Horoscope for Scorpio - Monday, Feb. 28th -

Joyous. Make the most of yourself. Get everything possible out of life by leaving behind any inhibiting influences of family conditioning and tradition. You may well have learned everything that is available currently from this source. Now you are on your own. Embrace the release, enjoy the freedom! Artists are in their element. Spontaneous creativity is flowing from the mind's eye into the pen, brush, camera, and keyboard. You are an exciting person to know. People respond to your unique style and beauty, not to mention your charisma.

Still Scanning Photos


I found this photo of me from when I was 3. Guess things haven't really changed much ...At least my wardrobe hasn't.



NEW PHOTOS
And these are some photos from that gorgeous storm we had tonight here in Lubbock. Fantastic clouds and sunset. There's also some photos in the album from the other day at Covenant.

--Will

Good Tithe-ings

I delivered my tithe the other day to children's Hospital. The nurse that's been helping me with the whole caricature project up there teared up when I handed her the money. Hell, I teared up. I don't even know why. She said I'd already done so much I didn't need to give money. But I did. Because I've learned what it's all about. I didn't give the hospital money to help myself - or make myself feel better - I did it because it's what I'm supposed to do.

I started tithing whenever I started the new business. My Grandad told me once that he started in his 50's. And that's when his life changed. Not because of tithing, but it coincided with it. See I always thought it was a penance. You tithe for good graces, for favor or to just plain make yourself feel better. But that's not it at all. I get that now. Just like my talents, my family and my entire life - all money belongs to God - everything belongs to God. It's always been a family joke that everything belongs to God and if you're not doing right by him he'll take it away. Your car, your house, your job, whatever the case may be. It was comedic when it happened. Because it was so obviously related to something we were avoiding. This blog was started because my computer died - because I wasn't doing what I was supposed to be doing. But with that in mind - it only makes sense that if God can take away - he can also bless you. The simplicity is mind-blowing.

So every penny I earn belongs to God. And if he's asking me to save 10 percent(that's what Tithe means) to give back to him. Hell, I have nothing to complain about. Since it wasn't mine to begin with. Luis calls it Stewardship. We're just holding onto money till God wants it back. And it makes sense to me now that I was always hurting for money before - because I was always hoarding it. I resented the idea of giving 10 percent of MY money to anything, let alone God, because I never had enough to begin with. And with that attitude, of course God's only going to help me barely get by. Because I'm just a freaking clog in the system. But if I'm doing what he asks and transferring his money back to him - he'll bless me with abundance. The more money I transfer for him the more he'll give me to work with. And just like with my talents - it's only if it's in his name. Not mine.

I've heard stories from millionaires that say they shovel their money out and God shovels it back in. "Only God has a bigger shovel!" The whole system makes perfect sense to me now. So no - I had to give my tithing to the hospital. Because it's not my money to begin with.

I know this is pretty out there. And I'm sure that a lot of you are getting tired of my God stories - but I can't hide this - it's too incredible to keep to myself. Let my life be an example that it works - I've made $3000 dollars in the last six weeks. More than I made the entire four months I was doing dishes at the cafe. And I'm sure it's only just the beginning.

--Will

Art Class - IPOD - *Phew* - and Comic JAM!

I taught my Comic book art Seminar today at Toonzink. It went very well. My biggest thanks to Wes Williamson that runs the shop. I couldn't have done it without you man (Support this guy - he deserves it!). I'm very happy with how the class went. I had the minimum amount of people show up that I was hoping for, so that's good. I'm not picky beyond that. Had six inspired and enthusiastic artists ready to learn to draw comics. There were a couple guys - one from one of my previous classes - that are working on their own mini-comic. I checked out some of the art and it's looking like a lot of fun. I wish them the best of luck and can't wait to get my own copy. There was another artist that looks well on his way to doing pro work in the next few years. Just from the handful of sketches he did in the class. I sympathize with the isolation he's dealing with - being the only comic artist in hale center - keep at it man. Keep at it.

There's some pics from the class HERE.

In other news, I bought an IPOD mini.

