Category: Blog Posts

“No More Silence” + Portraits for Charity! [Donations Closed]

EDIT 7/30/2020: Paypal has automatically closed the Money Pool so I am going to call this Charity Drive done for now!  I hope to do more drives like this in the future, as I feel it is a way we can all help good causes together.  I’ll be posting soon which charities I’ve donated to as soon as I have made the donations.  Thanks to everyone who donated! My thanks to everyone who donated!  Your generosity warms the heart.
 
I know this seems a deviation from my usual art, but at the same time, I needed to make this and share it with you here.
 
When my husband, Kevin, and I first started getting serious as a couple, people’s support of us turned from reluctant smiles to “Are you sure you want to date him? That could make life harder for you.“ Hearing this from people I love and respect popped the optimistic bubble I had always lived in.
 
All my favorite movies and stories had taught me that I could grow up to be anything I wanted, that everyone was created equal, that I was a good person who could stand up against injustice like my heroes, but the true lesson from those around me was this…
 
…I could do all those things as long as I was safe and didn’t marry a good man who I adored and who adored me, because it was easier to just move on to someone ‘safer’ who was not black. The world wouldn’t change any time soon, so I should just be safe.
 
Kev and I have usually been silent online about these topics for fear of upsetting anyone. Conversations about tolerance, guilt, and racial misconceptions were best left for private one-on-one conversations with friends and family. It’s finally the time for these conversations to happen out loud. If we’ve learned anything from the past few weeks, it’s that so many folks are like us. They have kept silent for a long time awaiting a single voice to give them the courage to speak out.
 
Now’s the time we need to choose not to be safe and comfortable. Now’s a chance to catch the world up with the fine sensibilities that we preach to our children and ourselves, but that we don’t have the same courage to live by.
 
I’ve used my art for examining morality in a ‘safe’ indirect way via the Fantasy genre, but if ever there was a time to be direct, it is now. I want to be like my epic Fantasy heroes and now all of us have a chance to be!
 

Portraits for Charity

I’ll be creating ribbon portrait icons like the examples here for charity. This idea was inspired by Bkomei’s icons for charity drive. Bkomie asked that others take up this format to do good, if they can, so I’m doing my part!
 
BLM Portraits for Charity
 
More Examples:
 
Example Portraits for Charity
 
If you donate $30 or more to my donation pool, I will create an icon in this style for you to show your solidarity. Original Characters are also welcome! 100% of the money will be donated to charities supporting racial equality and providing aid to those neighborhoods currently impacted by protests.  I hope to raise at least $1k or to create 34 icon portraits. Whichever comes first! There is no deadline.
 
In the event that kind individuals donate more than the minimum and I reach $1k faster, this charity drive will conclude and my art queue will be closed.

How This Works:

  • Donate $30 or more to my Paypal Donation Pool here.  (Paypal account is not required).
  • Send me your reference photos (either a photo of yourself in profile or references of your Original Character) to angelicshades(at)gmail.com
  • Your completed high res digital icon will be emailed to the address from which you emailed your reference images, unless otherwise requested. EDIT: Your icon will be sent as soon as it is finished. I will not be waiting until the pool is full and the final donations are made.
  • Once I hit my donation pool’s goal, I will donate the money to selected charities (the receipts will be shared here and on social media for follow-up confirmation). The specific charities will be decided upon after I have done adequate research on each. EDIT: I am open to your suggestions to which organizations I should choose!  I am currently considering the ACLU, Black Visions Collective, Campaign Zero, and Reclaim the Block.
  • I’ll update this post with a link to a queue to let people know the status of portraits. I will be working on these icons outside of other obligations, so expect a moderate wait time. EDIT: Queue Link!
If you do not have the funds to donate, I encourage you to help signal boost this post, instead, and do what you can to be compassionate and outspoken about injustice in these dark times. Thanks so much for your generosity, either way!  Kev and I really wish we could be out there helping voices be heard, but due to his medical fragility as a heart and cancer patient, we have to self-isolate as much as possible right now.  I wanted to do what is within my power to do and that is to create something with art!
 
Let’s be heroes, guys. Stand up.  Speak out!  Don’t be silenced by fear and comfort.  I know we have the power to change things together because together is the only way the world can, and has, changed!
 
