Hehe, another yoshi story! :B
I think I already mentioned how neat it was the you're still combining images and writing in your art. They make for a great combo! :3
Taking out aggression on a computer monitor... sounds scary to me! ;O;
But I see, he was just sick. :3 We're not at our best when we don't feel at our best.
But luckily he got better! :D
...Good luck getting a new monitor, pops! :3

<LoL!> What's a daddy to do, right? <LoL!>

Actually, funny story, that pic was actually drawn YEARS ago when I was annoyed to high heck at my monitor turning itself into a bottle of red wine. Until I got it replaced, I told my friends I was working through "Liquor Vision." Cursed, CRT picture tubes. :)

I'm glad you liked how this turned out. The crafty, marketing part in me took the "stats" project and figured, "You know, if I repackage old work, I wonder if it will sell?" Sure enough, different format, new designation, and updated concept and BOOM, success! :)

BTW, I never did ask you how far along your kids book was coming along? Will there be any special cameos from your cast of characters? For some reason, I imagine Nishidor having good times in the process of putting a paper airplane together. :)

It turned into a bottle of wine? 8D You mean the glass monitor screen thing got all dark? :B
I thinks it's a good use for them! Just like my professor said not to just let your writing sit dull, your pictures dont' have to sit dull either! :3
And naw. The only character is an Onxard-esque red panda I've drawn and made a hat of. :3 I think the other characters could have fun with it too, but I figured one simple character would be best. :3

Oh woops. 8D Today I'm coloring the twenty pages of the book, then tomorrow I'll hopefully be able to put them in the book and finish it off. :3

Awesome! Oh, and I agree with you on using only one character for the story. Keeps it nice and simple. I'm going to be taking such advice when I attempt my "Lite" version of "ToS" here in the coming weeks. :)

Now, if you don't mind furthering curiousity, will you be coloring the pages digitally? Also, if the work is being done like your comics, will you be utilizing any fun fonts to present the situations and humor occuring to Panda-Ox?

Oh, as for that crazy monitor, one of the color tubes blew out. So, curses all to the abyss, everything was tinted "red." Best example of what I had to see through until I got it replaced would be to poor a glass of red wine, or cherry 7-up, and hold it up in front of your screen. Minus the skew given off by the liquid, that is the delightful fun times one has working with a monitor that has a blown out, color tube. :)

Woo! :D We'll see how it goes for ya!

And yup, it's all digital so it has a clean, consistent look. :3 And I think I used the "Marker Felt" font since it seemed playful. :D This was a little preview I did, even though the cover turned out different: http://www.unowen.net/tegaki/dblog......p;p=0#comments

Oooooh, I see what you mean by that now. 8D I'm sure it looks neat, but doing art like that'd be nearly impossible, I think. 8D

How nice! I've got to give you props for the bright and vibrant colors used in the cover art. "Panda-Ox" looks very lovable and enthusiastic, too. Your choice in font also works nice as, quite honestly, fonts like that seem quite common amongst "How To" books. This means a casual shopper for books would see it and get an idea from the picture and font that, in all likelihood, it was a "How to" without even reading the title. Nicely done!

Dang! If I was as solid a creative person as you, I'd be all over that web-site. Artsy comment streams... DUDE! Beats bland-o, text-o anyday!

Oh, back on the monitor thing, I have a neat thing to add about computers / Windows Vista right now. Each time I've come back to FA in the past 30 minutes has been when my lousy, Internet Explorer crashes when I try to open documents in my Webmail for my job searching. Oddly enough, the evil system doesn't crash unless I'm in my e-mail. Then, the rat makes me LOG IN ALL OVER AGAIN! Argh! *cush-cush* *cush-cush*

Thanks! :3 A lot of how-to's can be kinda bland and intimidating, but I wanted this one to be more playful and silly. Especially since the other how-to's in the class are for more complicated things, and mine is for a simple paper airplane. 8D

And that's why I love it! :D I've never seen anything quite like it before, so I really made it my home, hehehe.

Yikes. D: I wish I knew anything about computers to give advice... I know lots of memory usage might make things crash but that's about it. And having to log in each time is super frustrating too. 8D Eeeeeeek~!

