OMG I SUCK.

hahahahahaha haiiii everyone. how ya been? ^___^;;;

okay so I know I haven't been too active here, but as always I update my blog a lot more which you can find here at 15 Tangerines!!!

OH AND COOL THING IS THIS AND IT EXISTS NOW~!


www.ALLISONSTREJLAU.com!!


not much is up yet, but it's a miracle I even got as much done as I did.


umm...update on last entry...well my omi's doing much better, she's tough and not even a broken leg is slowing her down, she's already walking pretty well with a cane and stuff. I'm very happy about that. OH WAIT I didn't say that here yet, did I? yeah, well the story goes that my art gallery opening didn't go so well, and my grandma broke her femur on the entranceway. it was a crazy night, but a memorable first show experience. but she's tough and will be all right.


what else to say? school is going well. I have only two 'studio' classes, but my lecture classes are absolutely fascinating so I don't mind. My one illustration class with the great Donato Giancola are AMAZING, he is such an inspiring teacher and genuinely great person! I can't fully express how awesome it is to take a class with someone you've admired for so long and that he's just everything you thought he'd be and more. it's just...very awesome. lol XDD;;

hmm...thesis preparation is coming along, we're almost ready to start drawing the actual comic, but I still have to finalize thumbnails and charrie designs, etc. It's going to be a very...f*ed up tale about the Persephone and Hades story, and that's the only way I can really describe it. It's like a psycho-thriller type thing. And that's all I'm giving away for now! lol


I have like...a lot of stuff I need to scan in. It's just that I don't have enough time in my schedule where it works out that I can get to a large format scanner. but good works will be on the horizon, so please stay tuned!


All in all, I just want to say thank you to everyone for sticking with me through all my bouts of becoming invisible around here. It really means a lot to me to read all the inspiring comments and see that so many people still like my work, even when I have the urge to just hit 'delete, delete!!' on everything. lol



Love you all, I look forward to the future here!

- Allison Strejlau

Yep, haven't made an entry or any activity here in a while, so I figured I should...say something? 'cause some cool things are in the works!


First off, I will be exhibiting my work at the APW Gallery ( [link] ) in Long Island City as part of their "Small Works, Big Ideas" exhibit featuring artists from all over the world. It'll be my first gallery appearance (next is in spring for the Thesis show) so I am very excited, even though I'm only 1 of 200 artists there, I hope it'll be a good opportunity. I'm currently working on 4 small 10X10 oil paintings surrounding a theme about Tiger conservation, since I feel very strongly about nature. Nature is my biggest inspiration, so now I feel it's my time to give back. If I sell any paintings, a percentage of the profit will go to a select Tiger conservation group.

As always, you can track my progress on my blog: [link]


Another bit of excitement is that I ordered some amazing Lucas Acrylics which should be coming in today, so I can start offering hand-customized shoes/bags/apparel for commission. I will post an example when I test it out on my own apparel. I bought a really drab, yet very comfortable, pair of high heels for 10 bucks and I can't wait to make them fabulous! Also looking forward to making my favorite, yet quite bland, messenger bag look wicked. When I finish these projects and feel comfortable with customizing these types of things, I will be posting more info on how you could have me do it for you!


Also, apparently my school's Digital Imaging Center has acquired a top-of-the-line T-shirt making machine and a book binder. This is very exciting news, as hopefully I can have more unique products available to you! I haven't been in the city yet to check out these devices for myself, but again, once I feel comfortable with them I will have this kind of thing available to you.


I also got some cheap cell phone straps, so I'll have those kinds of knickknacks available too. Oh, and did you know I have buttons for sale? yes, 5 different kinds! I also have a lot of prints available. I...should really get an online shop for this stuff. Anyone have any ideas on good ones?


PayPal is working now, so if you want to commission me, now is the time! However I warn you that I AM very busy now, that's the only thing, that it may take a tad longer than usual for me to get anything done.


Umm...does anyone want to get me a dA sub? I'm fine without it, but I just think it'll make my page look a bit nicer. I'll do a nice CG for you if you do!