Much love,
♥ Ang
 

Help Signal Boost!

May 2020 Wrap-Up – Fanarts, Refocusing, and Next Steps!

May went by way too fast, you guys!  I was able to take about a week off before I had to hop back to prepping Backerkit for the Goddesses of Spring Kickstarter to make sure that was working smoothly for those of you who picked up pins.  But do not worry, I plan to take a true and proper break once this FINAL Kickstarter finishes its ‘lifecycle’ and everything is shipped!

In that bit of downtime, I took on the Six Fanarts Challenge which are my first paintings in Procreate!  I’m extremely proud of these.  It’s nice to be reminded I can still paint this way after years of working almost primarily in ink and watercolor:

(Check out this post for the collection and narrated time lapse video!)

I’m also pretty terrible at downtime and as usual when I am trying to take a break, my brain is alight with all the things I’d like to do!  I’ve been thinking of the ways I want to re-focus and make some changes to organize my studio, refine my social media output, etc. now that this project has finished one major phase and begins to enter another.

The focus of this next and final phase is going to be the Wall Calendar and Art Book, the latter of which will feature some unpublished pieces (that my Patreon Patrons will totally be getting a sneak peek of before everybody else!).  These pieces are going to be much more in a dark and elegant vein as I bridge the gap between Mucha’s style and my own personal style.  It’s going to be very different, but still something I hope you all will enjoy!

June is going to be about finishing up one last Art Challenge to let my brain wind down (The 6 Outfits Challenge), setting a study schedule, wrapping up Kickstarter (I hope! These delays are killer), doing taxes, and re-organizing the studio to be more efficient now that my inventory has grown so very much!

Lastly, as much as I like to focus on my fanciful art here, this month has also been mentally rough for so many folks, especially as I write this.  For those who don’t know us, my husband and I are an interracial couple.  Seeing recent events unfold is a strong reminder of how safe my husband and family are not in this world, a constant 24-7 truth we’ve become good at ignoring just so we can live our lives.   I’ve shared some places you can donate here where you can also help others during these tense times, if you are able. 

Please be kind to others and speak up when you see injustice!  Let this horror help us come together with renewed and combined strength.

Much love!

♥ Ang

Digest of May’s Posts

Rewards Added in May

6 Fanarts Challenge – Part 2 + Video Compilation Sneak Peek!

Check out Six Fanarts Part 1 for the first three images in this collection!  The video above collects all of the time lapses I created of these pieces in a sneak peek I’m sharing early just for Patrons.  Much of this post is a transcription of what was said in the video.

My journey with this challenge continued last week between prepping Kickstarter things!  What a fun ride it’s been after I’ve gone so long without doing much painting in this style. I hope you enjoy the last few portraits in this set!

Azula from Avatar the the Last Airbender

Next, we have Azula from Avatar the Last Airbender, one of my all-time favorite shows. Azula was one of my most requested subjects and I was happy to oblige! This cold, calculating villainess is one of many of the amazingly realized characters from Avatar.

For this portrait, I learned that Procreate’s Lightpen brush is amazing for lightning effects! I think 80% of the time spent on this was perfecting Azula’s smiling glare.

Out of all the portraits, I was happiest with Azula’s for the challenging facial expression and pushed lighting. Do you agree with my favorite pick? Leave a comment and let me know after you get to see all of the portraits!

2B from Nier Automata

For the 5th portrait and the most requested from fans, I present 2B from Nier Automata. You can’t beat the gorgeous aesthetic of Nier or the amazing twisting narrative which asks deep questions on the nature of humanity. Plus, blindfolded swordgals are definitely my aesthetic!

I had more fun exploring some of the texture brushes in Procreate to simulate a suede texture with this piece.

Joker from Persona 5

And now we reach the final portrait for my Six Fanarts Challenge!  I surprised my husband with a last minute swap out of Alucard from Castlevania with Joker from Persona 5, since this is one of his favorite video games. Persona is just one of those indescribable games. High schoolers? Demons? Part-time jobs? All you need to understand is that Joker is a boss with an amazingly stylish character design that made him a joy to paint!

