What to do?

Hey everyone!

I'm so sorry for the long absence. Things have finally started to get better for me (both mentally and life-wise), although I am still working full-time at the job, next week is set to be overtime again before things truly go back to 'normal' at the job. I'm expecting mid-March to be quiet again. But I am happy to say I caught up with ALL commissions and owed art, so now I don't feel as stressed about things as before and as for leaving DA, no I'm not going ahead with that. Honestly, I was so close to deactivating here many times during those past few months of silence. I've had personal reasons why, but thanks to friends and convincing myself that leaving wouldn't achieve anything positive - I've decided I should stay put. But I did need a good break anyway, it's not like I've had anything to post anyway.

However, I have cleaned out my gallery of a lot of art. I removed a lot of artwork I didn't like or just found to be too simplistic for my gallery. Others I moved to scraps. Fear not, nothing is lost forever ^^ all artwork can still be found at my personal website www.lurking-leanne.com/artgall… (just saying this so that people who are wondering why certain pictures are gone, know where to find them ^^)
If you notice some of your commissions/trades/gifts are gone from here, it's nothing personal. I just want my gallery to contain my better quality works and I feel like it was too cluttered. However, if you want to submit the art I done for you to your own gallery - you're free to do so! Just be sure to leave credit to me so people don't accuse you of art theft

Now, as for the future of submitting artwork here. This account will be for all my usual 'fanart' pieces (Crash Bandicoot, Oddworld, Pokemon etc) as well as commissions, gifts, etc. I'll no longer be submitting 'simple' pieces of artwork here. I just feel like it's kind of a waste of space and I'd rather be sharing my better works here. However, everything will be posted to my website... or even earlier, to my Patreon. It's been a bit inactive for the past 2 months, but that is the place I share absolutely ALL of what I create. $3+ pledges get access to my 'work in progress' as well, which I don't submit anywhere else. So yeah, I've been making an effort to make my Patreon more active again, especially for the kind people who still support me monthly - despite my lack of artwork D: but I am trying to change that! I promise! And yes, I'm still slowly doing more 'mature' art too, which is shown first on Patreon as well for some supporters.

As for Crash Bandicoot (Crunch) related art, I've been in the mood to continue more with my planned 'reboot' for Crunch's story, so keep an eye out for new stuff relating to that once I get down to it ^^ the Crash PS4 remakes are really helping me with the motivation here! However, my original project is still top priority. But this Crunch story reboot is still something I'm going to do on the side xD should be a lot of fun! I'm so excited for June the 30th!!!
Same with "Ace of Hearts", I still intend to continue with that too. Just gotta wait until real-life settles down a bit so I have the time and mental strength to get back into it. I still love Ace, I can't deny it even though my new priority is something and someone else hidden in the shadows...

So yeah I guess that's all I gotta say here. Just to clear things up a bit ^^ I'm sorry again for making people feel down or worried about me disappearing for good from here. I honestly couldn't leave this place anyway, all my favourite artists and friends are here. And I have too many good friends and supporters who give a damn about my silly little existence and my artwork. I'll still be inactive on DA for another week or two, but I am crawling back into the art... slowly but surely. But yeah, I am very thankful for all the support as always, no doubt about it.

TaraM