September 2018

I can't really say too much about September that wasn't already said in August, apart from the weather gradually starting to get cooler, not to mention a lot wetter too. Here in Connecticut, we got the remnants of what was Hurricane Florence, and to say that we got lucky is an understatement. Wishing all the best for those in North and South Carolina, and the Bahamas, that were affected by the storm.
Still no luck with the job search, I'm afraid. Work is work, as always - and this month marked a year since I started my job, and having a permanent job has been quite the adjustment in a lot of ways. I've certainly had to change quite a lot of my habits, that's for sure. However I think the biggest change to come out of this job is becoming confident enough to be able to stand behind a counter and interact with people, I certainly never thought I would ever be able to pull that off, and I still don't think I'm perfect at it, but it's safe to say that I surprised myself there.
This month wasn't all about work though, and in my opinion no month should be. Or year, even. How about your entire life? You have to be able to play too, otherwise what's it all for?
September 28 marked 6 years of me and my lovely wife as a couple, and every year it's always strange yet humbling to look back on all that we did in the years past, especially all the hoops we had to jump through to get to this point in time. We celebrated it with a trip to Bridgeport, mainly to visit the many animals at Beardsley Zoo, but also for a walk down the beach at Seaside Park. (I recommend it for the view of Long Island Sound.)
While we're on the them of anniversaries, I also want to give a very special birthday shoutout to my dear grandma, she turned 80 on September 25, and I am happy to say that she is still going strong. (Love you and miss you very, very much.)
On the artwork front, I've completed a couple more Fyfe & Sparkplug comic pages, as well as some of my regular short comics. I'm still having trouble getting back to working on my website, so I really need to get cracking on that one.
I'll leave you with an example of one of my scenery pictures - doesn't looking at this waterfall make you want to dive in for a dip? See you at the end of spooky season.

May 2018

I think the best way to describe my May is that it was equal parts frustrating, equal parts promising.
On the downside, I wish I could say that those frustrations with my job have gone away, but they're still very much all present and correct. There have been some changes and it's taking me some time to get my head around them, and that's all I'm going to say on that. I just keep telling myself that it could be worse.

Social media in general is just draining me, and I don't just mean DeviantArt. I feel like it's getting more difficult to keep up, and I keep seeing a lot of posts, trends and whatnot that I'd really rather not, and part of that may be related to a decision I made this month (more on that below). To quote a saying I read a while back (can't remember who coined it or where i read it) but it seems like we're all so much more connected these days, yet we're all disconnected too.

That's one of the reasons that on these warmer days, I'd rather be out bike riding to the beach and enjoying the sun instead of being stuck behind a computer screen waiting for the next notification (says the person who brings his phone everywhere with him). We all just need to take time to disconnect, because staying in cyberspace for too long is never a good thing. I have certainly been doing a lot of the the former on my downtime, and I honestly feel more inspired to work on artworks when I'm outdoors too, because when I'm outside at a park or at the beach, I feel there's less distractions than at home.

Being connected isn't always a bad thing though - which brings me onto more of the upside of this month, with a couple of announcements. Firstly, after many years of resisting the idea, I decided to open a Twitter account. I always swore off doing so because I didn't think there was any point of having another social media profile to annoy people withwhen I already had Facebook, but the reason I finally decided to join was simple - it's another way to get my artwork out there, and because a few of my DeviantArt friends use it too, so it's another way to keep in touch with them. Admittedly I am having a bit of "buyer's remorse" because of the aforementioned "social media drain", however I am going to give it a chance.

I haven't stopped there though - earlier this month I participated in the Fair Haven Family Stroll in New Haven for the third year running, drawing cariactures for people. This year I also handed out business cards to those who visited my table, once again, staying connected. I also had the seal of approval from two good friends of me and my wife, no less than the couple who were the photographers at our wedding. Please go and check them out, they are awesome photographers and great people, cannot recommend them enough: https://www.facebook.com/WillandKatePhotography/

Bringing this theme of connection to a close, I also decided this month that it was about time I had my own website, centred on my artworks. DeviantArt works well, but I have wanted a website with my own personal touch for a while. It is currently still under construction, but I will be sure to let you know once it is live.

