Amazed and Other Things

So, it's been a while since I've posted anything here. I'm honestly amazed this place gets any hits at all--I won't fool myself. The hits I still get are probably just bots or something like that. I'm sure real people don't read this anymore, especially since, you know, there isn't anything new to read. =P

I am resolving (seriously making a huge effort) to really get this thing back off the ground again. I am planning on going back to posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays since we have dropped the homeschool co-op group that was eating my Wednesdays. I'm not just returning to my blog. I'm revamping my website, my table, everything that is Gothic Panda Studios. I've been feeling like things have been stagnating--I've been working at good things, but it hasn't really felt like it's been 100% the right direction for me. There certainly have been lots of distractions and a lot of other problems (severe postpartum depression, refrigerator dying, cars dying, and a lot of other things like that--but on to other more positive subjects, since I'm hoping these things are all in the past now). See, when I originally started Gothic Panda Studios, I wanted to hang out in artist alley with other artists and draw stuff that I loved drawing and maybe even drum up some interest in my original ideas. So far, I have connected with very few other artists--this is entirely my fault really. I'm sure there are plenty of awesome friendly artists out there, but I'm way to chicken to converse with any of them (I have issues and lots of social awkwardness). It took me 7 years to actually get up the nerve to even apply for an Artist Alley table (every year I would say, "I'd love to get a table this year in AA." And, every year cons would come and go, and it never happened). Maybe one of these days I'll get up the nerve to chat with the other artists. XD

One thing I have succeeded at is drawing what I want. I think this is part of why it took me so long to figure out what why the things I was working on didn't feel quite right for Gothic Panda Studios. I really like a lot of the projects I've picked up to do. I am enjoying drawing gobs of button designs. I really like the parody posters I've been working on. The thing that gets me is that it's all fanart stuff, or at least mostly all fanart stuff. I don't mind fanart. I really love fanart being part of Artist Alleys--I know this is a touchy subject for a lot of artists, but that's my stance on it. I really like seeing other artists' take on my favorite characters. The thing is though, Gothic Panda Studios was never intended to be nothing but fanart. I like drawing fanart--at least of things I like (outside of commissions, I will never draw a character or anything for a series that I did not enjoy). However, a lot of the button designs and things I've been putting a lot of effort in recently have been nothing but fanart. This was bothering me subconsciously; my artsy crafty projects have been missing the part where I get to play with my own creative endeavors.

So what's the big revamp going to be be? To quote Xellos, "Now...That's a secret." Not really. If anyone really wants to know, I'll tell them what I'm planning. =P I just don't want to plaster a bunch of ideas and plans here right now, especially since I'm not 100% sure exactly how I'm going to make it happen--I know what I want things to look like when I'm finished with the revamp, but the how to get there part is a little vague. This means that the revamp could be ready in a few weeks, or it might take a few months. I'll post more about it though as I get things worked out a little more. There will be some awesome new items for my art table--things that I don't think many other artists have tried yet. I'm excited about that. There is also, of course, going to be more of my original stuff--like maybe finishing some of the half-finished comic books I have laying around my craft room. Don't get me completely wrong though, I'm still going to keep drawing fanart; I'm just scaling it back to make room for some other stuff. =)

I am excited about the upcoming changes. I think things are moving forward in a positive direction. I can't wait to see what comes with the reset of 2013 for my art studio. =D