Post-TCAF

[secondlina]

 


It's no big secret that the past year has pretty much been punctuated with some pretty awful depression and anxiety, mostly because of myself. I'm a bit silly that way. Hanging at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival helped me gain a bit of perspective. I feel motivated again. I met a ton of other artists and managed to talk for a good bit with a few of my idols (like Erika Moen, Dylan Meconis and Ross Campbell). I also met in person my friends Adriana and Wei.

I think it did me some good to spend some time in a place where comics were the most important thing in the world (aka, the contrary of my usual location). Hanging out with other artist made me see that I wasn't the only one struggling. I wasn't the only one with a bunch of insecurity and fatigue due to juggling a day job on top of an artist job. It made me realize that, though i'm not the best artist or scenarist out there (i'm looking at you, Emily, you're the best lol), I definitely have a good potential. I'm going to have to work hard. And life is going to be hard. But, i'm not the type that gives up. I'm the proactive type. This weekend, in some way, as restored a bit of my faith in myself and made me realize a couple of things that I need to do... Time to make a massive to do list and think of some life goals. *laughs*

I know these are totally things people have been telling me over and over, but I guess there's a difference between having a friend tell you (and you having a little voice in your head saying they might be lying to be reassuring) and being immersed in an environment where everything around you confirms facts as an absolute truth. Go figure. As usual, it takes me forever to realize something, and I only realize it when something smacks me in the face.

.......I still haven't unpacked.

Seriously.  Luggage is the bane of my existence.

- Isa

Comments

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

Just remember ... your Internet wife is always right.

*flees before you throw something at me*

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Okie dokie :P

[spankingfemme.livejournal.com]

LOL! I hate unpacking to ;)

I'm glad to hear you are feeling motivated and ready to make goals to further your career in art! =D It's amazing how much other artists can motivate you creatively :)

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Fer reeeaaal. I think I just needed to chat in person with some artsy folk.

[spankingfemme.livejournal.com]

It sure does help! ;)

[brendala.livejournal.com]

I still have stuff packed from cons I went to over a year ago! I really need to stop grabbing every freebie that gets offered to me at those things. -_-


I'm glad to hear that the con lifted your spirits. Sometimes you just need a break from all the stress that comes with living in the "real" world.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The real world isn't as nice as it could be like that :P

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The real world isn't as nice as it could be like that :P

[amelia-seyroon.livejournal.com]

Depression and anxiety? DDD:

I totally feel you on the luggage thing. =,=

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Urgh. Luggage. Why do you suck?

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

Perspective is the ultimate confidence booster. Now this time pay attention when people tell you you are talented!

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Yes, Ma'am :D

[pinkwa.livejournal.com]

It is a really good thing that you re-found inspiration again.

Everytime i go to a convention, i reckon that the art and stuff become more concrete and real, it makes me remember why i want to draw and share my art with people ...

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Yeah, conventions are less and less "greasy geeky holes" and more and more "art events". I love this. I think it's because the organizators are becoming bolder, and the attendees more diverse.

[yukinoomoni.livejournal.com]

Sorry I couldn't make it ;.;. I was stuck at home with my sick puppy, and by the time I was free, it was too late to go!

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

No worries :D

Would have been fun, but sick puppies are more important.

[saltintheoven.livejournal.com]

Aw, I'm glad you've had some energy injected back into the sagging confidence. It's so much easier to get out of your groove than to get back into it again, so that's a really nice place to be. <3

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

No kidding. Not to mention my groove is the must fickle thing ever. It wants to be treated like the Queen of England.

[asatira.livejournal.com]

That is so me all over. So glad you had a chance to be with others who share similar interests, and being immersed in something you enjoy. It's nice to get that break and reminder of the big stuff.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

I think I might frame this comic, in case I forget.

[neocloud9.livejournal.com]

Aww. Cute! Glad it left you feeling peppy again. :)

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Thanks (by jove, that's a lovely icon!)

[engelen.livejournal.com]

there's a difference between having a friend tell you (and you having a little voice in your head saying they might be lying to be reassuring) and being immersed in an environment where everything around you confirms facts as an absolute truth.

THIS

regarding EVERYTHING, both the possitive and the negative.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

In the end, I think we all worry about the same things. I guess that's why most artists are really supportive of each other rather then mean towards each other (except for a couple of artists, but those guys are just jerks)

[engelen.livejournal.com]

and nobody likes them anyway, because they're fat and ugly.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Who is this guy? I keep seeing his comics pop up a lot around the internet.

