As my last few LJ entries can attest to, I've been feeling a wee bit of stress myself lately! So, I feel your pain. :\
I have a bad tendency to procrastinate, too, when I'm feeling overwhelmed. My to do list is the only thing that keeps me on track. I have to see everything there in black and white, with the deadlines. Then I just start checking them off, one by one. It doesn't mean there's any less work, but at least I can calm down enough to get it done.
The biking is great for you...but not if you're overdoing it all the time or using it as a method of escape. I don't think you should quit ('cause then you'd just feel miserable in another way), but limit yourself. Maybe get a watch with an alarm so you can alert yourself when X amount of time has passed. It's up to you to find the right balance, but maybe that would help keep you in check a bit.
I don't think there's anything wrong with playing video games instead of reading! Mix it up a bit. As long as the games aren't taking away from something else (family time, work, etc.), just have fun!
Mid-life crisis...probably. Unfortunately, time marches on whether we like it or not. I see it in myself, too. I've already got my mother's/grandmother's hands! I don't know what to say about trying to alleviate your fears...I guess I'd just ask why you're so frightened? Well, ask yourself that, I don't need to know! lol What is it about aging that distresses you? Then you can try to confront it. My mother jumped out of a plane for her 50th birthday...though not everyone is quite so extreme. ;)
DA comments - I finally gave up after a while, and I don't get nearly the response that you do. I think it's okay to respond to specific comments (those who leave detailed comments or ask questions, etc.) and just do a generic journal entry or something thanking everyone else.
As for the pattern issue. Argh. This is one thing I detest about DA. There's such a huge number of plagiarists that you can't tell the folks who just want to learn something new to those who want to rip you off. And as this is your livelihood, you have to err on the side of caution.
I would do two things. First, point them toward your tutorial. That gives an excellent overview of how you make your masks and for anyone who is really interested in giving it a try, it provides plenty of information to get started. Second, I would put up a notice somewhere (in each deviation description, in a journal header, wherever) that explains that you are a professional artist and your patterns are copyrighted (or is it trademarked...hm...it's been ages since I read up on it). It won't prevent them from imitating you if they really want to, but it's a bit of an explanation and a CYA.
I don't understand why they would need your patterns anyway. You can get the gist of it, just from looking at them (and definitely from the tutorial), so unless you are intending to replicate the mask (which would be infringement), you don't need it.
It's probably kids asking this stuff (as they tend to be the ones who think it's fine to just copy from other people), but I would redirect them by saying, check out my tutorial to find out how I make my masks, but use your own creativity to come up with your very own pattern, something unique to you. So it's s rebuff, but a positive one. It'd probably be more effective than just quoting copyright law to them, y'know?
no subject
I have a bad tendency to procrastinate, too, when I'm feeling overwhelmed. My to do list is the only thing that keeps me on track. I have to see everything there in black and white, with the deadlines. Then I just start checking them off, one by one. It doesn't mean there's any less work, but at least I can calm down enough to get it done.
The biking is great for you...but not if you're overdoing it all the time or using it as a method of escape. I don't think you should quit ('cause then you'd just feel miserable in another way), but limit yourself. Maybe get a watch with an alarm so you can alert yourself when X amount of time has passed. It's up to you to find the right balance, but maybe that would help keep you in check a bit.
I don't think there's anything wrong with playing video games instead of reading! Mix it up a bit. As long as the games aren't taking away from something else (family time, work, etc.), just have fun!
Mid-life crisis...probably. Unfortunately, time marches on whether we like it or not. I see it in myself, too. I've already got my mother's/grandmother's hands! I don't know what to say about trying to alleviate your fears...I guess I'd just ask why you're so frightened? Well, ask yourself that, I don't need to know! lol What is it about aging that distresses you? Then you can try to confront it. My mother jumped out of a plane for her 50th birthday...though not everyone is quite so extreme. ;)
DA comments - I finally gave up after a while, and I don't get nearly the response that you do. I think it's okay to respond to specific comments (those who leave detailed comments or ask questions, etc.) and just do a generic journal entry or something thanking everyone else.
As for the pattern issue. Argh. This is one thing I detest about DA. There's such a huge number of plagiarists that you can't tell the folks who just want to learn something new to those who want to rip you off. And as this is your livelihood, you have to err on the side of caution.
I would do two things. First, point them toward your tutorial. That gives an excellent overview of how you make your masks and for anyone who is really interested in giving it a try, it provides plenty of information to get started. Second, I would put up a notice somewhere (in each deviation description, in a journal header, wherever) that explains that you are a professional artist and your patterns are copyrighted (or is it trademarked...hm...it's been ages since I read up on it). It won't prevent them from imitating you if they really want to, but it's a bit of an explanation and a CYA.
I don't understand why they would need your patterns anyway. You can get the gist of it, just from looking at them (and definitely from the tutorial), so unless you are intending to replicate the mask (which would be infringement), you don't need it.
It's probably kids asking this stuff (as they tend to be the ones who think it's fine to just copy from other people), but I would redirect them by saying, check out my tutorial to find out how I make my masks, but use your own creativity to come up with your very own pattern, something unique to you. So it's s rebuff, but a positive one. It'd probably be more effective than just quoting copyright law to them, y'know?