Seems like it's been a little over six months since I last made an entry.
I figured that since I was going to be gone for two years I would post every six months to update everyone on how many months I'd been gone and how many I have left.
Well. It appears it's down to a very small number of months now, and if you look at it in the weeks perspective I only have 22 left.
So yep. After that point I'll be back submitting art again. Though, looking around here, I think I'll be cleaning up a whole lot before I do that. Since my media has been really limited I've had a lot of time to examin paintings and some really beautiful pieces of art, which has really helped me see the errors I was consistantly making with proportions/lighting and whatnot. It's funny to think about though, I haven't used photoshop in over a year, and the only paper I've been using to draw on is 3X5 cards and sticky notes. But hey, I've kept my skills sharp, so I'm happy for that.
It's really a blessing to be seperated from the norm, and be able to just sit back and look at things, and really have the time to meditate without all of the distractions which constantly hold dominance in a lot of our lives.
It's funny to think of how little I knew before I left, and how unrealistic or just impractical my views on life in general were. I'm not saying I know everything, far from it really. But my understanding is greater, and I'm hoping I've finally caught up with the rest of the world.
I guess the greatest lesson I've learned is that things aren't always as they seem. if someone is telling you something is a certain way, take a look from a different perspective and really ponder why some people act the way they do, or why certain people believe what they do. And try to understand what motivates them. And go directily to the source for information.
Before all of this, I was pretty quick to judge, but being out in the spot light and standing out as something some people fear or don't understand has really been an interesting and life changing experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

Hopefully everyone is doing well, and has been making leaps and bounds with their creative skills.
See you all in 22 weeks.
I sure cant wait to look at those 2,169+ submissions

P.s. Thanks for the fav's and comments. I'll try my best to answer them when I can.