Figured I'd blog over in this community as well, basically just a mirror image of my personal blog that I keep somewhat up to date through my portfolio site (as time allows) 

 
So the puppy slept through the night again last night for only the second time in the last 2 weeks.  I got a great nights sleep as did the wife (the kids never even hear THIER puppy so they always get good sleep)  So I woke up around the usual 7am, got my coffee, headed into the studio to check the email and make the message board rounds, and I almost spit my coffee all over my monitor.  It seems the digital painting I entered in the December monhtly contest that the Gnomon School for Visual Effects in Hollywood holds each month.....TOOK SECOND PLACE!  2nd place.  20 training DVD's by some of the film/game industry's best artists.  I'm completely blown away.  I've been coloring comics for a while now, and I really want to keep doing that for a while yet, however in 10 years (or less?) I would absolutely love to be doing concept art, matte painting or something art related for the gaming or film industry.  So yeah, it feels really GOOD to win a contest like this.  It sort of gives me fuel to finish the remaining 18 digital paintings for my latest commission (on top of all my comic coloring work)

The image in case anyone is curious, was the one that I finished in late December, that I posted in my year end blog a few entries ago,  which also graces the new landing page for my portfolio site that I just completed yesterday, http://www.jasonembury.net       I also have to take some time to give a huge thank you out to Mike Corriero, a fabulous concept artist, who I emailed a couple of months ago for some tips and pointers on how best to approach breaking into concept art etc.....  Mike was gracious enough to take the time and look through my current portfolio site and offers his suggestions for content, things I should work on incorporating, things I should get rid of etc......  I've not had the time to incorporate all of his suggestions yet to my site, however I am working on a redesign of my entire portfolio site right now (on top of everything else, which I hope isn't suicidal) and incorporating my new signature into the site (another great suggestion that Mike gave me) 

So, more coffee for me, off to get around this morning, and then dive into another day full of coloring and painting.  I couldn't be in a better mood right now (at least I don't think I could)  Congratulations are also in order for all the other winners this month at the Gnomon competition, esepcially Alex Kaiser who won 1st place, and whose entry I really enjoyed a great deal.