Actually I bought an IPOD mini shuffle and took it back after doing caricatures at the roadhouse and upgraded to an IPOD mini. It holds 10 times as many songs and the battery lasts a LOT longer. It's the only luxury I'm providing myself. I figure 24 hour drive to San Diego... long trip without music. And music is fundamental to my sanity - I'm sure even more so once I'm there. So I splurged. Cuts into my margin of error down the road though. So I have to be careful.

I'm exhausted.

I'm running on steam now. It seems like I've been going 90 mph for the last month. And a lot of it is just from trying to keep my mind attuned to the universe. Being alert to signs, warnings and possibilities. That and the funeral last week, Melonie's Baby being born, and Misty went into false labor last night as I was leaving for work. Then having to be "on" half of every week doing caricatures. I'm tapped. But tonight was my last night of work. Tomorrow I have to finish scanning the family photos to get that project out of the way. Then Monday and Tuesday I'm packing the apartment up and leaving Wednesday. Not to mention the other million little things I've got to do before I got to go. But I never thought this would be easy.

COMIC JAM!

I'm hosting one last comic jam before I go. These artists that I met through the class and the guys from the radio show are all looking for the comic art community here. I feel an obligation to introduce the old school to the new. After that - I hope it can continue. But its not up to me. I'm really looking forward to another JAM though. It's been a long time. I hope that all the old school can make it out. Tuesday at 8pm at the 50th street caboose in the Party room. Bring a pencil and sketches/artwork and a smile.

--Will

Episode III: A lost hope

Holeee Crap!!! Now that's funny.
Amidala is preggers. lol.

--Will

Will Terrell on Metropolis Radio Show

I'll be on 88.1 KTXT in Lubbock from 8 - 9 pm tonight. I hope everyone tunes in. Hopefully I'll come off somewhat professional. Spread the word! There's a live streaming feed for the internet HERE But I wouldn't wait till the last second to try to get it to work. Hope it works though. Keep smiling Ya'll!

--Will

Melonie and Stephen have a Girl!


Melonie gave birth at 6:04 pm to a healthy 8.6 pound baby girl. Stephen did a good job counting.


FULL ALBUM

--Will

Update


Things look to be on track to leave next week. Prolly Tuesday or Wednesday. Very excited. Not really nervous - more anxious to get going. Money seems to be ok... I'm still scrambling to come up with the last of it. My class is Saturday and I'm doing a garage sale Thur - Sun mornings and One last weekend of caricatures at the Roadhouse. Hopefully that will be enough to cover everything.

Bits of News

I'll be interviewed on KTXT Thursday night at 8 on the Metropolis radio show. Where they mostly chat about comic books. Hope everyone tunes in. The guy I talked to seemed really excited to have me and seemed to already know a bit about me and Lucid Comics. So that's cool. I'm planning to plug the class - which is my impetus for doing it - but secretly I just really wanted to be on the radio once before I go. Before I left, I did a sketch in his sketchbook - a loose caricature of the guy. Looked pretty good.

Babies

My cousin Melonie (Chaffin) Poeling is in Labor right now. Expecting hers and Stephen's first child sometime tonight or tomorrow. So stoked. Misty has a little less than a week left before her daughter is born. I hope I get to see her before I leave.

In Memory

Had a funeral for my Grandmother this weekend. It really was more of a celebration than anything. All my cousins came into town and we had a great time looking back. Everyone seems to be older and wiser. And it was pretty powerful to realize that my Dad truly is the Patriarch of the family now. And best of all he's living up to that mantle I think.

History

Been scanning LOTS of family photos - started because of the funeral - kept going because it needs to get done. Ran across a photo of me from Kindergarten. Made me laugh. If I were to have a reunion with every version of me from the last 28 years - I'd prolly have more in common with this little 6 year old than any of the others that have been living in my skin. Idealism, drive and childish enthusiasm seem to abound in those eyes - as they do now. Not to mention that it looks like I'm always up to something. That's never changed.


Inspiration

I had a Frank Frazetta print framed for me at Right Angle framing - the place where my studio used to be. My friend David that owns the shop did this gorgeous $200 dollar frame for me for free because I tutored his daughters last summer in art. I'd say it's a fair exchange. This photo doesn't do this picture or it's frame any justice. It has to beheld with thine own eyes. I still can't stop staring at it.



