Hey all. I missed you. Have you missed me? A lot of craziness has been going down with siblings running away, financial issues, broken water systems, toilets, cameras, and children's book projects. I'm spent, and I haven't had time to journal/reply to comments as frequently. Also, I generally like to deliver good news, but every time I open up a fresh journal, a new catastrophe arrives to stomp the good news into pieces. I mean, I just starting writing this and found out that there was a murder or something loose somewhere on my street, like right outside my apartment >> But whateva.

Mostly I wanted to chat about my children's book project. Yesterday, we had a midterm review/critique. Essentially, the teachers of the graphic design department, six teachers in total, gather in a room with the graduating classes work. We students stand before them presenting the work we have done so far, and they say what they like/don't like about our projects. Underclassmen also come to listen to teachers. So, in short, it's an intense, public critique.

Mine went relatively well. LOL, they want me to make a movie (well, more of an animatic from my understanding) of my work because they feel my spreads are cinematic, rather than create a book, but *shrug* I'm not going to listen to that. XD It's not necessarily that I can't do animatic... I mean I can use flash well enough to make one easily but I was sort of set on a book so... yeah. They didn't like my cartoony goldfish, which I don't mind replacing. Also, they didn't like my colors or rather the milky look of my colors. I agree that they need more contrast, which is easily fixed in photoshop. They liked that the photoshop illustrations look traditional when printed out... everyone seems to think they are reproduced gouache paintings when I show them.

After the show, this guy in another class than I came up to me and told me he was really impressed and such by the illustrations : ) LOL, I hope I wasn't too awkward when I just kept saying thanks XD I don't know what to do with compliments XD But anyway, I was really flattered.

Today, I didn't work on my project at all. I actually bought a book, The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells for three dollars, and I had time to read several pages on the bus without feeling guilty or completely exhausted. Anyway, it was nice. I like H.G.

For those who want copies of the completed books. Right now, I'm thinking of printing a few books, binding them myself and selling them on etsy/having folks preorder. The binding will be similar to this: [link] and it will come with five bookmarks with handmade tassels. I'm hoping to sell the set for 10 dollars. I might allow preorders so that I can cover the cost of the initial printing.

Mm, well that's all for now. I'm going to read a book or something : )

Tasting the Rainbow,
Sasha L. Stowers

P.S. I'll also be making mini-books of my sketches bound the same way. If you would like one of those, tell me so.