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My Opinion:
17 years ago
The opinions expressed on this page are my own and do not reflect those of Fur Affinity or of any other.
"Si quid per iocum dixi, nolito in serium convertere."
("If I have said anything in jest, do not turn it into a serious thing.") -Plautus
"Si quid per iocum dixi, nolito in serium convertere."
("If I have said anything in jest, do not turn it into a serious thing.") -Plautus
There's been a lot of talk about "drama queens (or kings)" wanting to leave the fandom for whatever reason they have. Now, I could go a tirade over what I think of that, and why they shouldn't, but you don't to hear it. (Seriously, you DON'T!) So instead, here's a story of how one fur has managed to survive in the Fandom.
As my long-time fans would know, I got my start in snail-mail lists and xeroxed fanzines, namely those by the Alston Bros. and Cigarskunk's. (See "My Credentials"). And on the old alt.binary lists on a dial-up. I just showed up quietly, posting my art and not much else. I wasn't (and still not) on FurryMuck, nor have I ever been to a convention. I just drew, and kept drawing, and let nature take it's course.
If you asked me 10 years ago, if I'd still be drawing furry stuff, my answer would be a definate Yes. If you asked if I'd ever expect to have a fanbase that would streach across the CONUS, and reach as far as Europe, Japan, Australia, and even as far as South America and even South Africa, AND that I would influance to other furry artists, I wouldn't have believed you. And I still find it hard to believe. All this without even being professionaly published.
I have no idea how this happened.
So, how is it I managed to pass that first critical 10 year mark?
For one thing, I kept my nose out of the "Furrypolitik." I've seen the damages of flaming (and did a few when I was a newbie, and deeply regret doing so), and wanted no more of it. But for the most part, I just stuck to drawing, mainly for myself, and if people wanted a commission, I'm happy to accept, and let my work (and word of mouth) speak for me. The money is nice (when I get it), but what always brought me the most joy is seeing that it makes other people happy to see it. And it makes me feel like I've actually done something meaningful in my life. Perhaps we artists (and fans) forgoten that. And that seems to work out just fine for me.
Simply put: Just stick to what you like about Furrydom, and try to ignore the rest. And it doesn't hurt to be a bit of an "outsider." It gives you the opportunity to see things without bias.
So, why have I survived and other's haven't?
Because I perserveered.
As my long-time fans would know, I got my start in snail-mail lists and xeroxed fanzines, namely those by the Alston Bros. and Cigarskunk's. (See "My Credentials"). And on the old alt.binary lists on a dial-up. I just showed up quietly, posting my art and not much else. I wasn't (and still not) on FurryMuck, nor have I ever been to a convention. I just drew, and kept drawing, and let nature take it's course.
If you asked me 10 years ago, if I'd still be drawing furry stuff, my answer would be a definate Yes. If you asked if I'd ever expect to have a fanbase that would streach across the CONUS, and reach as far as Europe, Japan, Australia, and even as far as South America and even South Africa, AND that I would influance to other furry artists, I wouldn't have believed you. And I still find it hard to believe. All this without even being professionaly published.
I have no idea how this happened.
So, how is it I managed to pass that first critical 10 year mark?
For one thing, I kept my nose out of the "Furrypolitik." I've seen the damages of flaming (and did a few when I was a newbie, and deeply regret doing so), and wanted no more of it. But for the most part, I just stuck to drawing, mainly for myself, and if people wanted a commission, I'm happy to accept, and let my work (and word of mouth) speak for me. The money is nice (when I get it), but what always brought me the most joy is seeing that it makes other people happy to see it. And it makes me feel like I've actually done something meaningful in my life. Perhaps we artists (and fans) forgoten that. And that seems to work out just fine for me.
Simply put: Just stick to what you like about Furrydom, and try to ignore the rest. And it doesn't hurt to be a bit of an "outsider." It gives you the opportunity to see things without bias.
So, why have I survived and other's haven't?
Because I perserveered.
Having a belief that you should be an asshole to every single person is the same as being nice to every single person. It isn't possible and shouldn't be done.
I say discriminate in a good way. Sure, there are some in the fandom that you want to yell "Get the hell away". But, there are others who are nice that deserve to be respected and treated with kindness.
If you be nice to me, I will be nice to you.
We would be defiantly poorer without your creativity!
I agree with staying out the politics around here though, it is for the best ultimately.
You were one of the first artists I came across TBH and I have always loved your work. It is not as hardcore super realistic as some of the artists but the concepts and expressions you bring to your art tends to make up for it plenty well IMO. I look to your stuff usually for good yiff material and just as I do not think a novel is a good yiff story, as compared to a short story, I am not sure a Mona Lisa is required for a yiff picture. It is almost over doing it a bit. You often come up with really kinky ideas that I just love and as I said your facial expressions really deliver the feelings of the subject which can be really hot because it lets us get a real feel for how the situation is effecting them.
So I am rather glad that you have stuck in the fandom and will continue to do so. I also never intend to leave, as it is something I love so leaving it would not make sense.
D.O.P.R