I'm embarrassed at how long it's been since I've written in my blog!
Since I've written, I've successfully completed my Masters Degree in Fine Arts, Illustration from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I've also illustrated two children's books that are published and available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Currently, I'm enjoying the holidays but ready for much more work and searching for an Agency!

Time to breathe

Wow! The holidays really took a lot out of me! I finished up my second to last semester at Academy of Art University (online) and hopefully passed... I also was able to have a great showcase of artwork at ArtSpace in downtown Shreveport for their Holidaze exhibit and on top of that I'll also have work in the Agora Borealis Art Gallery, also in downtown Shreveport!

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be getting ready for my final semester, graduation, the job search and I'll be posting works for sale in my website (www.branchheartart.com) and in my etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/Pookinopolis).

Here's an example of one my recent works too! It's a handcrafted maple music box that plays "Waltz of the Flowers" and the lid glows in the dark! What do you think?

Local artists hope to satisfy your holiday gift list

Local artists hope to satisfy your holiday gift list: Local artists hope to satisfy your holiday gift list

A new bit holder!

I'm ready for the festival tomorrow and I hope to see some smiling faces there!!!

By the way, I made a little bit holder! I see a lot of people use their blogs to share tutorials so I'll try to share some projects I do as well!

My big bit holder has a lot of slots for a much smaller shank size which is useless for me (I don't have a micromotor yet and most of the bits I use are made for my dremel and are thicker in shaft circumference) so I made my own bit holder out of scraps of oak! Here is a brief overview of how I did it.

1. I measured out four circles (three for the rotating portion and one for the base) and drew them onto the scrap wood, then took them to the scroll saw

2. After I had my circles cut out I spaced out the spots for the bits and drilled some holes with my dremel (omg, I so love my dremel! I'll have to do a post about it sometime!) They're not all completely even because some of my bits are a little bulkier than others

3. I then glued my biggest circle to the middle circle and the smallest hollowed out circle to the top (it's hollowed out so I have a little spot for loose bits and pieces of stuff that inevitably clutter my desk). I had purchased some swivels and I chose an appropriate sized one and then mounted it. Sigh....I then I realized I had no patience to figure out how to attach the swivel mechanism from one round piece to another round piece... crap..... I know there are ways... but I was impatient and lazy....

4. Back to the scroll saw...

5. Now the video

And now instead of the big clunky plastic thingy I had with a bunch of empty slots, I now have a funky little clunky thingy filled with my favorite bits! ^_^

Yay! If you have any questions, drop me a comment and I'll be happy to share measurements/specs of my tools etc.

Is there anybody out there?

Yesterday I was in a pretty bad funk... I've got someone close to me who is telling me I am going to fail at this whole art thing; that I should just go back to working human resources because I'm wasting my time with my art degree... I can't help but wonder if they are right. I mean, I've been out of the Army for about 3 years now, and while I was in the Army I didn't "make it big" with art (mostly because, oh, I don't know, I was IN THE ARMY working!)... so what's to say I will when I graduate? 
Still, I can't just drop my degree when I'm so close to graduation, and regardless of failure, I will never stop making art because I couldn't stop. Making art is like breathing for me. I do it compulsively and I always have even since I was a little toddler.
It's discouraging nonetheless. 
What's also discouraging is seeing zero views for my blog! How do I make this thing more interesting?! I could just start making stuff up and see if I can gather some readers that way, lol! ;)
This week, Friday, I'll be at the Cirque du Lake's 5th annual street festival, so if you're in or around Shreveport, Louisiana, stop by for a visit.

A long day

Today was a long day!
I have some upcoming venues that I'll be a vendor at so I've got lots of do to prepare. The first one is on the 21st of September... Next week! It's the 5th Annual Cirque du Lake! Click to check out more information on the event.
I have inventory and since I recently had another venue I participated in I am mostly packed so that's a good thing!
I also listed myself in the Northwest Louisiana Artist's Directory and I'm hoping to expand my network! 
On top of all that I also joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators... I can't remember if I already posted that on here though.. I'm kinda tired so I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed right now... 

And now it's time for my first rant, which is also posted in the power carving forum of Woodcarving Illustrated. Here I go...

I started power carving with my little dremel 4000 and in June I decided I'd try to upgrade to a bigger flex shaft machine. I got the Mastercarver 1/2-HP Benchtop Pro Flex-Shaft set thinking it'd be way better than my dremel and much more powerful. It is indeed very powerful but I cannot for the life of me get the hang of using its flexshaft versus the dremel's flex shaft. I burned up two outer flex sheaths and two inner shafts and that is IT! I'm so done! I might try a foredom in the future but in the meantime my projects are so small that my dremel is perfectly capable for the time being. That said, I would love to cut my losses and rehome my mastercarver (it's only a few months old and it just needs a new outer sheath because I already have a replacement shaft still sealed in the package). 

I thought about Ebay but I'm wondering if there are other avenues or even a place in this forum where we can sell things of this nature?

Also, any advice for me on future flexshaft use? I tried lower rpms, I didn't hold it at too sharp an angle either and unless I took constant breaks every 10 minutes I still managed to heat up my sheath. The machine itself didn't overheat or make crazy noises, it works fine, it was just the shaft. This NEVER happens to me when I'm using my dremel's flexshaft, even at much higher rpms!

I hope Woodcarving Illustrated Forum members have some good info for me! Wish me luck! 

Ongoing

School has begun again! I'm now entering new territory in that my classes are advanced (directed study) in preparation for my Thesis project!

I've got so many projects I'm juggling it'd be hard to name them all! 

I have recently uploaded some more product to my webstore though! A lot of little postcards and some mini prints are looking for new homes! 

I've also joined SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators)! I'm hoping to get into some wonderful networking here! 

Have a wonderful Monday (if that's possible...)!