The Magic Logbook - Entry №1
November 2024
Most of my writing these days is kept under a veil of secrecy, I lock all the doors and pull the curtains, as if I’m afraid that you will be judging my first drafts and cackling at my inadequate prose. Well, not quite like that, but it feels like it sometimes.
I can be… precious about what I am working on, but I have been told that, you, the reader, may enjoy peeking behind the curtain sometimes. At least according to the feedback I got on this note.
So I will be doing that just that. Sharing!
So, what have we been up to? Well, quite a bit, actually.
Renovations
Is this art related? No. Is it relevant? Super so.
Here at the Blanco homestead we are deep into renovations these days, and after 3 and something something years worth of work, we are on the last leg of work on our house renovation. This is actually what our kitchen currently looks like.
This is worth talking about because after so much time invested into home renovations for the last few spins around the sun, finishing this chapter means I will finally be able to fully dive into art and writing full-time for the first time. Ever. And honestly, that is kind of scary.
Writing
I have, more than once, mentioned that I’m working on the Explorers stories, a world establishing set of adventures that predates the mainline books. This week I have been writing about the legend of “The Golden Hunter”.
It is said that somewhere in the North of Daia people have been telling the legend of the mystical hunter for generations, and when travelling with his Granpapi, a little boy gets to hear all about it for the first time. This is one of the Tales that Dr. Mugear Tuff will be sharing on the next meeting of the Explorers. And more I cannot say. Secrecy and all that nonsense.
Another very important milestone for me is that I finally attended a writer's meetup.
I had hoped it would be a structured meeting of some sort, perhaps with some writing exercises or challenges, but it was exactly what it says on the tin, a Networking Event. So I had to put on a brave face and make small talk with strangers. My own personal introvert nightmare. I met some lovely people, but learned very little about writing.
Art
Despite everything I have been pretty busy with art lately, I have my latest machinations already scheduled for Thursday the 7th of November, that to be honest, you can find all about if you look around my publication enough.
I also finished the portraits for the Explorers of Obalan, which was a huge milestone for me. They had been a figment of my imagination for so long, it was great to see them come to life in these drawings.
I recently created a whole other Substack publication called “The Painter’s Source” with photographic references of landscapes for painters. A lovely niche.
Source as in “source of inspiration”… get it? Get it??? I was very proud of it for some reason.
I wanted to make something community minded, where I don’t care for growth or numbers, just sharing a subject that interests me, with the world. And to be honest, it really helps me with organizing my near endless amount of photo folders, so it’s a win for everyone.
I even outlined an FAQ for anyone who wants to submit their own photos! That shows how committed I am, if nothing else.
Last but not least I attended another Urban Sketchers meeting. I got to visit a new city, Salisbury, and take a ton of photos for The Painter’s Source. I shared my painting from that visit on Notes and got a ton of great responses! Here is me with our fantastic local cohort of sketchers.
It is perhaps, worth sharing this too. I lost a bid for a commission that I was really looking forward to. We had been in talks about it for months, and they were so into it too, but they were required to ask quotes from different artists and I didn’t make the cut. It is with regret I say that unfortunately the competing artist is now by default my arch nemesis, taking up the place of the guy who took my parking space last week.
For sale!
Totally unrelated to the previous point, I finally got myself in shape and opened up an online shop. To be honest, it was about time. I have always done a terrible job at selling my work outside of commissions, and there are plenty of times where I could have put some work into making something that is worth putting up for sale rather than sending it into the dark soulless void that is modern Social Media.
I think this is a very important step into being a successful independent artist.
https://marcodblanco.gumroad.com/
And so I took it a couple steps further, and those steps took me to a place who sells art from local makers. I won’t share too much so as not to talk myself out of it, but I want to make a few paintings and reproductions of my favourite local landscapes to put for sale in a couple of small shops.
Wish me luck on that one!
Movie, Book, Game.
What was this past month’s favourite entertainment?
Movie: Final Destination
Book: Jason and the Argonauts
Game: Ghost of Tsushima
Today’s 80’s character is: The Gremlins
With every issue I’d like to redraw a character from an old movie in my style. I’ll start with the first suggestion for this one, but I really want this to come from your suggestions, so leave me a comment for the next one.
Today’s pun theme is: Vegetables.
Hit me with your best joke about veggies. If you carrot think of one right now, just wait a beet, something will turnip!
I actually rather enjoyed putting this post together, as it is the first one, I’m curious if you have any feedback on the format or content. Perhaps there is something you would like to know more about that I didn’t include? Let me know.
To you, from the home of magic.
Marco D Blanco.
Why did the tomato blush?
...because it saw the salad dressing!