Hello everyone! Thanks for choosing to tune into my journal!

What a rollercoaster of emotions this holiday season is proving to be so far. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away two weeks ago after a 10 month struggle with cancer. Finances are absolutely horrible at the moment too. We're not really giving or receiving gifts this year. It's mostly going to be family time, which we need, considering all that has happened in the past few weeks. Which is also why I've been so gosh-darn inactive. I just haven't had the heart or drive or time.

In other news, finals took place this week and thankfully I passed all of them with flying colors! Now that my first semester of college is over, I'm looking forward to a nice break.

What a snowstorm this turned out to be! Currently, it is pouring snow in mass amounts. We're looking at near 2 feet of snow! My job is closed today and tomorrow due to the weather! However, I'm not getting paid for this lost time.

Yes, I am actually getting around to that Everlasting Summer Contest. I'm working on judging right now.

Also, I am working on those holiday gift arts in between other artwork that I'm working on. It's been slow going though! I was surprised by how much time I wound up needing to prepare for finals. I am keeping a list below of the completion percentage of each gift art. I'm still debating on whether or not to hold on posting them until Christmas Day as a nice surprise or post them when I finish them.

Gift Art Status:
1. ~Kaomi-Uchiha 50% completed. Preliminary coloring done.
2. *Fates-Broken-Wings 5% completed. Thumbnail stage.
3. =Haru-dozo 0% completed. Not yet started.
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_{Traditional Art Reporter}

I'm the moderator @ #AnimalSpirit-Club

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Da families, anime crews, and affiliations

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_{Avatar by *angelishi}

Hello everyone! Thanks for choosing to tune into my journal!

For all those who celebrate, happy thanksgiving!

And whether you do or don't celebrate, always remember that the things you are thankful for should never be taken advantage of. Always appreciate that which you have been blessed to have.

Well, today is also the official beginning for all holiday shopping! I'll be starting with Michaels Art Store tonight which is having some sales 5-9 pm Thanksgiving Day!

Tomorrow, I'll be heading out to buy the simple things like DVDs that are on sale. But I'm am not, by any means, waking up at 3 am to go shopping. I enjoy sales but not that much. I wish the best of luck to those who do plan on getting up that early.

What are you thankful for?

I have to say there is a lot that I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for my family, friends, my job, my artistic ability, but most importantly I'm thankful for just being alive and being here. I'm thankful that I'm still alive and kicking and as long as I am I'll do everything I can to keep my head up and keep smiling and hopefully, I can make people smile in turn.

Enjoy your thanksgiving!

Also, with the coming holiday season, I'd love to offer something to all of the wonderful people I've met on dA! Anyone interested in a holiday gift art? The semester is winding down and I'm mostly preparing for finals, so I'll have some art time. I'm going to open 5 slots to start with. If I can manage to complete those in a timely manner, I'll open more.

If you'd like a gift art, just drop a comment in this journal telling me what you'd like. The basis is first come, first serve. There is no obligation to make anything back for me either.

1. ~Kaomi-Uchiha
2. ~Fates-Broken-Wings
3.
4.
5.
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DDs I've suggested and been chosen: [link]

DEVIANCE-ZINE [link]
_{Traditional Art Reporter}

I'm the moderator @ ~AnimalSpirit-Club

*dA-ScholarsProject [link]

Da families, anime crews, and affiliations

I am Rukia Kuchiki in my own Anime Crew! Click so that you can join too!!!!

I'm a part of ~konatacutecute's club!

I'm also apart of ~Emo-Temari's family!

I am Yuhi Kurenai in Mistygemmy's Online Anime Crew!

I am the Ninja Wolf of the Soul Society in Animesensei12's dA family!

I am Tsunade in Nara-Chibi's Naruto Army!

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_{Avatar by *angelishi}

Hello everyone! Thanks for choosing to tune into my journal! Look for my ever changing discussion question in bold!

Car accidents suck. Period.

I woke up this morning telling myself I was going to turn things around and make this a good week. So, I'm on my way to class and I'm sitting in a line of traffic at a red light. Glancing in my rear view, I see someone who is coming up pretty fast for a red light. Soon I realize he isn't going to stop. Bracing myself, I press down on the brake as hard as I can and wait for impact. And then it hits me with quite the bit of force.

I get thrown forward, pull over, and get out of my car. Shockingly, the damage wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We went through all of the insurance stuff and I got a guy from the insurance company to estimate the damage. Thankfully, since it wasn't my fault (and I wasn't hurt), I don't have to pay a thing, but that was not a good way to start the week. I missed most of my class too.

