New Year's Resolutions + Valentine's SS!

Hello everyone!! I wanted to wait a few days since my last post so I wouldn't be overwhelming you guys' backrooms with World posts xD First things first!

I'm co-hosting a Fanart Valentine's Day Secret Santa Event along with my amazing friend Ryuchu for 2013! We've got about 35 participants so far (only half of the 2011 Christmas SS I hosted), but the more the merrier and I'm grateful for who has joined so far! So spread the word and join if you haven't! ^^ We'd really love to have you!<3 (Deadline for admissions isn't until January 18th, though, so take your time deciding!)

I just noticed I have the exact same number of watchers on DA as I do on theOtaku hahaha. I don't think I've ever had above 270 (with the plus/minus of watchers/subscribers) at one point, so I guess I'll aim for that to be one of my goals this year!

List of resolutions from last year in review:
1) Focus on myself more! I need to learn to take care of myself and understand myself better little by little, both in art, health and life in general!
-I'm going to say this was kind of a success? I got a little bit more self awareness this year, that's for sure haha. But I'm still working in the health department. T__T
2) Work harder on experimenting, backgrounds and a variety of poses! And post more art in general~!
-This is the most unproductive year I've had...so I can't say I experimented as much as I wanted. T__T I think I've improved on detail work though!
3) Perform at one Open Mic for Singer-Songwriter club at my university!
-I decided that the group wasn't for me, so I ended up not going through with this. I may or may not decide to post a song cover on YouTube sometime, however! So I'll be thinking on that!
4) Set little goals so I can achieve big ones on the way!
-Eh.....I'm still working on this. Such a long term process, I think I aimed too high. >.<
5) Create a picture worthy of 100+ votes! >.< I doubt I'm ever going to get that high of a number anytime soon, but hey it can't hurt to dream right? haha
-This didn't happen on theOtaku OR dA hahaha. And it makes sense, I don't think I ever created a picture this year worthy of that amount at all(in faves/votes). More importantly though, I've come to a point where I worry about pageviews and such less, so yeah, I'm feeling better about that. ^^
6) SHOW MY APPRECIATION TO YOU ALL MORE!<3 I feel like I've been taking some of the people I know for granted, and I have to work harder on being less selfish and lazy >.<
-Sadly I was being quite selfish and STILL lazy(not really lazy, but just slow...) as I barely drew any art for anyone else this year haha. But I think some of you asked to see more work of my own characters right? I think I'll shoot for that and particularly more appreciation pics for you guys.

List of resolutions for 2013:

Art-related
1) Work on SPEED! Along with emotions, backgrounds and coloring in particular for art.
2) Make a new DA ID finally!
3) Draw one fanart of each of my characters:
-Miharu
-Itou
-Riiya
-Nameless princess curls girl whom I will eventually come up with a name for
-Nameless OC 2; introduce her! (ugh I swear names are so difficult haha)
4) AMBITIOUS GOAL: Make a drawing worthy of 100+ votes/faves (this is a hit-or-miss though haha--I'll be drawing for myself more!).
5) AMBITIOUS GOAL: Make an art piece that I'm truly proud of. (this one will probably be my toughest one haha)
6) Finally pass 270 watchers/subscribers! haha
7) Draw one fanart for each of the following fandoms:
-Rurouni Kenshin
-Rise of the Guardians
-Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee
-Maplestory
-Alice 19th
-Code: Breaker
-Heart no Kuni no Alice
-Persona 4
8) AMBITIOUS GOAL: Make one fanart for every fandom I love.
9) Practice patterns and clothing designs
10) Draw one speedpaint.
11) Draw one picture with muted colors.

Personal/Other
1) Beat Persona 4 (shallow resolution, I know haha.)
2) Go to Japan for the study abroad program!
3) Finish either The Annotated Alice or The Annotated Peter Pan(preferably both) by the end of the year
4) Work on my health!! Get in shape and be more confident!
5) Go to ONE Zumba/dance class.
6) Have a total of 500 kanji learned by the end of the year!
7) Get a boyfriend? NAH. Self-esteem first.

Things that happened to me in 2012
-Won my first real court case (parking citation incident)
-Changed my major from Journalism to Japanese/Double major with International Studies
-Became best friends with people who changed my life
-Went to Houston, Texas(My sister moved there) and Biloxi, Mississippi
-Volunteered with Beginning Japanese students for the first time(and LOVED it!)
-Started studying kanji on my own
-Won Best Logo in my Visual Journalism class
-Got my first semester of all A's (and no A minuses!) in college
-Completed an art trade with one of my idols for the first time
-Dealt with friendship drama for the first time in college (and all went well!)
-Met an online friend for the first time (FUNimation to be exact!)

Haha and I guess that's all for me! A short bit about Christmas: I celebrated it in Korea town in Atlanta, Georgia with my parents~ and I only got a few gifts, but I love every single one of them and know I'm going to be enjoying them for a LONG time. ^^

-Rise of the Guardians soundtrack
-Coffee mug and other personalized stuff from Japan
-The Annotated Alice
-The Dark Knight Rises DVD
-Loft $25 gift card
-Black fuzzy socks
-Pooh Christmas sweater

Other than that, there's not much else! I'm about 5/9 done with my huge picture, so I'll be sure I have it up as my first submission of 2012! Thank you all for the support you've given me and I'll see you around for the new year!! ^^

End