Hey all,

First of fI want to say "hi" to all my new followers. I know I've been inactive here, but I have an excuse.

In February the house my boyfriend and I had a fire. The damage was such that the house was unlivable so we moved into my dad's spare bedroom. Three weeks ago I FINALLY bought a house of my own, not only that, I went to full time freelance illustration! I'm excited and nervous, but I'm really happy I did it.

My goal is to produce more illustrations and be more active on all of my social art sites.

As part of that, and because I have to buy boring things like a lawn mower and a new mailbox and other grown up nonsense I'm open for commissions.

$20 commissions

You can read the details here [link]

So at 9 I'll be livestreaming!

You can go here to watch me doodle! [link]

I've noticed that I just keep making the rounds on all of my social and art sites because I really like getting comments. But I worry that I don't show that when I do comment.

I was just talking to someone about how hard it is get show your personality when online. For me it's weird talking to type on a screen, it's sort of impersonal and sometimes makes me feel like I'm speaking and drawing into the void.

I really do love getting comments and talking to you guys so I hope that if I keep talking I'll eventually get better at showing my personality online, through words and pictures.

How about you, do you find that it's easier or harder to show your personality and social skills online or in person? Is it difficult to compress your thoughts into a series of letters or is it a chance for you to actually let your true self shine through in ways you can't when speaking face to face?

I don't like the word "real word" for life outside the internet because the internet is just as real. It's a networked imagination. We've been daydreaming and coming up with stories since we climbed out of trees we can just publish those daydreams easier than ever before.

Those of you who have figured out how to be gregarious online, how do you do it? Any secret tips you can gig to someone who is apparently internet shy?

It seemed like a good idea to get my contest journal off my main page since it's October now. Haha

I thought I'd check in and see how everyone is doing? I've noticed a chunk of new followers and I wanted to say "hi". How's it going, how'd you find me, what's up?

THE PRIZE:
I'm offering access to the thumbnails of the first episode of my comic <- EXIT ->

THE ENTRIES:
I'm looking for <- EXIT -> fan art. Character drawings, costume reinterpretations, even joke comics, I'd love to see it all.

THE RULES:
- No nudity or profanity, this is going to be a rated G comic so I won't be able to post any art that has dirty language or questionable content.
- Please make it relate to the comic in some way, I know I haven't posted a lot of info about it but there are character drawings located here - [link]
- Have fun with it, I'll be picking submissions based on how much I like the work which includes, style, cleverness, or humor so if you aren't an artist don't worry, just have fun.
- You can post your art any where, just make sure you alert me that its out there. I'll be putting all the fan art onto my tumblr and then later into a fan art section of the comic website. I'll make sure you're credited when i repost your artwork.

THE DEADLINE:
The deadline is September 1st for submissions and I'll make an announcement of the winners within a few days.

- Reed

So I wanted to make you all aware of some links.

My website - [link]
My Twitter - [link]
My Tumblr - [link]

Here are a few of the things I do to get inspired.

I look at art blogs such as:
todaysinspiration.blogspot.com
colourlovers.com
gorillaartfare.com
printpattern.blogspot.com

I use stumbleupon.com and search for illustrations or to search flickr.com

I hit the Random Deviation Feature (though that can be a crap shoot)

I check out tumblr.com and see what's being posted there.

Lastly I talk to artist friends about what I'm doing and what they're doing and I get ideas from that to.


So how about you?

There are many of us who have regular jobs and then do art stuff on the side. I'm fortunate that I get to work in my field but I often feel creativly drained when I get home. Its great that I'm constantly having to keep my skills sharp at work, unlike the times when I've worked retail and had to spend 8 hours a day NOT drawing or working with color. 

So I'm wondering how you all feel. Those of you that work non-art jobs: do you find that you're using up valuable art time or does it save your creative energy for those personal projects? 

Those of you that work at an art-job: do you find yourselves getting more inspired and therefore more productive when you get home or do you feel so tapped out that all you want to do when you get home is veg out? 

And then, those of you who are totally freelance: Is the freedom wonderful, do you get to decide everything that you want to do or does the ability to do anything mean that you never get as much done as you'd like?

I'm really just curious about how people react to their situation and how it compares to how someone in a different situation sees it. Is the grass always greener on the other side? I assume that every employment situation has it's good and bad points, I just want to see what you all think they are. 

Go here and leave me a question

So I was thinking maybe of cutting my teeth with commissions by doing quick and easy ones.

So here we go, I'm doing a single character with a blob of color for a background looking like this



for $5.

That's right $5

So if you want one here's what I need from you. Send me a note with references to the character you want and (very important) your email address so I can send linework before I start coloring and I'll send you my paypal information.

Since this is sort of an experiment let's try 5 slots just to see if it'll work out.

1. @TerryBlas - COMPLETE

2. @grantpants - COMPLETE

3. ~SlugabedClothing - COMPLETE

4. ~getvent - COMPLETE

5. ~DelusionInABox - COMPLETE

Stolen from adriofthedead

1) Where did you begin 2010?

At a gay bar in San Diego with the BF and a drag show. 

2) What was your status by Valentine’s Day?

Crazy amounts of school work. 

3) Were you in school anytime this year?

Yep, Ringling College of Art and Design. 

4) How did you earn your money?

Started with a school job, then an internship and the last few weeks as a full-time design assistant at Carter's INC

5) Did you have to go to the hospital?

I went to the Dr and emergency room. 

6) Did you have any encounters with the police?