Photography

Still taking lots of photos. LOTS of photos. I think most of photography is just carrying the camera around and not being afraid to look out of place just to get a decent picture. But I'm still having a blast doing it.



FULL ALBUM

Anyways... that's all for now.

--Will

Couple Items

I'm teaching one last class before I move. It's a one day Seminar. Price is just $30 bucks. So if anyone's ever wanted to take one of my classes but was putting it off -- this is the time to do it. And I'm not just saying that cause I'm trying to raise money.



Also I told the nurses at the children's hospital that next week will be my last week. They made these little cards for me as a thank you. I couldn't help tearing up as I was leaving. I've gained so much from working there, way more than anything I've ever done. My last caricatures today were of two cancer patients. One was a thirteen year old girl who was all alone. Her parents were out, so she looked kind of sad and scared there by herself. I spent some extra time there and had a great conversation with her. The last one of the day, was this kid who is going through chemotherapy. So he's very weak and has lost all his hair. I drew him as Spiderman, and made sure to draw all his hair in there. His mother started to cry a little as she handed the drawing to her son. I almost broke down myself.



"Keep smiling" seems to be the only thing appropriate to say sometimes. You can't say get well, feel better, have a nice day -- because sometimes it's not going to get better. Something I've always said naturally, seems to be meant for this type of situation. In fact I feel like I'm meant for this type of situation. Strange as it may seem. But I digress.

A couple weeks ago I went to dinner with my parents and they were asking me about doing drawings at the hospital. I was telling them about some of the cases I'd seen. And I looked up and realized the family at the table next to me was listening very intently. The father had started to cry a little. I suddenly realized I'd drawn his son a few weeks earlier. His son was with him -- laughing with his little brother like life was back to normal. I still can't begin to fathom what the impact is of what I'm doing. Sometimes it feels like just a drawing... sometimes... I don't know.

Basically this whole thing has made me more grounded. No matter what I'm going through, once a week I see how much I have to be thankful for. And I'm reminded that God has blessed me with these gifts so that I can finish a drawing of a kid in 3 minutes that will make them smile, laugh, and for just a little while... forget about their pain. It doesn't matter how much money I make some day, it will never be worth more than that.

That is all.

--Will

So... Big News.

I'm moving - To San Diego - In two weeks.

Technically I'll be living in Encinitas. Which is about 45 minutes north of San Diego. And right on the shore. I took the job with Kaman's caricatures at Seaworld. And I'm registered to start art classes at the Jeff Watt's Atelier at the end of March (Very excited about that one).

Here's the deal.

I know that a few of you already knew. And I mentioned this sometime at the end of last summer that I'd like to move. But honestly I'd completely given up on the idea by January. I thought it would be at least another year before I could get my shit together. Turns out I was wrong. Turns out the Universe had a whole other plan for me.

When I came back from San Diego last summer after the convention - I absolutely hated Lubbock. I was so hurt and frustrated with this town and people that I wanted to leave as soon as possible. But I knew I'd just be running away from my problems. So I said a prayer, that I would leave for the right reasons at the right time and that everything would be prepared for me. And that seems to be exactly what's happened. I've broken through so many personal barriers since then; that I no longer even recognize that state of mind. I'm not saying I don't have anymore problems - but a lot of the problems that were holding me back are dealt with. And I'm not running away anymore.

I've learned to accept Lubbock for what it is. It's exactly like the people here - you can't expect Lubbock to be anything that it already isn't. Lubbock's not something I can change, just something I can accept. I thought Lubbock had to change in order for me to make it work here, turns out it was me. I've come to appreciate that. I never thought I'd say that. After all I've figured out I know I can finally make it work here... which ironically, is why it's finally ok for me to leave. There are better opportunities for me ahead. Mentors, Resources, Contemporaries... Surfing. But I don't need to justify anything. I'm just sharing my experience.

I wanted to wait till I'd met my financial goals for moving. And I'm close enough now that I felt it was time to let everyone know (without fear of retracting later). If all works out well, I'll be out there for about six months then I'll be back here around late October. And I'll stay a couple months till Jan '06 before finally moving out there permanently. If all doesn't work out like planned I'll be back in two weeks. Hehe.

