Training Daze

The place I work made even more changes. Where, at first, they eliminated my chosen shift and reintegrated me into another, now they eliminated my entire department. But, once again, they did not just sweep me into the street and brush their hands clean of me.

They have actually been paying me to learn a different aspect of my same job. Where once I assisted Verizon Wireless customers who had prepaid phones, now I assist Verizon Wireless customers on a contract account. The last 4 weeks they have been training me for the job. And paying me for it.

I learned the differences early in the training period and soon became... antsy. Distracted if you will. Then, from the depths of my black, leather bag I heard a whisper. I unzipped it ever so cautiously. I know that whatever I had stored in there was hidden away for a reason. Peering inside I was overcome with desire. My hand reached inside, brushed upon a cold, slightly rough, surface, and grasped it. As I pulled that object from my bag, I also pulled the memories from my mind. Both being released from the dark recesses that I had placed them.

I lay my sketchbook upon my desk and subconsciously reach for my drawing pencil and turbo eraser. Instinctively, the book opened to my last project, the pencil found its place in my hand while enough lead had been clicked into place, and the eraser found its place close by and at the ready.

I looked upon my last desperate attempt at motivation. I noted the rushed and chaotic scribblings. I instantly recognised my individual drawing mannerisms of style. Then, I slid the bookmark from where it was hiding in the spine, turned the page and replaced it deep in the new crevice.

Ok, so I got bored at 'work' and needed something to occupy my mind and hands without disturbing the class. Pulled out my sketchbook and sketched some stuff. The first picture here was derived from a question I was asked by someone I would like to call a friend. He asked me, "What do these spirits look like?"

I thought to myself: Well, ghost-like... spirity and clear and stuff. Then I thought how difficult that would be to draw and then again to ink/color. Then I thought about glowing orb things. Not only is it almost as difficult to create glowing effect with graphite but it is also an overused spirit representation.

It may not be clearly defined in this picture, but my spirits will look like human-shaped silhouettes eclipsing a bright light. So, imagine a solar eclipse but instead of a round circle in the middle, imagine a human shape.

This next picture was spawned by one of my supporters (dare I say, 'fan'?) and friend. Of all the characters in my story, she became fascinated with Ursal, the Werebear. She even went so far as to say that she wanted a tattoo of him! It has been many months since she made that comment, but her feelings remain the same. I owed her some sort of updated image and design.

I did not actually make this image for the purposes of being inked into a person, but she loved it so much. I have scanned many copies of this picture and have promised the original to her.

So, that's a bit of what I have been up to. The Venge story remains a constant in my mind and every day I come closer to meshing all the parts of it into a cohesive work.