I logged on yesterday morning to a small flood of new watchers, kind comments, and encouraging notes. I didn't know where all of this came from until somebody directed me to the post on Escher Girls
[link] (a fantastically funny tumblr). I was a bit worried for a moment when I saw that the site was dedicated to the crazy anatomy and costume choices we often see in cover work, but I was delighted when I saw that they felt I had done something right. So I just wanted to take a moment out of my obsessive studying and recently hectic work schedule to say thank you. I know I'm not the best about updating here on DA (or anywhere for that matter...), and my notes can sometimes go unanswered for weeks or months when I get caught up in studying or working, but I appreciate every single bit of it.
Even as an artist who was "raised" online, it never ceases to amaze me how supportive and encouraging people can be in online communities. I didn't go to a traditional four year university (not for art, at least), so much of my education and exposure to the art community has come from forums, online tutorials, downloadable training videos, etc. It can be a little overwhelming at times, like you're submitting your work into a void of art director inboxes and just hoping that eventually something comes back. And slowly but surely, it does. It might take years, in fact it's almost guaranteed to take at least a few of them, but in the end you start finding things bounced back to you. So never stop beating your fists against those industry doors. If you do it long enough, they have to open eventually.
I'm working full-time at Cryptic Studios these days, doing concept art for the upcoming Neverwinter MMO. I have to say, after all the positive press we've gotten from PAX East and E3, I am even more excited for the game to launch later this year. Hopefully I'll be able to share the small mountain of work I've been doing there once December rolls around. Until then, I'll try to scrape together some more of my recently released freelance work as well as some of my studies. It would be nice to get reconnected with all of you lovely people here on DA. <3
I am also so excited for you! Keep up being amazing!
And I'm glad you got this spotlight, you seem very deserving of it. Good luck to you with your work and such, and keep up the good work!