Of the last eight months...
Well. Hi there.

I know it's been awhile...for those of you unsure of what's going on; I'm Nate :)

I'm happy to say life has finally slowed down enough that I actually have time to reflect and write an entry. With any luck the first of many....

So art school boot camp is over! I successfully made it through the Foundation Program at CCAD, and whoa was it a kick in the pants. The program is kind of (in)famous for swallowing people's lives whole, and more than a few don't make it through. On the plus side it's also considered one of the best foundation programs in the country, so making it out alive was definitely rewarding. Not only that, but I was able to come out with a 4.0 average for the entire year....first time that's ever happened, haha, but I definitely worked hard to deserve it. Without question I did more work in this one year than in the entire time it took me to get my first degree o_o yah.

As well as getting straight As, I also got a lot of work featured in the Student Exhibition....so if anyone finds themself in Columbus at any point this summer, head over to CCAD and see if you can pick out some of my stuff X)

Seriously though, I might sound a bit 'tooting my own horn', but this year was incredibly important for me. Until now art was always just a self-taught hobby, I had no idea if I would crash or burn in the 'training to be a professional' art world. It was incredibly satisfying and encouraging to do so well. I feel like I am definitely headed in the right direction with my career. Confidence in myself is something I don't normally run across...

So now I'm out of school for 4 months, which is still surreal even just a few weeks in. Most importantly, I have been able to jump-start leveL, which was a huge thing missing in my life during school (oh, and for anyone worried that I will go AWOL again in September, no chance. The first year is the intense-kill-you-with-work year. Next semester I will have the free time to pursue side projects such a certain webcomics XD)

At this point my second job (the high school lighting design gig) is also on break for the summer. I am only working at the pub now....which I hate, btw. Looking desperately for a replacement job, but I think it looks like I'm gonna be stuck there for the summer. Why is that? Well....

...I am planning to go back to Alaska in July :D!!! The 5th to the 21st, to be exact. Coupled with that a possible week-long gig as a camera operator at a summer camp, I don't have the ability to approach employers and say 'hire me! ps, seeya in a month :D' Much as I hate the pub, it is at this point a necessary evil.

But yes, Alaska should be much fun and a good reward for the year. Going with Patrick (Tenebrous to any who may know him by that name), to stay with his family again. Also we were able to talk our good friend Bronwynn into tagging along. The three of us are going to have a huge blast. White water rafting, kayaking, hiking, bouldering. I. CAN'T. WAIT.

Beyond that? Not a lot to report, haha. Am currently trying to figure out exactly what my living situation will be for the next school year.....more on that topic as I find out :\

Oh. Another thing I am seriously considering is what I am going to do post-art-school. It is looking more and more like I am going to have to relocate. I like Columbus and all, but the scenery isn't much. The biggest plus it has is my family living here....I am weird in that I like to have them within arm's reach, heh. Meaning moving will be a hard thing to do again.

But moving seems it's going to have to happen in order to get any job close to what I'd like to do. The west coast is pretty much where it all happens. However, I really don't know that I could do L.A......nothing against it, I just don't think I want to live there. The area of the country I really want to live is the Northwest. Currently high on my list of thoughts are Portland, Seattle and San Francisco. My sister is saying she's down with the idea of moving there with me...that would be in a year, cause she has to finish her internship in Charlotte. If that were to work out it would do a lot to help me adjust to being permanently on the other side of the continent as the rest of my family. We'll see, we'll see.

So yeah.

That's about it. Consider yourself updated on my life X) Hopefully the next entry will be a bit less life-summary, haha.



Anyhow, what have YOU been up to?