I warned you guys that an epic update was ahead… you might want to grab some popcorn and get comfy, this bad boy is looong. If you just want the main bits, I’ve posted headings so you can just check out what tickles your fancy.

***Thank you so very much to everyone who has watched me and added my work to their favourites, it feels great to know that people still like my stuff!***

Gone? Why! How selfish!
It has been almost 8 months since I’ve posted anything in this journal, and nearly as long since I’d posted anything in my gallery. I don’t really have any one solid reason for my ridiculously long absence; it was more an accumulation of things that just got to me. It was odd, I was frustrated with my inability to do anything right (more than usual) and just didn’t feel like drawing anymore. My heart wasn’t in it and I just wasn’t getting excited about drawing, seeing drawings, or reading about drawing… all of it just seemed to add salt to the wound.

School for the last year has also been a tremendous pain in the butt, my course load was crazy with some classes, and that didn’t help in wanting to draw. With papers and readings and research projects it was pretty much the last thing on my mind. Overall, I just doubted my ability to do anything ‘right’ and put off anything drawing related for the year. I'm back now, and am getting used to the changes on dA. I let my subscription run out, and am thinking about entering a contest or something to get it back (broke as hell is not fun haha)so let me know if you know of any fun contests. I never win those things but if it's a fun subject it would be worth it anyway.



*UPDATES*

New Dog
As for updates in my life, we got a dog in November from the Humane Society, her name is Blitzen (they must have been on a Christmas kick at the SPCA, another dog was named Rudolph) and she’s a sweetheart. She’s a mix (according to the vet and the SPCA) of Australian Red Heeler, Husky, and (maybe) German Shepherd. Pictures of the crazy fool can be seen here:
-> [link]

She's sleeping on my yoga mat as I type this... how cute!

Visit from Grandma
Also, my dad sprung the best surprise ever on my mom. He went to Finland in November, and arranged it so that my grandmother flew back with him. I knew about it because I had to go to the travel agency to check all her information, but my mom had no idea. We told her that my dad’s friend was coming to visit so that we could get the guest room ready without suspicion, but she had no inkling it would be her mom. We even planned it so that I would go get them from the airport that night, and when we walked in the front door and my grandmother said “greetings from Finland!” my mom was absolutely shell shocked. Her expression was priceless. Grandma was here for three months; long enough to celebrate Christmas and New Year, my youngest brother’s 9th birthday, and her 71st birthday with us. February 25th, the day she had to fly back was a very sad and scary day. Sad because she was going back and who knew when we’d see her again, scary because she does not speak English and had a layover in Minneapolis and Amsterdam, and because Schipol airport had just had the Turkish airplane crash (on that same day). She made it home safe and sound, and now has fabulous stories to tell about her trip to Canada and her return to Finland via the US and Holland. That woman is my hero.

As for school, I’m done for the year but have to take some Spring/Summer courses. They start tomorrow, we’ll see how that goes.

Art Class
I also took an art class in my last Winter semester, and made some fabulous friends (one of them being ~KBTheArchitect go say hi). The class was just an introduction to art fundamentals and included many a still life, some messy charcoal, and awkward greenhouse drawings, but I really enjoyed it. It forced me to work on art, and allowed me to loosen up with my work. Our Professor and TA were very much about not being too detail oriented and getting the basics down with loose lines and brushwork, and I really enjoyed not over-analyzing everything to death. I may post some of the crazy things we did in class, but that all depends on whether I work up the energy to drag the portfolio out of my closet.

Old Age
I turned 21 on April 18th, good bye to my fair youth and hello depends, walkers, dentures, and cochlear implants. Ok, not quite, but I do feel the milestone… not as big a crisis as it was on my 20th birthday, though, because I was busy studying for finals all that weekend.

Drawing
As you’ve probably seen already, I recently drew a picture of Stana Katic who plays the awesomely awesome Kate Beckett on ABC’s ‘Castle’ (also starring Nathan Fillion, for those of you who are wondering). I love that show to bits and am so hoping it doesn’t get cancelled, it’s currently sitting on the bubble but fans are doing all they can to make sure it comes back for a second season. I want to draw a ‘Castle & Beckett’ piece at some time in the near future and am hoping ABC gives the show a second chance. Anyone who watches it and wants to do their part in getting it back next season should check out this link:
[link]

I’m going to try to keep up with painting, I really enjoyed the crazy stuff we did in our art class. I want to take more liberties and not worry about getting every detail in perfectly, I want to try new stuff and techniques, and I want to get messy with it. It all sounds really simple right now, but of course I’m once again paranoid about messing up. I think I’ll have to find a job and get started with these summer courses before I take on anything else.

Finland Pictures
Some of you may vaguely remember that I went to Finland on holidays last summer. If you're still interested in seeing the photos, you can check out the pictures on my facebook (yes, even if you don't have an account!):
1.) Part 1 [link]
2.) Part 2 [link]
3.) Part 3 [link]

Feel free to add me on facebook or twitter (since I just got it), both are listed under my name 'Aicha Kouyate'

Whew, if you made it this far then you really are a trooper! ~SweetChile I don't know how we sent messages like this back and forth all the time haha.
Thank everyone, I'm off to answer messages.
Cheers!