200 Days

Updates! Updates! Read all about it! 

I'm nearly a month into my final term at Portland State University. I've been feeling a little anxious and stretched-thin as I'm working 4 positions, taking 5 classes (20 credits), preparing for conferences and setting up workshops. I enjoy being busy, but it would be nice to have some spare time to work on scholarship applications and preparations for moving home as well as moving to Scotland. 

The good new is that I've been accepted to present a paper at the Comics and Visual Culture Conference at California State University-Northridge. This will not only be my inaugural conference presentation, but also my first time in LA! It takes place February 27, so if you by chance are in the area it would be great to have some support! More information can be found here: http://www.csun.edu/humanities/comics

Also, the PSU Comics Club is up and running!  We've had two meetings so far and a lot of ideas. The wonderful thing is that we've formed a partnership with a university magazine, The Pacific Sentinel, and will have our own section!  It's only 1-2 pages to start, provides a great opportunity for lovers of comics, cartoonists and students in the comics studies program to get their work out there. Our next meeting is February 12th. It's a little bittersweet to be a part of the club knowing that this is my last term at PSU, but it's a great group of people that I am happy to know.

Since I've been looking for opportunities to gain some teaching experience, I figured why not hold a workshop of my own?  It seems right up my alley to just make things happen for myself, as in the past I argued and manipulated instructors to let me write about comics, and instead of waiting around for a workshop to present itself I'll do it myself! The focus of the workshop will be creating DIY 1/4 fold mini-comics that are 8 pages in length. I'll provide a step-by-step look at the process from making a dummy copy, thumbnails to how to scan and print it by utilizing resources on campus. My pal Andrew Paris has agreed to help out with the workshop by providing some insights into digital coloring through freeware, such as GIMP or PIXLR. Another cohort Chris Giles will lend his superb editorial skills to any writer in the group.

So far it's scheduled for March 7th, 5-8 in URBN 225 at Portland State University. I will be using this opportunity to also provide handouts and comics detailing resources for the frugal student, including websites such as ComicBookPaper.com, where to print for free and so forth. I'm very excited to put this together as I have a lot of information to share through my own trials and errors making comics and as a student at PSU.

I'm currently working on scholarship applications as well as my coursework, so I should get back to it! Until next time!

247 days

Crowdfunding is now live: 

GoFundMe Site

Here is an introductory comic to my crowdfunding endeavor. I've listed some early bird rewards while I figure out how to navigate the site and upload more reward tiers. Thanks for checking it out!

(click to enlarge)

256 Days

This video by John Duncan definitely inspires! I can't wait to go adventure in less than a year!

257 Days

I've realized looking over my Wishlistr that I've knocked a lot of my preparation list!

Rain boots
Waterproof Jacket
Bus Pass
Passport
ISIC Card 

What I still need:

Suitcase
Plane Ticket 1 (I'm checking every day!)
Noise cancelling headphones
Polaroid + film

In other news, I've submitted formal analysis papers to several conferences in hopes of bolstering my CV which will hopefully in turn result in some grant/scholarship money. I'm really trying to make it work!

258 Days

Fall term at Portland State is wrapping up nicely, and I'm feeling confidant and excited about my future endeavors. I've been working hard to build momentum to fund my Scotland adventure, and the holiday season has provided an ideal time to reflect on how far I've come and what I've accomplished thus far, which both seems like a lot and nothing at all simultaneously.

As far as classes, I think I owned this term!  I took 5 classes whereas most students only take 3. I guess you could call it double time instead of full-time. Courses include:

          -Comics Theory

          -English History 1066-1660

          -Field Studies: Gorge

          -Chaucer: Canterbury Tales

          -Excursions in Math (blech, math!)

Not only did I enroll in all of these classes, but I took on extra work AND another job! Come finals, I did two comic projects instead of one, helped out cohorts with their work, wrote 20 pages about the Stuart reign and still managed to sleep 8 hours a night. One instructor even stopped me before class last week to congratulate me for the great success I had in her class over the term. I am feeling fantastic, and it's all due to dedication and kick-ass time management.

Work wise, here's the update!  I'm still holding down the fort in the College of Urban and Pubic Affairs lab and library, while still temping in the Dean's office when they need assistance. I've also been enjoying working for the PSU Box Office, where through this position I get to enjoy a flexible schedule AND I get to attend the events I work (Plays, chamber music, opera, recitals...).  I've always complained how I never get to go to the symphony because it is expensive for a student, but now thanks to this job, I do get to go! My research assistant position with Dr. McClanan is also going well. This term I helped her due preliminary research for a Byzantine textiles project that centers around GRYPHONS (griffin, gryfin, so many spellings!). At one point I realized that I was living my childhood dream--being paid to read, write and research mythical beasts. I'm still working down at Sequential Art Gallery on Saturdays, and we've had some killer shows over the past few months, namely the work of Jonathan Case. Give him a Google, you'll love his cartooning style!  For side work, I've been hired for a seasonal position at Amazon, which I've only just finished the orientation for. It should be interesting! Last, but certainly not least, over the holiday break from school I'll be returning to Benton City, Wa to play waitress again with my mom. Nothing like a working vacation! (No, really, it's awesome to go on vacation, hang out with my mom, AND get paid!)

