Featured Creature 2012-13: Last Bites Part VI, Dreaming the Dark Night

In June I took a departure from how I'd been approaching the Featured Creature posts.  In many of the fiction pieces associated with the Featured Creature posts, artifacts of mystical power had appeared and I wanted to take a more time to shine a spotlight on those objects and their individual histories.  Beginning with the Chaska of the Chaldean Abyss, I presented these items of power while continuing to push forward with the new color aspect of my work.  Sadly, June would not be as uneventful as May and complications began immediately on June first that would challenge my ability to move forward with any regularity.

Featured Creature 2012-13: Last Bites Part V, Winds of Change

The month of May brought a revelation of understanding and some small amount of peace of mind.  After surviving the trauma of March and April and finally getting things back up and running with my new laptop, I jumped back into the rhythm of production.  I sunk my teeth into the work of coloring the comic book story, Buried for the Skin Crawling Comics Anthology and began a path of learning that transformed me with each step I took.  

Featured Creature 2012-13: Last Bites Part IV, The Devil's Crucible

Despite the globally explosive second half of April, personally, the months of March and April were the most dramatic turning point of the 2013.  I began March determined and hopeful.  I was fully recuperated from my winter illness and was now being treated at local low income clinic should any new physical illness manifest.  I felt optimistic.

The Featured Creature 2012-13: Last Bites Part III, Crawling From The Wreckage

A new year dawned and I began to fully recuperate from my bout of Bronchitis. Within me, new fictions grew from the sorrows of the previous November.  I slowly began to put my life back together and crawl my way back towards health.  The first  Featured Creature of the year, a nasty three tongued demon, was also the first color creature of the year.  It would be spring before I would create another color creature, but by that time a lot would change for me personally and professionally.

The Featured Creature 2012-13: Last Bites Part II, The Hard Walk

After the HZO and the hectic, mentally draining pace of October, November 2012 was quiet and fairly stress free in terms of production and process.  I posted pieces that I had mostly completed before hand.  However, the universe had plans for my stress levels that would test my very ability to survive.

Later that month, within the space of two weeks, my phone died and I lost my entire address book, my unemployment benefits permanently expired leaving me penniless, my vehicle died the true death, and I came down with the most severe case of bronchitis I've ever had in my life.  I feel like a bit of back story is needed here.

The Featured Creature 2012-13: Last Bites Part I, Candy Apple Heart

I began the Featured Creature posts only a year ago at the beginning of September 2012, but it now seems like an eternity has passed.  This has been a tumultuous and eventful year globally and personally.  My work on the Featured Creatures has followed a similar roller coaster path of development.

I had the idea of doing a weekly creature sketch percolating for several years and had never been able to actualize it before September of last year.  As soon as I began posting, the ideas and energy took off like a rocket.  I began the Featured Creature to help me keep my hand drawing skills moving forward.  It quickly evolved into something more.

The Last Bites of 2012 Part II: The King Beneath the Soil

Continued From 

The Last Bites of 2012 Part I: Janus Tunnel

As difficult as 2012 has been, there have been several positive developments within Zombie Bites and beyond.  July and August brought a collaboration with the Horror Blogger Alliance curator Jeremy Hawkins, aka Retro-Zombie, to create the 2012 designs for the HBA Tshirts.  Also this year I finally realized a vision that I have been working towards since I began revitalizing Zombie Bites: The Weekly Featured Creature.  I've had the idea since I began this blog, but circumstances and opportunity haven't coincided until this year.  I'm just pleased that the creatures have been so well received.  My number of page views has nearly doubled since the Featured Creature began!  Thanks to everyone for your interest and support!

The Last Bites of 2012 Part I: Janus Tunnel

I find myself in a strange emotional space as 2012 winds down to a close.  This past year has been incredibly turbulent and in many ways disheartening, but as I look across the work I created during this year, I feel uplifted.  If anything else fell to the wayside or was destroyed by the chaotic forces unleashed in 2012, at least this body of work came through me.  This year has tested me in ways I never imagined possible, but at least amidst the waves of tumult, I managed to keep the art flowing.