As for artwork itself, I've gotten back in the groove with the Fyfe & Sparkplug comic, I really need to research how to get that properly published, so can someone please give me a gentle nudge in that direction? I'll leave you with this Surf Club short.

 

March 2018

Spring is finally here, although for most of this month it certainly didn't feel like it, what with not one bit three snowstorm hitting my area three weeks in succession. Thankfully the weather is showing signs of warmer days to come.
For the most part, March was the same as the last month or two, been busy with work mostly, and to be honest I've been feeling a little frustrated with it, partly because I've been working mostly closing shifts this month, but also just the general "wish I could be doing something I enjoy instead of this" blues. I'm sure you know what I mean. Who doesn't get frustrated with their job every now and again? This month did also mark 6 months of me working at my job, and that also means it's now officially the longest job I've ever had. This time last year I had no job, so it's still good to be able to say that I have one.

I've been feeling frustrated with social media again lately, most of all DeviantArt. I feel like lately I've been getting a lot of attention from people who just want free art from me, and unfortunately a couple of trolls too. I mentioned having to cut ties with a certain person last month too, and withc ertain things having come to light, it seems I was right to cut those ties. I apologise if this is a bit heavy-handed, but I will not hesitate to throw down the banhammer on anyone who abuses me or my friends in any way. I cannot stress that enough. I'm 32, I'm trying to get on with my life, and I don't need drama like that going on.

Admittedly I've had thoughts about just leaving DA again, just because of all the attention seekers who seem to plague it - but I've been on there 13 years now and I've met great people through it, and that's what keeps me there. That and because there's no other website like it.

On the plus side of things, the weather has been starting to improve, as I mentioned, so that means getting out for more walks and bike rides, and it's so good to live only 10 minutes away from a beach now. It will soon be time to turn the AC on, although me and my wife might have some difficulty with that - for the last couple of months, we've noticed a squirrel hanging around our AC unit. We believe it's a girl, and she's been stashing leaves and other debris inside our AC unit, making it her nest, with the possibility that there may be baby squirrels on the way. It's a bit of a dilemma, but it's also really sweet that we have our own pet squirrel in a way. 

I managed to snap a couple of pics of our furry friend:

Now that you've all gone nuts over that, here's something else that me and Nicole went nuts about - after asking for the time off, we officially booked this year's big holiday. For a week in June, we will be flying back to the UK to visit my family. I can't tell you how stoked we both are about this, already looking forward to it. It's been 2 years since I last saw my family, and it's been far too long.

On the artwork front, the Fyfe & Sparkplug has ground to a halt, because I need to come up with some character designs, however in the meantime I have started work on the next chapter of the "A Monster Thing" comic, along with new model sheets for the cast, keep your eyes peeled for those. I am also now uploading "Operation: N.E.C.T.A.R." to my Tapas page, click here to check it out: https://tapas.io/bluebottleflyer

Hope everyone who celebrated St Patrick's Day had a good one, and hope you all have a great Easter too - and while this isn't Easter related, here's the cover of "Operation: N.E.C.T.A.R." to whet your appetite.0

