June 2018

To say that I'd been waiting for June to come along is probably the understatement of the year for me, and not just because of the start of summer. There was one occasion that happened this June that I'd been looking forward to for months.

Before that however, I have to get the bad stuff out of the way, most of which was the issues that I mentioned in last month's blog, stress at work and feeling disillusioned/frustrated with social media. However me and my wife also lost a member of our family - our pet turtle Chief, who had been with my wife and her family for 22 years. It was very unexpected, and while we're sad that he's gone, he did have a good long life, and he will be missed.

Now onto the absolute highlight of June - from the 18th to the 26th, myself and my wife flew across the Atlantic to visit my family back in the UK. While we were there, we revisited many of the places I remember, including my hometown of Crook, plus Durham, Newcastle, Tynemouth, Scarborough and Whitby. Getting to see my family in person again after 2 years was what it was all about though - I can't put into words just how good it was to see them all again and hang out just like old times. Just like it was 2 and a half years ago, leaving them behind again was hard, but knowing that we'd had the chance to get together again and make new memories helped to soften the blow. I really hope I don't have to wait too long to see them again in the not too distant future.

My artwork took a bit of a backseat this month, especially during the trip, however I did come up with this camping themed pic as part of an art jam, hosted by LaptopGeek92, over on DeviantArt. I highly doubt that there'll be camping involved in July, but hopefully there'll be some warmer days to enjoy. I'l let you know if there is, of course.

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.

 

April 2018

The old saying goes that "April showers bring May flowers" - there were definitely a lot of showers this month, but that warmer weather has finally started to show up. I was wondering if we were even going to have a Spring this year.
Somehow I feel that above saying is true for how things are with me right now, namely in terms of my job. Like I said last month, who doesn't complain about their job? I just find myself wishing I was spending my time doing what I enjoy, and I find myself wondering if I will ever get to that point in life. Maybe this is my mid-life crisis happening, I don't know.
My frustrations with online social media are still very much a problem too. I still feel like I'm getting  a lot of unwanted attention, and that I get little reward for putting 100% effort into my artworks. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother, why I stress myself out so much trying to make quality comics and cartoons when all everybody seems to be interested in is the latest trend or the latest fetish. Am I wasting my artwork and time on people who couldn't care less when I should be using it to make a career that I enjoy? I have seriously considered just giving up on it all.
That's why I have to remember all the good people, fellow artists I've met through doing this, and their words of support. They give me the moitvation to keep at it, to keep doing what I love. I try my best to give some of that back too.
All of that doesn't seem important when you know a loved one is sick, however - unfortunately, Luna had to be taken to the vet again this month after she suffered a seizure. The cause was low blood sugar, which she is now on meds for, and probably will be for the rest of her life. However since then, despite her blood sugar still being under a safe level, she's recovered very well, being much more active than before, very similar to how Apollo got back to his old self after his scare back in January. Hopefully both ferrets still have a lot of time left for them.
On a brighter note, the warmer weather has been a much needed boost for me. I've been getting out for walks and bike rides, as well as taking trips with my wife when we're able to. Admittedly when it's nice out it also makes it harder for me to want to stay inside and work on arts, but honestly I would rather be outside enjoying the sun, while I have the chance.
April was also a special month for my wife - on the 23rd, she hit the big 3-0 (she doesn't look it!), and we marked it with a get-together at the in-laws' for some cake and presents. We're also hoping to have a quick getaway at the start of May as a late birthday treat too.
On the art front, I finally resumed Fyfe & Sparkplug comic #2 after fleshing out those character designs, trying to press on with that now. On that same token, with April being the month of St George's Day, I couldn't pass up another pic of Fyfe & Sparkplug giving St George a good roasting.

Hopefully those May flowers will be blooming by the time next month comes around.

P.S. We unfortunately had to have our squirrel housemate removed from our AC, because of needing to use the AC and there being a potential fire hazard. It also turns out that the squirrel gave birth to a baby, who was also living in the nest. Really didn't want to have to drive them out, but it was better for everyone's safety.

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

February 2018

I can safely say that the clouds parted this February. While it wasn't perfect, this month was on the whole a little brighter than January.
Work has been as busy as ever. I think I will always be "getting used to it", and you don't need me to tell you that some days are better than others. Ultimately the job I have right now will never be mine or anyone's dream job, but it keeps me busy and gives me a sense of purpose I guess.
As much as I don't really like to talk about world events in my blog, I just feel that there's a lot going on right now. Certain events have happened that just make me wonder what kind of world we all live in. It seems like humanity and common sense gets a minus point by the day.
I guess that's why we have to try and be thankful for what we have. I know that I am lucky to be married to a lovely lass - February 20 was our second wedding anniversary, and we celebrated with a nice romantic meal out, plus a much-needed getaway to Rhode Island a few days later. It was much-needed because after everything that happened in January, we really just needed that time to be able to reconnect and just take a breather from it all - because what is life if you can't do that?
On the artwork front, I have completed the second Fyfe & Sparkplug comic script and have started illustrating, and while it's  hit a brick wall because of figuring out locations and character designs, it is still very much in progress. However I have fully completed the next Bob & Flyer feature length comic, "Operation: N.E.C.T.A.R", so keep your eyes peeled for that in March.
I'll leave you with a picture of some "lost" characters that I hadn't drawn for a while - a group of heroic elemental creatures known as the "Forces of Nature".
Until next time, when hopefully it will be warmer and lighter out.

