violinTide/blog
not knowing everything is all that makes it okay, sometimes

A couple of weeks ago I reached a (fairly) small milestone: I sold my 200th item in my Etsy shop. I started selling my art on Etsy four years ago, never really knowing how it was going to pan out. As an artist you always wonder if your work has an audience that will respond to it, let alone spend money on it. Well, I am so thankful for every single one of those sales, because it tells me that people like what I do. I am so thankful for every positive word someone has said to me about my art. And as someone who doesn’t always have the highest level of self-confidence, it means so much to me.

Validation, in a small way.

Now, I am still a long way from my ultimate goal of quitting my day job, but that goal seems just a little bit more within reach. Art is such a big part of my life, and I hope I will always have the chance to be creative. Thank you for reading this blog, buying my work, telling your friends, and joining me on this journey.

Simply put, thank you.

Yes, it’s a day late, and yes, that is the same picture I used from my Mother’s Day post from a couple years ago, but the sentiment never gets old. All love is special and precious, but there is something truly unique about a mother’s love. We as children might not always understand it, but it is always there, waiting for us, in some way. I hope we never forget that, or take it for granted. I mean, if you think about it, mother’s are a pretty rare thing, as most of us only have one. Please don’t forget that, either.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom, and to all moms everywhere.

Hey everyone! So I recently stocked my Etsy shop with a bunch of new items, many of which are video game related (I was kind of working on a theme with this update). There are new prints, some bookmarks, and for the first time ever, postcard sets! Check ‘em out:

Ninja Mutant Turtle Teenagers Art Postcard Set

Crazybot Art Postcard Set

Game Boys 8.5×11″ Print

Mega Man is Mega Awesome 8.5×11″ Print

Look to the Sky for Link and Fi 8.5×11″ Print

The Super Bros. 7×5″ Print

Wii Remote Art Bookmark Set

Powerful Rangers Art Bookmark Set

There you have it, eight new items! Eight is great! Seriously, though, this was my biggest shop update in a while, and I really am proud of all of this work. I hope you guys like them too, and if so, please feel free to spread the word. I’ve got a bunch of new ideas brewing, too, so check back often. And if you have any ideas on things you would like to see me tackle, or perhaps a special request/commission, drop me a line! Rock on, all.

Another C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) has come and gone, and once again I just did not take enough pictures. But I do have a few, and they will follow.

Welcome to the show!

Say hello!

Me and the (puppet) Doctor!

Me and a Dalek!

Ame-Comi Hawkgirl statue. Suddenly, I want this.

Cosplay crossover overload. Mind = blown.

I had a blast this year at the show, and it’s quickly growing into its own as a con. Comic books were of course the focus, but you could find something for everyone to enjoy at the show. To me, C2E2 feels like a premier show, especially considering my personal disappointment with Wizard World Chicago. We went on Saturday, which was busy and buzzing with tons of fans. The energy was great, because it always feels good to be among so many other geeks. I bought a bunch of stuff, I saw a lot of cool things, and I can’t wait until next year’s show. Excelsior!

It’s Marvel Comics’ Psylocke! Elizabeth Braddock has always been one of my favorite X-Men, ever since I started reading comics. She’s just so bad ass. But in true X-Men fashion, she’s got one hell of a wacky backstory. As in, she is the mind of a caucasian British mutant telepath in the body of an Asian ninja assassin, who is also the sister of Captain Britain, and she has purple hair. Love it.

Email me if you’re interested in purchasing a Psylocke print! I’d be more than happy to oblige.

From a few weeks ago. I went on a beautiful walk with a beautiful lady.

We’re back with another random superhero for your viewing pleasure. Today’s hero is Marvel Comics’ Ghost Rider (the Johnny Blaze version). You don’t get much cooler imagery than a bad-ass motorcycle dude with a flaming skull, right? And although he’s been featured in two somewhat rather lame movies, and his comic book series don’t seem to last too long lately, Ghost Rider will always be one of the most unique superheroes around.

If anyone is interested in purchasing a proper Ghost Rider print, hit me up!

“There is nothing to be afraid of.”

I’ve always liked Daredevil. He was never one of my favorite superheroes (as in I’ve never regularly read any of his books), but I do like him well enough. And then the newly relaunched series by Waid/Rivera/Martin appeared, receiving large amounts of glowing praise. So I decided to jump into the first collection, partly because of the character, but mostly because I love the creators. Well, the previously mentioned glowing praise is well deserved.

Recent Daredevil series have been pretty dark and moody and supernatural (he was possessed by a demon). This new series is fun and airy and swashbuckly. I felt really exhilarated after finishing this book, and I can’t wait for the next collection because I want to feel that exhilaration again. Mark Waid writes Matt Murdock/Daredevil with a certain charm that is really infecting. And the art (split between Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin) is the perfect balance between modern and classic. Both artists hit the right tone here, beautifully. This book really was like (wait for it)… a breath of fresh air (yea for cliches!). Seriously, though, this book was well-done superhero fun. Read it.

Keeping the Daredevil love going here, I’ve added a new Daredevil print in my Etsy shop:

Daredevil Dares You

It’s Daredevil, showing off that super cool radar sense that he’s got. Super cool indeed. Now all that’s left to do is watch the Daredevil Director’s Cut, which I hear is almost like a completely different movie. I’ll let you know how that goes.

A bunch of books that I need to finish reading. A.K.A., an example of how I am lame by denying myself the goodness of these wonderful things. P.S., my stack of unread books is actually much, much bigger. Hopefully I will finish some of these soonish, and therefore tell you about my experiences here, resulting in me most likely recommending all of them to you.

It’s Marvel Comics’ Nightcrawler! Good old Kurt Wagner, the swashbuckling, spiritual blue elf. He’s been through some tough times lately (such as being dead), but he’s always been a fan favorite X-Man, and definitely one of the more complex and interesting members of the team. Nightcrawler actually took a while to grow on me, as far as my personal favorite X-Men go, but I do miss his presence in the books, and I wonder what he would say about the current state of the team (something tells me he would have sided with Wolverine). An alternate reality version of Nightcrawler, from the Age of Apocalypse, can currently be seen in Uncanny X-Force, but that Nightcrawler is such a different character. As we all know, though, death is hardly ever permanent in comics, so there’s always a chance for the original to make a grand return. Maybe.

I did this piece for fun, but if anyone is interested in a print of Nightcrawler, just give me a shout!