November 2017

To say that this November has been nowt short of busy is an understatement.
I've been working at my job for two months now, and even in that time I still haven't got every single thing figured out, as with any job there are days that I wish I wasn't there (and don't feel like I'm all there!) and as I said last month, I'm not a fan of the constantly changing schedule, and I never will be. However, it's keeping me busy, and I still find myself surprised how decent I seem to manage dealing with customers at the cashier. It's helping me a bit, that's for sure.
The main reason this month has been so busy for me and my wife is because of the move. With lots of back and forth between our old place in North Haven and the new place, much packing up, and tons of help from the family (cannot thank you all enough!), it's taken some doing, and while it's been stressful at certain times (what move isn't?), the new house is really looking like home now, and needless to say we both love it. We started living at the house officially on November 24. I also want to mention that getting to work from the new place is much quicker for both of us, and in my case, I get to ride my bike there instead of waiting for a bus. It certainly makes a difference.
I can't talk about November and not mention Thanksgiving - this year was only my second time celebrating it. I still find it funny that a couple of years ago it was just a regular day for me, but that's how it was in the UK of course. To be honest, this Thanksgiving wasn't so great, because most of it was spent working on organising stuff at the new house (it was the only day off we had together however, so it was the only real chance to get the bulk of the work done), and both me and my wife felt that we didn't really spend a lot of time with the family that day, which is what it's all about for us. However, we got to watch the parade, and we still got to eat dinner as a family, and as little time as it was, it was still good to be there.
I admit, on a partly lower note, that lately because of everything going on, my motivation to make artwork has been very low. Writing the next F&S comic has ground to a halt, and when I do sit down to work on something, it feels like a chore. I also keep worrying that I simply just might not have the time to make arts anymore, which I know is total rubbish. I have wondered now and in the past if I should take a hiatus from making any arts, but then I remind myself that I should make art while I still have the ability too (and I mean that as in physically able to - not getting any younger!), as well as the fact that people enjoy it, and I really appreciate that those of you do, do. You know who you all are.
I'll sign off with some Thanksgiving themed artwork - to my American followers, hope yours was a good one, and to everyone else, ditto. Let's see what the festive season brings.

October 2017

September was a month of changes, and this month was no different. I've been feeling the change weather-wise, as It's started to feel a lot more autumnal lately. In other words, getting colder and a little more rain too.
I've been working at my job for a month now, and as I said, it's been an adjustment, but that's part and parcel of anyone starting a new job, as is having work days that go better than others, but on the whole I'm pretty much used to it now. Admittedly I do wish I had a more consistent schedule, but that's retail for you.
The biggest change this month - big announcement in 3...2...1... - is that me and my wife have landed a new apartment (flat in Brit-speak)! It's been in the pipeline for a while now, and it was just at the end of September that we started looking for a new place. The first couple of places we saw didn't tick all the boxes, but the last house that we saw, a second floor apartment in a quiet suburb with two bedrooms, two main rooms, a garage and an outside deck, was the one we instantly said yes to. The real plus point about the place is that it's close to my job, and also close to the in laws' place, as well as two parks (including a certain park/beach I enjoy visiting a lot). That's not all though - we could have the keys by the start of November, so we could start moving in within a matter of days. Speaking of which, we've been packing up our stuff a bit at a time to try to make the move easier. I can't say I'm looking forward to that part, but as with any move, it will be worth it in the end - and to put it into perspective, it's certainly not as daunting as uprooting your entire life and moving to another country.
I couldn't end this blog without mentioning Halloween of course - so here's some Halloween themed artwork to see out this month. Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, hope you have a good one. Until November.

August 2017

Another summer has come to an end. I always feel down whenever summer's over, as it's my favourite time of the year. Onwards we go, though.

I've mentioned many times about the news - as much as I try to avoid it, I somehow always end up hearing about everything that's going wrong in this world, from horrible tragedies to political madness. Then I just have to remind myself that 95% of what I hear, what we all hear is blown out of proportion, sensationalised to get ratings. To quote a famous saying, and also the title of a canny good Jamie Lenman song, "No News Is Good News" - I choose to put the mute button on, avert my eyes from all the dread, and to just live my life.
In my July blog I mentioned the passing of Chester Bennington, the singer of Linkin Park - I say this as a reminder that depression is a sickness, and not something to be taken lightly, regardless of what the media might want you to believe. I'm not going to name any names, but there was a time this month that someone close to me was swallowed up by that depression, and myself, friends and family found ourselves unable to reach that person. This isn't the first time that it's taken hold of that person, and I fear that it won't be the last, but this is why it's important to reach out. I can't stress it enough - if you're feeling depressed, talk to someone. Shutting people out is too easy to do, and while it may feel like it makes it all better, it really doesn't. Aye, it's hard to see the light when you're in that hole, but just remember - you're not alone. We all have times where a dark cloud hangs over us, but that cloud always eventually passes.

