Sortimid was kind enough to sketch a before & after transformation for me in thanks for my one year subscription to his Patreon! It was so good I had to commission him to ink and colour it. And then, well I had to contribute something to it, so I put together a short little story to help tie things together. Hope you enjoy the read.
I loved Sortimid’s work here. The concept strayed a little from his usual content, but nonetheless he managed to bring a wealth of life and expression to the piece, demonstrating his talent and flexibility as an artist. If you haven’t already, check out his work on his deviantART and if you love his work, why not subscribe to his Patreon too, you won’t be disappointed.
Summer at Rainbow Square
The abridged journal entries of a woman overworked; her year of self-discovery and transformation.
12th
December 2017
This is Nicole Sommer with my first therapist-prescribed journal entry. Apparently
I need to slow down and take some time to reflect on things in order to reduce
my stress levels. You know what would really help lower my stress levels… some
fucking Xanax.
13th
December 2017
These are such a waste of time, I should be finishing that report I
started. Maybe I can get in early tomorrow and put it on Bob’s desk before he
gets in. There’s just no way I’m getting passed over for another promotion.
After all this time I deserve a title without the word ‘junior’ in it. Fingers
crossed for my review on Tuesday.
19th
December 2017
I can’t believe Bob did it to me again! God, I am such an idiot for
expecting anything more from that ungrateful miser. Three years of bare minimum
pay rises and no promotion. I gave my LIFE to this company and in return he
promotes Greg; his douchebag son-in-law whose only skill is taking credit for
everyone else’s hard work. Well I’ve had it, I’m sick of being trodden on!
20th
December 2017
My heart is still racing, I still can’t believe I actually did it, I finally
quit that dreadful job. The look on Bob’s face was priceless! Goodluck getting
Greg to do half his own job, let alone mine. Kinda relieved I left after payday; can’t imagine my little
rant was very well received. So, as much as I like getting on top of things, I’m
going to take a well-earned break over the next month or two. Besides, even if
I wanted to, no one’s hiring over the holidays anyway.
4th
January 2018
You won’t believe what I found at my parent’s place over Christmas;
my old paints and brushes from college! I almost forgot I ever dropped visual
arts for commerce. It gave me a fantastic idea: I’ve got years of marketing
experience and I’m handy with a brush. Why not take advantage of that and start
my own business. I mean, what have I got to lose? I have enough capital, and if
it doesn’t work out I can always fall back to marketing.
12th
January 2018
I think things are finally starting to look up. I’ve already managed
to put together three finished pieces! There’s just something calming about it
all, gliding my brush over a fresh canvas feels so amazing. I just need to get them
out to the public somehow.
19th
January 2018
Hey, it’s Nicole. I managed to talk my way into getting a stand at the ‘Rainbow
Square’ market. I’m so excited. Maybe the slideshows and charts were a little
overkill and maybe the pantsuit was a
little intimidating, but it worked! I have a small spot next to Gavin the
kombucha guy. I might have to turn things down a notch if I want to fit in. No
one wants to buy paintings from the woman who looks like their tax accountant.
4th
February 2018
I’m starting to think that maybe there’s some merit to the starving
artist trope. I’m not selling near enough for this to be sustainable. My
savings can take a hit for now, but I’ve got to turn this around soon. Gav’s offered
to get my name around town a bit, which was really sweet of him. Honestly, the
people here are so much more friendly than expected. I can have a bad hair day,
be too lazy to put on makeup and no one stares or makes even the slightest
sarcastic remark.
8th
February 2018
Had to cancel my gym membership today. I’m going to have to cut back if I’m
going to make this budget work. It’s no big deal, I’ve been getting some
fantastic yoga lessons with Sarah from Rainbow Square. Sure, she’s a bit too
into healing stones but she can also touch the back of her head with her feet.
11th
February 2018
I got my first commission! I tried all sorts of social media
campaigns, ads, flyers, anything I could think of, but in the end it was Gav’s spruiking
that saved the day! The client paid cash in full, for an oddly specific (and
explicit) piece. I’m not really in the business of being prudish, I’m in the
business of staying in business. I‘m just a little disappointed that eight
years of corporate branding experience seem to have amounted to nothing. On the
other hand, I couldn’t be more grateful, so I’ve offered Gav a referral fee if
he finds me more clients.