Anyways...

Wish me luck!

--Will

J. Scott Campbell - Caricatures



I ran across this the other night. Very interesting I think. One of my absolute favorite comic book artist J. Scott Campbell was a caricature artist in High school. I don't know if this was through an official company or just a school project but its freaking phenomenal. And rumor has it this is 1 page of 4. Amazing. Now that I've been into this type of caricatures for a while I can see why he's such an amazing artist. Hopefully after a few more years of growth like this I'll have such luck myself.

--Will

Good Fortune



I've been wearing these bracelets the last couple months. Since I started the new business. One was for fortune - one was for money. The money one fell off a couple days ago. Just fell off. Don't think it's supposed to do that. But the fortune one has been losing beads every day for the last week. Each time a thread breaks it loses another bead. This morning when I woke up I was down to the last two beads and the final thread. Tonight after I got done doing Valentines caricatures at the Roadhouse I went to dinner with a friend and the final thread broke while we were talking about something very relevant.

Syncronicity.

SO tonight was a LOT of fun. I had a blast doing caricatures all night. I was laughing at every drawing I did, partly giggling over the image and laughing at how far I've come. Did very well tonight, enough to make up for Saturday and Sunday combined. I even started doing this thing where I'd draw the profiles of a couple looking at each other and then added a simple red heart in the background. Super cute. It started because one couple wanted me to draw them twice, and I didn't want to do the same thing over - that's always murder with art - and it turned out fantastic. So much so that all the couples around them wanted one too. Lol! To get into the spirit of Valentines I even did a caricature shirt of myself as Cupid. That went over REALLY well. I'm getting much better at painting these shirts. I'm thinking after a few dozen more I'll be ready to do airbrush caricature T-shirts. Hehe!



Anyways --

Big announcement tomorrow. REALLLLLLY big!. Keep smiling ya'll!

--Will

Caricatures - Texas Roadhouse - Week TWO

Weird weekend. Still learning how to do this. Had an amazing day on Friday. Started off doing a couple dozen more caricatures of the staff. Good warm up. Then started doing caricatures of customers. I started off doing some of the most extensive exaggeration I've ever done in art. Had some amazing results. After a couple hours I started to get more conservative again. I'm starting to realize how shy I am about some of this stuff. Especially about approaching complete strangers. Now I know why I've drawn with my back to the crowd the last 4 years. It was easier to let the art sell itself than to have me do it. Friday I made $180. Very happy with that. And I sat down and ordered a meal and a beer for myself afterwards. Had a bunch of people - customers and staff - come up to give me extra tips. Meal was paid for before I even finished eating.

Saturday was a different story. I started using paper from a new ream of cardstock. Felt rough drawing all night. Worse yet there was an hour and half wait for people trying to get a table. I've come to realize that is very bad for my business. I got so many "no's" and dirty looks in the first hour and a half that I was there - I was ready to leave - so I did. I went over to Joe's to finish out the night. It was a lot of fun there, it's a much more lighthearted and fun environment altogether. But I don't make as much there usually. I made about $60 at Joe's and $25 in the hour I was at the Roadhouse. I should be happy about that. I feel so conflicted over the whole situation. Afterwards I went out and bought some "good" cardstock and some new pens. Eliminate the excuses.

I went in this morning to Roadhouse to do caricatures for the Sunday rush. And I ran into the same problem of the hour wait. People (4 our of 5) were generally disinterested. I'm really not used to that. So after a few hours I left. But I still did pretty good. I realized as I was driving home that when it gets like that, and people are sort of moody (and it's not just me - I've asked the waitstaff and the management and they get it too) I'm still doing well. Just not like Friday was. I'm used to big nights. I haven't done this enough to get used to the steady night. It turns out that I'm actually making about $15 an hour on days like today. And I need to look at it that way, instead of it being a bad day. If I'd stuck it out, I'd be doing well after 8 or 10 hours. But I have a tendency to wig out and leave. But that's my shyness and insecurity coming to light.




