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There's a reason I don't have fish
5 min read
…since fish, much like this page, can't really remind you it's there…Yeah, I'd forget about it eventually…
Well, I have good news and bad news my dear followers who still check this page even though I've severely neglected it.
Good News - I'll finally be returning to the pottery studio at the end of this month.
Bad News - I have no idea how productive I will manage to be and my work will likely never make it to a con this year. Why? Well, that involves a bit of story.
Ever since January of 2013 I've been pursuing an Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology. I finally got past all the general education classes and got to my tech classes last July. I am currently still in the throes of the program and it has pretty much taken over my life and devoured the majority of my free time. What free time I do have I tend to spend in a mindless haze of stress reducing activities because I'm so exhausted from my class. It's one class a month. Three times a week for four hours. Not to mention I have to work the kennels once a day at least four times a month. Imagine cramming a semester's worth of work into one month. Oh yeah, also imagine you have a mid-term and a final EVERY month. It's exhausting, but I love it. However, as any of you reading this have likely guessed, this sort of class leaves me with little free time and even less energy for creating. It doesn't help that I'm also allergic to dogs and cats, so I'm in a constant state of fighting against developing a sinus infection (though I'm getting allergy shots now, so hopefully that issue will lessen over time…I really hope they work because I really really really really REALLY want a kitty someday).
So yeah, I'm basically in a perpetual state of studying, testing, learning practical skills, and…well, stress…and fatigue. Unfortunately, it has managed to drain me of most of my creative energy. I haven't done any art in months and likely won't ever be ready for a convention at any time this year.
Which brings me to Natsucon. I'm sorry, but I'm breaking my tradition and I will NOT be having a table this year. I'm not even sure I'll be able to attend as a regular attendee because I'm due to start my three month externship in July and I'm required to work 30 hours every week (I think I have a class meeting once a week, too). Sooooooo, yeah….Artist Alley Table? Not feasible. As much as I love to try to live by Tim Gunn's phrase: "Make it work." I can't make this work. If everything goes according to my vague plans…I'll be a Registered Vet Tech by the end of the year and finally have something I can pursue as a career rather than just a job. I do at least hope to attend Natsucon 2014 as a regular attendee so I can still see people.
I know I made a lot of promises to a lot of people last year and if circumstances were different, I'd be able to keep them. However, this is my first step to what can potentially be a lifelong career for me and I'm not going to let myself screw it up by trying to please everyone. Hopefully, I'll be able to have a table in 2015 and, if things work out, it'll have plenty of items that will make up for the missed year.
If I manage to get some time where my mood and mind are so inclined, I'll post pictures of stuff I made for the last Natsucon and other projects I managed to get done before school completely took over my life. Also, I may have a couple of new things popping up that are related to my current vocation-related pursuit. Like dog and cat bowls or sommat like that. We'll see. Time will tell.
Also, my mom is getting back surgery in April, so my help will be needed around the house more often.
Anyway, thanks for hearing me out. With that, I must be off to the land of slumber.
Catch ya' on the flipside, mates!
~Vixen/Marty~
Treeline: by resurgere
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Funny story...Kind of?
7 min read
Okay, it's been a while since I've looked on here and things have been crazy...I have over 8,000 messages (mostly deviations of people I watch) since I have been ignoring this site. I've been busy with all manner of things. Here's a summary of what's been happening: School, got first boyfriend, school, fractured leg, school, broke up with first boyfriend, school, Natsucon 2013, and....Oh, right, school. Things were going well until I fractured my leg. Funny story.