[engelen.livejournal.com]

http://webcomicoverlook.com/2011/03/24/one-punch-reviews-44-so-youre-a-cartoonist/
there :P

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

You know, it's bad form to complain about fans, even annoying, opinionated ones. I don't know this cartoonist personally, so I don't know if he's trolling the internet, or if he's doing this seriously, but either way, it seems cruel to me. Everyone as weird encounters with opinionated, homophobic jerks once in a while. If you didn't want to interact with people you didn't like, don't make comics. Chance are, 50% of the people who read what you make are going to be people you can't really like. It's how it goes.

[engelen.livejournal.com]

I think he seriously thinks he's funny

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

If that would be true, I kinda feel sorry for him. That he feels the need to keep and transmit so much aggressive energy.

[sockefeller.livejournal.com]

It was so good to meet you! Thank you for the sketch! :D I'm really looking forward to reading your book too -- it's in the pile that's awaiting me when I get back from my current trip to England. Just the cover alone looks gorgeous though, with such lovely quality.

Also, by far, most of the comics folks I've spoken to deal with anxiety, low self-esteem, various social problems, and CONSTANT second guessing (and hey, half of them even incorporate it into their work). Even though those things are really rough to deal with, you are definitely never going to be alone in them among cartoonist circles. :) I look forward to more awesome work from you, lady!

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

It's been a really great pleasure meeting you (I was really looking forward to it!) I hope England will inspire you. Be sure to do one of those "ghost walk" tours if you can. Those are so... instructive :D

Yeah, I gotta say, some of my favorite "autobiography" comics are about artist dealing with anxiety. Go figure. We are a big, worried bunch of friends together!

I look forward to plenty of amazing art from you too. Seriously. You have no idea how much I believe in you *laughs* You're always welcome to more sketches, please don't feel shy to ask. I'd love to be able to do some work together one day, if you would be interested... and if you like my stories, that is!

[cartoonchic.livejournal.com]

First of all, I love your comic, it made me laugh. I can really relate to it. I've also been going through anxiety and depression for way too long. Life is confusing, but you can do it!! I'm glad you're feeling motivated again and that you aren't willing to give up, but rather, accept a challenge. That's an amazing quality to have.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

I'm not much of a "giving up" type, which is something I like about myself (for once *laughs*). I did give up on a couple of things (I'm not proud), but I think art will be maintained well. My dad taught me, when I was a kid, that complaining and whining was okay, as long as you are working as you do it. Yeah, the situation blows. Yes, whine about it so you don't explode. But instead of dedicating an hour to whining, and then work, whine WHILE you work. You'd be surprised how fast the frustration leaves and the work gets done.

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

YAY!! Glad you had fun!!

And I hate unpacking too...

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Unpacking is nasty.

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

We should be able to just clap our hands and have all the unpacking be done just like that.

Theoretically, that should also work for laundry.

[piratecore.livejournal.com]

Honestly my biggest regret from the weekend is that I didn't get to hang out with you more! You are so wonderful and friendly AND SO TALENTED! I have been showing you book off to everybody, thank you so much for it <3

I really hope that you get a table at fanexpo so you can come up and stay with me! It'd be loads of fun!!!

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Hahhaa, it's part of the elements motivating me to go to fanexpo. I have people I can bunk with! Not only would I save on the hotel, but I get to hang out with you and other wonderful people. Talk about win/win. :D

You're pretty incredible yourself, missy :D I love your multi-colored dandy dude :D

[seiaa.livejournal.com]

The top panel of your comic has been me all week. I think there's something going around, man. XD

there's a difference between having a friend tell you (and you having a little voice in your head saying they might be lying to be reassuring) and being immersed in an environment where everything around you confirms facts as an absolute truth. THIIIIISS. I do that. A lot.

I'm going to visit a friend at the end of the month and we're going to an anime con. Which while it's not the same thing as going to an art specific con, they always manage to cheer me right back up and make me want to do things again. Also this friend is amazing with markers and everything and just jflksahdfoijeflkasdhfsfjieojasdf so that has a tendency to inspire me too.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE CHEERED ONCE MORE. <3

*SUPER HUGS*

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

We artists are just the depressed types, it seems!

*hugs back*

[seiaa.livejournal.com]

It doooess seeem that way. Mostly for me it's the panic panic worry spaz. @_@ I have a tendency to over think and then imagine the worst case scenario and make myself think that's the way things are. I've never needed depression meds but I think that's because I spend too much time panicing to ever get depressed. Lately I've felt so strung out. Like a chihuahua or something XD

BUT things are looking up so *high fives* We must go through our lows to appreciate the highs to the fullest I think. XD