I'm most excited about my art. I'm feeling more and more confident every day. I can't believe I didn't start drawing people like this years ago. It's made me so much better. Course I don't think I was good enough to - as one customer put it - "...be so damn good - you can have the balls to say - I'm going to stand here in front of you and draw your kid in two minutes, well enough that you're going to want to pay me money for it." No, that is definitely a recent developement.

Well I'm getting there.

--Will

Caricatures - Texas Roadhouse

I got so distracted with all the stuff with my Grandmother, that I forgot to mention that I've started doing caricatures at Texas Roadhouse. It's been pretty great so far. It turns out they're now the highest grossing restaurant in town. I really lucked out. I worked last Friday and Saturday. And made almost $350 dollars. I was supposed to work Sunday too, but the stress over everything finally got to me so I bailed. But I guess that's the nice thing about working like this. You have the freedom to bail from time to time. Just as long as I don't burn my bridges.

I'm very happy with working there though. The staff has been great, the management especially. I was real nervous at first, but the two managers that run the place on the weekend really made me feel great about working there. Even joking about how they planned to steal me from Joe's. They were especially excited about having me do buttons for the entire staff. Lol. I didn't realize how many staff there were though, heh. I did about 30 staff caricatures in 45 minutes the first night. And came back the next day and there was an entirely different crew there. So I'm still chipping away at it. It's really helped with selling the idea. There's some samples below.




I'm still figuring out the process though. I get the feeling that I made money a LOT faster working at Joes. But I didn't' make as much. I could usually make $100 in 2 hours there. Then it would die out. But I'm also not used to the speed of the Roadhouse. They move people through SO fast that I don't often leave one half of the restaurant. It's not really a question of speed, more like accuracy. I'm learning to be more particular with who I approach. Some customers I can tell are not at all receptive, and I'm getting better at picking them out before I go up to them. But I've got a lot to learn about that.

I'm going to try to go in tomorrow, if they're up for it. And work Thur through Sun. I really want to break a thousand this weekend. But that's a long shot. Especially since I tend to be worn out after a couple days in a row. But here's hoping.

I don't know quite how many caricatures I've done since I started this a few weeks ago. But I'll say this-- I'm on my second ream of cardstock. That's 250 per ream, and I cut those in half. So maybe 500 caricatures in 3 weekends. Blows my mind. By late Saturday night I was having these incredible artistic breakthroughs on an hourly basis.

--Will

Amazing Grace


My Grandmother passed away tonight. It was quietly. And without much pain. She waited to see my Dad and Mom one last time and passed a few minutes after they left. My Granddaddy went much the same way. He got all dressed up that morning, was laughing and joking all day, and waited till a couple minutes after I'd brought Grandma to see him... then he quietly went away.

She's been hurting a lot lately. And her health has been failing. And for the most part... she left us a long time ago. Aside from an occasional familiar smile, and laugh, she's been very distant for a very long time. But the last week in particular has been a huge battle with doctors and hospitals and everything. Just to limit her suffering. She was ready to die. We knew it... but we had to fight them to ease her pain. But that in itself was a miracle.

My sister asked me how I thought my Dad would handle this. Funny enough, I think my Grandma passed today because my Dad was finally ready to handle it. Not just him... but my whole family. It's not only me that's been on this spiritual journey, after all. Everything I've realized about myself I've brought to light with my family. And through the last few months we've all become new people. And it's been this incredible crescendo - building and building - Greater and greater challenges. Each met with newfound tools and insight. God never gives us more than we can handle. I've always known that. But what I didn't realize is that God never gives us more than we want either. That We... I... have been limiting my own potential and ability to handle life.

Grandma was a school teacher for most of her life. Grandad was too. They would both be proud that her final lesson... was to make us all better people.

My final prayer to her was a thank you for all that she'd taught me. As a child and as a man. It seems the more I learn about myself the more I've grown to appreciate her and my Grandfather. I'm sad that it's taken me so long to understand how incredibly they lived their lives. But I'm grateful that I am.

--Will

Three Little Birds...



I've been debating about how in depth to go into what I've been going through lately. I know that many of my friends are not all that much into God - and many are on the complete opposite end of that spectrum. But what I've been going through is more spiritual than I've ever been. And it's hard to talk about anything in my life right now without mentioning it.

