Well, I'm back from vacation, and am in the process of unpacking, unwinding, catching up on messages, getting back into my usual groove, and getting over an upset stomach So far I've received FOUR contest entries (and with three prizes, their chances are good!) but understand there are some of you still wanting to enter. Lemme know how things are going! I'll hold a poll for how much longer you might need.

Edit: Okay, a whopping seven entries now Also, know that I'm tentatively setting the end of the contest for the end of August.

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THE IDEA - Draw, photograph, photomanipulate, or write your idea of a fun holiday or vacation - winners will get a free portrait/bust painting!

In your submission, you can feature me, my characters, wolves, dragons, or whatever you'd like, although something involving my characters is likely to win you bonus points

Upload the image, and send me a link via note or comment!

• FIRST PLACE - free 800x800 portrait/bust


• SECOND PLACE - free 500x500 portrait/bust


• THIRD PLACE - free 300x300 portrait/bust

REFERENCES (click the numbered links)

• Me, the Jen - cartoon 1, cartoon 2, cartoon 3, photo 1, photo 2 (+ Casey)


• Casey, the Cube/boyfriend - cartoon, painting, photo 1, photo 2 (+ Jen)


• Jayli/Jocarra, the magical heroine - 1, 2, 3


• Ash, the kitty form of Jayli - 1, 2, 3


• Raydl, the gryphon form of Jayli - 1, 2, 3


• Luke, Jayli's lover and Jen's imaginary bf - 1, 2, 3


• Aramuil, blood elf mage, incorrigible hedonist, and object of Jen's loathing - 1, 2, 3

ENTRIES

• starlight90183 - "A soft salt-scented breeze..." (prose)


• ~AgentAragorn - "Home by the Sea" (photomanip)


• Lysette - "Lounging in the Sun" (art)


• *Stevegreen - "Beach" (art)


• ~fiannaValkyrie - "Lake Osoyoose" (art)


• ~Kuroi-kisin - "Chess" (art)


• ~this-silent-scream - "Ideally vacationing" (prose)

• Stole Paula's idea for an Oroville Fun List


• Had traditional McDonald's (XD) breakfast and didn't fall asleep on the drive up (but I kind of wanted to)


• Stopped at Manning Park on the way through the Rockies, and totally got walked in on by someone in the women's washroom D: (the door lock was broken) but shared a yummy granola bar and ice cream with Casey and felt better


• Endured Casey's "traditional" get-pulled-over-and-searched-at-the-American-border ritual :V! No strip search, though


• Listened to the entirety of Les Miserables, which Casey did not hesitate to belt out to


• Promptly christened Osoyoos Lake upon arrival with traditional/daily romantic lake-walk (not swim - that would entail me exerting energy, and not being carried around in Casey's arms while dozing as he walks me around the lake)


• Managed to sleep in the first morning due to rare, non-sweltering temperatures! (This is a huge deal!)


• Teased Casey about my dream I had in which Lantiriean engaged in a steamy, romantic affair with King Varian of Stormwind in order to fulfill an Achievement requirement


• Created an ACEO for Niyot in hopes of trading cards with Lisa, who ended up not being able to come


• Finally found time to sit down and read a good book


• Participated in annual Oroville float in a 1.5 hour recreational float down the river, boasting a Floatilla 34 campers' strong - later rode in the back of a pick-up truck atop a mountain of bouncing floaties


• Failed to partake of the same delicious jalepeno pretzels from Prince's we found last year, but did have traditional chicken strip lunch from the deli


• Consumed an astonishing (lolol) total of five alcoholic beverages during daily Oroville Happy Hours between June 29th and July 8th! (2 motorcycle-blended beergaritas, 1 cranberry and vodka, 1 mango mojito, and 1 double watermelon mojito) This is huge for me, guys.


• Missed Mark and Lisa but did go boating on the lake a few occasions with Lisa's awesome parents


• Although there was no Moses (Mark) to Casey's Jesus, I was dubbed Yoko Ono to Casey's John Lennon whenever we were together


• Sang a mighty O Canada on July 1st at annual Oroville Canada Day barbeque, and witnessed Casey win in the annual Canada Day soccer game


• Also sang a patriotic Star-Spangled Banner with all the American Oroville campers


• Enjoyed the impressively long Canada Day fireworks with the kids out on the rocks, although did not share in their "special" cookies that they brought


• Enjoyed the Fourth of July fireworks out on the boat with the crew (okay, so that picture was from 2006 X3)


• Broke the Hometown Pizza curse and ate with the crew without suffering a hail storm


• Conquered a fearsome Fat Boy's deluxe Impala Lowrider burger with Casey, who had the Chevy Cobra with a fried egg
  


• Partook of delicious Taco Van burritos, which Kate foolishly refused to try


• Witnessed neighbouring camper's chair catch on fire ("My chair!")


• Was awoken in the middle of the night by an exploded water pipe and the resultant geyser in the neighbouring campsite


• Found a little bat above the guy's bathroom, and watched Ranger Charlie rescue it


• Helped make an awesome salad with Terry for the last Oroville Happy Hour


• Totally didn't know any of the words at the Oroville campfire singing


• Was the first to get up on the second to last day in Oroville, but made the mistake of going back to cuddle Casey, fell asleep, and didn't wake up until noon


• Had romantic midnight walks and photo shoots with Casey


• Was witness to much drunken lulz at the Oroville Centurion, and a toast to butts


• Witnessed Taylor's Centurion victory and skinny dipping that followed


• Shared smores, and cuddled on Casey's lap in front of the fire while he sang me lullabies


• Thanks to Lisa's dad, went tubing the last day with Casey (who failed to show us a successful barrel roll - tsk!) and gained roughly fifteen bruises Was totally worth it!


• Totally kicked Casey's butt at mini-golf!


• Melted the screen of our digital camera in the heat by accident


• Completely sun burnt my face D: (which Casey somehow avoided)


• Avoided getting bitten by mosquitoes the whole time save once, until Casey's impromptu-but-romantic river visit in the mountains on the drive back, during which I got at least half a dozen It was worth it, though


• Was greeted by a happy and adorable Jormie when I got home :3

Requests - Never

Trades - Unlikely

• ~cocowash: Alnek - 100%


• =Venator-Somniorum: ACEO set - 33%


• =Venator-Somniorum: Hunters in the Snow - 10%


• =Venator-Somniorum: Veny illustration - 0%


• ~FoxAmoore: music illustration 3 - 0%


• ~fiannaValkyrie: something WoW - 0%

Collaborations - Unlikely

• ~Theglavwen: Virgo - 90%

Gifts

• ~Doran-Blackdawn: - 45%


• ~Theglavwen: Mo Grá - 50%

Commissions - OPEN (note me)

• 5/7 slots are full


• ~Kintari: Painted dog pack - 25% (33% advance paid)


• GrowlTiger: Tiger and lion master - 100% (advance paid)


• ~Ulv: two Tauren pictures - 0% (advance not yet paid)


• AJ: world map - 0% (advance not yet paid)


• Cuitcell: cat druid - 0% (advance not yet paid)

Char Portrait Commissions - OPEN

• Wolfhuskey: con badge Cran - 5%

PORTRAIT COMMISSION SPECIAL - head/face close-up in a realistic/semi-realistic style

300x300 = $30, 500x500 = $50, 800x800 = $80

BUST COMMISSION SPECIAL - upper chest/head & simple/minimal background in a realistic/semi-realistic style

300x300 = $35, 500x500 = $55, 800x800 = $85

BADGE COMMISSION SPECIAL - portrait or bust & background & name in a realistic/semi-realistic style

600x450 = $60, 800x600 = $80