The first month of 2012 has been tumultuous! Between school and my own personal projects, I have had a lot to do. In this journal I will be covering the following:

Personal Note
Projects
January's Deviations
Features

Personal Note
I'm about to transfer from community college to university. That is, if my family decides to stay in the same state. It has been nerve racking not knowing if or when we will be moving. If the "bad event" happens I'll have to delay my studies for about a year so I can get in-state tuition when I transfer. If we do stay, I'll be going to University of Oregon in the spring.

I'm pretty exhausted, emotionally and physically. I try not to worry about my transfer situation, but between that and the 40 hours of schoolwork, the 20-30 hours of artwork, sometimes I just want to lay in bed and ignore life for a few weeks.

As to my watchers, if anybody would like to chat, you can add me to msn messenger or email me at moniquemariehodge@gmail.com. You can also send me a note. I would love to talk to all of you!

Projects
I had a number of projects to attend to this month.

My comic, The Box, is going along fine. I had a hiccup due to sickness, but I still have enough time to meet my deadline. As it is my first comic, I have learned a lot. I look forward to the next comic, Swindled and Scammed, which I believe will be much better.

As for commissions, I am on schedule. After I knock down everything on my overflow list I am going to redefine the parameters, and instead of going month by month, I am going to fill slots by type. That way I'll have enough examples for commissions and can start taking monetary commissions as soon as I finish my portfolio. When I am at that point I'll be hosting a quick survey to better price my commissions.

January's Deviations
Below are the deviations I have submitted this month.

Cherries There are cherries in the garden
and I wish to pick them today.
Where is a bowl?
I'd like to give them away.
The weather is nice
even though it rained since yesterday.
It's stopped now,
and I would just like to say;
"Do you want my cherries?" Gravestone We built a monument in your memory
made of stone.
It was supposed to last forever,
but I see that it has begun to crumble.
Moss has crept onto its face;
Nature's cruel and careless graffiti.
It chooses to live where the dead are supposed to rest.
How long has it been since we buried you here?
I wonder if your body remains beneath this marker,
or if your skin has rotted away
and your bones gone to ash.
It was Nature that took you away from me,
and now you are trapped in her earthen crypt.
How can I forgive that jealous witch?
Your headstone is cold and wet.
All I can feel is moss.

For anyone who does not watch my scraps, I submit A LOT of scraps. They are practice, and since I use refs I choose not to submit them to my main gallery. Here are some of my favorites.



Features

by .
This is a caricature of me! I've never received such a nice gift before. Charline has some excellent work, and I implore you all to check her out!