See, I'm a control freak. I have to plan everything out entirely and be "in control" or I can't function. But of late, I've been giving up a lot of that control. Instead of making elaborate plans, I just decide what I'm going to do the next day and make a list. I'm not thinking a week ahead, or even two days ahead. Just day to day. Things are finally working.

But there's still that doubt. That somewhere down the line I'm going to screw up. That I'm not going to make it. And that's where the spiritual growth has been. I realized the other day when I mentioned that I finally understood how ungrateful I seemed by not taking people's help and gratitude. Even when I may have needed or deserved it. Well I realized that's exactly how I've failed in my faith. I pray, I ask for help, I give thanks for help... but when it comes down to it -- I freak! When it starts getting down to the wire I start changing my plans. Evasive maneuvers, hedging my bets, cutting corners. And that's exactly the same thing. You don't ask for someone's help - especially someone who has never let you down - and then start second guessing it.

I look back on everything - not just with God but with all my friendships. How many times have I changed my plans and left all momentum and faith in the dust. I can remember the blank look on some friend's faces at such a moment. They must have been so disappointed in me. In theory I was right - but in principal and action I was totally wrong.

So I have a new way of looking at God. I cannot insult him by doubting. I can only truly have faith if there is no doubt.

Anyways - I've been actively pursuing this for about three weeks now. And the signs are becoming clearer. Or maybe, I'm recognizing them better. I'm also learning to not see signs because I want to, but because they are unmistakable. And often they are reinforced by each other. I'd give examples. But for the most part they are specific to only me. It's incredible really, how specific they are to me. Often relevant to thoughts that I've been afraid to share. Chance encounters with strangers. Recurrence. Lines from songs that I've treasured in my subconscious. Or in a few magical cases... Inspirational phrases that I've used to inspire others... and are given back to me under the most incredible of circumstances.

I've been brought to tears many times in the last month because of God's grace, in an incredible and humbling way. And I'm sure this is only just the beginning... and I am grateful.

--Will

Midnite Man

I did caricatures at Crickets Bar and Grill last night. I guess this sort of means I've gone full circle. I started doing caricatures at Crickets about 3 years ago. It was all sort of an accident how I started. But it was fun back then. Even though I'd leave each night a little shook up and frayed from the stress of the whole thing. I'd at least leave with my beer and pizza paid for. It's funny though -- I talked to the manager at Crickets the other day to see if I could do it and he said he'd have to check with corporate -- he said they used to have a guy do caricatures there but he stopped for some reason. Didn't know if it was the guy or management. Heh. I asked how long ago it had been. Turns out it was me... and it wasn't a corporate thing. I just had no freaking clue what I was doing back then. So he was excited to have me. Little did I know my favorite band was playing last night. DG flewellyn and the Plain Brown Wrapper.



I saw DG play live the first day I went to Tech. And it seems like every major period of my life I've been around these guys. Buying their albums, dancing to their gigs and just enjoying the mood. They remember me too, I've done carictures of them on many occassions. Last night was no exception. First thing the manager asked me to do was a sketch of the band. Hah! I did it in about ten minutes. Not my best work, but I'm proud of it. Best of all, I didnt sweat it, didnt freak out or get all stressed like any time I've done this in the past. Things have definitely changed.

Anyways, I worked from 10 to 12. Made about $50 bucks. By conventional standards I'm very happy with that. Thats about what I'd make in 8 hours at a normal job. But I need to make $100 a night to reach my goals. So I've got to find some more venues to go along with this. I'll prolly keep coming to Crickets on Wednesday nights, just because of the band. But college drunks are more trouble than they're worth. Lol. The girls all think I'm hitting on them and the guys are usually too trashed to understand the pitch. By the time 12 came around there were no sober prospects to be found.

I had the wierdest comment last night too... "That's totally Napoleon Dynamite core ya'll!" Wasn't quite sure how to respond to that one. Maybe: "There's a lot more where that came from!"



View the Full Album

--Will

Photography

It snowed today. I'm sure everyone in Lubbock is aware of that. I figured it would be a good opporunity to take some photos. Seeing as how it almost never snows here. Anyways, hope you guys like 'em.



View the full album.

--Will