Near the end of April, I rolled my ankle really badly and fell on it when I stepped on the edge of a hiking trail...but that's what happens when you're too busy staring at the trees looking for birds and not paying attention to where you're walking. Who knew birding was so dangerous. On top of that, I walked on it for several hours afterwards. Part of that time was spent in the car and I stayed off of rough surfaces, but I was convinced I had only twisted it. When I got home I took off my shoe and sock and it didn't look so bad. Not a lot of bruising or swelling. My mom said I should go to the urgent care. I waved her off saying that it was no big deal. My tune changed after a couple of hours of the rest, ice, and elevation treatment (we couldn't use compression right away because we didn't have any Ace bandages. My mom had to go out and buy one). I watched my ankle swell and bruise more. Still only thought it might be a sprain, so I decided to go to urgent care the next day. When I got to the center and took off the Ace bandage....I knew it was bad. Dark bruises all over my ankle. Then after a couple x-rays, a fracture of my left distal fibula was confirmed. They splinted my ankle and my mom borrowed crutches from our local pharmacy (yes, borrowed. We have a small, independent pharmacy with an owner who is awesome). When I saw the specialist, I got a good look at my x-ray. Oh boy, did it scare me. The fracture was millimeters away from being a full break. I would've had a little chunk of bone floating around next to my ankle. If I had taken a second tumble that day, I might've been having surgery. I got lucky though. The bone was still attached, my ankle was in alignment, and all I needed were crutches and a walking boot...and lots of time off my feet. Inconvenient considering I was just about to start a new set of classes at the YMCA *and* tennis season was about to start at the Rec Center. All those plans out the window along with the part-time work I do for my dad, the volunteer work I do at Wild Bird Rehabilitation, my pottery classes, and the figurine sculpting schedule I had made (this got dropped because I have to be able to carry the sculpey back and forth from the fridge and that doesn't work well with crutches). My entire routine had been wiped out in an instant, except for school. Cue the depression relapse. Totally didn't help that my therapist had just left private practice and I am stubborn as hell when it comes to finding a new person. Anyway, things were crazy and the depression relapse put a strain on my relationship. In the end, we decided we were better off as friends than significant others. Different wants, needs, and expectations. Oddly enough, I was only depressed about the break up for a little bit. It was causing so much extra emotional stress that I felt relief when it was over. Probably a sign that I wasn't as attached as I thought I was.
But, enough of my personal life. Back to the update, I am almost back to normal with my leg. Still have soft tissue healing to deal with. Hopefully I'll be able to get some physical therapy for my leg and ankle when I go in for my shoulder (yeah, the crutches aggravated an old injury in my left shoulder. Luckily, the doctor I saw for my leg also specializes in shoulders. He suspects my scapula (or shoulder blade) is rubbing against my rib cage....not pleasant and very painful, which also slows down some of my art stuff). I am all signed up to start pottery classes again and I have loads of ideas thanks to all the wonderful people I met at Natsucon 2013. That con this year was a huge ego boost for me and came at just the right time in my life. It was the weekend for pottery. I have never sold so much pottery before and what was really amazing was selling several of my original pieces. Not just the fanart pieces. Makes me feel more confident about my work and the fact that I have now seen people enjoying my stuff...I want to make more. I want to make things that people will love, enjoy, and use. Yeah, it's great getting money for my art, but it's soooooo much more satisfying to know that I made something that people will use and that it made them smile.
For the next year or so things will be busy for me. I am in my Vet Tech classes and in September, I will start my very first class where I will probably work with animals. Along with that class I will be picking up kennel duty on my off days. I will still strive to make my art (since I will be so busy I want to slowly work ahead for the next Natuscon) and hopefully, some time this fall I will be able to do an overhaul on my Deviantart page and get pictures of my recent work up as well as cleaning out my message box and trying to be a bit more active. I've been handing out my business card every year at Natsucon, but how can I expect people to be excited to see my table at the con when I don't even keep it active. Natsucon 2013 definitely rekindled my love for the art I create.
Anyway, it is late and I must finish winding down so I can go to bed. If you read all this, thank you for sticking with my rambling entry.
Goodnight, everyone...and catch ya' on the flipside, mates.
~Marty/Vixen~
Treeline: by resurgere
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Life Update
2 min read
Well, Natsucon 2012 went well. My fanart pottery was popular, so I'm going to focus on that. I'm also going to make an effort to work ahead for this year's Natsucon. Need to go ahead and make my list so I can get started because I will not have the time to devote hours to my artwork this year. I've begun my Vet Tech program at Brown Mackie, though I won't start the tech classes themselves till July, which means I'll be in the more time consuming part of the program around the time of Natsucon. Most of my wares will again be pottery (though decorated with more fanart type stuff) and figurines.
I'll eventually get pictures of my recent works on here, but not any time soon.
Catch ya' on the flipside.
~Vixen~
I'll eventually get pictures of my recent works on here, but not any time soon.
Catch ya' on the flipside.
~Vixen~
Treeline: by resurgere
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Natsucon 2012 Project List
5 min read
**This may be subject to change, but so far this is what I'm DEFINITELY getting done for Natsucon 2012...It's also a really long entry because I have a very ambitious and varying list this year.**
**Updated: July 22nd - Cut Eeveelutions and Miscellaneous Pokemon. I won't have time to make them and quite frankly, making all the starters filled my quota of Pokemon. I'm kind of sick of sculpting them. I'm now on the last section, the Chocobos and Choco Chicks and once I get those done, I'll start painting. If I get everything painted and still have some spare time, I'll make the Sailor Moon kitties (Luna, Artemis, and Diana).
