a belated happy new year to those who still have me in their watch list.
2014 has been quite the interesting year, and I'm hoping that with everything that'd happen last year, perhaps this year will bring great things, though unfortunately we're not off to a grand start.

For those of you interested in hearing what's been going on, take a moment to read this little update article to fill you all in. For those who don't care or don't wanna read, Happy new year to you, and thank you.

Update:
The move to Jacksonville way back in June of 2014 had a rough start, and it would seem that I've unfortunately lost a few friends as a result, though I honestly wished things were different and it hadn't ended up how it did. None the less I wish them the best in life and still hold the hopes of possibly reuniting in the future as friends. Till then though I'm currently living with a new lot of friends and things are turning out fairly well. Since then I've been focusing a lot of my efforts on rebuilding a foundation for myself, paying off some accumulated dept and saving up money where I can. So far everything's going smoothly and should be dept free come February 2015. With that burden lifted off my mind I can now breath a little easier.

As a result of this however I hadn't had much time to submit art in my other galleries, or even draw much for that matter, but with the coming of the new year and the changing into a more productive mind set now that I've properly settled down into Jacksonville, I've picked up the pen and pencil and started doodling again and coming up with some more ideas that I hope to get a few friends involved in.

As for the fact that 2015 hadn't started off with a "grand start", well unfortunately that's because my grandmother on my mother's side recently passed away in her home in Hialeah, Florida this past Saturday, January 10, 2015. I was unable to see her before her final moments due to a spell of Hay Fever that turned into a Bronchial Infection a couple days before I was set to fly down to see her. Part of me is sad that I didn't get to see her before she passed, but at the same time I'm almost glad I hadn't because she was so bed ridden and miserable, and I couldn't stand to see her like that...She was a great person and she took care of a lot of the family in her time. She was always a happy person and whenever people would visit her she'd always smile and enjoy the company of family. Ever since the death of her husband, my Grandfather, she had just slowly slipped into a constant state of depression. Unfortunately as we get older we don't have as much time to spend with our loved ones. Unfortunately I hadn't had a lot of chances to visit her. When I did though she would be over joyed just to have some one visit. To know from my mother over the phone that she was going through so much pain with her arthritis and getting sicker by the day while I was living in Jacksonville saddened me. So I find comfort knowing that she's no longer in pain...I don't know if it's because I'm still in shock or just letting it sink in or what, but news of her passing, though sad, didn't really hit me as hard as I thought it would...I guess we all knew she was slowly getting to that point. Her funeral will be tomorrow/today, Monday January 12, 2015, and she will be buried Tuesday...I dunno what else to say really. I loved her and she loved everyone. She was a great person in my life and will be missed...

2015 seems like it's going to be an interesting new start in my life. I fear yet look toward the future with hope and ambition. I also wanted to thank everyone on FA for their support as always as I can't thank you guys enough. Even though I didn't always fall through with a lot of what I promised most of you still stuck around and wholeheartedly gave your support. I can't really ask for more than that. You all have truly affected me and my art in some way, for better of for worse, I'm still forever thankful to those who followed me. I made a lot of friends and lost a few along the way, was asked to aid in helping others with their art styles, and was even complimented on my art by those far better than me. All of these experiences I am grateful for, and I can't thank you guys enough. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas (or happy holidays for those of you who don't celebrate Christmas) and I hope you all had a Happy and Safe New Year's Eve/Day.

Much love to all of you!
-J.s