I've been thinking, would you guys like to see more of my comic work here? I haven't scanned in anything from last year 'cause I HATE tiling things in Photoshop (so annoying!) but if you're interested in seeing some one-pagers, I'll be happy to do it. Actually, I should probably get on to that...right now it doesn't seem like I'm a comic artist at all! lol


Ah...I AM working on a new piece in-between my paintings for the gallery show. You can check out the lineart on my blog: [link] It's really just a test to see how a technique I want to try for thesis will work, but hopefully it will come out okay.


If you want more updates on my stuff you should really follow my blog: [link]

'cause yeah I feel bad that I seem dead on the net when I'm really not...

so keep an eye on my blog. [link]



....did I mention I have a blog? [link]




Best Greetings to Everyone, Hope You Are Well!

- Allison Strejlau



My Man

Sorry this entry is so long, but I actually didn't include everything I wanted to! lol XD


First off, I have to thank Chris and Ellie. They were invaluable to this weekend, and kept me alive. Literally. Thank you so much for getting my coffees, scraps of food, and medical needs. Yeah, on Thursday my foot had gotten badly blistered up, and I couldn't really walk at all. Luckily, my amazing friend Maggie is a baltimore local and she is the same size shoe as me, and she was a LIFESAVER in lending me her super-comfy sandals to wear during the weekend. Without that, and chris and ellie getting ace bandages and band-aids for me, I don't know how I would have made it. and especially to my brother chris for having the idea of giving away free candy. I think that was the key to why I did well, because it forced people to go up to my table so I could greet them. haha, he's a genius. overall, thank you guys sooo much, I can't express how much it meant to me to have your help!

and so...

Otakon was extremely successful!! I did really well when I didn't even think I'd break even. Let's just say that I could easily buy 2 sets of 72 copic markers if I wanted to. alas, the money is all going into my savings. lol oh, and buying refills for my skintone copics, because I completely ran out of them! XD;;

It was mainly due to commissions, I was drawing CONSTANTLY. literally, I only stopped to go to the bathroom and only got to go around once or maybe twice to say hi to some other artists I knew, but it was completely worth it. I worked really hard on them, and it was so refreshing to draw again. the thing that made it the best was seeing the peoples face just light up when they saw what I had done for them...I can't believe I had forgotten what that was like. it's the greatest feeling. that alone made it worth it, just seeing how brightly those people smiled. <3

I also sold out of 3 of my prints (Wolverine, La Viole Blanche, and Treachery), and almost sold out of others (Houndoom, When Corgis Attack, Kenpachi, Nightcrawler, etc). It was crazy, everyone was SO supportive of a different style, I couldn't believe it! It made me feel so...I don't even know. relieved. the fact that I did well at my lowest point...I mean, I didn't even want to look at a pencil again. I can't properly express what I'm feeling, 'cause I don't know how. haha when wolverine and blanche sold out I was surprised and happy, but treachery was my only original up, and the fact that it did so well...I actually got overwhelmed and started crying, I couldn't help it. it was really something else.


I also got interviewed on Saturday by my buddy Earnie who does con videos and such. I'll post updates when it will be online, I hope I don't look too stupid! lol XDD;;

my pieces didn't go for as much as I had hoped at the Art Auction. One didn't even sell, fat joker went for 5, russia only went for 7, but Champloo did much better than I thought it would at 42 I think. Wolverine only sold for 40, but I'm not upset about it 'cause it went home to this really sweet wolverine cosplayer!! he came by my table early in the weekend and bought a print of it but put it on hold, and on the last day he traded it for a nightcrawler 'cause he had actually gotten the original!! that made me SOOO happy, that it went to a good home. I don't care how much it went for, that just makes me feel really awesome that he got it, he was such a nice guy. lol

and apparently I found out that my art is 'scary'? haha, I never realized it before but I guess my style that I've been so unaware of is dark and creepy. that seems to have been the reaction of everyone who walked by my table. It's good to know it, maybe I'll work with that! XD

also met some of my artist friends, and there were a lot of people and grads from SVA there, which was really cool to see. I got to see: , , , , . that's all I got around to, and I couldn't even get anything from them 'cause I never got a change to go back. but I didn't expect Dina, ~morbidprince, to actually send someone out to search for me so that she could say hi. that was awesome, she's just the nicest person and I'm glad our tables were so close so I at least got to talk with her a bit. In a lull on commissions, I drew her a gift 'cause that's like...a tradition of sorts with me giving drawings to her. lol and it was also just...great to meet everyone I wanted to! they were all sooo nice, and it was awesome to see Cari, ~blix-it again and trade corgi buttons with her.