Stage 1 - Being made
Stage 2 - Ready to bake
Stage 3 - Baked & Ready to paint
Stage 4 - Painted & Ready to glaze
Strike - Finished
(on deck) - The item is in line to be worked on.
Pokemon Starters
(General size of the sets will vary, especially with the sets that already have one made. When I previously made them I started big and then went smaller when there was a time crunch. Larger figurines will cost more than the smaller ones. I am only making one of each.)
First Generation
- Charmander - Stage 3
- Bulbasaur - Stage 4 (left over from a previous year)
- Squirtle (left over from a previous year)
- Pikachu (I consider Pikachu a starter because of Pokemon Yellow) - Stage 4
Second Generation
- Chikorita - Stage 4
- Cyndaquil (left over from a previous year)
- Totodile - Stage 3
Third Generation
- Treecko - Stage 4
- Torchic - Stage 4 (left over from a previous year)
- Mudkip - Stage 3
Fourth Generation
- Turtwig - Stage 4
- Chimchar - Stage 3 (left over from a previous year)
- Piplup - Stage 3
Fifth Generation
- Snivy - Stage 4
- Tepig - Stage 4
- Oshawott - Stage 3
Chocobos
(Same style as always with the same variety of colors. I have 2 yellows, 1 blue, 1 green, and 1 gold left...I might repaint the gold though because it doesn't look gold enough. XD)
- Yellow (x1) - Stage 3
- Black (x1) - Stage 3
- Choco Chicks (x4) - Stage 3
Sailor Moon
((I will make these if I have time))
- Luna
- Artemis
- Diana
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
- Transformed Soul Gem pendants
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
- Elements of Harmony pendants
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Ceramic Sake Set (4 cups and 1 pitcher)
- Cups: Different region symbol: Faron, Eldin, Lanayru, and Skyloft (Goddess symbol)...and each is shaped slightly different.
Current status: Cups are finished.
- Pitcher: Triforce symbol.
Current status: In the kiln for second firing
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Ceramic Sake Set (4 cups and 1 pitcher)
- Cups: Gemstones (Kokiri's Emerald, Goron's Ruby, and Zora's Sapphire) and Hylian crest
Current Status: Finished
- Pitcher: Triforce symbol.
Current Status: Clear coat and in the kiln for second firing
I may have a third sake set in the works. The cups are sort of a mismatched lot, but they will still serve their purpose. I'll make a pitcher for them soon. I've decided the cups will have the personality cores from the first Portal game and the pitcher will have Glados (of Portal 1 design. It'll just be the head structure with her eye). However, this is on the back burner. I need to get the other two done first. **Cups and flask are in the kiln for their second firing**
So that's it for now. I'll try to update this once a week to show where everything is. If I get everything sculpted before the deadline, then I'll move on to painting and if I get that done with lots of time to spare then I'll find some more projects to do. I have a long list of "If Time Permits" projects. Who knows, I might have some other ideas I'm just keeping as surprises. XD
Catch ya' on the flipside, mates!
~Vixen~
**Updated: July 22nd - Cut Eeveelutions and Miscellaneous Pokemon. I won't have time to make them and quite frankly, making all the starters filled my quota of Pokemon. I'm kind of sick of sculpting them. I'm now on the last section, the Chocobos and Choco Chicks and once I get those done, I'll start painting. If I get everything painted and still have some spare time, I'll make the Sailor Moon kitties (Luna, Artemis, and Diana).
Stage 1 - Being made
Stage 2 - Ready to bake
Stage 3 - Baked & Ready to paint
Stage 4 - Painted & Ready to glaze
Strike - Finished
(on deck) - The item is in line to be worked on.
Pokemon Starters
(General size of the sets will vary, especially with the sets that already have one made. When I previously made them I started big and then went smaller when there was a time crunch. Larger figurines will cost more than the smaller ones. I am only making one of each.)