On top of that, my grandmom's cancer is back full force. Now it's virtually everywhere: bone, liver, brain, etc. She's giving up and if it keeps going like this...this is going to be it.

I've got tons of papers to write as well.

/rant

On the bright side, I have an art show coming up! I need to prepare some of the work I made for it. Once I have it all ready to go, I'll be sure to post pictures!

Hmm...I haven't been posting any discussion questions. So here's one for ya: When you're having a bad day what cheers you up?

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DDs I've suggested and been chosen: [link]

DEVIANCE-ZINE [link]
_{Traditional Art Reporter}

I'm the moderator @ ~AnimalSpirit-Club

*dA-ScholarsProject [link]

Da families, anime crews, and affiliations

I am Rukia Kuchiki in my own Anime Crew! Click so that you can join too!!!!

I'm a part of ~konatacutecute's club!

I'm also apart of ~Emo-Temari's family!

I am Yuhi Kurenai in Mistygemmy's Online Anime Crew!

I am the Ninja Wolf of the Soul Society in Animesensei12's dA family!

I am Tsunade in Nara-Chibi's Naruto Army!

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_{Avatar by *angelishi}

Hello everyone! Thanks for choosing to tune into my journal! Look for my ever changing discussion question in bold!

It's Self Promotion Month here on dA. [link] $Moonbeam13 has asked that you post a journal that states your purpose as an artist. But even though I'm about to tell you my purpose, what is your purpose? Why do you do artistic things? Fell free to take these questions and make your own journal entry telling everyone just who you are and what your purpose is.

1. Who are you?

Here on dA I'm known as Cat, but in reality my name is Elayna. As an artist, I use a wide variety of media from pencil to paint to digital means to clay, etc. I'm currently an art major in college working toward by BA.

2. What is your artistic passion?

I've always loved traditional art. No matter how many media I use and try, I always find myself going back to my old sketchbook and pencil. I can't travel without them either.

3. Why did you get into art?

Art has been the only thing in life that has never let me down, even once. When family, friends, and life has ultimately failed me, art has always been there for it. It filled the emptiness in my heart and stitched the wound closed. Art is my form of release. It makes me feel whole and accomplished. It's the entire reason I feel alive rather than just being alive.

4. How do you inspire yourself?

Any inspiration I get usually is very random. The smallest thing can give me the biggest burst of inspiration. Seeing a young child smile, watching the rain hit the window, staring outside watching the wind move the trees, seeing people jogging...anything and everything inspires me to some degree. I can find something artistic about anything and use that to get inspired.

5. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years.

I always find it hard to think about the future. It's not that I'm afraid if it, it's just that you never know where life will take you. When you set a goal, you may not end up where you thought you would. Life is a lot like wind, it doesn't blow in the same direction all of the time.

However, I'd like to be teaching art to high school students! I love to inspire people and show them what art can do for you. I'd like to be able to teach kids that you don't have to be an amazing artist to get something out of art. I also hope that I'd be working on my own children's book by the time 5 years goes by. I've always wanted to illustrate one. I already have my draft completed for one!

Well, I actually started my Christmas shopping already. I just couldn't pass up the free shipping on prints that dA was offering.

Considering that shipping was free and I was feeling super generous because I get paid this week, I bought a few lucky deviants on my watch list a print from their wishlist! So some of you can be expecting a surprise in the mail! _{Although it would be nice if some of you put your wishlist together so I could have gotten you something.}

Sadly, I'm still busy though. I've had a lot less time to draw. With midterms coming up, it doesn't look like things'll be getting any easier.

Sadly, I'm sick too. My stomach has been bothering me. This is why I hate winter. Everyone gets sick, then eventually it comes to me. I am not amused by this.

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DDs I've suggested and been chosen: [link]

DEVIANCE-ZINE [link]
Traditional Art Reporter

I'm the moderator @ ~AnimalSpirit-Club

*dA-ScholarsProject [link]

Da families, anime crews, and affiliations

I am Rukia Kuchiki in my own Anime Crew! Click so that you can join too!!!!

I'm a part of ~konatacutecute's club!

I'm also apart of ~Emo-Temari's family!

I am Yuhi Kurenai in Mistygemmy's Online Anime Crew!

I am the Ninja Wolf of the Soul Society in Animesensei12's dA family!

I am Tsunade in Nara-Chibi's Naruto Army!

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Avatar by =angelishi