I think, personally, I'm pretty good at character and creature design, but I need to work more on landscapes and prop designs and buildings if I want to be a fully fledged concept artist. It's a bit intimidating though I won't lie. The best thing I can do is just jump right into it and start sketching and making mistakes and accept the fact it won't be perfect for a long time.
I'm a serial perfectionist, and it takes me a while to finish projects because I am hyper critical in analysing my work for flaws and trying to get it to look correct. This often ends up in me getting frustrated and burning out, which I'm trying to avoid now. My worst burnout was this year and didn't end not too long ago, and I'm still trying to recover from it and allow myself to just make art and enjoy it again.
I love doing research on topics like psychology and burnout and stuff, so like I know how to avoid it and also how to help with it, but when dealing with the emotions in the moment it's very difficult to not be incredibly hard on myself and feel lazy or worthless as an artist. I'm doing better now and am regaining my confidence, but man, take it from me and just be easy on yourselves when creating.
This is a long post so I didn't want it to clutter peoples dash Ā
What I learned in this chapter of the book is very interesting and left me with a couple of questions but not until the very end. So far what I have leaned for a factĀ
- Bilbo has in fact not aged a day since his adventure in the HobbitĀ (Its says I quoteĀ āTime wore on but it seemed to have little effect on Mr. Baggins... They began to call him well-preservedā) Ā
- The coming of age for Hobbits is 33 (which makes me question how long they live for it also says the old Took lived to be 130)
- Bilbo Adopted Frodo as the heir to his estate at the age of 99 just to piss off the Sackville-Bagginess but also because he was his favorite (heads up Bilbo is very petty in this chapter)Ā
-Frodo lived with Bilbo for 12 years until the partyĀ
-Bilbo and Frodo share the same birthday (September 22)
-Bilbo has a gardener named Ham Gamgee and his youngest son who also takes care of the garden is named Sam Gamgee (know who Sam is I know heās important but I didn't know he had siblings)
- Sam and his family lived on the hill right below Bilbo and FrodoĀ
- The hobbit that lives next to Sam is called Daddy two foot (Do what you will with that information)
-Frodoās Parents names are Drogo Baggins and Primula BrandybuckĀ
-Frodoās Parents drowned when he was young but I doesn't give his age when they diedĀ
-Sam apparently is in and out of bag end all of the time and knows a lot more about the home more then othersĀ
-Sam likes Bilboās stories and listens to him any time he canĀ
-Bilbo taught Sam how to read some letters in different languages? I think? ( I quoteĀ ā And he listens to all Mr. Bilboās tales. Mr. Bilbo has learned him his lettersā That is all that is said and the person who is saying it is Sam's fatherĀ
-Dwarves from far away show up to Bilbo's party but are not named (I have a head cannon that the dwarves that show up to the party are related to or are past dwarves from Thorin's Company)
-Its a tradition for hobbits to give gests presents on there own birthday (I thought that was very interesting)
-Bilbo gave the children and the other gests who had come to the party dwarfish presents but mostly Dwarfish Toys for the kids and they came form the mountain of Dale (This makes my heart hurt but in good way)
-The list of Hobbit last names that are related to Bilbo distantly and closely are as listed Bagginses, Boffins, Tooks, Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Burrowses, Bolgers, Bracegiridles, Brockhouses, Goodbodies, Hornblowers, and Proudfoots These Hobbits where all invited to the party Including the Sackville-Baggins
-144 gests where expected at the party because Bilbo was going to be 111 and Frodo was going to be 33 and its too compacted for me to explain but its the only reason way the Sackville-Baggins where invited just to make it to that number (Bilbo being petty again)Ā
-During Bilboās speech he asks if everyone is enjoying themselves some one says no in a sea of yesās (I think it was lobelia Sackville-baggins)
-Most of the party supplies came from Dale (Random fact brake)
-Everyone thought him leaving was a prank but Frodo and Gandlaf knew he was truly leavingĀ
-When Bilbo finally leaves his old home he whistles and three dwarves pop out of no where from his home and are like ready to goĀ
- Before Bilbo leaves he tells Gandalf I quoteĀ āI want to see mountains again, Gandalf- Mountains; and then find somewhere where I can rest.ā (This made me a little sad to think of which mountain he might want to go see one last time)
-After Bilbo left the next day Frodo was left the estate and had a hand full of more gifts to give out form Bilbo to other hobbits (This is absolutely the best part of chapter one and so petty of Bilbo to do )Ā
-It says Quote (this is going to be a long one) ā Inside the hall there was piled a large assortment of packages and parcels and small articles of furniture. on every item there was a label tied. There where several labels of this sort. For Adelard Took, for his Very Own, From Bilbo; on an umbrella. Adelard had carried off many unlabeled ones. ā¦ For Milo Burrows Hoping it will be useful one a gold ink pen and an ink bottle. Milo never answered letters. For hugo Bracegirdile, From a contributor: on an empty book case. Hugo was a grate borrower of books, and worse than usual at returning them. (and last but not least) For Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, As a Present; on a case of sliver spoons. ( I absolutely loved this part of the book and it made me so happy)
-Frodo had to usher people out of bag end because people where trying to steal stuff Merry Brandybuckwas basically the bouncer and helped out
-At the end of the chapter Gandlaf has to leave and tells Frodo about keeping the ring hidden and also never to put it onĀ
That's about the end of the first chapter I really loved it and I'm excited to keep reading the story. There are some parts I left out here and there but mostly not to make this word of word of the book (other then that one paragraph but it was too good to pass up) Iāll try and put up the second chapter soon but my spring break is almost overĀ and this post took me about 3 hours to type mostly because I'm a slow typer. Anyway if anyone would like to talk about the book anything that perks your interest about what I found or said im always aviable to talk. Ā
There were few moments that Klaus would think that his girlfriend was overly childish, but when it came to fall activities like decorating for Halloween, apple picking, baking, canning, and going to carnivals he just kind of nodded along. Growing up in south London before moving to New York City meant that he didnāt really ever get the USAās obsession with Fall activities.
