I just felt too busy to have a use for one in the past months.

Meanwhile, I have finished the first draft of 'The Hunt'. Some small alterations have been made as well, and now I am working on the sequel. Since I am parallely working on my diploma thesis and have to spend a thought or two on how I want my professional future to look like, please be a little patient with me. In the end, I just don't want to mess the story up by running too fast into one direction with it and realising too late that it doesn't work out. Therefore, I don't publish what I've written yet, although I already work on chapter 5.

On another note, I have finally managed what I thought was impossible: I told my father how much I am interested in digital painting + that Corel Painter X is the most renowned software for that (yes, I know many people work with Adobe Photoshop), and he actually got the hint and bought it as a X-mas present for me! Usually I can hint how heavily I like in vain... So, if I find time + patience, I will continue my little (*cough* but time consuming *cough*) experiments in that field.

As to oil painting, I still have this half-finished portrait from June standing around... Digital Painting is just more convenient because colours don't dry or dust in. Which does not mean I give up traditional painting. It feels differently and does not make my eyes hurt the way staring on the screen for hours does.

Some digitally painted/drawn portraits.

"The Hunt" has grown to twenty chapters and 55.ooo words today. I'm waiting for a reaction to chapter 17 and 18 at the moment, though, so I stalled updating.

"Abyss", on the other hand, is growing very slowly right now. My head is filled with so many things that I do not find the energy to work as intensely on it as it needs to be worked on. However, I still have ideas for it now and again and will get back to it as soon as possible. I think I still have one chapter in store that I have not posted here yet.

I don't often feature photographs, but I have collected a few, so I might as well share them...

I have edited the first chapters of "The Hunt" today and also found some nice art, so I figured it was the right time for a journal update...

The Hunt

River, a young half-Japanese, is on his way to becoming a professional beast hunter. During one of his jobs, he meets Andreji, an older, somewhat mysterious man. They get intimate, and River hopes that Andreji will accept him as an apprentice. However, before anything can be settled, River and a few fellow beast hunters step into a trap...

The Hunt 1 | The Hunt 2 | The Hunt 3 | The Hunt 4

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The Hunt 5 | The Hunt 6 | The Hunt 7 | The Hunt 8

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The Hunt 9 | The Hunt 10 | The Hunt 11 | The Hunt 12

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The Hunt 13 | The Hunt 14 | The Hunt 15

Some well done digital paintings, mostly dwelling on the dark side... (God, I love them!)