Update + Revamp Announcement (pls read til the end)

Hey there! Sorry for the inactivity. If you read my last post from April which (which is now deleted), then allow me to apologize first and foremost. I had let my emotions reach a boiling point in my life overall at that time. A lot has happened, but the important thing is, this is my business, and I should treat it like one from now on. I feel silly for asking people to leave just because I couldn't handle being a professional. I care about people spending their hard earned money on tiers when they aren't getting anything for it. That's all. I'm very sorry for shoving people away, and for those who remain, I'm very happy to see you again.

This past few months, I regret, was very turbulent and demanding. I'm working on my Fine Arts degree, and this semester I had 2 writing heavy courses and 3 studio courses each requiring altogether 20+ outside class hours to work. If there's one thing I hate, it's writing, but it becomes even harder when I have to balance that with intensive art courses.

Combine that with me starting a new job in February as a side hustle, and getting less hours due to my lack of availability, I just haven't had any time for personal projects or managing my business. I've had a full queue since January, and expected to complete that queue before February and start a new one. But unfortunately, it is now May and there are still people waiting on commissions because of my terrible time management.

In March, I withdrew from a study abroad trip to Japan, both because I didn't have enough time or money to make it a worth while investment, and it was very poorly managed. It ate into my school life balance, ironically causing me to fail Intermeduate level Japanese. I don't know what I was thinking, planning a trip like that on top of going to FWA and Momocon this summer, but at least one of those things happened.

As I'm writing this, I'm sitting in my hotel looking back on all the fun I just had at Furry Weekend Atlanta, and I can't wait to tell people about it. There were a few hiccups, but I still feel incredibly blessed I got to go. I've got a lot of saving up to do so I can do the whole thing over again next year, but we won't worry about that right now.

Because I invested so much time into planning so many things, most of which fell through, I've got to make up for wasted time.

So how do I fix this mess?

My focus when getting back home will be to complete my current queue as soon as I can. No distractions, no procrastination, nose straight to the grind. I had my fun, now it's time to switch gears. With the iPad i got for Japan, I can use procreate to create art wherever I go now, so that'll make it the process much easier/more convenient. But that's the short term.

The long term solution I've chosen is to lower my workload for college. I'm a senior now and am on route to graduate in 2024-25, so I can afford to stretch my classes out if I need in order to leave wiggle room for personal work, which I desperately need. I've got a list of stuff I've wanted to do for a while, like build my new pc, build a fursuit for Skwrl, start streaming consistently, and save up rent money for when I decide to move out, but that'll all come in due time.

I know my limits now, and I need to try not to overextend myself. I've come off as cold or unfriendly to some, only because I tried taking on so much at once. That's not what I want.

I know what I want for my brand now, at least, so this is where I announce the revamp of my Patreon and the beginning of a new era: SKWRLWRLD 2.0!

Over this summer, I'll be overhauling my patreon, making new art for it and everything, and updating my character designs like Skwrl, Clay and Dolly to fit the style I'm looking for. All this is going to take me lots of time, but I'm ready for it. I'm passionate for the future of my career! And who knows!!! Maybe I'll even have free time left for animation?

But as of now, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
TLDR; I've had a rough year, lots was learned and I'm ready to get back to work. I'll see you all again very soon!

-Skwrl

[Gif made by KeyTay_ on Twitter]