It's close to a year since I started this account, and yet this is my first journal entry. This is really because I've been busy all year and not because I tend to forget I have a DeviantArt account, having signed up on a complete whim and because I thought it would be nice to have all my original art and fanart together. Busy. Really.

However, since this account is suddenly getting actual traffic, I've decided I'd better start paying attention to it. I don't know where all you people are coming from, but I'm glad to see you *waves*.

Once I've finished up a couple of pieces that I've promised to friends, I'm taking a break and starting to polish up a few original pieces that have been waiting patiently in my sketchbook folder to be finished. Now that I'm in my final year of university, I'm starting to get concerned about where I'll go from here. I want to work as a freelance illustrator once I graduate, but while I've been doing a few private commissions and book covers for Cobblestone Press (who have been absolutely fantastic about taking an inexperienced young artist onto their staff), I'm nowhere near the stage of being able to support myself on my freelance work.

I have some savings tucked away for a flat when I graduate, and a part-time job that will be more than willing to take me on for more hours. However, I don't still want to be there six months down the line - I like it, but I used to love it. I also have my suspicions that the head office are being replaced by untrained monkeys. However, I don't really know what kind of full time jobs are out there for someone with my skills, though I'm doing what I can in the way of research and networking.

I know I have some amazing artists who have been kind enough to watch me, and any advice on this subject would be appreciated!

Meanwhile, I've started stamping out my bad habits. What with coursework being so heavy, my personal art has been stuck in the role of "hobby" for a very long time. Obviously, this does not a shining portfolio make! So I've started scheduling in time for original art just like I schedule everything else. One, it's working and two, I'm really enjoying it. It's refreshing to be working on my personal art once again without feeling pressure from other projects.

Now I just need to remind myself that even after a productive day of work, I still need sleep in order to NOT be the Queen of Doom at work the next day. Therefore I must stop telling myself that I will ONLY play FFXI for half an hour. It never works.