Interesting. Does this mean the class was given the assignement of writing the book with specific choices of what you as students could do for your How To's? Or perhaps your fellow scholars believe it is best to go with something more practical / typical? Personally, if I had a "How To" for a paper airplane when I was little, I'd have been elated! I never could make the blasted things. Big surprise here, too, is that I still can't. My folding skills are bogus at best. :)

Based on the amount of effort you've put into this project, I am curious to know if it is something you may keep stowed away for future reference? Your myriad of artistic talents and ability to appeal to various audiences utilizing different mediums makes you a true "Ham of all Trades" in the artistic field. Doing a picture book just adds another marker on your wall of achievements. I know I'm getting way ahead here, but I can't help but be amused at thinking just where in the industry you'll end up after graduation. The possibilities seem almost endless!

Oh, as for my PC, I can troubleshoot this baby to high heck. The real problem, honestly, I feel comes from a combination of my Accessibility Options and the way my online, e-mail server interact together. My wife has NEVER noted a crash issue in all her usage of the PC and, as it is so specific to this situation, I fear it's just what must be dealt with. *sigh* Ah, well. I'm a patient, Yoshi Ducky, so I'm okay with it. :)

Hehe, well we were free to make whatever books we wanted. He said that the best ideas were usually books for children, making a how-to thing, or a little portfolio book. I decided to combine the first two for mine, since the portfolio sounded kinda dull. It's okay. :D As you may find in the book, you're not the only one that has troubles with the creation. :B

Hm, like the book itself being some kinda portfolio thing? Or something to advertise what I can do? 8D Well I guess it's pretty much what I like doing - making digital art and comics, if you can consider a book similar to a comic if it's pictures and text. :B I don't think it'll be that impressive... but I think making the book downloadable, instead of something you have to pay for, is better for showing others what I can do. :3
It was a fun, easy project. I could probably work on something and try to make a bigger, better book on my own later. (:

Hehe, the best thing to do with computer problems is probably have a patient attitude towards it. 8D Whether ya know what to do or not, these things might take a while to get the situation over with... maybe she can even help you out? I dunno! But I'm wishing ya luck. :D Heha.

That's very awesome how your professor gave you guys such an open canvas to work with. I find, personally, I work well under complete freedom or when given, say, a picture and/or a set of very simplistic criteria. The fewer the restraints, the better I flow. :)

And yes, I am thinking you could use that as part of your overall portfolio. Or, as you are hinting, a lead into something you'd include in your portfolio.

One thing I discovered, which is pertinent here, while I was researching how to get published was the market certain Literary Agents had for "Picture Books." They seemed primarily looking for books from those who did the "Whole Thing." It was also one of the RARE exceptions to the rule of submission where you are actually allowed to, for the most part, send the whole thing in for review. Works like mine only warrant, at most, the first 10 to 30 pages.

Being you did a picture book, and seemingly liked doing the picture book, I want you to keep that option wide open in your mind. Especially since you, like me, are a fan of cute, fun things. Writing may not be something you initially considered, but, with a picture book, YOU'RE IN!

Me too! :3 With my printing class, we usually just get a theme, like "opposites" or "money" and I can't stand it, even if they're fairly open-ended... but with his book project, I feel like there were way more options and I was free to do and mix what I liked. :D

Oh yeah! I think I remember hearing somewhere about... uh, maybe when I interviewed some local graphic designers, that companies like it when you can do tons of stuff on your own, or are able to do many different things. Then you're not limited to being hired for the one thing you can or want to do there, but the many different things you can help that business with. (:
And the books on Lulu have to be at least 20 pages, so striving above and beyond, I made the book a whole 20 pages. ;3 Exactly inbetween the 10 and 30 page thing ya mentioned!

Books are fun, writing is fun, art is fun, I like it all. :D So I'll totally keep an open eye out!

Fantastic! Since children's literature is filled with tons of wonderful, colorful piccies, it certainly could be a great avenue to keep on your career GPS as you continue to make your rounds about the Ivory Tower.

Speaking of options, I'll never forget how college missed in preparing me for some of the "surprises" out there in the professional market. Truth be told, for as much you learn, employers are honestly most interested in how flexible and ready to learn "their way of doing things." It's bothersome in that you get, as I did, stifled creatively at times. However, it also means many positions can get you to the same, ultimate goal. Kind of like one of those classic "Choose Your Own Adventure" books.

