~azuzephre

"The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy."
^{Alfred North Whitehead (1861 - 1947)}

"Any transition serious enough to alter your definition of self will require not just small adjustments in your way of living and thinking but a full-on metamorphosis."
^{Martha Beck}

"Toil to make yourself remarkable by some talent or other."
^{Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)}

People often ask what made me start drawing my Pon and Zi comics, but it's a complicated question to answer because the first comics weren't like the ones people are sending in myspace comments. The first comics (some of which have been reintroduced to my gallery here) were violent and sarcastic, and I drew them because for whatever reason, drawing things with guts hanging out of gashes was what I was into during my sophomore year of high school.

If someone were to ask instead what made me so lovestruck to draw such mushy comics, the answer is simple. The transition from violent to lovelorn occurred suddenly, most noticeable in the comic about Pon and the venus flytrap, dated December 30, 2004. A few weeks prior, I met Ian and he quickly became the closest friend I've ever had. On December 3rd, Ian and I started dating, Pon put it's weapons away, sewed up it's wounds, and noticed the heart on it's chest.

The comics were never more than a side project to my actual illustration portfolio, but the fuel behind them was tied directly to motivation with my other art. So in October of 2006, when Ian was killed in a car accident, I stopped drawing altogether.

I know he'd have been sad to know I was sitting here idly, but the wiring between my brain and my drawing hand must pass through my heart on its way because it just hasn't been happening. I failed all of my classes (all of which were art classes) at school and was put on academic probation. After another unmotivated semester, I was suspended and unable to register for new classes for two semesters. To keep busy, I got a job at a gourmet coffee house and have been working there for the past year.

Without the usual creative outlet, I started getting piercings, gauging my ears and dying my hair weird colors and stuff. In the two years since the accident, I went from being the guy who always brought his sketchbook everywhere to the guy that had different hair every two weeks. It was nice not to be pressured to turn out new drawings.

A few weeks ago, my left ear got infected and swallowed the 4-gauge acrylic tunnel I'd just stretched to. I had to have it surgically removed, and the entire ordeal made me realize that I wasn't the person I wanted to be. Ian took notice of me because I was passionate about my portfolio, not because there were huge holes in my earlobes or because I had three different colors of hair at once. So at the hospital, I decided to induce a metamorphosis. i thought that taking out my piercings and shaving my head would be the first part of a long transition, but its only been a few weeks and I'm already an entirely different person.

I started classes this week and am well on my way through my first projects in both intermediate acrylic painting and intermediate sculpture. I recently entered the United States Ultimate Barista Challenge and won the Frappé Challenge with my own signature drink recipe after working as a barista for less than 8 months. The people who used to compliment my ridiculous hair say that I look conservative now, but oh well. I missed feeling like my blood was jet fuel.

Anyway, I guess I'm posting this journal for two reasons. First, because I don't want people only interested in Pon and Zi to be anticipating new comics that probably won't be coming. I'll probably do a few new ones in time for Valentine's Day because I'm getting card sets printed this year, but yeah. Second, I've come to the realization that some of my favorite artists online are rather quiet. I admire their ability to communicate entirely through their posts rather than through explanations of everything in their blogs/journals. I've been inactive for a while, so I needed one last update before I shrink behind canvas.

Singing along to The Faint
and painting with palette knives
with gray eyes.

<3azuzephre

PON AND ZI TSHIRTS
People have been asking for them for years and they're finally available. I first sold a crate of them at Anime Expo earlier this month and I ran out of most of them within the first few hours. It was awesome.

So anyway, if I haven't mentioned it already, I'll do so now. I've decidednot to re-open the shop on azuzephre.net. Trying to manage the production of all of the merchandise and organize the sale and shipment of everything all by myself has proven to be overwhelming to say the least. So I've made arrangements with SharkRobot, and they'll be printing and selling my shirts for me. On a sidenote, I'm shipping the last few remaining azuzephre.net orders as the products become available to ship.

Unisex Red Shirt / Pale Yellow Print - $16.95

Unisex Blue Shirt / Pale Yellow Print - $16.95

Unisex Charcoal Shirt / Clear Gloss Ink - $16.95

Unisex Black Shirt / Pale Yellows Print - $16.95

GIRLS Black Shirt / Pale Yellow Print - $18.95

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azuzephre.

If you're looking for an update regarding the shop at azuzephre.net, click here to read my last journal. : )

The convention season is upon us, and I'm really excited about it. My first convention this year will be Anime Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center, July 3rd-6th. I'll be sharing a booth with Dave Stanworth of Snafu Comics and he's really nice so come say hello to BOTH of us if you're planning on attending. Lol.

Every year people ask whyyyyy I don't have T-shirts for sale, but this year, I WILL. I'll also have tons of new prints, keychains, button pins, and two limited print posters. Once those sell out, they'll never be printed again, so if you want one, try to come on Day 1. I sold out of most of everything last year on the first day. It was crazy.

After AX, I'm not sure which conventions I should try to get a booth at, so I need suggestions. I'm willing (and hoping) to travel, so yeah. : D

Anyway, like last year, I'll be posting a printable coupon to bring to the booth for some sort of discount on merch, so watch for that.

<3azu