As each day comes to a close, I’ve either added another brush to my toolkit or explored some other brushes I’ve downloaded. Every new brush gives me greater insight into the inner workings of the applications and clarity for achieving a given look. Despite climbing to my first summit, the next peeks in my journey glare down at me from their lofty perches. Thankfully, I have never been one to back away from hardship. While a rough road may theoretically twist an ankle, it won’t deter me from my goal. Despite continuing to post my liquified textures and lines, I’m stretching my muscles with landscapes...

As his studies calm, Darren takes some time to visit his old friend. However, Darren is annoyed that Randall attempted to pry him away from his work at the Academy. Upon his arrival at the crew’s home, Darren speaks with some lowly minions and gets the truth behind the recent events. After arming himself with knowledge, Darren searches the building for his friend...

Despite life attempting to throw up blockades, I’m determined to continue writing. So fresh off the heels of finishing Unwanted Answers, I turned my focus to the second exclusive for my patrons, a Fantasy. While Journeys details Darren Gilbert’s life, my patrons have gotten a picture of the character after his time in the Academy. With each entry in Darren’s life, his world has come into greater focus, but the world is still far from complete. As a result, I need to step away from my favorite grumpy wizard to flesh out his wider world...

After dinner with his wife, Rylan met with Garvin and they started working on procuring three spaceships. As the weeks dragged on, the two politicians used all their connections and influence to secure the crafts required for their plans. With the ships secured, Garvin plots courses that would enable any pilots to bypass Liam’s security while Rylan sits down to find the pilots...

The stock tools of art tools like Krita, Infinite Painter, or Photoshop will only take an artist so far. The engines that allow artists to create wonderful brushes are extremely powerful. If I’d gone to school to learn those skills, I am certain that those intimidating settings wouldn’t look so frightening. But I didn’t and they do. While I could lean on the wider community of artists for exciting brushes, I’d make no progress in my artistic if I allowed those towering options to keep me away...

With the brief opportunities between assaults, Jarvis scours the recovered logs for answers. After committing those words to memory, Jarvis understands the dangers lurking past the horizon. Those fears compel him to force his people to expedite their work. Despite their progress, the ship’s precious fuel dwindles with each assault. As another aspect of their life screams out for attention, Jarvis realizes just how dire their situation is...

When I pulled the genre poll for the month, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the Historical Fiction. Unfortunately, that clarity didn’t extend to the other genres that my patrons selected. And while I’m eager to return to Samuel’s journey, I need to pen a Drama. While I fully intended to stick to my schedule, life refused to cooperate. When I finally carved out some time to think about my tale, my mind kept drawing a blank, so I sprinted over to the Writing Exercises, Random Plot Generator...

With Kethra’s departure, Marcus sent Vincent and the rest of his team to the Kethra’s home and the Western Coordination Center. The team prevents Kethra or her followers from causing any more damage or retrieving any paperwork. With all the documentation in hand, Marcus gets comfortable and pours through it all, trying to determine the state of the Region. During his investigation, multiple people approach him wondering why Kethra needed to leave...

This past week has been a whirlwind of activity, but that’s life. It’s also the biggest reason I’ll always love my abstract art. No matter how many roadblocks life tosses into my path, the simplicity of using the liquify tool is soothing. Even though I continue to fall back and use that tool, I strive to delve into both my creative outlets to help ground my sanity. Between transcribing the stories of the people tromping about my mental landscape and building my artistic muscles, I strengthen my grip on my attention and focus...

With each passing day, my understanding of all my tools grows. Between that, the daily drawing, the Udemy courses, and YouTube videos, I’m pleased with the increase in quality of my work. And speaking of YouTube, there are a couple of techniques I’ve found that I’m eager to try out, so keep an eye on my artwork for those new techniques. Despite the increase in my skill, I’ll always love creating my abstract art...

Every day I pull up my digital software application and draw something. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter to me what I’m drawing, all I care about is improving my drawing muscles and my creative eye. My favorite tool is the Liquify Tool. There is something surreal and soothing about using it. Weather I’m in a foul mood or just stressed from a tough work day, sitting down with that tool is an amazing way to end my day...

Caitlin and Quinn deftly outmaneuvered the remaining Auroran triumvir and laid the groundwork for his eventual removal. While the departing triumvirs busied themselves with building the new alliance, the world’s population quickly sets about to choose their replacements. During that consideration, Caitlin and Quinn openly supported Annabelle Holland, who wins the first position. After the selection process, Caitlin summons the newest triumvir...

After writing Runaway and Insight’s Dual, I focused on the last narrative for the month. When I collected the results from the poll, my mind leapt to a previous collection of stories as a base for this tale. As the next two weeks progressed, that idea sprouted into the crux of Daniel Shaw’s latest adventure, Blockade Runner. I published his first instalment, Shaw’s Outset, a little over two years ago on my blog. While I have spent little time with Shaw’s crew recently, I’m eager to correct that deficiency...

As Darren continues tutoring Lia, the wedge between him and Maxwell continues to grow. After finishing their meal, Darren and Lia move their dirty dishes to another table and press on with their work. While they studied Maxwell escorts a woman into the cafeteria. He immediately tries to rush her out, but the muscular woman holds her ground and drags her guide toward the food...

Lofty goals are good to have. They keep you focused on improving yourself and keeping you chugging forward. However, if they’re too high, they can set you up for disappointment. When I dedicated myself to this artistic journey, my goal of drawing the characters I write about was certainly a lofty aim. To keep myself from getting discouraged from my slow progress, I’ve pulled smaller targets into my path.

Finishing goals is important...