I have gotten a number of asks in the past from people thanking me for drawing what I draw, thanking me for helping them realize that they aren’t alone in their experiences. I have gotten enough asks about this topic to feel the need to add a separate F.A.Q page for it! First of all, thank you; solidarity works in both directions and I sincerely mean it when I say that every message means a great deal to me.
Also, I just wanted to reassure you that you are most def. not alone. As you well know, I am most certainly not the only other survivor out there, and there might be a number of resources available for you out there in your community.
For people who live around my area, the Houston Area Women’s Shelter provides a multitude of free services (including a 24-hr hotline) for women, men, and children who are victims&survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse. It also has ties with other organizations for individuals who would feel safer elsewhere, i.e the Montrose Center for the LGBTQ community. There are also the National Sexual Assault Hotline and the National Domestic Violence Hotline services for people in the United States.
If you feel as if I should add more links/resources catering specifically for this topic, pls feel free to message w/them so I can add it to this list, thank you!
What are studios looking for? How can I get into a good animation school? What should I be studying?
I get a lot of these types of questions now and again, and I never know how to answer them. I can’t be sure of what studios are looking for, I don’t control admissions policies to schools, and I have little idea what makes for a current and relevant curriculum. There are a lot of variables in your bid for a career in animation, and it’s kind of impossible to control most of them. You must be crazy to want this job!
I find it helpful to focus on the things I can control. Among those things are your study habits and how you spend your personal time. It’s good to work hard and have goals—without them we would get nowhere. Study hard and make decisive strides towards achieving your art goals. But in the heat of that pursuit, don’t forget to go out and live your life!
If you spend any amount of time looking at artists online, you’ve probably figured out by now that there are about a million dudes and dudettes in internetville who draw better than you (I relive this realization daily). Once your have done your best to rise to their level, the only tool you have to compete with these crazy talents is your background, your personal character—is you!
Consider developing your whole self with the same raw focus and intensity that you develop a particular skill set. Get focused. Go out, have adventures. Run, jump, skin your knee, fall in love, root loudly for the away team at a baseball game, barely escape a crash of stampeding rhinos, live to see another day. Experience things big and small. Go for a walk. The world is full of wonders.
I know this advice is not particularly animation-specific, but maybe that’s for the best. At any rate, it is something I feel strongly about. Animation is great, and there are few things that I enjoy doing more than drawing and storytelling. But in order to have stories to tell, first you have to live them.
Be good, and see you soon!
PS, if you were looking for advice on draftsmanship you should probably be reading this.
bun
(Source: fuckyeahimgay)
We talked for a few minutes. She told me that she’d had a plan to join the Navy out of high school, but that fell apart because her knees were bad. She told me that she’d just finished working a 12 hour shift on a food truck. She told me that she’d moved to New York for no reason, just to get out of Kansas. “But I’m so glad I came,” she said.
“Why’s that?” I asked. Her eyes began to water.
“Because I’m so in love with a girl right now.”
…oh my.
(Source: mcfly3)
(via aladeriva)
I’m am absolutely thrilled to announce that my portfolio website, KhaleMcHurst.com is finally online! Now you can peruse all of my artwork and comics without the drama of Tumblr scrolling.
Furthermore, as you’ll see linked on the site, you can now buy prints in my Society6 store! I’ve only had time to prepare a few at present, but if there’s any in particular you’d like to see made available, hit me up with an email.
Go check it out! www.khalemchurst.com
(Please note that this website does not currently include IDNHAED as I’m working on a separate website to house the comic. Coming soon!)