In your case, your diverse range of artistic talents really does give you a leg up over some of your peers. Where some may become highly specialized, or close minded toward perfecting one style while ignoring outside challenges, you will be able to write up quite the resume. Especially in the "Core Strengths" department where you drop "buzz-words" to get the ocular attention of an interviewer, or the elusive, computerized, resume scanner. :)

*cush-cush* Sorry for geeking out on you here. However, for someone as talented as you are, I can't help but to throw out some wisdoms where and when I can. If anything I've learned through my many times of resume building and business research can keep someone else from banging their head off the wall as much as I have, it's worth it. Especially a close friend like you. :)

Your never-ending encouragement does more for me than school does, in some senses anywho! :3

But I know just what you mean, it's good to keep in mind since I probably forgot that a bit. :3 That's why in my classes like printmaking we have to learn other techniques that I don't care so much for - so we can be well-rounded and do lots of different types of things! :3 I definitely needed a reminder for that. 8D
And as for specialized training... that's part of why art colleges didn't interest me too much. My sister re-affirmed that for me when she decided on going to a private school for cosmetics and hair or whatever she does. 8D One of the stylists at her work said she didn't have to go to an expensive private school to learn what she wanted, because each salon makes you forget everything you were taught so you could learn "their way".
But the community college she checked out gave her a hard time and would have kept her around longer than she needed to be, while at her private school, in less than a year she's getting real experience and taking clients each night in an environment she enjoys.

I think in her case she was fortunate... but like you said, she'll have to re-learn what she does depending on where she ends up, just like you probably did, and like I'll probably have to depending on where I end up. 8D
I'm glad you can share these things with me! Heha.

I'm glad I can, too. I consider you as close a friend as those I have in RL waiting for me back in Pennsy. I'd not be myself if I didn't share advice where it would seem fit. Especially since, from personal experience, it is EASY to miss out on all the nuances of college that actually are available to help you succeed. Heck, even at my MBA, I had to PERSONALLY go looking for the "Career Center." It's an actual, FREE service built in to most Ivory Towers. However, oddly enough, it is not as encouraged to be used by students as much as it really should be.

Your sister's case is very interesting. As she did end up at more of a university / private school setting, I can definately say she's in much better shape. Certainly it may cost more and she is likely getting exposed to many things she never really cared for, but it makes her a well-rounded individual who can be employed in more than just niche-specific salons. Go her!

As for you, the fact you are in a school of higher education for what you do gives you HUGE bonus points. People put down universities and the sort for their "filler classes." However, it's those "filler classes" that make you a strong, open-minded, talent. Sure I don't use much of what I learned in my undergraduate and graduate programs, but, if it ever comes up, I know I could recall it at the drop of a hat and am aware of the resources neccessary to get me on-the-ball ASAP if need be.

FA is actually much like a university if you think of it. When I came in, I had my set views, opinions, and thoughts about furries, art, and creativity. Seven months later, my views have nearly done a complete 180'. It's amazing what an open mind and a think-tank of creativity like this can do to a person. :)

That was really nice, I really like seeing your artwork. Adding a little storyline to it adds to the fun. Feel bad I only got to these now, I thought they were more of a full story and was hesitant to read at first knowing how long that takes me. Glad I took the time to open them up and see your cute artwork!

*smiles and nods* You actually, in saying what you did, brought up a HUGE point that I have learned since entering into the vast, creative world that is FA. That being the stigma of written works.

In our busy society, it is REALLY hard to make time to read anything. This is especially true when you figure all the striving authors, like myself, who are out there vying for attention and comments. It can be quite overwhelming for watchers and, to a degree, cause some works to go un-noticed due to people just not having the time to spare for a read that may, or may not, be worth it.

For this reason, I am happy to say that I am using this knowledge to create works like the Baby Yoshi Scrapbook series. Knowing what can garner attention and not turn off a potential reader allows me to focus my efforts toward those works that WILL get me noticed. Yup, yup, yup!

In sum, thanks for the input and helping to confirm the wisdom I've gained since entering FA. I'm a much better writer / artist as a result of such inputs. :)

Aww, a cute little story! This would make a great children's book.

I'm glad you liked it. One of my personal goals is to actually, one day, get published for writing children's books. It's a hard market to break into. However, as I practice with stories like this, I feel I'm ever getting closer to my goal. :)

In the meantime, you have reminded me that I've done quite a bit of Yoshi drawing since I completed this series. Perhaps, in the near future, I should try putting together another one of these. They are a lot of fun and a great re-use of work that, initially, may not have gotten much attention before. :)

Yeah, I'd like to see more of these. They remind me so much of books that I read when I was little, and the addition of pictures is brilliant and something I've never seen before in a story on FA. ^-^