Yesterday I passed the last step of my program, the final defense/oral exam!

I now have my Masters degree in Music.

That is all.

*happy and free*

So, today when I logged in, I realized that one of my deviations (uploaded over three years ago), suddenly had a whole ton of new +favs. This confused me until one of the comments finally linked to another deviant who had claimed the work as their own and gotten a fair amount of positive attention for it.

I thank both Greykitty and Jocarra for defending me... The thief hasn't been banned yet, but it's pretty clear they're not welcome anymore. I really appreciate you guys, and everyone else who's looking out for me.

I usually don't have art theft issues, but even in the last week I've gotten several notices that people are plain stealing my stuff and claiming THEY drew it.

I'm pretty lenient with my art... you can use it as a desktop; you can print it out; you can take inspiration from style, concept, whathaveyou; you can put it in layouts (though a link back to my gallery is definitely appreciated!). But when you claim YOU drew it, we've got problems. There's really nothing glamorous about pretending you drew something you didn't... I know I'm just preaching to the choir here, but come on, don't pretend to be me.

This message is brought to you by hot chocolate and staying up past my bedtime. >_>

Hi, Internet!

How have you all been?

I just finished the first week in a long, long while in which I've been at school but gotten to RELAX. No concerts, no rehearsals, no homework, no practice sessions. I'm coming to the close of my Masters here, and the final step of performance was my Degree recital, which happened a little under two weeks ago.

It was SO FUN. I've been working for a few years on the music, and trained myself for countless hours just for endurance's sake. ^_^; I soloed on three instruments, and one of the pieces was even accompanied by a string orchestra. I played for a little over an hour... but the auditorium was beautiful, the weather was perfect, and several hundred people came to listen to me. It was very successful.

I even had two special friends fly from across the country to come hear me... one of them had to leave right after, but the other stayed and we went to Disneyworld to celebrate afterwards.

And now the second half of the post... the friend who left early (as if it weren't insane enough to fly down for an OBOE RECITAL), brought me a graduation present... a drawing tablet. O_O

... this was a very dangerous thing. It's highly addicting, and I'm almost afraid I already can't sketch with the mouse anymore. *LOL* I never thought I'd actually get one... I'm so touched!

Anyways... art block or no art block, I'll be back to drawing again because of it. I can't control it very well, so I'm sure my art will now be a hybrid teamwork of sorts between the tablet for concepts and the mouse for detailing. Fun fun!

I hope you all are well!

To those who celebrate...

May the holiday season bring you joy and happiness ... and family and friends , and food , and music , and everything you could wish for!

Love you all!!!



~Snow

Hiya everybody! It seems I do an obligatory journal entry whenever my birthday rolls around. *LOL* It's actually on Sunday! But I'm going to go down to Disneyworld for the weekend, so only now do I have time to write something out. Birthday weekend, how about that.

Cake for everybody! And enjoy the weekend.

********
Other than that, what have I been up to? My final year of school is officially underway, which is kind of surreal. I have lots of work ahead, but in May I'll get my Masters and be released at last to torture-- er, entertain, the world with my music. I'm going to put all I have into this last season of concerts, as well as a few competitions and my recital. Master of Music, I like the sound of that.

Artwise, I'm in the biggest block I've ever had... it's been around 9-10 months right now. I just haven't been able to draw anything and that makes me sad, so I apologize for the lack of shinies uploaded. I really can't say how long it'll be... could be a week, could be several more months, but I have some almost-finished art I owe people, and then more of what I draw. Any suggestions for ideas, any inspiration? :/ It's really frustrating.

However, my composing/arranging is just as strong as ever.

Thank you so much for your continuing comments and favorites... especially on Shiranui! As always, they mean so much to me... each comment is read and appreciated.

Off to Epcot...

********