I got to play with even more of Procreate’s texture brushes for this piece with splatters. I’m finding I lean on the Gouache brush pretty heavily for most of my painting purposes! The subtle texture in it works so well and preserves the nature of your natural brushstroke. It’s perfect for a more natural look to my digital painting!

If you’d still like to see me draw Alucard sometime, show your vampire love in the comments!

And now THE FULL SET REVEAL!  Which one is your favorite? Let me know in comments!

—

I had SO MUCH fun taking a break from my usual meticulous watercolor and ink work to take a break with painterly art and try something new! I had such a blast with Procreate and plan to experiment more, which I hope to share here.

My adventures with art memes aren’t over, however, as I’ll be doing the 6 Outfits Challenge for my Dungeons & Dragons character next!  3 of the outfits were chosen by Patrons so I’m excited to get going on them.  I’ll also have a pack of coloring pages for the Goddesses of Spring coming for $5+ Patrons next post!

Stay tuned!

♥ Ang

Six Fanarts Challenge – Part 1

My May art vacation continues with May Sketch A Day and the Six Fanarts Challenge!  I reserved the first 3 slots for my own personal picks, while the next 3 are going to be picked from the suggestions given on social media.

I’ve been enjoying taking a break to curl up with the iPad Pro, chill out with some of my fave movies, and paint some portraits for fun!  It’s nice to know after years of working in a line-heavy traditional style that I can still paint digitally with strong lighting and painterly edges.

Portrait 1 – Aaravos from Netflix’s The Dragon Prince

I’ve been in love with this character’s design from the first moment he showed up in The Dragon Prince!  With starts twinkling in purple skin, he’s just gorgeous and his mysterious agenda in Dragon Prince intrigues me even more.  I highly recommend this show for the wonderful writing (from the head writer of Avatar the Last Airbender) and cool characters.

I used Photoshop for iPad for this piece, but eventually switched to Procreate for its ease of navigation and time lapse recording.

Portrait 2 – Deathface Ginny from Pretty Deadly

If you’ve been wronged, sing the song of vengeance. Deathface Ginny will ride on the wind to answer the call!

Meet Deathface Ginny from the graphic novel Pretty Deadly, a wonderful surreal fusion of mythology and the Wild West featuring this gal, the Reaper of Vengeance. I highly recommend this hidden gem of a comic if you like strange and beautiful things!

This is my first finished piece in Procreate and I was impressed with the results!  Painting this image allowed me to familiarize myself with Procreate’s highly streamlined UI.  It too me way too long to figure out how to switch the Layer blending mode!

Watch a time lapse here!

Portrait 3 – Dabi from My Hero Academia

I’ve been wanting to draw this man ever since he showed up! His look is so creepy and unique and I’ve always found subdued color palettes with bright accents to be visually stunning.

This portrait helped teach me how to use the selection and color fill features.  I also learned that the Flame brush in the Elements brush set works really well for fire affects!

 Watch a time lapse here! 

Next up, I’ll be trying my hand at the crowd picks of Azula from Avatar the Last Airbender, 2B from Nier Automata, and Alucard from Castlevania!

If you could see a fandom character in my style, who would it be?  Maybe I’ll take on this challenge again sometime!

Next post, I’ll be sharing a Patreon Reward of a wallpaper set of the Ink & Gold Goddesses of Spring then sharing the rest of these portraits when I can (hopefully) finish them over the course of the week.

 ♥  Ang

MSAD – Week 1 – Face Mask Designs + 6 Outfits Suggestions Needed!

My Art Vacation has began in earnest with sketching every day for the first short week in May for May Sketch A Day!  I’ll be sharing weekly compilations of this event here so I don’t overwhelm you guys with daily posting.

Day 1 – Calavera Face Masks

I wasn’t planning to sketch face masks until I saw that Art of Where announced they would be offering masks we can print art on soon!  These masks will have an adjustable nose piece, a pocket for a filter, and adjustable lining, which sounds swankier than many of the other custom printed art masks being offered by Redbubble and Artscow. 

So of course I needed to make one for myself and Kev!  He is medically vulnerable as a heart and cancer patient, so we’re doing our best to stay safe and wear masks when we go out. Our handmade masks are going through the ringer being washed often, so it’d be nice to have an extra set!