but despite everything I will keep to what I said, and I won't go to Otakon again next year. I'm going to take a break off of it and concentrate on doing my own comics and artwork over next summer, and concentrate on finding a job in my field hopefully. it will be after my thesis, so I'm going to really need the break. lol I'll probably be back the year after though. ^__^




-----> People had asked me a bunch about taking commissions online. I will accept them for the time being, but here is what I have to say about it:


the only thing with taking commissions now is that I do not have a paypal set up properly, and I have to get that sorted out. otherwise, you can always send a check or money through the mail, though it's up to you what to do. I will work my hardest in getting that system set up so I can take more commissions, but checks are just fine for now. I usually don't start a commission until I receive payment, cause I've had problems in the past. half and half is fine too if you prefer.

if you want a full CG with some type of bg, like my 'houndoom' picture, it would cost 50, 60 if there are multiple creatures. if you want one with a simpler bg, like my 'battle' picture, it would be 45. simple copic commissions like I was doing at my table are 20, 30 if it's something more complicated. watercolor pictures, like my 'chimchar' picture, are 40. this is without shipping and handling included (which is why taking them online is sad) if you want a nice print of your cg or something like that, I can do that too no problem.

people who walked by my table said my artwork was creepy and dark I guess, but I can do something lighter too! haha I dunno, I never did 'dark' art on purpose. XDD; Basically, whatever you want is what I can do since I do a little bit of everything.

So yes, technically commissions are open...for the first time in a looong time. I don't know when I'll take them again, so this is your chance if you want something by me!


so in summary, despite my angst and insanity beforehand, I'm glad I went. ^__^


- Allison Strejlau


My Beloved

Hey, leaving tomorrow and not bringing laptop 'cause I don't trust people so I'll post this here now.

I am at table L05, near the back, so please come by~! I'll be giving away some free japanese candy!



Here's a picture of the map: [link]



I will have 5 framed originals up at the art auction, so keep your eyes on that too!

see ya later, hope I'm still alive on sunday! O___o;;


<3
Allison

Hey everyone, how's it going? Hope your summer is going well!

ROOM IS CLOSED, unless I know you personally.

Down to business, I am looking for roommates for Otakon 2009. Everyone else is booked up already, and we are desperately seeking people to room with us.

Since I'm having an AA table this year, it was important for us to be close to the con. Our Hotel is the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel located on 101 West Fayette Street, only about 1 or 1.5 blocks away from the convention! The rate is 140 per night, 420 for the 3 nights, and we only have 3 people in our party, looking to make it 8 so it would only cost 52.50 for each person for the entire weekend.

Math time!
3 people = 140
4 people = 105
5 people = 84
6 people = 70
7 people = 60
8 people = 52.50

[EDIT]
People Currently Confirmed in Room:
- Allison, Myself
- Chris, My bro
- Ellie, His girlfriend
- Casey (2 nights)
- Steveon
- Matt (1 night)
- Raymond
- *Bill
- *Adam

total price as is: est. 52.50 for the weekend,(with tax and whatever the final hotel cost may be a tad more at this point). ha my bro will have the final cost when we have a confirmation of the final number of people.

*another two for all 3 nights!

So our goal of max people have been reached! At this point we'll close the room to outside people, unless I know you in real life and will do you a solid. but really, anymore and it would be really cramped!

so the more people we have, the less money it will cost. (obviously lol)

I know it's late in the game, but if you or someone you know is looking for a hotel room, please send an e-mail to let me know!

my e-mail is firecloud15@gmail.com

Thanks a bunch,
- Allison (firecloud)