To better news now - things could be looking up on the job front. As I type this, I have a job interview lined up for September 1, I will let you know how that went in next month's blog. I also helped out my wife Nicole at her workplace on  a couple of days towards the end of this month, setting up meals for the staff on their morning training sessions. It was very busy but it felt good to help out.
One of those days was August 21, which as most of you know was the day of the solar eclipse. One of Nicole's co-workers was kind enough to lend me a pair of special glasses to check it out, and while the full total eclipse wasn't visible in my area, I was still able to see a partial eclipse, it was quite a sight, but you don't need me to tell you that.
We also made the most of the warm weather this month by hitting a few beaches, including a couple we'd never visited before. Probably the most notable trip of this month was to the Roger Williams Park & Zoo in Providence RI - definitely a great place to visit with a wide variety of animals to see, and the park was very relaxing too.
We were also at Foxwoods Casino on August 4th to see Dashboard Confessional and The All-American Rejects play, both bands put on a good show, and Nicole was singing along to every Dashboard song, as she is a huge fan of them.
On the artwork front, I've been busy working on the first Fyfe & Sparkplug comic, as of this blog I have 7 pages ready to go. It's certainly a challenge and as I am planning to try and get this comic published, I really want it to be as good as it possibly can be.
I'll leave you with a bit of summer themed artwork, my Surf Club characters enjoying some waterslide action. See you in Autumn.

February 2015

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters once sang about "February Stars" - I think for the best part of this month I felt like I was seeing stars, and not in a good way - so I'll get the bad stuff out of the way first.
I feel like my work placement has been starting to grate on me a lot more, and it's ever since I got back from my US trip back in January - I've had too many moments where I've been stood in the shop thinking to myself, "Why am I here? I wish I was doing something more worthwhile than this." The feeling that I'm constantly being reminded of "my place" in society by stuff in the news or what some have said, as it were, hasn't helped.
I've been having issues online as well - and I've talked about this before, the whole group situation, feeling like I'm invisible to people, that reared its ugly head again this month, to the point where I was doing my weekly livestreams and pretty much taking it out on everyone who attended those stream, in my own way. I wish I could handle this stuff better than I do, but it's the way I am, and I can't help that.

On the plus side, things are moving along with me and Nicole's immigration process - the first payment to the lawyer has been made, I've posted off my birth certificate, and we're in the process of getting personal statements from ourselves, our friends and family, so the ball is well and truly rolling now. I say this as a plus point, because it's exciting, but at the same time it hasn't truly sunk in for me yet, and I don't believe it will until the day that I actually take that flight over there to start this new life - and it's still both exciting and scaring me in equal measure.

Another thing I've been doing a lot recently is looking back to what I was doing a decade ago - where I was, the music I was listening to, the people I knew, and it's crazy to see how much hasn't changed (still having to go to a jobsearch session once a week, still in my hometown) and how much has changed (technology, my artwork, and of course the fact that I'm engaged). A lot can change in a decade.
Speaking of looking back, me and Nicole celebrated Valentine's Day via Skype, and one of the presents that she sent me was a scrapbook she made herself, containing pictures of us and memories of how we met, places we've been and when we finally declared our love for each other - and it's the sweetest gift anyone's ever made for me, so thank you again, lovely. <3

I'll leave you on that mushy note with my Valentine's Day artwork for this year - and even though I'm glad to see the back of this month on the whole, it wasn't without its good moments.