Yo! New Landing Page!

Just trying a new look out on the site (mostly just the initial landing page). 🙂 www.rejenasmiley.com

How do you like it? I mean, I hadn’t changed it much since 2011, lol, so I felt like it needed a change. Plus, the old one was inspired by someone else, so I wanted this front page format to be more attuned to what works for me, individually. I felt silly to keep updating here, as well as on the site AND FB, Instragram, etc, sooo…

Hopefully, it works out. I am also hoping that this helps me want to update more. We’ll see, haha! But I DO need to get back into drawing more; and moreso, perhaps more short stories too?~

Some good news! I have some perspective local comic book shops which are interested in selling my work! So there’s that. 😀 We’ll see what happens!

Sooo many inspiring artists I’ve seen, lately. I think I’d just been in an art funk because I didn’t know how to integrate my spiritual life into my comics. I kept feeling like me, doing art, was always for selfish ambition purposes. I am working more on how to find the right balance in my mind, because… I still do want to do comics for a living. Perhaps I’m just afraid of the unknown?… It’s very possible, indeed. Balance is the key to everything.

I’ll leave you with some Ecclesiastes verses:

Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 (NIV)

16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?

17 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time?

18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV)

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Thar she blows…!

Hey again! (There goes another ‘hiatus’/long break in between posts!)

During this almost-past year, I’ve discovered that God allows certain thing to happen for a reason. I am still discovering the reason ‘why’ on so many things, but in the meantime, I get constantly reassured to just keep on pressing on, and to see the light in every seemingly dark situation.

So… it’s interesting, yes.

Anyhow, I wanted to say how I finally updated my site a bit ago, organized some things… but… now my website isn’t working! lol -___- (Off go to fix that. Maybe it’ll be fixed by the time you read this xD (maybe not, lol)) Actually, it looks like it’s just the hosting site, itself, which is down… xD Might have to just wait it out, lol.

I updated the “Comics” page with some new-ish art… My publisher for “Mystery of the Black Water” is working on getting online orders for my (and others’) comics, so I can at least make that available for you too. 🙂 Currently working on pt. 2 of that…

Still excited to see TJM (Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie)!!! 😀 😀 (Next year, 2017!!)

I may go back to work on MSI (My Sweet Indulgence)… tbh, it was supposed to be a one-time thing, long ago… but it seems that people like it, so that’s cool!

I also want to work on/rewrite NKTR (Nekoturr’s Realm– I’ve already rewritten some of it); I feel like I’ve been saying that for the longest though… actions speak louder than words tho, yess? So, I just have to build up the courage and just do it! lol. But how to make it not so cliff-hangery all of the time, and give it some resolution in between…? Still working on that… xD

Spiritually-speaking, I have a lot to work on. Me and God need some serious one-on-one time to figure my heart out. But never stop believing! He has given me so many little gifts and encouragements… it’s super cool, actually! (To see God answer prayers on even the little things; even things I haven’t really overtly prayed about, but I needed it anyway.)

God is so cool 🙂 Give Him a chance!

Again, still looking for the good in my dark situations, but as long as I don’t give up (and the temptation is really there), I know that He’ll guide me through.
I know some people have different beliefs, and that’s okay. That’s just where you are. But I believe in my God, not just because my parents believed it, or I read it out of a book, but He’s also something that I’ve experienced, first hand. I didn’t have strong faith for a while– and even now, it wavers from time to time (depending on my situation, but I need to work on that)– but once I finally ALLOWED God to change my heart, and trust in Him, I finally was ABLE to experience Him and some of his direct blessings. But without the trust, there was no way I would be feeling or knowing anything too soon. As stated before, I still have a lot to work on, but I’m hoping that God will work with me through my weaknesses. (And boy, do I have a lot of those!) Lol

Hope you guys are doing fine!! Live your life with no regrets!!

p.s. Oh!! I’m also trying to finish up, at least, the written version of Trunks’ Date. You can view it here!
p.p.s. Dragonball Super is super awesome!! lol (It’s gotten my inner, old-school-anime-fanatic self coming to life again, lol.)

“Baggage”- Motion / Silent Comic

If you haven’t seen it already, check out my video/motion comic I did for my story, “Baggage”! 😀
You can buy this comic here: http://www.indyplanet.com/front/?product=109350

A w.i.p. (work-in-progress) and such

Hey, guys! So… I’ve been ‘gone’ for a while (in terms of internet uploading of my art) because I’ve been:

1. Working on projects that are supposed to be published, so I can’t show them prematurely.
2. Working on W.I.P.’s in terms of story, so there’s nothing much to see anyways.
3. Been really uninspired to finish anything as of late!

Basically, an art/work funk. I hope to get out of it soon though. I’ve been coloring some pages for the HSMP re-release in 2014/The KawaiiKon, so the pic above is a preview of that (it’s actually going to be 4 colored pages though… well, one illustration is not colored on the computer!). Besides that, and a fanart sketch here and there, there’s nothing much I’m motivated to do. ;_; Gah, it’s very annoying being like this! As I’ve said though, I hope to get out of it soon.

