Classes just started, and it seems like they will actually be useful this quarter! I’m very excited. In portfolio, we had our work torn apart and had to write up a list of our weaknesses, and our interests in markets and topics. Then we create six projects that utilize this information in repairing holes in our portfolios.

Here are the things I want to work on in the months to come:

1. More variety in people — especially more males. Also old people, and multicultural people. Children’s Book publishers want to see this wide variety.
2. More variety in subject — I get stuck on themes, (boobs, cats, sea creatures, babes,) and I generally avoid drawing the things I hate… like cars and architecture and oatmeal.
3. More black and white work — A lot of children’s magazines and older kids’ books have black and white interiors.
   
4. Work on colors/lighting — I’d like to find a way to keep my colors very bright and, er, colorful, without the image seeming disjointed and losing all the tiny details. Also I was told I need stronger changes in value, and I agree. I was also told my compositions need work and while I don’t exactly agree, I’ll keep it in mind.

I entered the Teatrio children’s book competition this year, where you create six panels based around a yearly theme. This year’s theme was “Ghosts and Get-Aways,” so my 6 panels told the story of two flies who fell in love, died, and came back together as ghosts. (Yes, I know, disgusting) Unfortunately my pieces didn’t make it into the book. However, I am a practical, lazy young lass, so I decided to regurgitate some of the panels for use in my other goal: creating a children’s book.
After spending a few days staring at my blank computer screen, I decided to go with a story about a sad, ugly maggot:

Basically, the maggot lives in
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