My name is Corey Johnston, and I'm a theatrical Costume Designer, Adjunct Professor, and Artist. I have a BFA in Theatre with a Technical Emphasis from University of Central Missouri, and a MFA in Theatre with a Costume Emphasis from Minnesota State University in Mankato. I work part-time at the University of San Diego as their faculty Costume Supervisor.
In Jan of '18 I got an iPad Pro. Exploring Procreate, I've been able to indulge in learning how to draw again. My goal is to become a part-time illustrator to augment my theatrical career, but on top of that, I truly enjoy drawing and painting digitally as a validating part of my life. My work can be seen here: www.coreyartusimagery.com
I see all artistic expression as a reflection of our own humanity. It helps us determine what we believe, how we define our existence, and what it means to be human. I'm looking forward to contributing.
My Costume Design portfolio website (found here: www.coreyjohnstondesigns.com).
@Glenda-Rogers Thanks, Glenda, that's very encouraging. I'll join you folks and contribute what I can, but it's clear to me that the road of my educational journey is just beginning. I'm not really embarrassed by it, it's just that I am at a different point than I think most of you are. I'll gladly share what I can. LOL! I am really looking forward to meeting some other SoCal SVSers!!
Welcome, Sarah, to the Forums and SVSLearn!! I think you'll find a lot of very supportive people here, and an absence of a lot of the stuff that makes other forums a drag. Your work is lovely! I, too , am working on the storytelling side of things, and I'm pretty confident I came to the right place so far! If you have any special topics you're interested in, a quick search in the forums might render some interesting results--the folks here always have great answers and resources. Have fun!!
More homework from the class. I have to say, these classes both inspire me with confidence and cramp my brain at the same time!! LOL! But that's good, right? Onwards!
I am particularly interested in whether those of you who have been through the class think I did these assignments correctly... I'm not confident in my understanding of what I'm supposed to be doing, honestly--I'm doubting whether I actually accomplished the intent of each exercise. Especially the Random/Organic Shapes, the Simplifying Complex Shapes, and the Master Study... I would really appreciate some feedback on those specifically if you have any observations. Thanks so much!!
@Susan-Marks I haven't figured out how that works, either. LOL! Anyone know?
Welcome Sam! Your work is charming!! I know you're going to get a lot of great feedback from some very supportive folks here on the forums. It's friendly and blissfully free of most of the stuff that plagues other forums. Have fun exploring--there's a lot of really juicy stuff on here if you take time to look. Again, welcome!
I can make any of the Sundays (or Saturdays) you guys set down. I'm on summer break and live 20 minutes away. I don't have any conflicts in the foreseeable future.
I would choose the Retirement Mermaids. Here are my reasons why:
In my opinion, it has more story in it. I think the second one has a situational context, but the Retirement one has more opportunity for character development, and in that sense it's deeper and richer and draws me in more. It just seems more "narrative" to me.
While the second one has a lot of gorgeous brushwork and frenetic detail, the object of the conflict seemed out of the frame to me until I noticed the shark (?). Ultimately, I wonder if it has a weaker composition than the Retirement Mermaids.
The black outline on the Warrior Mermaid seems to pull it off the page a bit harshly to my eye. It doesn't have the same cohesive unity that the Retirement image has.
I think the Warrior Mermaid is a gorgeous piece. I just feel like the Retirement Mermaids has more "depth"... yark yark yark... 
My 2¢.
If you've already been using digital for a while and then shift to doing things traditionally, you'll see what limitations you have to impose on yourself when you go back to digital...
In my opinion, doing digital art is rather like sewing or making music. You can do a million wonderful things, but you can't do everything all the time in the same garment or song. It's in the limitations that digital really shines--your capacity to narrow down the tools to only what you absolutely need or choose to use. I think people are sometimes paralyzed by choice when they use digital tools, and therefore their stuff looks like they've used everything and the kitchen sink... It just ends up looking "too" digital.
Starting out traditionally enables you to embrace the expressive capacities of a narrowly constrained tool set, to practice without being distracted by bells and whistles. You learn to do more with less. And that's vitally important when working digitally, I think, otherwise you can get easily overwhelmed.
I, too, want to say thanks to @Jake-Parker and @Lee-White for doing the session. I've been a member of the forums since about the turn of the year, but I hadn't subscribed until very recently.
And this kind of special, newbies-only invite and one-on-one time was invaluable and unlike anything that I've seen offered by other tutorial class sites. What a way to make a person feel included as more than just a simple consumer. It's not always possible for subscribers to buy into those interactive version of the classes, and this was a HUGE step in making all the newbies feel like they were included and special and actually found a home.
Please please please keep doing this every once in a while for the newbies that come after us. I feel like I'm part of a "class" now--the Class of May 2019, maybe with a mermaid class mascot or something... LOL! I'm very excited to meet my new classmate peers now, and I hope they post soon!!! 