Hello loves,

I'm working on some new stuff. For tutorial-lovers, I have oil painting and watercolor painting tutorials coming. It's really hard to find oil tutorials... it seems >> so I decided to create one, and since most of watercolor tutorials are step by step, I thought I'd make a resource one. Working on these tutorials has actually been rather easy because I've been using a mindmapping software to outline everything. All I have to do is transfer my notes. I'd also like to go back and create a drawing tutorial; I have the pencil tutorial, yeah, but it doesn't go over drawing as much as I think people need. I'm teaching my sister to draw this summer, so I'll either use a camcorder to record our lessons or just add minidevs for all. Probably that latter, I don't like the sound of my voice. >>

Starting a new pencil drawing, and it feels so good. To tell the truth, I've been thinking maybe I don't have what it takes to really become an illustrator as I'd like, but finally I've come to the realization that, I might as well get over my insecurities and create work. I still haven't found myself in art. Yes, I have my own style, if mood and medium are style, but I have yet to amaze myself. I'm probably going to end up doing graphic design/web design any way, which isn't too bad a gig. In graphic design, I get to make people look good, professional, charismatic, smart, whatever.

I'm finishing a web design project next week, and then I'll be doing another one. It's not bad since I make my own hours and I get paid well per project, depending on the client caliber. I think though, that I'd really like doing design work for other artists, illustrators, painters, and the like. I'd like to charge 100 dollars or so to set up custom sites for art students that corresponds to their style/image/identity. I'm going to start it when I get back to school, I think.

Prints. So, I've gotten some requests for prints of my 'oodles of doodles.' Eh, well, I have a print account which never expires, so I can offer prints for you all. I'm going to buy the prints at base price, and then sell them independently to avoid DA mark ups. I don't think DA has a way of showing which devs have been requested as a print the most or least, but I'm thinking these: [link] [link] [link] and [link] . People seem to enjoy those. Request others if you'd like them.

Stuff I tweeted about: [link] (procrastination video) & [link] (drawing instruction)

My family has a beagle, which we adopted because it was black and white, and we have an affinity for Snoopy. She's really adorable and energetic. I hope she can calm down a bit and I can get to draw her; Also, I hope she stops trying to jump on me, I'm rather allergic to her >> I've had other pets I've been allergic too, but it's not such a big deal since they just irritate my skin in areas where my skin is thin, like the inside of a joint or something. They don't make my breathing shallow or anything horrific. LOL, she's so cute when she howls (she doesn't bark.) She's scared of strangers/everything she's not used to. XD

LOL, why are people so obsessed with knowing how old I am? XD I refuse to answer because I like to have an air of mystery >> Lord knows I need it as I am incredibly dull.

You can hit me up at my e-mail, [link] . I don't mind, truly I don't, if you have a question. Or if you just want to be friends, I don't mind that. *Gasp* we could be penpals Also, You can follow me on twitter, I follow back, I talk about art stuff >> [link]

I feel like practicing my chords, so check ya later. Stay cool.

Sasha L. Stowers
Living the Dream, Sorta

Today is my birthday : ) It's also my sister's birthday, and she is 16 today Oh, and happy earth day... to those whom are into that. I'm doing almost nothing today except spending hours on hours in Borders and not buying anything... well, if I can fight the temptation. XD

That's all. Have a nice day.

Mm, I've gotten the color bug as of late, because I've been doing watercolor paintings for my class(scientific illustration). My teacher is having us use Strathmore 500 Illustration board... and man, this paper is just... sexy. It has a wonderful texture, is thick and sturdy, and doesn't buckle under my multitude of washes. There is very little I appreciate more than a good paper, and I am in love with Rives BFK and printmaking papers even though they are around 6 bucks a sheet. I mean, you just touch certain papers and you know, that's 100% cotton rag, archival and ph neutral... but *cough* anyway, I'm thinking this paper will look great with a some powdered graphite brushed on it. I've been doing some drawings with brushes and powdered graphite and I'm rather liking the speed and look of it. I want use oils for the color portions on top, and I think maybe I can use some spray varnish to seal the drawing and paint with oils on top? I have read somewhere that works... though if you have other solutions, they are welcome. If it doesn't work as planned, I suppose I'll just use color pencil... though it will not be the same T__T

My mom is coming Thursday! She and my family will be spending the day with me. A whole day with my favorite people : ) I really need to see them because I've been working and I get all nihilistic and depressed when I'm away from them for too long. Everything just balances better when I'm beside them. Hopefully their presence will stick with me til the close of the semester.

I'm excited about the Wacom contest DA is doing. The prizes are nice and everything... but the thing that struck me was that I had an idea that would fit perfectly with its good/evil theme. Not that I'd win, but it might be fun to try. Also, they have a $1000 gift card thing, and I need money badly... I don't know how I am to pay rent for the upcoming months, and frankly, I'd rather like a decent non-cooked-by-me meal.

