Not so Gree Thumb- Patreon Newsletter May 2nd (Patreon)

Hey Artnerds!

Feeling Better

Seasonal allergies have been kicking my butt up and down the street this year- this is pretty normal for the spring after a major hurricane.  For most of April, I was too stuffy, sniffly, and congested to really do anything that required voice work.  Fortunately, I'm feeling better, and trying to work on that backlog and get it out to yall ASAP.  Keep an eye out down below for some of the stuff I've been working on!

7" Kara Progress

Allergies did NOT keep me from working on 7" Kara- I've been holding steady at a page of roughs per day- pretty typical progress for me.  This is a rather long chapter (over 30 pages), so it'll be awhile yet before we have any finished pages, but I'm past the halfway mark with the roughs, and hope to continue making steady process.

Generally, I spend about three hours working on that day's roughs- some days are lighter, some days are heavier, it really depends on what that page looks like.  Thumbnails and roughs are definitely not pretty or impressive stages, but they're important to a successful final page!  

Gardening Day

I think yall have probably figured out by now that I like plants.  And while I love growing things, I have kinda a spotty history with keeping plants alive.  While in Nashville, I attempted to garden several times- I could get almost anything to sprout, but keeping the produce away from the raccoons, squirrels, and rabbits was just about impossible.  From constructing chicken wire cages for my strawberries and tomatoes, only to watch the raccoons gently lift off the cage, shop, and then REPLACE THE CAGE (hilarious and adorable, I'll admit) to finding jalapeno and bell peppers perfect minus for a single little bite strewn across the yard, while I enjoy eating the fruits of my labors, it's pretty rare that I get the chance.  For awhile, we were somewhat successful with our Aerogardens, growing a nice little crop of bell peppers, until Joseph decided the single thriving pepper plant that had taken over the garden needed to go, then we were left with nothing.  I have killed so many herbs and ornamental peppers- not through neglect, but overwatering.  I come from a family of green thumbs- my Pawpaw had a pecan orchard and regularly grew corn and sugarcane in his garden, my grandmother, mother, and aunts all have lovely flower beds- I'm just...ADHD I guess.

That hasn't stopped me though.  A few weeks ago, Joseph and I went to a plant sale at the New Orleans Botanical Garden (yall might remember that!), and we purchased a few things- strawberries, herbs, even a cantaloupe plant.  Way back in December, I bought a pawpaw sapling from Delta Flora, and it's put out some big, lovely leaves, and in March, I purchased a Satsuma sapling and two Creole tomato plants,  and they're all doing quite well.  And we recently planted a kumquat tree that...probably will make it?  

I'm getting brave.  Today, I'm starting some plants from seed, getting a microgreen thing going, and growing mushrooms again (we did really well with the mushrooms last time).  I say brave because, let's face it, I'll probably forget two days in, only to remember five days in when everything's dead.  But hope grows ever green, and hopefully I can develop a routine quick enough that'll help me remember to regularly check on and water the plants.

I don't know where my love of plants because I love growing things stops and my love of plants inspired by Kara begins.  I just know that growing things, especially native things, makes me happy and inspires my art.

Upcoming Class

Mid May I'm teaching a couple introductory watercolor classes with the Ascension Parish Library.  I figure it's a good time to make some new watercolor class demos, and redo my Watercolor Techniques tutorials.

In the News:

Tito James very graciously interviewed me on his podcast Listen to My Art- we talk about the creative process, the 2000s manga boom, the ups and downs of teaching, and of course, the NATTO scholarship!

My local paper, the St Charles Parish Herald Guide also ran an article about the NATTO scholarship

WIP

For people who enjoy Color with Me tutorials, I've got another in the works!  I need to get the printable lineart out to yall, and do the VO, but yall should see the Early Access for this soon!

On that note, here's a definite WIP.  I'm THINKING this lineart is going to serve as the fieldtest for those Arteza Everblend markers- if I have the right colors for it!  Inking all those peonies took FOREVER, but hopefully the end result will be worth it!

I've got another Stashbuster watercolor tutorial in the works- I've been trying to quietly work on more of them to prep for World Watercolor Month, and to bust my stash.  This one will teach you how to create an easy but cute solar system bookmark using watercolor.

And I just finished recording the footage for the Artist Loft Unbox & Swatch.  This one's a bit saltier, for fans of the salt and vinegar, but hopefully it's all in good fun! I have a lot of stuff that's in progress and waiting for voice work, or waiting on chapters, so hopefully I should have some early access for yall this week! 

New to the Public

Tuesday, April 26th: A Big Disappointment- Rosa Galleria Fieldtest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o54EDaPvkkQ

Saturday, April 30th: My Friend Made Custom Watercolors for Me!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQvnNTj8UsQ