The day that flipped everything

It's been 2 days. I am passed the initial shock and now just coping with the fact that I don't have a job anymore. It was no fault of mine. It is just how it sometimes goes in the world of startup studios. I will dearly miss my friends, who are also in the same position as me.

My morning routine is a little screwed up because of that lack of obligation, but my new routine is slow reforming. Had to call all of my loan lenders, file for unemployment, create a list of things to do, and collect job listings. I will soon be jumping into a routine of full-time game development on the project I've been working on (the Puppy Pirates), but for now.... I will be doing some important chores around the house and applying for jobs. I may even squeeze in a nice daily walk! (I say as it starts to rain here)

But my hopes are still high! Sorry if I sound otherwise, but I was just never the kind of person to enjoy idle moments. I have an extra 8 hours a day to do what I had been trying to squeeze in a 4 hour time frame after work. I aim to take advantage of that!

Last week before I realized this would happen, I bought a Cintiq. Not remorseful about my purchase, yet, but what impeccable timing on all this. hahah! I'm telling myself it's an investment. I'm not incredibly comfortable with it yet, but I plan to do more testing on it later. If I still don't like it, hopefully Amazon would allow me to return it.

Changing topics here: I was working on a Patreon page before all this, and now it's become more useful than ever before! I just launched the page, so if you are interested in following my adventures into Game Development, with some additional benefits, feel free to head over there and consider supporting me as a patron!

https://www.patreon.com/estherlove

Before I head out, I also wanted to update you all on another project I've been working on. I am collaborating with members from the Handpainters Guild, to create a diorama of a Torii gate.

Here is where the project is at currently:

And here is a close up of my part in the project:

I should sleep now, despite not really NEEDING to wake up early, but I do have my own schedule to keep! :P Goodnight!

Graduation! And Post Graduation

All is good. Graduation day came and went. I sat for 3-4 amazing (and yet boring) hours, as I absorbed the ceremonious lectures of honors and encouragement. Got my faux diploma in hand and memories that will last me a lifetime. My parents and grandmother was there to celebrate this occasion with me, which made me the happiest little miss Love in the world. I am blessed to have those that I cared about with me and to see them be just as happy as me.

Graduation may be in the past now, but I got a good future ahead of me. I was one of a good number of students in my department of Game Art from Ringling College to get a job right out of college. I thank all the people who supported and believed in me. And I thank God for giving me this opportunity. I don't take this for granted, and I am still amazed I was chosen as a fresh graduate to be a fulltime employee at Lucid Global, a 3d visualization studio that has worked with alot of medical clients and uses mobile platforms (iPad) to display it's work. Here is a link to a latest article about the studio: link.

My position doesn't start until July 1st, so I am spending some well deserved time with my parents, and some time on personal activities: aka. League of Legends, Learning Python, Modeling something OTHER THAN MY THESIS.

As much as I am happy that I have a job now, I still have alot to learn. I want to get better as a game artist. I want to learn animation and some programing. I've already started learning Python at the internet's very own "Code Academy". A great place to get started learning all kings of languages of coding. I am starting to self teach myself some animation, but I am ultimately still focused on improving my 3d creation skills. I may one day jump from the bleachers and join the people at Animation Mentor, iAnimate, or Anim School, but we will see in time. I don't have the funds at the moment, and I don't want to put myself in financial peril if I can help it.

That is all my update for now.

Job starts July 1st! And I'll be moving into a new apartment. Wish me well! And I look forward to keeping in contact with all my friends that went their separate ways. You guys are great and I know you will all get jobs too. Keep networking!!