I am not a webcomics sort of person (I don’t mind uploading doujinshi’s/fancomics though), because I want to see my original comics in print. I’ve realized that now. I always seem to leave stuff half-done when it’s something I’ve wanted to be in print instead.. or just felt like I wasn’t achieving its intended purpose, somehow. But, I can only try so hard, you know? There’s a point where you have to give up, right? Well, I don’t know it, as of now. This [‘journal’ entry] might not make much sense to you, but this is my own personal battle… creative-wise.

By the way– Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and have a Happy New Year! 🙂 🙂

Read my comic, ‘Baggage’!!

Hey, guys! Be sure to check out my comic (contest) entry, called “Baggage”! (And be sure to “like” it if you actually do like it, lol!)
http://comic.manga-audition.com/entries/smiley-by-rejena-smiley/?fb_action_ids=654472969456&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%22654472969456%22%3A452805258171606%7D&action_type_map=%7B%22654472969456%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

I didn’t win the competition, but it’s still nice to be able to see all of the entries on their website…! ♥ Hope you enjoy it! Btw, it’s a “silent comic”, so… no dialogue!! xDD

P.S.- I like how they titled it “Smiley”… lol… (that’s my last name, but not the story’s title xDDD)
🙂

Business… planning…

Hello! I have some links for you all!

Here’s where you can buy “One-Shot!” on emanga.com: https://www.emanga.com/detail?itemid=1190

Also, the 20-page  comic I did with Sean Michael Wilson is compiled with his other comic works in a huge 220 page book– and only for $2.99! Check it out if you can!
Located here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D83YBNS
Our part is on pages 42-62. ^^

I want to work on another two comics– one for a contest/regular submission, and one as a normal submission for serialization. But… it’s actually one that I did already! I need to revamp/rewrite it though (probably will redraw it too). Actually… it might be three comics… we’ll see, lol. Orz… will be busy! I’ll try to find something to actually post though!

Digital Manga.com, The Hunger Games, Atlantis and new art (sorta)

I have good news! I’ve been accepted to publish one of my comics on Digitalmanga.com/emanga.com!! Haha, it’s just “One-Shot!” though… but maybe I’ll try making other stories for them; I dunno. (But I think they only want completed titles!)

Speaking of ‘completed titles’, here’s a half-done illustration for a totally un-completed title, lol.

It’s actually more finished than this, but eh… I don’t like submitting almost-done things! hehe…
I semi-want to get started on a webcomic, but I don’t want it to end up as something unfinished again. Especially while I’m submitting my comics to all of these companies and contests… I might have the time. But, we’ll see.

P.S. I was told that I look like Rue.
(XD)
—

I just finished watching “The Hunger Games” (and before that, “Atlantis”), and well…
Aren’t we all already participating in our own “Hunger Games”? Isn’t that whole movie a metaphor for what’s already going on in our society? (I’m supposing that’s sort of the point, but…) When you think about it, “society” really tries to hurt and compete with each other for “survival”, to make themselves look better (a brand or name), or to pit us against each other for the things they say that we need… but even the things that we really DO need (food), they ration it to us and sell it way over-priced, just to make a few extra bucks in their pockets (like oil). Also, I dislike how reality T.V. is (or, has turned into) just a big scene that glorifies one’s own sin for entertainment. Just like glorifying murder (in “The Hunger Games”), huh!

“Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” ~1 John 3:15
“²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” ~Matthew 5:21-22

Are we really supposed to cheer on the “winner”? There is no real winner in that sort of “game.”
So, us hating one another is just one step away from actually murdering someone. In our hearts, we have already murdered them, or wished for it… Well, all I’ll say is that we need to be careful on who we are casting our ”hate” on.
Though, we should “hate what is evil” ;P lol (Romans 12:9- “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”) ((Not necessarily “who” is evil…! But, their evil behavior, right? The act/sin itself, right?))

[**Possible spoilers?**]

…Which brings me to Atlantis. It was an okay film. I’m not a pro film critic or anything, but I give it a B/B+… I cannot exactly say what was ‘wrong’ with it (maybe I will be able to if I think about it some more, or see it again– maybe the sometimes cheesy dialogue, lol), but that’s just how I felt on the matter. I did like the conflict between their love of money and supporting their friends. I suppose it’s a ‘realistic’-ish view on what might happen. Though, I’m disturbed by the love of money, itself.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” ~Matthew 6:24

I wonder if they would have been okay with not getting anything in the end? I guess it was just kind of weird that they still got what they (selfishly) wanted, but at least it happened in the nicer way than simply stealing from the Atlanteans (<-huh? lol) who live there. 😛 Oh well… I liked the visuals and voices though! 😛 🙂