient clients in the meanwhile! I’ve been able to draw some unique and inspiring topics in the TTRPG arena that I love, in particular.
[Above: A detail of a character illustration for a private commission of Ganjo the Blade Beast of Steel Forest.]
While I’m keeping busy, I’m still working slowly, but surely on the Cassiel’s Servant cover and hope to complete it in time for the 25th anniversary of Kushiel’s Legacy coming in June. I’ve put a Patrons-only sneak over in the Patrons-only area of my Discord, for those who want to see how the cover’s going (teasing with a small sliver here with more shown over on Discord).
Trying to work on anything right now has felt like painting during a hurricane with the high stress of our situation and the ongoing DOOM that is the world right now, but I hope to keep pushing to get this done by June as much as I can work on it between other paying work!
Upcoming Appearances
In other positive news, I’m also very excited to be returning to Multiversecon in 2026 as a guest in October! This was such a charming and welcoming small con right on my doorstep. I hope to be in the vendor hall again this year and to meet Martha Wells, one of the Guests of Honor, and tell her how much I loved Murderbot.
I’m also thrilled to have work appearing in a very lovely gallery in downtown Seattle, Washington called The Ghost Gallery.
[Above: A shot of Ghost Gallery’s install for 2025’s mini art exhibit.]
You’ll specifically be able to see my “Temperance of the Woven Path” piece beautifully framed and on display at the Ghost Gallery’s “Art of Tarot” exhibit featuring oracle, tarot, and other related artworks and card decks from May 8th to June 7th. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop in and take a look! It’s promising to be a gorgeous show.
I’m honored to be included in such a busy gallery area in such a cool themed show! I only wish I could attend in person myself, but maybe it’s for the best so I’m not tempted to buy all of the pretty card decks they might have on display.
I hope you all are able to keep your chins up during these tough times as well! Thanks to all of you for your continued support here, as that little bit of income goes a long way and the encouragement I get here always brightens my day.
Till next time!
<3 Ang
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