My first attempt at a design was inspired by my Lady of November with her butterflies, marigolds, and underworld themes.

Day 2 – Akali Samurai Masks

My mask design exploration continued with exploring different shapes inspired by Akali’s mask from the KDA music video.  I designed the oni look for myself and the samurai for Kev (because we’re giant anime nerds), but ironically we ended up liking each other’s designs instead.  I realized I made a head croquis years ago that ended up being perfect for this!

A glimpse at Akali’s neon mask which inspired the look. So cool!

Art by Michelangelo Lanuza.

Day 3 – Persephone Moon Masks

MOAR masks!  I’m still searching out the design that feels like ‘me’.  Stories of moon goddesses and Persephone have always been some of my favorites.  I wanted to play with moons and pomegranates as symbols!  I think I’ve gotten closer with the Persephone inspired design, the round shape where the mouth is looks a bit odd like a gas mask or a gag, so I may find another way to arrange these symbols.

Next week, I hope to finish up the 6 Fanarts meme that I got suggestions for on Twitter!  In the meanwhile, I need YOUR help to pick 6 outfits for my kind-hearted Tiefling gal, Anko!  I’ll be working on them after I finish up 6 Fanarts.

I’ll be saving 3 of these outfits JUST for my Patrons to suggest, so leave your suggestions on this Twitter post OR comment on this entry if you don’t have a Twitter account.  Be sure to mention you’re a Patron if you comment on Twitter!

Are you guys doing May Sketch A Day?  Link me yours!  I’d love to see.

More art coming soon!

♥ Ang

April 2020 Wrap-Up – Going on Art Vacation!

Hello from Day 52 of self-isolation!  This week has been the first week since self-isolation started that I haven’t been crazy busy juggling pin samples, Kickstarter promotion tasks, etc.  The final campaign for the Birthstone Goddesses Pin series on Kickstarter wrapped up this month and I’m celebrating finishing up this next phase of this project!  All that’s left now is to produce the pins and ship them out.  

Next, I’m excited to start work on the next phase of the Birthstone Goddesses with some new art I hope to create in a more fantasy vein for the art book, plus the long-awaited wall calendar.  Wonderful things are on the horizon, which I hope to work on this year and release next year via Kickstarter when things are hopefully a little more stable for everyone!

But first, I’m enjoying some downtime!  May is going to be about letting myself rest and relax to recharge some of my burnt out batteries now that the Kickstarter gauntlet is officially over.  We had been planning a trip to Myrtle Beach to celebrate, but until it’s safe to travel, we’re having a staycation instead.  I’m amusing myself catching up with shows like The Expanse and Dr. Stone and playing video games like Overcooked 2 and Bloodborne.

I’m also excited for letting my muse off the leash to explore something new for a little while!  I’m planning to take on some short term art topics for May, including the May Sketch A Day event (which is where you try to sketch anything once a day in May), plus these other fun ideas:

  • 6 Fanarts Challenge – Drawing fan art from suggestions! I’ve already drawn two out of the six portraits and will share the finals here when I’m done.

  • 6 Outfits Challenge – Draw 6 outfits suggested for one of my characters. I’ll be taking suggestions here soon!

  • 5 Minute Artist – Draw a little portrait and share a little about yourself as an artist!

  • Color Palette Challenge – Pick a color palette from this site and create a piece around it!

Along with posting the next few Birthstone Goddesses related Rewards, I’ll be sharing my adventures with art memes in May.  Feel free to do them along with me!

New Rewards Added this Month

Posts You May Have Missed this Month

—

How have you all been holding up?  How are you keeping yourselves busy?  I’m looking forward to having a little quiet time for art and introspection now that this phase of my project is well and truly finishing up!

More art soon!

♥️ Ang

Mar 2020 Wrap-Up – Arting through the Pandemic

Reading my last posts and writing this one right now feels so surreal.  Last month, we were canceling cons just in case. Now?  Kev and I have been self-sequestered for 3 weeks and adjusting to a new lifestyle.

Funny enough, my husband is handling this very well, while I’m the one who’s been an anxious mess working in my pjs, taking twice as long to do anything, and reading news late into the night (a bad habit I’m breaking with reading manga/comics instead!).