First Generation
- Charmander - Stage 3
- Bulbasaur - Stage 4 (left over from a previous year)
- Pikachu (I consider Pikachu a starter because of Pokemon Yellow) - Stage 4
Second Generation
- Chikorita - Stage 4
- Totodile - Stage 3
Third Generation
- Treecko - Stage 4
- Torchic - Stage 4 (left over from a previous year)
- Mudkip - Stage 3
Fourth Generation
- Turtwig - Stage 4
- Chimchar - Stage 3 (left over from a previous year)
- Piplup - Stage 3
Fifth Generation
- Snivy - Stage 4
- Tepig - Stage 4
- Oshawott - Stage 3
Chocobos
(Same style as always with the same variety of colors. I have 2 yellows, 1 blue, 1 green, and 1 gold left...I might repaint the gold though because it doesn't look gold enough. XD)
- Yellow (x1) - Stage 3
- Black (x1) - Stage 3
- Choco Chicks (x4) - Stage 3
Sailor Moon
((I will make these if I have time))
- Luna
- Artemis
- Diana
- Transformed Soul Gem pendants
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
- Elements of Harmony pendants
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Ceramic Sake Set (4 cups and 1 pitcher)
- Cups: Different region symbol: Faron, Eldin, Lanayru, and Skyloft (Goddess symbol)...and each is shaped slightly different.
Current status: Cups are finished.
- Pitcher: Triforce symbol.
Current status: In the kiln for second firing
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Ceramic Sake Set (4 cups and 1 pitcher)
- Cups: Gemstones (Kokiri's Emerald, Goron's Ruby, and Zora's Sapphire) and Hylian crest
Current Status: Finished
- Pitcher: Triforce symbol.
Current Status: Clear coat and in the kiln for second firing
I may have a third sake set in the works. The cups are sort of a mismatched lot, but they will still serve their purpose. I'll make a pitcher for them soon. I've decided the cups will have the personality cores from the first Portal game and the pitcher will have Glados (of Portal 1 design. It'll just be the head structure with her eye). However, this is on the back burner. I need to get the other two done first. **Cups and flask are in the kiln for their second firing**
So that's it for now. I'll try to update this once a week to show where everything is. If I get everything sculpted before the deadline, then I'll move on to painting and if I get that done with lots of time to spare then I'll find some more projects to do. I have a long list of "If Time Permits" projects. Who knows, I might have some other ideas I'm just keeping as surprises. XD
Catch ya' on the flipside, mates!
~Vixen~
Treeline: by resurgere
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Natsucon 2012
4 min read
I just got an email confirmation that I got an Artist Alley table at Natsucon www.natsucon.org/ 2012. It's August 10-12 at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, IL. As I said in my last entry, 
and I will not be sharing a table because the merchandise we both create has grown beyond the capacity of a single table. At least half my table this year will likely be pottery work (I've been busy since last year). Most of the pottery will be original work, but some will be decorated with fanart stuff. I plan to make two sake sets this year. One will feature symbols from Zelda: Skyward Sword and the other will feature some items from Zelda: Ocarina of Time (like the three gemstones, the triforce, and the Hylian crest). I might make something for the sage symbols, too. We'll see. I also may be making some figurines out of porcelain, but this all depends on what underglaze colors I can afford to purchase.
I'll still make sculpey figurines as well, probably another set of Eeveelutions (maybe two sets), some random pokemon, and I'll have some surprises. I have a couple of small prop items picked out that I might make as well. I have a huge list of stuff I want to do, but I need to cut it down and organize it into realistic projects. One of these days I should invest some time in drawing so I can create at least a few items that can be mass produced every year. I could always make molds for my figurines, but that would sorta defeat the purpose of them. Their uniqueness lies in that they're handmade and not mass produced in molds. XD
I know I spoke of creating a Final Fantasy XIII chess set, but unfortunately it won't happen for this year. That is a much bigger project than I can handle in the time between now and Natsucon, especially since I want to make the chessboard myself.
The guaranteed items are those two sake sets (which will likely run for at least $40 each...Potentially $50 since I'm using porcelain and I'll have to buy underglazes to decorate them with the right colors. A set of underglaze colors runs for about $35...and that's just one of three sets carried by the pottery studio I use). Nothing else is really guaranteed until I put together a concrete project list.
If there's anything that you'd be interested, please let me know.
Catch ya' on the flipside, mates!