Nope, I was a good and cautious driver. 

7) Would you relive 2010 over and over again?

Maybe, certain days. 

8) What did you purchase that was over $1000?

I didn't make any HUGE purchases. 

9) Did you know anybody who got married?

None that I know of.

10) Did you know anybody who passed away?

My dog did, we was 14 and it was time, what sucked is that it happened while I was away at school. 

11) Did you know anyone who had a baby?

Not this year. 

12) Did you move anywhere?

Yeah, I moved to Atlanta after graduating Ringling. 

13) What concerts/shows did you go to?

We had little on campus concerts but no big names or anything. 

14) Are you registered to vote?

Not in Georgia 

15) Do you still have the same job as you did in 2009?

Nope, new job new me. 

16) Has anyone betrayed you in 2010?

Not that I'm aware of. 

17) Where do you live now?

In Atlanta GA next door to the famous Fox Theatre

18) Describe your birthday?

One of my best ever. People at work got me a cake. My wonderful BF made me dinner and got me cool thread less shirts. It was great.

19) What’s one thing you thought you’d never do but did in 2010?

Well, I never thought I'd be moving in with someone but now I can't see me not living with my baby. 

20) What has been your favorite moment?

That's really hard (that's what she said) I really enjoyed packing up and leaving FL even though at the time there was some uncertainty. Also the day that my bossed called me into the work room and said that they were hiring me on full time. That was a good one. 

21) What’s something you learned about yourself?

That I need a bigger imagination for my future, there are a lot of possibilities I never would have thought for myself. 

22) Any new additions to your family?

Not yet, maybe some day. 

23) What was your best month?

I don't know, probably November but that's out of a lot of good months. 

24) Were you in a relationship this year?

Yep and we live together, after the first 5 months of him living in California and me in Florida, which sucked. 

25) What music will you remember 2010 by?

I'm not super into music so I'm not sure what the soundtrack would be. 

26) Favorite book you read?

I really enjoyed Garth Nix's Sabriel series. 

27) Favorite Movie?

Scott Pilgrim vs The World, which is what the person I stole this from said too haha

28) Favorite TV show?

I've just started watching Ab Fab which is pretty hysterical. 

29) New friend?

I've made a lot of new friends since moving. 

30) Would you say you’ve changed since the beginning of this year?

Oh yeah, a lot. 

31) Do you think 2011 will be better or worse?

I think it'll be better. I'm in a good place and I try to have a good attitude.

Hello followers,

So I was hanging out with last night and we got to talking about DeviantART and how people use the site. We also talked about how I haven't been as active as I used to be and maybe good ways for me to get back into this place again.

First a little background. When I first started my DA in 2004 I was living in West Palm FL, on my own for the first time, I didn't know anybody so DA was my only real human contact. I made a lot of friends and really started getting into a webcomic that I was working on at the time. At a certain point in 2005 I decided to quit my job, sell my car, move back in with my parents so I could go back to school. 2 years at community college and then 3 at Ringling College of Art and Design later I'm now working in Atlanta GA as an assistant designer for Carter's INC in the boy's pajamas department. In all that time DA really went to the back burner.

You'll hopefully notice that I've been updated my gallery and responding to messages, but I feel like I'm still missing out on the community as a whole. I'm beginning to notice that different communities have different cultures and to me DA is no exception.

So I'm asking you patient people, what is DA about? What do you look for when you interact with an artist? Are long journal post something that you would read? Would you want to see descriptions of the project ideas I have buzzing around in my head? Do you like polls?

What is DA to you?

So my friend asked me to post commission prices so here they are.

Please send me a either a note that includes your email address or send me an email to bondreed@yahoo.com all transactions are done through paypal. I'll create a thumbnail/tight sketch that you'll need to approve before I work on the final art, just in case you need something changed.

Prices.

B/W lineart portrait of 1 character - $5
Colored portrait of 1 character - $10
B/W lineart full body of 1 character - $15
Colored full body of 1 character - $20

_{Simple background included, a complicated background talk to me and we can figure something out.}

Slots

1). - *killskerry
2). -
3). -
4). -
5). -

Become a fan of my work on Facebook! Cool, eh?

So i think it's safe to say, I'm being hired on full time at Carter's INC as a design assistant.

Become a fan of my work on Facebook! Cool, eh?

Ok, officially livestreaming at 10 TONIGHT! East Coast Time.

[link]

Become a fan of my work on Facebook! Cool, eh?

Planning a livestream thing for tonight. I was thinking 9? Is that to early?

[edit]

Ok you guys, how about 10? I'm doing it at 10, you want to cry about it? Go ahead.

[edit 2]
Starting the livestream in about 15 mins - [link]

Become a fan of my work on Facebook! Cool, eh?

I had an amazing birthday! First, at work, my coworkers bought me a chocolate cake and made me wear a tiara. Then my DA friends made these fabulous art gifts





Then my BF bought me the to amazing gifts [link] the hoodie version of [link]

It's been a great birthday.

Become a fan of my work on Facebook! Cool, eh?

so I got a chance too meet ~funnyanimalbooks in person at dragon con and now he's finally on DA! let's make him feel welcome, he's a really nice guy and has a great style.

Become a fan of my work on Facebook! Cool, eh?

I'm going to start another live stream in just a few minutes. - [link]

Become a fan of my work on Facebook! Cool, eh?

I'm doing a Live Stream experiment, stop by and laugh at me - [link]

Become a fan of my work on Facebook! Cool, eh?