It’s been rough for me launching a Kickstarter this month as well because I honestly thought “With everyone in survival mode right now, why would they support a Kickstarter? I wouldn’t blame them for saving!”.  I’m so incredibly moved that even during this tough time, you guys came out to support me so that we’ve already fully funded the Goddesses of Spring!  So many of you have also chosen to stay as my Patrons, which I am so eternally grateful for.  My fans are the best!  Thank you so much for supporting the arts during a difficult time for all!

Right now, Kev and I are both safe, working from home, and financially stable.  Knock on wood!  I hope you all are doing well.  It’s okay if it’s difficult to focus.  The world is going through something it hasn’t seen in years.  Just remember that we will endure!  

I’ve decided to keep on working through the Birthstone Goddesses and try to do my best.  I still want to work on a calendar and Art Book for my Goddesses and am still excited to indulge more Fantasy Art to share with you all!  In these dark times, we turn to art for a hopeful escape.  A little light goes a long way!

On that note, I thought I’d round up a few resources that are keeping me sane that might also help you guys out (feel free to share more with me in the comments!):

Free Comics for 60 Days – Comixology, my fave comics reader, has extended their Unlimited subscription service free trial to 60 days.  They have a ton of comics in the Unlimited program!  They also integrate with Amazon for easy sign in.

Free Virtual Museum Tours – Here’s a collection of some of the biggest museums offering tours online.

StayHomeWrimo – The minds behind NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) are doing a daily event where they share writing prompts and self-care tips.  Camp NaNoWriMo is starting up in April as well!

The Uncrucified Free Audiobook + Book – My shameless plug! If you’re interested in my current writing project, check out this story inspired by my adventures in the Exalted tabletop roleplaying game.  

It’s a mature fantasy tale about a young girl who rises to greatness from a childhood spent in slavery.  After being granted abilities by a god to help stave off the world’s destruction, she chooses instead to use her newfound powers to forge her own path of revenge to right the wrongs of the world.  But will absolute power corrupt absolutely?

Also, gunslingers, Queenpins, sand, and sorcery!

It’s my hope that those who aren’t into Exalted can still enjoy it!  Come marvel at my very first try at audiobook reading and perhaps become invested in a writing project near and dear to my heart. (Currently seeking Beta Readers for the expanded rewrite!)

New Rewards Added this Month

Posts You May Have Missed this Month

—

For April, I’m hunkering down to ship out as many of the Birthstone Goddess pins as possible, while managing the Goddesses of Spring campaign.  Then, I’ve promised myself a break afterwards to work on other non-Birthstone Goddess things for awhile.  I’m excited to share new work after being focused on more decorative art for so long. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into some narrative art!  We may be seeing more art inspired by the aforementioned writing project.

Stay safe and healthy, friends!

♥ Ang

Mar 2020 Wrap-Up – Arting through the Pandemic

Reading my last posts and writing this one right now feels so surreal.  Last month, we were canceling cons just in case. Now?  Kev and I have been self-sequestered for 3 weeks and adjusting to a new lifestyle.

Funny enough, my husband is handling this very well, while I’m the one who’s been an anxious mess working in my pjs, taking twice as long to do anything, and reading news late into the night (a bad habit I’m breaking with reading manga/comics instead!).

It’s been rough for me launching a Kickstarter this month as well because I honestly thought “With everyone in survival mode right now, why would they support a Kickstarter? I wouldn’t blame them for saving!”.  I’m so incredibly moved that even during this tough time, you guys came out to support me so that we’ve already fully funded the Goddesses of Spring!  So many of you have also chosen to stay as my Patrons, which I am so eternally grateful for.  My fans are the best!  Thank you so much for supporting the arts during a difficult time for all!

Right now, Kev and I are both safe, working from home, and financially stable.  Knock on wood!  I hope you all are doing well.  It’s okay if it’s difficult to focus.  The world is going through something it hasn’t seen in years.  Just remember that we will endure!  

I’ve decided to keep on working through the Birthstone Goddesses and try to do my best.  I still want to work on a calendar and Art Book for my Goddesses and am still excited to indulge more Fantasy Art to share with you all!  In these dark times, we turn to art for a hopeful escape.  A little light goes a long way!