Hmm, what else... I'm doing a stop motion animation for my photography class. I should be working on it now, I suppose, but since it's a cut out animation and only thirty seconds, I'm cool. *sigh* I think I will have to change my original idea for this animation, because I originally was going to do a animation based on the Le Balloon Rouge, a short French film from the 1950s and now 2 other people in my 20 person class are doing it too. What the skittles, guys! How likely is that? I started doing my project last Wednesday, and now the other two are doing it... *sigh* I hate to be doing what other people are doing, so I think I've got to move onto something else. I just can't stand assimilation. I like to feel, at least, unique. I'm doing design work as usual... designing magazine spreads and whatnot. Funny how graphic design is my major, yet I never submit any of the work I actually do... Actually, I submit almost none of my class work--photography, printmaking, drawing, typography, digital... very little of it gets on here...

Books. I recently finished Ender's Game, Good Omens, and Jane Eyre. I loved all three, I'm on a good read roll. I'd really like to purchase the Last Straw, which is part of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. These are such awesome books, if you have brothers, middle school/elementary school-ish sized, they'll probably like these books. I love how the images and text work together. There are jokes in the images that you don't get without the text and visa versa. I'm also excited to read the last in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Meanwhile, I'm reading Lolita, Great Expectations, and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I was going to buy Brisingr or however you spell it, but it's still in hardcover, and I'm not spending like 20+ dollars on a book, I know I'm going to dislike. It's not Paolini isn't a good writer. I just wish he'd think more about his characters, and would focus on pacing more.

Suggestions of good books are always appreciated.

P.S. Why would anyone want a twitter account? *needs to be talked into getting one*

Hello everyone,

I hope you all are doing well, achieving success, et bonum. I'm doing what I usually do, drawing, painting, writing, reading, the whole shlameel. I've been into fashion design recently, trying to teach myself to sew/put things together. Also, I heard of [link] which will print custom patterns for me. How awesome : )

I'm creating a wiki for myself. It's all art related, and I'm putting together information on everything--watercolor, pencil, oil painting, general materials, techniques, and such. It's all on my personal wiki at the moment(meaning that it's on my computer and not on the web) but I will start transferring stuff soon, so that everyone can enjoy this information, and it's going to make composing my tutorial book easier. I have to do the visuals still (taking pictures of in progress stuff/examples are a pain.) but I'm liking what I have so far. I hope, one day, people use my book in schools : ) Some people have actually used my tutorials in schools, to either teach themselves or students, something that continues to really fill me will joy. I love it when I get a comment saying that someone NEVER got perspective and now they do T__T It seriously makes me want to tear up *is an easy crier* It just confirms my belief that my tutorials were and still are the most rewarding work I've done... even if they fill my message box unnecessarily.

Mentioning my tutorials, I'm going to have to redo some of them, and turning them into HTML documents. Some have complained about the size of the text. Unfortunately my tutorials are already so long that putting text at more that 11pts (which should be easily read at most monitors) is not a very effective amount of space. With HTML the user should be able to view at whatever size they want using Ctrl+ or Ctrl- so I can stop getting complaints. Actually it's probably been 4 complaints out of 100s of comments... >> but it bothers me anyone doesn't have access.

School's the same. I'm doing a photography project in which I must take picture of people. It's a bit annoy because the teacher wants them to be in a different location/in different clothes. I don't really care about that part >> Anyway, I took pictures of my bus drivers, and they turned out really well. The other students in class have shown their in-progress work... and I'm feeling pretty confident about my pics. I dislike to say negative things about others' work but... most of the other students don't seem to know anything about lighting -__- That's what photography is. Light and framing that light. Sure, sure you can change the on what is lit, or change how your camera interprets the light, but if you haven't got the light right, you don't have a picture >>

I'm doing well in typography. Yay! I've finished my logo, resume, and am pretty much done with my business card/letter head. : ) I feel bad 'cause some people are still working on their logos T__T I hope they finish on time, because we have to turn this project in on Friday~! I've still got to do the layouts in colors... but I like the black and white.

I finished by Panda project. Yay! No more pandas/bamboo in my notebook, but I shall never forget them : ) My next scientific illustration project is a still life. I bought some fruits to use for it, and we only have to do 8 thumbnails >>

I'm going to submit some 'real' drawings someday... someday soon I hope. I'm tired of all the sketches, and I'm sure you all are tambien. I just feel I can't draw most of the time, and I get all frustrated and tell myself not to bother. Yeah, I know. I know. I'm aware that many of you would slap me over the head with my guitar for having even typed that, but that's how I feel sometimes. I usually get over it in a little bit, but lately even when I do finish something I just look at it and think, you can't upload that T__T Don't worry I'll get over it. I just need to stop working so hard and then I'll be all evened out so I can work on my passions.

Well anyway, I haven't slept much this week, and I haven't taken my groceries from my an adorable VW beetle (I love my car), so I'm outta here 'til the next journal.

I hope you all are enjoying your lives and doing something meaningful with them : )

Love,

Sasha L. Stowers
Jack of All Trades

What is the best button size? 1", 1.25", 1.5", 1.75", 2.25"? I have come into some money, am thinking of purchasing a professional button maker, and selling my own/others buttons. I am currently leaning toward 1.5" and 2.25".

