flightrising:

We are pleased to announce that Flight Rising will be opening its gates on Saturday, June 8th!

Over the next week, we will be mailing out early access and reward codes to those who supported us during our Kickstarter and Paypal campaigns. These emails will be sent in waves, so do not be…

Well, after five years I have graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art and English with a concentration in Creative Writing, with a first in class standing and membership in Sigma Tau Delta and Phi Beta Kappa. It was a fun five years and I learned so much from so many wise people.

Now I am back on the homestead and currently unpacking and cleaning and purging all my worldly possessions so that whenever I move to who-knows-where to do who-knows-what it will be easier. While I am still querying agents and editors, in the meantime I’ll look for a job to keep me occupied while patiently knocking at the door of the publishing industry. I may also be working on some illustration work—more word on that if it pans out.

I may also open up for commissions—art commissions, figurine commissions, and plushie/stuffed animal commissions. More on that possibility soon, too. 

Onward to the next chapter of my life. :D

Dragon Gate Mentor

One of the best art teacher and mentors of my life, Nancy Dahlstrom, is retiring this same year I am graduating. To show my appreciation, I painted her a watercolor piece based on the Asian legend of the Dragon Gate. It’s a common legend that carp (aka Koi fish) will swim up the Yellow River in China, jumping through gates along the way. If they manage to persevere, once they jump through the last gate they will transform into mighty dragons. This is why carp often symbolize hard work and determination, particularly in relation to studying students.

I am eternally grateful for the wise dragon who taught this young carp so much along the way.

Best in Show Award at the Young Artists Against Hunger Event!

I received a phone call today that my etching “The Hunting Tales” I submitted to be sold for charity at the Young Artists Against Hunger event was judged one of four Best in Show pieces! A variety of artists from local school and college submitted pieces. While all the pieces are sold off the wall at a set price, the four Best in Shows will be auctioned off.

The proceeds of this event of culinary, visual, and musical arts benefit Feed America Southwest Virginia. Check out the link to learn more—tickets and art sales support the cause, too, or there’s a donate button on the site if you are more far-flung. I submitted 4 etching prints in total, and I’m glad to contribute to such a nice cause.

“The Hunting Tales” etching

Senior Art Show

These are the lovely postcards being sent out to advertize for the upcoming senior show. I’m biting at the bit—all my pieces are completed and framed, now I just need to deliver them and hang the show. Then it’s opening reception (this is more or less the final for my Senior Studio Art thesis)

Stop on by if you’re in the area and want to see some great upcoming artists. I’m so proud of all the hard work my peers have put into their works and this show.

drownedinlight:

kikibridges13:

starstripedimpala:

kyrianne:

Kristina Akers is a college senior currently attending Hollins University. Due to unforeseen events, she doesn’t have the funds to pay off the rest of her college tuition, and without that money, she won’t be able to graduate. She is a member of Otaku Hall, a speciality group on campus, a…

PLEASE HELP MY FRIEND!

She owes our university $1700, and without it, she can’t graduate at the end of May. Every little bit counts. Even if you can’t spare more than a dollar, that’s another dollar toward getting her the degree.

Kristina is awesome and deserves to graduate. It’s literally just the lack of funds that’s holding her back. For my fandom friends, she’s a Supernatural and Heroes fanatic, so if anything, donate for the cause of a fellow fan!

Kristina is seriously one of my favourite people out here in the world and I want to see her graduate and pursue her dreams in journalism so seriously, help her!! 

You guys are going to make me cry because of the love I feel. 

As my followers can see, I have a great support system here at school. But financial aid has maxed me out and family isn’t able to help me pay off school. You can give, or reblog, or anything. Every amount helps. 

I’m the first in my family to attend college and it means the world to me to actually walk across the stage and get my diploma. Help in any way is appreciated. <3 

Hi Everybody! I know this seems like a lot of money but even if people can only give a dollar, that’s $40 if all of my followers chip in. If you reblog to your followers with the same idea, we can bridge that amount in no time.

Our university is giving Kristina a really hard time about this. They won’t give her her diploma OR let her walk at graduation until she gets them this money, so please help out if you can or reblog.

So, a pleasant surprise today: I had previously contacted and made arrangements with a local framer, Simply Framing by Kristi. I had dropped off a few weeks ago all the completed etchings I had while I worked on the last two, since I knew that framing 24 etchings was going to take some time and I wanted to be considerate and give her ample work time before the deadline. Today I went to drop off the last two etchings, thinking I would have to come back at a later date to pickup the completed framed pieces.

Beyond my expectations, not only were the other 22 pieces framed and waiting for me, but I only had to wait 10 minutes to get my last two framed and I was able to take everything back with me! So now my thesis pieces are completely framed and are in my studio awaiting delivery to the museum.

So if you’re in the Roanoke, VA area and in need of framing, I highly recommend Simply Framing by Kristi for her friendly, exemplary services. ^_^

Art Thesis finished!

As of 4/10, I have completed my art thesis—I made 24 etched illustrations to accompany part of my previous creative writing thesis, The Dragon Prince.

I now have the time-consuming art portion done, but I’m not out of the woods yet—I still need to get these remaining ones framed and fill out various paperwork, then assemble and hang the Art Show that culminates the senior art thesis. Looking forward to it, though.

Also, funny thing how things go full circle: the megaloceros (aka Irish Elk, or in the case of this story Elsian Elk) in the bottom of the last etchings is actually based on the very first thing I ever drew for an etching class!)

The Cyborg Griffin 2013

This year’s Cyborg Griffin will be unveiled at the Lex Allen Literary Festival tomorrow. This year my cover design was chosen again, I had three art pieces—Tengu Portrait, From Dragon Prince To Human Slave, and Painting Dragon Feathers—two prose pieces—No Country for Old Mammoths and Cryptozoo II—and five poems—Conifer City, Death-An Interview,Tuscon Lightning, and Song of the Ahuizotl—featured inside.

If you find yourself on Hollins campus, copies will be available at the Literary Festival and throughout the week at Moody, so stop by and pick one up for free!

The End is in Sight!

As of March 14th, I have completed 21/24 etchings for my thesis project. Only three more to go and I’ll have all the chapter illustrations for vol. 1 of Dragon Prince!

After taking some advice I got a the SCBWI conference, I’ve broken The Dragon Prince into three portions, tentatively titled Dragon Prince (still the first volume), Dragon Slave, and Dragon Hero. Since the first volume ends at chapter 24, it actually shaved off two images I had thumbnailed before for this thesis project, which I will just put on back-burner or a while.