On that note, I thought I’d round up a few resources that are keeping me sane that might also help you guys out (feel free to share more with me in the comments!):

Free Comics for 60 Days – Comixology, my fave comics reader, has extended their Unlimited subscription service free trial to 60 days.  They have a ton of comics in the Unlimited program!  They also integrate with Amazon for easy sign in.

Free Virtual Museum Tours – Here’s a collection of some of the biggest museums offering tours online.

StayHomeWrimo – The minds behind NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) are doing a daily event where they share writing prompts and self-care tips.  Camp NaNoWriMo is starting up in April as well!

The Uncrucified Free Audiobook + Book – My shameless plug! If you’re interested in my current writing project, check out this story inspired by my adventures in the Exalted tabletop roleplaying game.  

It’s a mature fantasy tale about a young girl who rises to greatness from a childhood spent in slavery.  After being granted abilities by a god to help stave off the world’s destruction, she chooses instead to use her newfound powers to forge her own path of revenge to right the wrongs of the world.  But will absolute power corrupt absolutely?

Also, gunslingers, Queenpins, sand, and sorcery!

It’s my hope that those who aren’t into Exalted can still enjoy it!  Come marvel at my very first try at audiobook reading and perhaps become invested in a writing project near and dear to my heart. (Currently seeking Beta Readers for the expanded rewrite!)

New Rewards Added this Month

Posts You May Have Missed this Month

—

For April, I’m hunkering down to ship out as many of the Birthstone Goddess pins as possible, while managing the Goddesses of Spring campaign.  Then, I’ve promised myself a break afterwards to work on other non-Birthstone Goddess things for awhile.  I’m excited to share new work after being focused on more decorative art for so long. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into some narrative art!  We may be seeing more art inspired by the aforementioned writing project.

Stay safe and healthy, friends!

♥ Ang

Mar 2020 Wrap-Up – Arting through the Pandemic

Reading my last posts and writing this one right now feels so surreal.  Last month, we were canceling cons just in case. Now?  Kev and I have been self-sequestered for 3 weeks and adjusting to a new lifestyle.

Funny enough, my husband is handling this very well, while I’m the one who’s been an anxious mess working in my pjs, taking twice as long to do anything, and reading news late into the night (a bad habit I’m breaking with reading manga/comics instead!).

It’s been rough for me launching a Kickstarter this month as well because I honestly thought “With everyone in survival mode right now, why would they support a Kickstarter? I wouldn’t blame them for saving!”.  I’m so incredibly moved that even during this tough time, you guys came out to support me so that we’ve already fully funded the Goddesses of Spring!  So many of you have also chosen to stay as my Patrons, which I am so eternally grateful for.  My fans are the best!  Thank you so much for supporting the arts during a difficult time for all!

Right now, Kev and I are both safe, working from home, and financially stable.  Knock on wood!  I hope you all are doing well.  It’s okay if it’s difficult to focus.  The world is going through something it hasn’t seen in years.  Just remember that we will endure!  

I’ve decided to keep on working through the Birthstone Goddesses and try to do my best.  I still want to work on a calendar and Art Book for my Goddesses and am still excited to indulge more Fantasy Art to share with you all!  In these dark times, we turn to art for a hopeful escape.  A little light goes a long way!

On that note, I thought I’d round up a few resources that are keeping me sane that might also help you guys out (feel free to share more with me in the comments!):

Free Comics for 60 Days – Comixology, my fave comics reader, has extended their Unlimited subscription service free trial to 60 days.  They have a ton of comics in the Unlimited program!  They also integrate with Amazon for easy sign in.

Free Virtual Museum Tours – Here’s a collection of some of the biggest museums offering tours online.

StayHomeWrimo – The minds behind NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) are doing a daily event where they share writing prompts and self-care tips.  Camp NaNoWriMo is starting up in April as well!

The Uncrucified Free Audiobook + Book – My shameless plug! If you’re interested in my current writing project, check out this story inspired by my adventures in the Exalted tabletop roleplaying game.  