This reminds me... My friend Bea has as wonderful etsy store. [link] I've ordered the elephant mirror and whale mirror(to go with a work I commissioned for her earlier). Also, as a graphic designer, I love her packaging. It's so cute :3 Make sure to check her out on DA as well. ~hearte

Em, I'm web design business is going well. I just got my first check. And... I don't have to share it with anyone : ) Usually my money goes directly to my bank account, bills, et cetera, but I can actually buy something... for myself. How amazing. I'm thinking of saving it though... my mom is going through a rough financial time, so if she needs some cushioning, it could help hold her up.

I love Librivox, which is a volunteer audiobook website. [link] I've been listening to some old works on it, since books are expensive, but I have to note that some of the readers should probably not read aloud... like ever. You don't emphasize every word, and really, you should only pause when there is a comma, a period, or sometimes an italicized word. That is simply the structure of a sentence. Also, reading slowly does not make you dramatic. I've listened to A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four which were read really nicely, and I moved onto The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes but the first story of it is read so poorly, I think I would prefer to lug the paperback around. I've read this short story, A Scandal in Bohemia already myself, and I could not help but think, This sounded a lot better when I read it silently. I know some say that you should not read so slowly as to hear the story in your head, but it is not just the meaning of the words I like, it's the sounds of them together. That way one takes the writing in visually, mentally, and audibly.

I skipped school Tuesday to watch the inauguration of Barack with my mom. I think, in the least, Obama has to be more competent than the previous administration. I mean, certainly Bush did well with some things... he really assisted in the fight against AIDs in Africa for instance, and his popularity in some of those African countries is the antithesis of what it is here, like 80% approval, but some things he did, and saw as a success, defy reasoning, and reveal that he may have been residing in some alternative universe, which the rest of us cannot perceive. True, many of us are totally glumping over Obama, and I have to classify myself under this group. But, hey, a guy that makes me want to run out and do some community service cannot be that bad, eh?

All of the reports kept asking the Black people in the crowd, did you ever think you'd live to see the day we had a Black president? Well... I'd say in this instance, I'd say I didn't expect to, and I'm young. I live in Georgia, and there are places I don't even want to go to because there are too many rebel flags hanging in close proximity. And, let's just say, they are not hanging them because they have an affinity for American history or a love of our state flag.

Of course, I thought that I have died long before now, just because, while I have a sharp mind in some respects, I have no street sense. I cannot even be unkind to those whom I don't like, or stay mad for more than 30 minutes. If my life were fiction, I'd be mixed in with the Billy Budds, the Piggies, and Will Halloways. LOL, I think this is one reason why my stories rarely have 'villains' but rather very confused heroes that define 'right' and 'wrong' in a more brutal way. I can't stand an 'evil' villain. No villain thinks they are evil or is just evil because. They are villains because they are adversaries to the main character and their motives/desires conflict. In their minds, they are always the hero.

Mm, I'm liking the new layouts. They're cool beans. I do wish that the icons: fav, gallery, etc. were not aligned to the left but to the right (it would look better trust me) and there is too much information and tight leading in the bar beneath these icons. Of course, allowing for so much variation in layout will make each page harder to read, and take more time to read. You'll have to look around a bit longer to understand what is going on with each user's page and how they have arranged it than usual. But such is the price of singularity.

I've been attending a class that I am not registered for. It's an English class that is suppose to lecture about poetry and fiction and whether Plato thought is was a worth while pursuit or not--which he says he didn't. I don't do assignments, I just sit there and listen to the woman of Middle Eastern descent talk in an a British accent. Sometimes I take notes, sometimes I don't. It's a rather enjoyable course.

My favorite class is Scientific Illustration. I actually get to draw in this class. Thank heavens. Also, I like my Math class. It's like... the lowest math one can take, which is a bit stifling to me. I've been in advanced math since I was in the sixth grade, and my favorite areas of math are Statistics, Geometry, and Calculus... so yeah, a bit of a change. There aren't even any math type problems in this class >> like with numbers. Oh well, easy A. My teacher for this class is really cool, he's an old guy with white hair that has big glasses and a white little bristly mustache under his nose. He talks about how he loves to play the piano, how much he loves math, and how much he loves his grandkids. He walks into the room with his ipod shuffle, listening to Bach and Stevie Wonder. He's a real cool cat.

Photo class is a'ight. I mean, it's not the bee's knees or anything. Mm, I really prefer to take pictures of whatever I want rather than have to conform to an assignment...

Typography is nice. Mr. Arnholm, the author of the Legacy typeface, is cute in an old guy sort of way. He tells little stories, and spits out little facts, very similar to what I do. I wonder if my friends ever get annoyed by that... Also, he seems amazed by the smallest things, which is a quality typically possessed only by the young, who haven't seen enough, and the old, who have the veils ripped off and see all the things they missed the first time.

This journal is too long, so I'll stop here. I should have just done my homework now... but all I ever do is homework. I would like to thank all of the new watchers though. You're all so very sweet. And if this world was real instead of digital, I would be giving you all hugs in return for your adoration. Thank you favers as well.

Love, Love, and More Love,

Sasha Lynn Stowers
Abdicated as Queen of Pixie-kind

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