~Vixen~
and I will not be sharing a table because the merchandise we both create has grown beyond the capacity of a single table. At least half my table this year will likely be pottery work (I've been busy since last year). Most of the pottery will be original work, but some will be decorated with fanart stuff. I plan to make two sake sets this year. One will feature symbols from Zelda: Skyward Sword and the other will feature some items from Zelda: Ocarina of Time (like the three gemstones, the triforce, and the Hylian crest). I might make something for the sage symbols, too. We'll see. I also may be making some figurines out of porcelain, but this all depends on what underglaze colors I can afford to purchase.I'll still make sculpey figurines as well, probably another set of Eeveelutions (maybe two sets), some random pokemon, and I'll have some surprises. I have a couple of small prop items picked out that I might make as well. I have a huge list of stuff I want to do, but I need to cut it down and organize it into realistic projects. One of these days I should invest some time in drawing so I can create at least a few items that can be mass produced every year. I could always make molds for my figurines, but that would sorta defeat the purpose of them. Their uniqueness lies in that they're handmade and not mass produced in molds. XD
I know I spoke of creating a Final Fantasy XIII chess set, but unfortunately it won't happen for this year. That is a much bigger project than I can handle in the time between now and Natsucon, especially since I want to make the chessboard myself.
The guaranteed items are those two sake sets (which will likely run for at least $40 each...Potentially $50 since I'm using porcelain and I'll have to buy underglazes to decorate them with the right colors. A set of underglaze colors runs for about $35...and that's just one of three sets carried by the pottery studio I use). Nothing else is really guaranteed until I put together a concrete project list.
If there's anything that you'd be interested, please let me know.
Catch ya' on the flipside, mates!
~Vixen~
Treeline: by resurgere
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Featured
There's a reason I don't have fish by Artistic-Vixen, journal
There's a reason I don't have fish
…since fish, much like this page, can't really remind you it's there…Yeah, I'd forget about it eventually…
Well, I have good news and bad news my dear followers who still check this page even though I've severely neglected it.
Good News - I'll finally be returning to the pottery studio at the end of this month.
Bad News - I have no idea how productive I will manage to be and my work will likely never make it to a con this year. Why? Well, that involves a bit of story.
Ever since January of 2013 I've been pursuing an Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology. I finally got past all the general education classes and g
Funny story...Kind of? by Artistic-Vixen, journal
Funny story...Kind of?
Okay, it's been a while since I've looked on here and things have been crazy...I have over 8,000 messages (mostly deviations of people I watch) since I have been ignoring this site. I've been busy with all manner of things. Here's a summary of what's been happening: School, got first boyfriend, school, fractured leg, school, broke up with first boyfriend, school, Natsucon 2013, and....Oh, right, school. Things were going well until I fractured my leg. Funny story.
Near the end of April, I rolled my ankle really badly and fell on it when I stepped on the edge of a hiking trail...but that's what happens when you're too busy staring at the tree
Life Update by Artistic-Vixen, journal
Life Update
Well, Natsucon 2012 went well. My fanart pottery was popular, so I'm going to focus on that. I'm also going to make an effort to work ahead for this year's Natsucon. Need to go ahead and make my list so I can get started because I will not have the time to devote hours to my artwork this year. I've begun my Vet Tech program at Brown Mackie, though I won't start the tech classes themselves till July, which means I'll be in the more time consuming part of the program around the time of Natsucon. Most of my wares will again be pottery (though decorated with more fanart type stuff) and figurines.
I'll eventually get pictures of my recent works o
Natsucon 2012 Project List by Artistic-Vixen, journal
Natsucon 2012 Project List
**This may be subject to change, but so far this is what I'm DEFINITELY getting done for Natsucon 2012...It's also a really long entry because I have a very ambitious and varying list this year.**
**Updated: July 22nd - Cut Eeveelutions and Miscellaneous Pokemon. I won't have time to make them and quite frankly, making all the starters filled my quota of Pokemon. I'm kind of sick of sculpting them. I'm now on the last section, the Chocobos and Choco Chicks and once I get those done, I'll start painting. If I get everything painted and still have some spare time, I'll make the Sailor Moon kitties (Luna, Artemis, and Diana).
Stage 1 - Being m
Natsucon 2012 by Artistic-Vixen, journal
Natsucon 2012
I just got an email confirmation that I got an Artist Alley table at Natsucon http://www.natsucon.org/ 2012. It's August 10-12 at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, IL. As I said in my last entry, ~Akumabaka (https://www.deviantart.com/akumabaka) and I will not be sharing a table because the merchandise we both create has grown beyond the capacity of a single table. At least half my table this year will likely be pottery work (I've been busy since last year). Most of the pottery will be original work, but some will be decorated with fanart stuff. I plan to make two sake sets this year. One will feature symbols from Zelda: Skyward Sword and the other will feature s