American Gothic Daily

Yesterday I logged into AGD to see if there was anything new going on, and of course it needed plug-in updates and WordPress updates.  I did those, and then suddenly the entire archive boned up.

Come to find out, ComicPress is no longer using the ComicPress Manager, so I had to install Comic Easel, which I use on www.squareonecomics.com   Working with Comic Easel is really nice, but this was not a change I was prepared for.

I tried re-importing all the image files and setting the archive back up, but with little success.

In frustration I decided it was time I did something serious.  I’m re-mastering the entire website, including the old pages.  Yeah.. I know… I’m going to be re-doing over half of the 360 page comic.

I don’t think it’s going to be so bad. I’m no longer working and I now have the time to devote to AGD again.  I’m no longer new to my new country, so learning the language and passing all of the immigrant exams is no longer my top priority.  My sons are now adults and run away giggling, leaving me and my hubby to make more art.  My biggest obstacle will be will power.

I’ve been working on AGD since 2006, when the world of webcomics was new and exciting. I was full of joy and excitement at doing something I always wanted to do– draw comics.  I had plenty of drive then, not too great load of talent and no idea how to use Corel Photopaint.  During my time in the 4th PSYOPS Abn. US Army, I used Corel Draw with my work making propaganda. 1994′s computer technology was so basic. It didn’t compare to anything available ten years later.  Even now, the jump from 2006 to 2014 amazes me when it comes to digital art. Instead of a 32bit program on a Pentium 4 Dell, I’m now using Sketchbook Pro and Manga Studio on an 8 gig Dell Studio XPS.

The hours spent drawing on paper are gone. It’s almost all digital now.  It’s time to bring AGD into a more modern era.

Wicca, Witchcraft and Paganism has changed too since 2006.  Witchcraft has become more mainstream and no one is so shocked by it anymore.  There is still a ton of discrimination out there, but the vast amount of information and assistance available through the internet has allowed us all to not feel so alone.

Millia continues to be my “Mary Sue”.  The fear of her losing her job and career really happened for me.  My teaching career was short lived.  I was a fantastic teacher with many loyal students, but the school board did not find me so attractive a candidate.  When it was time for tenure to be given to me, I was denied without a given reason.  Part of me feels it’s because I was a disabled vet, the other part because my faith didn’t fit in with the Tennessee culture.  Millia’s struggles about finding an accepting community are my struggles too.

I continue to think of Millia as “a witch who couldn’t spellcast her way out of a wet paperbag” and Luke as the wimpiest vampire prince imaginable. While both are capable of great things, their inability to get it together gets in the way.  Millia through ignorance and lack of experience, Luke through a desire not to offend or cause strife.  These things won’t ever change about them. They will forever blunder through the world, just like the rest of us.

I hope to get AGD going somewhere this year. It’s about time.  I’ve invested too many hours into it, been burned out on it too often and sometimes just embarrassed at how unprofessional I was at making art.  It’s been a growth experience I can’t through away though.  That soft spot in my heart is still there for it. I just can’t pull the plug….

(Luke and Millia made with MakeHuman 3D model maker. I painted their hair on and touched up their faces using Sketchbook Pro.  If you are interested in using the Luke and/or Millia 3D model, let me know!  They should work in Poser, Daz3D etc.)