Coffee Ramble 4 - Spitting Distance.

I've had a bit of a rough time in the last month.  I won't go into details as it's just not what I want to post in what is supposed to be a creative blog (of sorts).  I'm getting better, but some days are definitely worse than others.

One of the more healthy things I'm doing to cope is drawing more of those odd little 'This Pony' series that I did a long while back featuring Cinders doing mundane things, or giving words of encouragement.  It forces me to break from some bad habits and reset onto drawing something kind, and encouraging.

Expect a lot of these odd little sketches interspersed with some of the regular art posts.  It's a needed dose of bright in some dark days.

It reminds me, however, that the autumn is within spitting distance.  At least it is for this region.  We tend to see the trees begin turning in August.  Nothing drastic, just the odd yellow leaf here amidst the green, soon spreading to the rest of the trees.

This will be, if life remains stable, the first autumn I've had in many years that won't be soaked in stress.  My father's health always seemed to take a huge dive, requiring emergency transport to the hospital in the autumn, especially over the last two years (or three?  It's hard to remember.  The blur is as deep as the lens of an 80's soap opera).

Each October, he would be in hospital for an extended period.  Each fall I would just gnaw away at anxiety and hope he recovered.  This might be the first time I've looked forward to the season in a while.  And I honestly can't wait to draw autumn related things again as the time draws near.

I'd like to enact little rituals for myself.  Maybe I'll make a pie that month, or just stock up on really 'autumn' related coffees.  This may be my final fall in this house, and area of the city, and while I do look forward to a move, there are some areas nearby that are stunning at that time of year and will truly be missed.

I plan on visiting nice coffee-houses though.  I plan on actually affording myself time to relax.  I'm even going to let myself read a book or two.  I haven't read anything in years that wasn't a rulebook or a blog.  The thought of literally just sitting outside somewhere, with a coffee, while the leaves are falling and reading a book is damn near paradise to me.

I admit, I'm romanticizing things quite a lot.  But it's a bright little light I'm going to cling to.  And if attaching Hallmarkian filigree to it helps make it brighter, than I will do just that.

I will, of course, continue working on the commissions and sketch lists, but I have a feeling this might also spur me on to get more of the comic done.  I had to take a couple weeks break due to it's subject being kind of a heavy thing to write/draw.  Cinders' early days aren't happy.  They aren't brutal by any means (No worries, nothing truly appalling will happen in the comic itself) but it's hard to see her sad, and struggling, and my own psyche wasn't doing too hot either.  But as I start feeling better, I'm looking forward to sketching more of those pages out.  

More of a story told that I've been scared to tell for a long time.

I hope people are well.  It's been a weird year, and I know a lot of folks are struggling.  I appreciate those who helped out in the past and those who stick around to stare at my odd little stick figures poking each other with swords :)

Have a good weekend, folks.  More artwork soon.

-T.J.