Yesterday I went to LA Otis Open House! I got my portfolio reviewed, twice. Once by a guy I had to wait in a 30ish minute line for, and the second time by an animation/digital art/concept design teacher up on the digital media floor. They both said I had some really strong conceptual and character design pieces. The teacher dude (he was wearing a Bleach t-shirt, which made me lol inside) said that I should have no problem getting accepted to Otis. He did say I should make my portfolio shorter, which is true, because I brought a crap-load of work in to be looked at. Teehee.

I can't believe it's time for me to apply for colleges. I figured out I wanted to work in the art field only about 3 years ago. I've been really arty since then. I only hope my hard work and dedication serve me well, now that I need to prove myself.

Otis is in my top three art schools, but my first choice is still CalArts!!

---

I know I said I'd get better with my communication , like a month ago in my last journal. I'm sorry. I haven't really improved much. Those of you who really know me might recognize a pattern where sometimes I withdrawl and don't communicate too much. It's not because I don't care, I do very much so, but sometimes I really need to sort out my life before I can extend myself to others. I'm so sorry.

Things have still been hectic. There was an incident on Halloween involving my mom, she's fine, don't worry, but the police had to get into it. Her job isn't going so well and neither is my school. I won't go into details, 'cause it's actually really unfortunate. But don't worry. I get through things, as always. Optimism, yeah!

---

I've been on-and-off Neopets the past two weeks. I got into the Art Gallery! (I used an old picture from 2 or 3 years ago though, shhh.) I made a SS comic and sent it in a week ago, but still haven't gotten a yes or no neomail from TNT. I tied for third place in Ogrin division this past Friday. We both had exactly 63 votes. The other person got the trophy. Oh well.

---

I've been submitting to scraps a lot lately. Well, not lately, I'm actually a very scraps-oriented person. Please, if you haven't already, go check it out! I submit a lot of character designs and doodles and stuff there. It's fun stuff, really.

---

<sub>I'm going to make myself a list here...don't mind me...

college applications ---working on it
job applications ---still need work permit
homework ---I need to catch up a bit
art
...cartooning ---no problems here
...life drawing ---done a couple small sketch/doodles
...sketchbook ---got something in the works
...conceptual ---mann I wish photoshop was working..
...storybook ---very very very slow progress
letter/email-writing ---fail.
box-unpacking ---wow, progress is happening!</sub>

Ohhh dear. I have several hundred messages again. I must clean out my inbox...it's going to take a while...

Hmm, anyway, I've moved to my house in Long Bitch...Long Beach, CA, and we've been there for about a month now. It's a long story about why we had to move. It happened really suddenly, actually. The day after I was picked up from CSSSA, we had to do house/job/school searching. Yeahhh my new school is a drag, it's pretty boring and really small, and I miss my friends, SDJA, CSSSA, etc, dreadfully. The good news is that I'm starting to get over my moody self and feel happy again despite my odds, so no worries! I'll be too busy with my college applications and artwork and hopefully a job soon to really notice. This year will go by quickly, I'm sure of it.

I'm really happy that I've still been in contact with most of my friends, even though I've been so busy and mostly offline. I appreciate them so so so much...they've been calling me and facebooking me, I even got a letter from Emma recently! I'm so busy I feel bad, I've been mostly texting people and calling once in a while, but I promise, a little longer and I'll be back to my normal contact status. :>

I've been looking for a gallery or an art museum that hosts life drawing classes...the search has just begun but so far it's going slowly. Long Beach doesn't seem like the most artsy community around. I've been dying for life drawing classes...

Now that I'm starting to get settled, I need to get to work on my to-do list. It's frighteningly long.



<sub>I'm going to make myself a list here...don't mind me...

college applications
job applications
homework
art
...cartooning
...life drawing (do local research at museums etc)
...sketchbook-ing
...observational (weekends: coffee houses, malls etc)
...animation (pick a vague idea, and develop it along the way)
letter/email-writing
box-unpacking</sub>

Alrighty, I'm back from CSSSA.

Was up in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area for nearly a week, searching for new homes and schools with my mom and brother. I'm moving :/ Oh, my Disney tour was postponed again, but no worries, I will be visiting their studios eventually.

Anyway, I am home now. No more waking up in my dorm room and living an animation CSSSA life...it was one of the best experiences in my entire life. I met some great people there, who are now my friends and acquaintences. I felt so comfortable and at home, which never happens to me. I could go on about how much CSSSA meant to me, beyond the fact that it was a great place for an artist to thrive. I've dealt with a lot of crap in my life but CSSSA protected me for a month from my normally insane life. I am feeling a mix of sadness, happiness, and nostalgia. I'll miss it, but life goes on, and so will I.

I'll try to upload some animations, life drawings, and sketchbook doodles up here. No scanner, so I'll try to take pictures..? We'll see. I'm still busy at home. Life is back to normal, which means it's crazy.

If you have any questions about my experience, feel free to ask me. :3

<sub>Oh, and to all my fellow CSSSAians who are reading this,

all the ducks are swimming in the water, FALALALA LA LA. ♪♫</sub>

Going to Disney Studios and InnerSpark, I'll be back in a month.

Limited access to computer + I'll be having too much fun animating to really notice anyway. ^0^;;

BYE Y'ALL

F***. Yes.

In February I applied to the summer program at Cal Arts college, it's called InnerSpark, and I was accepted! On full scholarship, which is $4,600!!! I only have to pay them $100, and a little bit more for my supplies and getting up to the school (a couple of days on the road).

YESSSSSS

I'm finally going to be getting away from all my family drama, and will be having an A MA ZING time, doing animation and art!!! I'm so excited.