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...

After finishing the Runaway, I have a new character that I’m excited to revisit in the future, and I focused on the next story for my patrons, a Mystery. When I pulled the votes, my eyes popped at the idea of getting another crack at my investigator, Kyle Rickman. The first time he graced my digital page was in December 2018 (click here to read Kyle’s first mystery). But as I thought about a crime for him to solve, my mind turned to another character who came into existence right here on Patreon, Jessica Calhoun. It didn’t take long to realize that my investigator and thief needed to interact...

After returning home to continue his recovery, Rylan requests that he and Annabelle go out for a meal. Annabelle suggests one of their favorite restaurants, but Rylan insists on a new establishment. Reluctantly Annabelle agrees and as they travel through the city, his smile sours at the sight of the military personnel lining the streets. Once they are seated, Rylan quickly begins musing about Liam’s accomplishments and plans. He is amazed at how far he’s pushed things...

Happy Valentine’s Day! May everyone have a wonderful day and feel loved.

While most (if not all) drawing software has a plethora of tools, the liquify one seems to be a common utility. And it’s one that I really enjoy exploring. There is something therapeutic about using the tool to turn some rough lines into a piece of artwork that I’m proud to share with the world. In fact, I need to be careful not to forget about doodling or my goal of drawing characters because of how soothing it is...

When I collected the results of the genre poll and saw that a Historical Fiction would be included, my mind flashed to Temeraire. In Naomi Novik’s series, dragons exist and they serve as the air force of the world during the Napoleonic War. The concept interested me, but in my mind, dragons cannot exist in a vacuum. They need to be paired with magic. With that connection, I knew my Historical fiction would be blended with a fantasy. With the fantasy portion of my story selected, I needed to figure out what point in history to shove my narrative. Of course, I’d recently seen the episode of Big Bang Theory where the gang is playing their mystic card game and this edition blended magic with the wild west. And just like that, I knew how I was going to frame my storyline...

While Fenton and his team fought and ran from living trees, Jarvis and the rest of the expedition had their own trial of fire. Midway through establishing their base camp, a horde of hostile denizens of the planet rush from the forest. The weary defenders exterminate the hostile force, but the horde’s ferocity leaves an impression upon the crew...

In my day job, I’m always trying to solve puzzles. That analytical portion of my mind, besides discovering the answers to those puzzles, it’s also what pushes me to better my creative talents. As with most things, it takes time and practice to improve your skills. And that’s the common theme from the courses that I’m pushing myself through for my artwork. However, no matter how much knowledge I gain through the courses, there is a physical aspect to drawing that I’m developing...

After storming away from the ruins of the Central Region, Kethra hurries home where she promptly gathers her most ardent supporters. Once gathered, she passes on her version of events and they rally the rest of the region to her aid. Meanwhile, back in the ruins of the Central Region, Marcus collects his team and prepares for an invasion. With backup and all the armaments they can carry, Marcus claims an entire car informing his men to leave him alone until their arrival...

The simplest of things can inspire people. Provided you take the time to explore the world, even if all you do is check your digital feeds. As I thumbed through the posts in my Facebook feed, I came across a post by ElfWatcher.com and the seed of a story wedged itself into my mind. The man eagerly collects one of his messengers on news from the battlefield. Those were the words that sprouted from that seed. As the story’s skeleton developed, I looked at some of my other stories and dropped this budding narrative into that world. From there, the first draft flew from my fingers...

Ever mindful of my ultimate goal, I need to keep having fun while drawing. My abstract work is currently providing me with that opportunity. I have purchased some tools to sharpen those skills, while the fun stuff continues to develop my toolbox. While some tools are black boxes, the creative in me just wants to use them, but my inner developer seeks to understand them. That side of me understands the value of black boxes and reluctantly accepts them when required...

When the week began, I looked at all the projects jumbled about in my mind and a smile slipped onto my face. Most of the time since I resumed blogging, I’ve handled my posts in a very ad hoc manner. At the beginning of the year, my wife introduced me to YNAB, and it immediately changed my life. I know that’s a cliche, but they exist because they’re true. As I embraced the budgeting application, another aspect of my mind raced to the forefront, organizing my tasks. I have tried using a to-do list before, but it failed fantastically, so I was not expecting much from it. However, having embraced YNAB, I discovered different results with the to-do app.

It kept me ahead of schedule for January...

On the heels of Caitlin’s success with founding the Federation, the other leaders return to their homes. Promptly Caitlin and Quinn start working on their initial decrees. Upon completing the first, they send a copy to the other leaders, including Olyver...

I’m excited about the artwork I’m posting this week. Among the images I created, there are four different liquified textures that are always relaxing to create. Besides the product of that simple fun, I am bringing a couple doodles to my blog. Tri-Point and Dissolving Wall are both early attempts in another process that I’m thoroughly enjoying. And to round up the artwork for the week, I wanted to learn how to draw cosmic scenes and so I turned to Google, and before I knew it, there was a plethora of guides on the subject. So armed with that barrage of videos, I turned my attention to my initial slice of the night sky, Wide Nebula...

Fresh off of writing Hidden Truths, I turned my attention to this month’s Fantasy tale. While I’m eager to explore Darren’s life, I’ve gotten a little burnt out with the character. That said, I’m eager to stay in Darren’s world, so I flipped through past stories and smiled when I remembered the story about Tiatha. Siphoning the Stone was the last story that dealt with her, but it presented me with an opportunity to explore focus on another aspect of Darren’s world. During that tale, Tiatha easily bests the Hunter who tries to stop her from stealing a stone...

With Lia at Darren’s side, he’s able to convince Leodar that he requires his own room. Though it comes with a price, Leodar demands that Darren become Lia’s mentor. With the added responsibilities, Darren finds himself unable to head into the city as often as he would prefer. As a result, Randall surprises his friend with a visit. One of Randall’s visits coincides with a required study session. Eager to start her studies, Lia asks Maxwell to collect Darren. But as he approaches Darren’s room, Maxwell overhears part of the conversation...