It’s a mature fantasy tale about a young girl who rises to greatness from a childhood spent in slavery.  After being granted abilities by a god to help stave off the world’s destruction, she chooses instead to use her newfound powers to forge her own path of revenge to right the wrongs of the world.  But will absolute power corrupt absolutely?

Also, gunslingers, Queenpins, sand, and sorcery!

It’s my hope that those who aren’t into Exalted can still enjoy it!  Come marvel at my very first try at audiobook reading and perhaps become invested in a writing project near and dear to my heart. (Currently seeking Beta Readers for the expanded rewrite!)

New Rewards Added this Month

Posts You May Have Missed this Month

—

For April, I’m hunkering down to ship out as many of the Birthstone Goddess pins as possible, while managing the Goddesses of Spring campaign.  Then, I’ve promised myself a break afterwards to work on other non-Birthstone Goddess things for awhile.  I’m excited to share new work after being focused on more decorative art for so long. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into some narrative art!  We may be seeing more art inspired by the aforementioned writing project.

Stay safe and healthy, friends!

♥ Ang

Mar 2020 Wrap-Up – Arting through the Pandemic

Reading my last posts and writing this one right now feels so surreal.  Last month, we were canceling cons just in case. Now?  Kev and I have been self-sequestered for 3 weeks and adjusting to a new lifestyle.

Funny enough, my husband is handling this very well, while I’m the one who’s been an anxious mess working in my pjs, taking twice as long to do anything, and reading news late into the night (a bad habit I’m breaking with reading manga/comics instead!).

It’s been rough for me launching a Kickstarter this month as well because I honestly thought “With everyone in survival mode right now, why would they support a Kickstarter? I wouldn’t blame them for saving!”.  I’m so incredibly moved that even during this tough time, you guys came out to support me so that we’ve already fully funded the Goddesses of Spring!  So many of you have also chosen to stay as my Patrons, which I am so eternally grateful for.  My fans are the best!  Thank you so much for supporting the arts during a difficult time for all!

Right now, Kev and I are both safe, working from home, and financially stable.  Knock on wood!  I hope you all are doing well.  It’s okay if it’s difficult to focus.  The world is going through something it hasn’t seen in years.  Just remember that we will endure!  

I’ve decided to keep on working through the Birthstone Goddesses and try to do my best.  I still want to work on a calendar and Art Book for my Goddesses and am still excited to indulge more Fantasy Art to share with you all!  In these dark times, we turn to art for a hopeful escape.  A little light goes a long way!

On that note, I thought I’d round up a few resources that are keeping me sane that might also help you guys out (feel free to share more with me in the comments!):

Free Comics for 60 Days – Comixology, my fave comics reader, has extended their Unlimited subscription service free trial to 60 days.  They have a ton of comics in the Unlimited program!  They also integrate with Amazon for easy sign in.

Free Virtual Museum Tours – Here’s a collection of some of the biggest museums offering tours online.

StayHomeWrimo – The minds behind NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) are doing a daily event where they share writing prompts and self-care tips.  Camp NaNoWriMo is starting up in April as well!

The Uncrucified Free Audiobook + Book – My shameless plug! If you’re interested in my current writing project, check out this story inspired by my adventures in the Exalted tabletop roleplaying game.  

It’s a mature fantasy tale about a young girl who rises to greatness from a childhood spent in slavery.  After being granted abilities by a god to help stave off the world’s destruction, she chooses instead to use her newfound powers to forge her own path of revenge to right the wrongs of the world.  But will absolute power corrupt absolutely?

Also, gunslingers, Queenpins, sand, and sorcery!

It’s my hope that those who aren’t into Exalted can still enjoy it!  Come marvel at my very first try at audiobook reading and perhaps become invested in a writing project near and dear to my heart. (Currently seeking Beta Readers for the expanded rewrite!)

New Rewards Added this Month

Posts You May Have Missed this Month

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For April, I’m hunkering down to ship out as many of the Birthstone Goddess pins as possible, while managing the Goddesses of Spring campaign.  Then, I’ve promised myself a break afterwards to work on other non-Birthstone Goddess things for awhile.  I’m excited to share new work after being focused on more decorative art for so long. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into some narrative art!  We may be seeing more art inspired by the aforementioned writing project.

Stay safe and healthy, friends!

♥ Ang