15th
February 2018
I can’t believe I just threw away an entire week’s profit on dinner and drinks
with the girls. It didn’t help that Katie kept asking whether I was going to
get a ‘real’ job again. I kind of want to double down just to show her. My yoga
guru Sarah is throwing a houseparty on Saturday. I am so over this week, honestly
it could not come sooner. She said it’s nothing fancy, should I bring wine?
18th
February 2018
Nicky here! I had a great time at the party, the wine was well
received and I even made a few new friends (and potential clients!) Everyone
was pretty relaxed, there was a fire going and when the crowd died down, a few
of the housemates started passing around a joint. I didn’t partake, but the aroma
that wafted around was kinda pleasant. Sarah called this afternoon to tell me I’d
left my sandals behind. I must have forgotten them and stumbled home barefoot –
hey I was pretty buzzed okay.
2nd
March 2018
Went shopping with Katie today. Things were going great until she
started poking fun at me for going up a dress size or two. I laughed it off the
first couple of times, but she just wouldn’t let it go. It was as if she wanted me to feel bad about myself. No
matter what I said she couldn’t understand how I could ever be satisfied with
my body the way it was. We kind of left on a sour note after I told her I
wasn’t going to go back to skipping meals and starving myself, just to satisfy her
own insecurities.
8th
May 2018
I bumped into an old colleague yesterday, he almost didn’t
recognise me at first. He kept giving me this weird look for some reason and he
got really squirmy when I went in to hug him. It was really awkward. It wasn’t
until he left that I realised he was staring at my underarms the entire time. I
guess it’s been more than a few weeks since I’ve shaved, and he was always weirdly
overdoing it with the hand sanitiser back then. I couldn’t stop laughing.
14th May 2018
The commissions Gav has been finding me are getting weirder every week, but at least they pay well. I’m just going to have to face it; there’s just no market for still life and unicorns in this neck of the woods. People only ever want the smut. I’ve started channelling my inner Georgia O’Keeffe recently, and made sure to add a few explicit pieces towards the back of the stall. Here’s hoping sex sells as much as they say it does.
1st
June 2018
Hey it’s Nicky, can’t wait for the big move tomorrow! I’ve been so
excited ever since Sarah offered me the room a few weeks ago. I loved my little
apartment, but I just can’t cover the rent on this budget. Besides, I already
spend every other weekend at Sarah’s anyway, I couldn’t think of any other
place I’d rather live.
13th
July 2018
Best household ever. There never seems to be a dull moment here. Best
of all, no one cares if I walk around nude, so long as I put down a towel; clothes
are overrated anyway. I’m not sure how it started, but I’ve earnt the nickname
‘Summer.’ I’ve been told it’s on account of my surname and my sunny personality.
I like it.
1st August 2018
Had a lovely birthday yesterday surrounded by a dozen or two of my closest
friends. Katie and the girls made it, although they kinda stuck to their own
group. I tried to spend some time with them when I could but their eyes just
sort of glazed over whenever I turned the topic away from celebrity goss and
fashion. Hate to say it, but I was kind of glad when they left early to be
honest. It felt like I could let my hair down and just be myself again.
4th
November 2018
Sarah and I have been spending a lot of time together. I’ve really
enjoyed hanging out in her room together. Just listening to records and sharing
a joint, while she worked away at rolling my new dreads. I know, I know, there
are boundaries when it comes to housemates, but I can’t change the way she
makes me feel.
12th November 2018
So, Sarah and I finally took the leap this morning; it was intense to say the
least. I haven’t been intimate with another woman since that one time in
college. But none of it mattered because she was so considerate and generous.
It was lovely. Neither of us wants anything too serious, which is great,
because as tacky as it sounds, I see myself as more of a free spirit these days.
11th December 2018
All packed for the big trip tomorrow. Just me, Sarah, Gav and the rest of the Rainbow Square crew surrounded by nature and not much else for a week of pure bliss. I can’t believe how much things have changed for me since last year. I’m so glad I never got that promotion; I deserved better.
Peace and love, Summer.