Even with working a variety of jobs, it's still hard for this old girl to save. I still have bills to pay, and things like a suitcase and plane tickets to buy. That's why I've been working on putting together a crowdfunding campaign to help get the nominal amount for my student visa. I've been creating a comic to explain my endeavors, organizing reward tiers and compiling a list of potential sponsors to contact. If all goes to plan, I should be able to launch the site within a month. More details to come!

To wrap it up, I can't believe that it's all coming together. I've gotten my passport, been watching plane ticket prices, signed up for my ISIC card and taking daily Google Earth tours. I've hit my $1000 mark on savings, which puts me ahead of my projected savings (5 jobs do help). Next will be to launch the crowdfunding campaign, work on FAFSA, apply for scholarships and continue to work, work, WORK!

310 Days

Now that I have a computer capable of digital art, here is some of what I've been working on!  There's a learning curve, but as I slowly add to my toolbox, it is becoming easier drawing by drawing. 

Great news!  I am getting my passport FO' FREE! Well, for the cost of passport photos ($7), but a huge step and money saved! Next month when I receive the official passport, I will be able to move forward with applications and be able to apply for scholarships specific to the University of Dundee. 

Next up, aside from finishing schoolwork, will be to continue my downsizing and money saving efforts. I've just realized that it's around 9 months until I go to Scotland, but only 5 months until I move home!  Time is flying by!  I have made the decision to move home in March, after school (for me) is through for several reasons. One, I'll be able to save on rent, utilities, and so on. That's just a smart move, and I love my family, so it won't be painful. This way, I'll be able to save $440 per month that I wouldn't be able to do while living in Portland. Second, pay rates are higher in Washington, and paychecks aren't taxed as heavily due to sales tax versus income tax. Again, this seems like a no brainer--move home and make 1/3 more, or stay in Portland and pay rent and lose 1/3 of my check? Home it is! 

With the decision to move home for a few months prior to my departure, it really means that I need to solidify certain arrangements NOW. I will need all of my documents in order, flight arrangements, and school paperwork established so when I do move, I won't have to worry about making trips to Portland to tie up loose ends. 

I'm very excited to start my adventure after hearing about the new Comics Creative Space in Dundee, as well as the program itself getting great reviews. Hopefully I can make contact with some of the organizations in Dundee to see about potential funding opportunities, volunteer work once I'm there, and so on. I can't wait to become a part of the Dundee comics community, to learn and share, and promote more individuals to not only study abroad, but to broaden their horizons when it comes to the comics medium. 

Up next:

-Continue to work as much as possible

-Excel in courses

-Pack

-Crowdfunding campaign leg work

340 Days

Updates!
-New laptop (thanks, mom!)
-Etsy is live!
-Obtained a third job to increase saving capabilities
-Completed EdX course on Comics History

Welp, I'm within the year mark and I still have a lot of work ahead of me--BUT--I've secured a third job to accompany my various endeavors so I can save enough for my student visa. It turns out that applying for the Marshall and the Fulbright were not in the cards for me this year, but I'm sure I have the ability to hustle to make do. I have been continuously down-sizing my belongings and researching various funding options so I can be as prepared as possible. As of right now, my main goal is to work and save as much as possible (along with completing my fall term courses). I have reached an accord with some family members who are willing to pitch in on some expenses, so the ball is rolling! Now to save and sell off the remainder of my belongings so I can commence my Scotland sojourn next fall.


To round things out, here's what I look like on paper:

Academics:
Double major in Arts and Letters AND Art History
Minor in Medieval Studies and English
Post-Bacc Certificate in Comics Studies
Graduate summa cum laude (In progress) 3.95 GPA

Awards:
Simon Benson Art History Scholarship
Schwenn Family Scholarship
Blick Merit Scholarship
President's List (continuous)
Honorable Mention, Northview Gallery 2013
Artist of the Year, 2006

Publications:
GirlPower! Vol. 86: On Fleek. PSU. August 2015.
Fees, fees and more fees. The Vanguard. April 2015.
Lessons Learned. July 2015. Self-Published.
Munchies: Coloring Book. July 2015. Self-Published.
Sissy Pants 1-3. July 2014. Self-Published.

Experience:
August 2015-Present: Research Assistant to Dr. McClanan, Medieval Art History, PSU
July 2014-Present Intern Sequential Art Gallery
May 2015-Present Volunteer Reading Frenzy
December 2014-Present Library Attendant College of Urban and Pubilc Affairs, PSU

Volunteer:
Reading Frenzy
Portland Audiences for Cultural Exploration
Portland Art Museum
BodyVox
Rose City Comic Con
Stumptown Comics Fest
Disjecta

Select Exhibitions:
Munchies Solo Exhibition, July 2015
Pieces and Parts Group Exhibition, July 2015
Ladies Solo Exhibition, January 2015
Bill Murray  Group Exhibition, December 2014
Vinyl Art Show Group Exhibition, December 2014
Woodcuts v.2 Solo Exhibition, May 2014
Fan Girl Solo Exhibition, May 2014
Woodcuts Solo Exhibition, April 2014

AND THERE'S MORE! But, that's a little flavor of who I am and what I am doing in attempts to get to graduate school in Scotland!