happy new year!!

can you believe that it's 2015 already? wowsers. I'm not one for new years resolutions, too easy to forget, break, realize they were completely unrealistic... all by February. But I guess everyone has a few things they hope to work on and improve at. Last year I said I wanted to use traditional media, and I kinda started using it again (thanks inktober!), just not in any real jobs, but that's a start, right? For Christmas, my husband surprised me with a cintiq! Quite the surprise and needless to say a big leap for someone who has only ever used a laptop and mouse. Soooooooo, I definitely have to resolve to learn how to use it. It's kinda intimidating at the moment, so if anyone has any tips or advice on getting started with it, particularly in illustrator, I'd love to hear from you! Seems like the opposite of last years traditional media goal, but I'm really hoping it will speed up my pace. The pen tool may be precise, but it's a real mind number.

Anyway, here's to a happy and healthy 2015 to all...make it a good one! cheers!

keep it freaky

Before the night is over, here's one last halloween wish. Personally, I've seen enough sugar skulls and day the the dead stuff, to last me a lifetime. But have no fear, once that clock ticks past midnight tonight, you will wake to jingle bells on the radio. 

Hope you saved enough of the good bars for yourself ;)

enough rain already.

The rain just won't give up here in New England the last few days, making it seem like the middle of November, rather than the nice crisp fall days of October. I've always hated the heavy gray skies of next month! On the other hand, I'm starting to burn out on this whole inktober thing, so maybe November isn't such a bad idea ;)

inktober!

Yep, I've jumped on the inktober bandwagon. Ink has never been my thing, but I'm kinda enjoying it for a change from the pencil to vector routine, a.k.a., rinse dry and repeat! So far I've been using a pentel pocket brush, tomboy brush marker and a rapidograph (#2…look it up kids ;). Not sure if I will get sick of it, but I'm sticking to a halloween/fall theme for as long as I can stand it. How about you? Are you doing it? Please leave a comment so I can follow your progress (if I don't follow you already!). I'm pretty much only going to post on instagram @zippyboro… there's also a link on the right column here. Happy inking!!