Alright, so today I wanted to get a little bit creative, and take a break from drawing so I went back to manipulating photos in Photoshop. In the video below I have a quick breakdown of how I created this ebook cover design along with a few tips.

While creating this video my computer shut off, and I had to do it all over again so excuse some of the sloppiness. I was so irritated, but the results were close enough to the original so I uploaded it anyways.

Meanwhile here are a few more book cover design tips:

• Make your cover a bit more unique when using stock images by combining 3 or more images.That way when you go to amazon you won't be competing with another book that has the exact same book cover (if you only use one generic stock image this is bound to happen. You can google the horror stories of using only one stock image, but if you don't care you can ignore this advice).  
• While designing your book cover periodically save it, and view it as a small thumbnail. Then ask yourself..."Would I click on this book while browsing amazon or ibooks? Does anything stand out? Does it entice me to click on it, and see more?" If it doesn't catch your attention as a small thumbnail it will most likely not catch anyone else's attention. 
• Get feedback, and honesty from your friends or family. Do not let them know you designed it (if you do they'll spare your feelings since they care about you, and your emotions. You want their honesty not their praise). Just ask what they think about the book cover. Would they be willing to buy solely based on the cover itself? Why or why not? 
• Use that feedback to improve when designing book covers. 

A few hours ago I created an illustration for my bullet journal’s July theme.

Quick Preview of What's to come!

So here's what has been going on lately with the slow posting:

• I dropped my Huion pen, and it stopped working. I looked for a new Huion Pen at amazon, but it was the same price as the entire Huion tablet so,
• I bought a new tablet a few days ago. I am now a happy customer of "XP-PEN", and I am enjoying that so much more (no hate Huion). 
• I am working on a brand new video tutorial all about "Anti-Stress," journaling, and coloring (preview above) so stay tuned
• If you're wondering about the fate of "Lolitups" don't. I am posting the latest chapter up very soon, but the biggest time consumer of making this webcomic is color. It's either color (more dynamic, and longer posting times) or black and white unedited sketches (faster posting, but more plain, and messy). I am also making this a lengthy chapter!
• I have a new job now so...I'll be polishing my schedule to post a bit more often (1-2 times per week), and sleeping more so I won't give out half-hearted posts.

That's basically it...for now. 

This a traditional illustration I created with one green sharpie maker yesterday.

I titled this "Those of us still hanging on by a thread." 

Every  single abstract item in this piece are being held on to by a string or thread whereas everything not being held on to (the fallen like dots) are those of us who have already given up, and lost the will to keep on fighting. We let go of that thread.

This is the same exact illustration, but filtered to a different color since I like blue tones :)

Meet Reya! She is one of my OC's from the "Elvin Girls" fantasy project I am working on. I've included a speed painting below:

Today, I took on the challenge of digitally painting for the first time using Paintstorm Studio. This was a full on no sketching, and just blending brushes type of digital painting that I don't usually do. I always start off with a sketch, and then use some line art though while using Paintstorm studio instead of Photoshop I thought, "Why not try something different."

In this illustration is an alien girl radiating blasts of energy from her body.

It's official!

So today, I'm starting off the week with a sketched digital illustration to be since I got my new drawing tablet *happy dance.*

I got the Huion 420 (not the H). It is one of the most basic drawing tablets (it's actually meant for a game called Osu...never knew it existed until yesterday), but it's good...I guess.

I mean at least it's not possessed like the last tablet that was gifted to me. Given my lack of experience with drawing tablets I don't have much to compare the Huion 420 to besides my mouse.

It get's the job done faster than my mouse so I can't complain.