January 2018

LoNot really sure how to begin talking about this month. I really wanted to say that 2018 got off to a great start, but for me personally, this past month has been canny rough to say the least.
Me and my wife had some upsetting news regarding one of our pets. If I haven't mentioned before, we have three pets - a turtle named Chief, and two ferrets named Apollo and Luna. Early on in January, Luna had some trouble with her walking, which turned out to have been caused by a back injury. She is doing better now thanks to medication, but around the same time she got sick, Apollo also became very ill. We got him checked out at the vet, and they found that he had a mass on his spleen, which was then found to be cancerous. Both me and my wife were understandably shocked by this, and since then we have been trying to keep Apollo as comfortable as possible, feeding him liquid foods and giving him medication.
It has been really difficult adjusting to this news. When I first moved to the US, I never thought I would be able to look after any type of animal, let alone ferrets, but in the time I have known them I have gotten used to looking after Apollo and Luna, and I have grown to love them. To see Apollo looking weak and almost lifeless has been horrible, and even more so for my wife, who loves both ferrets as if they were our kids.
This situation was just one of a few reasons why this month, in all honesty, I haven't been myself. A lot of things had been brewing up for some time, and I was generally feeling overwhelmed. There was one day where I just felt like giving up on everything, I ended up doing something very stupid, and my thoughts travelled to a really dark place. It was a moment of madness, but my wife helped me pull out of the nosedive. I just need to get better at speaking up instead of bottling everything up.

There has been some light through the clouds however. Apollo has begun to recover somewhat, he is eating solid foods again and is a little more energetic. Despite what he is going through, he isn't giving up, and we are hoping that he will be with us for a lot longer than we originally thought.

I am also feeling better about things. I will never be perfect and will always have my moments of doubt, but I just need to handle those moments better. Me and my wife have also begun planning our next holiday - for a week in June, we are planning to fly back over to England to see my family. It has been too long since either of us saw them last, and seeing them again would mean the world to me, so needless to say, neither of us can't wait.

This month was also my birthday - I can't say I was able to enjoy it as much as I would have liked, because I was working for most of it, and I can't say that I was thrilled about the idea of turning 32. However my wife and her family threw a small party for me, and I really appreciated it. 

As always, I will leave you with some artwork, and I'll keep it winter themed, what with all the snow we've had this month. Hoping that February will be a better month for us all.

December 2017

Another year has come and gone, and as I seem to say every year, where did that time go?

This month became very wintry weather-wise, but it certainly didn't dampen Christmas one bit. In fact, we actually got some snow on Christmas Day (it's been a long time since that's happened), which just added to the spirit. Me and my wife spent this Christmas much like we did last year, opening presents, watching Christmas films and building gingerbread sculptures with the in laws. I was also able to Skype with my family while they were having their Christmas get-together too. Hopefully one day me and my wife will be able to celebrate Christmas with my family again - I miss them always, but this time of year makes it all the more poignant, especially this year, as December 3 2017 was the 10th anniversary of my grandad's passing - I still miss him very much, and while I'm also sad that my wife never got the chance to meet him, I like to think that he's with us in spirit, always.
There were also two other anniversaries this month - December 28 marked 2 years since I swapped County Durham for Connecticut, and it goes without saying that a lot has happened in that time (more on that in a bit). Also, December 30 marked 3 years since I popped the question to my lovely wife, it almost feels like that moment was a lifetime ago.


Looking back, this year has been very eventful, much like 2016 was, and not always for the right reasons. However for me personally there were a lot more highs than lows, and a couple of really important events happened this year - in September I finally landed a permanent job, which is still keeping me busy despite a bump in the road. And just last month, me and my wife moved to our new house, which we are now pretty much adjusted to do, and it's safe to say that we love it so much better than our first place. Hopefully 2018 will see lots of memories being made in this house.
My personal highlight of 2017, however, was back in May, when me and my wife flew down to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL for our honeymoon. For a few days we got to explore the parks, go on rides, be kids again, and celebrate our marriage. I can only wonder highlights 2018 will bring.

I'll leave you with some festive artwork - carrying on my tradition of festive group shots over on DeviantArt, here is this year's edition.
I also have some potentially exciting news regarding artwork - but I'm going to save it until I get the green light. It'll be a great way to start off 2018 though.

I would just like to end this by saying thanks to everyone who's read this blog, checked out my artworks or just supported me in any way this past year - wishing you all the best for the New Year. See you in 2018. :)