When he and Caroline had started dating three years ago, he hadnāt really understood the need she had to go out of the city up to Putnam valley to some of the apple orchards. But, heād gone one all the trips with her. Helping her pick apples, collect pumpkins and take hay rides in the cold, often raining weather.
So when he woke up on the 27th of October, and realized that Caroline hadnāt made a peep about their annual trip out of the city to the apple orchard he frowned. Rolling over his frown deepened, the other side of their bed was empty. Sitting up he looked around, on his bedside table his phone was blinking at him.
{Caroline 7:30am} You were complaining about being so stressed at work, I thought you could do with a sleep in. Iāll be home with apples and pumpkins galore.
{Klaus 9:30am} You went to the Orchard without me?
{Caroline 9:35am} Good morning sleepy head. Iām actually just down the street at Enzoās bakery. Do you want to join us?
{Klaus 9:40am} Iām on my way. Us?
{Caroline 9:43am} Bonnie mentioned wanting to join us, and then it was just me and her.
{Klaus 9:44am} Turn around luv, Iām behind you.
āJesus Christ Klaus,ā Caroline squeaked, as she went to turn around only to feel his arms wrap around her.
āYou werenāt really going to leave me behind?ā he asked, looking down into her bright blue eyes.
āWell I know this isnāt really something you love to do, so since work and Elijah have been ragging,ā Caroline trailed off, as she wrapped her arms around him.
āLuv, this is the only thing that you ask of me,ā Klaus responded leaning down to kiss her nose. āI might not enjoy the trek through the woods, but I love watching how excited you get about all of this.ā
Caroline blushed and looked at her boyfriend who put up with her high strung nature with patience and grace. She and Klaus had met while both worked for Mikaelson Inc. She had been the new internal communications analyst and heād been working in the art development.
Bonnie had thought Caroline was going on about working with so many attractive men at Mikaelson Inc, until the gentlemen had followed her to Bonnieās Cafe on 5th Ave and 57th street. Bonnie had accused Caroline of bringing a troup of Brits into her cafe. Caroline being new to the company had denied it, then remembered, that her boss Kol Mikaelson had added her on snapchat.
Klaus had been the only one absent from that gathering at her best friends cafe, when she asked him about it at the coffee stand on the corner from the office, heād shrugged. Then mumbled something about not wanting to encroach on her private life. Caroline had blushed and thanked him for respecting her privacy. Klaus had nodded.
The rest as they say was history. Soon they were getting lunch, drinks, and then dinner dates. When October had rolled around, Caroline had asked him if he wanted to join her apple picking. Heād been confused but agreed. It had ended up pouring but Caroline had been so excited just to be in an apple orchard that sheād failed to notice how miserable he was till they were in the car ride home.
āSo are we actually carving these pumpkins this year?ā Klaus asked, pointing to Carolineās most peculiar fall trait. She loved getting pumpkins but she never carved them.
āDo you want too, itās super messy,ā Caroline wrinkled her nose at the thought of the mess.
āNo love, though Bonnie and Kol look like they might leave without us,ā Klaus chuckled, as he turned Caroline around to look at the car holding his brother and her friend. Caroline giggled and pulled him along.
āHe woke up in time,ā Caroline cheered as they slipped into the car. Kol made a face and Bonnie jabbed him in the side. Klaus smirked and wrapped his arms around Caroline as Kol pulled away from the curb. Bonnie was scrolling through her phone looking for music.
Klaus leaned down and kissed Caroline as he relaxed back against the car seat. Her lips were warm and dry. When she leaned up and deepened the kiss, Kol started making hacking sounds. Klaus pulled away to kick the back of his brothers chair causing Bonnie and Caroline to laugh as Kol shrieked.
