As I have stated on my profile page and in the past, I tend to disappear for unknown lengths of time. With this latest dip, I figured it was about time I gave an update on where I am, what I'm doing, and when I might pick back up where I left off on my series, so here it goes:
- In February, I put down the deposit on a new apartment lease and prepared to move by the end of the month. I spent several days driving from California to Texas with my dad in a U-Haul truck and was getting settled into my new apartment in the first week of March. It feels good to return to my home state. Truly, it does.
- Currently, I still have quite a bit of work to do before I can consider myself fully moved into this new apartment -- and it is all mine. For the first time so far in my life, I am living independently, and I feel humbled by having accomplished this before turning 30. Will I continue to live on my own? Only time will tell, but I've been getting used to not having a roommate (and for the record, my last roommate was the best I might ever have, so we keep in touch via text).
- I've been thinking quite a bit about the Light and Dark series since getting familiar with the store I've transferred into, especially having found a place to call my "Wall of Smurfiness," which currently has a few of my Smurf-related art prints, PVC figures, and the steel sword that I bought for character modelling reference (since it looked remarkably close to Johan's sword design in the comics and cartoons) mounted on display. While setting that up -- and contemplating what else I could obtain to fill that wall space -- I have been revisiting old plot lines, concept art, and idealistic revisions in my free time.
As of today, I started working on a more refined edition of the rough Smurf Village map drawing that was made last year. This version features more detailed top views of every Smurf house, landscape elements, and pathways to further envision a layout that I want to classify as closely to canon as possible. It will never be perfect because the comics and cartoon show were terribly inconsistent with layout and design throughout their time, but I've tried to take the best of both worlds and create a map that best suits my series. I hope to complete this before the end of the year.
I could go on, but I should avoid being too Brainy about this. For my long-time fellow admins here, know that I miss you and am wishing you well on your own series, and that I want to return to my own once I have settled into my new real-world adventure with solid footing. Keep smurfin' on, y'all!