*growf!*

Happy recovery from St. Patrick's Day all! Well for some of you, probably. :P

After a nearly 12 hour day of work, we had to get major groceries which took another couple hours of the evening, so... unfortunately this Paw-Post ended up being the latest ever. :( I had the Q&A stuff done, but not formatted beforehand, but most of it had to be built later, and despite having a couple hours before midnight, that just wasn't enough time. So apologies for a tardy Post.

So, this brings me to the whole descriptions thing again. Now that the tagging has gotten more sophisticated to indicate species and in some cases theme, I think I'm just going to cease with adding descriptions to everything again unless the picture warrants special/extra commentary. I know some folks enjoy that (I enjoy making it too) but when weeks come down to a crunch like this one, I find I rarely even have time to comment on the original submission let alone in the Paw-Post as well. With the Post dropping to one a week now, it's not unusual to have over 50 submissions possible, so that's a LOT of comments to try and make.

On the upside though, I have gotten some great feedback on the tagging of Most Pawesome Picture Runner-ups; for many, it's a great quick way to see some of the top pics in a Paw-Post if in a hurry, so glad you guys like that. :)

There are lots and lots of links to share for this Paw-Post (in fact... this might be the most links ever in a single Post), and I have one epic Artist Highlight for y'all - Iggi Eastwind. So sit back and enjoy!


TC's Random Music Pick

Nine Inch Nails - "Hyperpower" (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbzufZj5URs

Songs that start out really, really awesome and just build to an insane intensity are amazing. Few such songs do so as incredibly well as this one! From the really awesome beat to the roaring electric guitar baseline to the almost panic-like intensity at it's climax, this short song is one powerful statement. There are also a number of great remixes of it as well, including an awesome extended one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbqUrJyjTNc It's kinda symbolic of my career in IT in a way; started out so cool, and got increasingly chaotic and intense as time went on. XD


Open for Sales/Commissions

 Tartii - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/7449417/
 Silvixen - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/7450429/
 Harlem - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/7451779/

========================
LEGEND:
nsfw = Nudity and/or adult situation
nsfw-ish = Impending adult situation, suggestive nudity
sfw-ish = mostly safe, but implied pending adult stuff, or anatomically correct bumps. :P
sfw = hopefully won't damage anyone's brains if they see it on your screen
m = male
f = female
f-h = mostly female hermaphrodite
m-h = mostly male hermaphrodite
h = hermaphrodite (50/50 for m/f)
tm = transgender/inter-sexed, identifies as male
tf = transgender/inter-sexed, identifies as female
macro = super-sized characters involved
micro = tiny sized characters involved
ref = character reference sheet
charr! = a Guild Wars 2 race... I'm biased here - they're sexy and get their own rating. :P
Sera! = picture featuring Sera; always a guarantee of amazing paw stuffs
Loki! = picture featuring Loki (or one of his charr); also always a guarantee of amazing paw stuffs
po = Paws Only; IE, the image is just footpaws/feet
TCO! = Tame Comments Only (don't post suggestive or sexual comments on artists page; they don't want/like it)
Pawsexual = Person who derives 51% or more of their sexual drive from Feet/Paws
rl-human = Real life human foot picture
art-human = digital or traditional art, human foot picture

Footpaw Classes:
C1 to C5
See either of these journals for details/examples:
https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/7014996/
https://www.weasyl.com/journal/9393.....-for-paw-posts
========================

Most Pawesome Picture

by  Volac - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19361704/ (C4: sfw, m/m, charr!, Loki! - micro)

Because charr! And Loki! I swear... Sera and Loki are on missions to get as many "Most Pawesomes" as possible. Here we have Loki charr after getting strunk WAY down in size, where he gets to lay on the warm, welcoming pads of of Gentlepaw, where he can lick, sniff, nuzzle and hug them 'til his heart's content. Awwww.


CariFoxLeopard:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19391142/ (C4: sfw-ish, m, canine)


Modem Leolynx:
https://www.weasyl.com/submission/1.....he-fallen-wind (C1: sfw, f, equine)
(alt. link): https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19340437/


3DiNoZ:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19341780/ (C4: nsfw, m/m, dragon)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19375734/ (C4: nsfw, m/m, charr!) - Most Pawesome Runner-Up!


Kabier:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19346519/ (C4: nsfw, m/f, fox, rabbit - Zootopia)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19353975/ (C4: nsfw, m/fh, canine)


Teaselbone:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19346811/ (C3: sfw, m, badger - macro)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19353688/ (C4: nsfw, m/m, canine - macro)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19353701/ (C4: nsfw, m, charr! - macro) - OMG... that paw! <3
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19382247/ (C3: sfw, m, fox)


Gravewalker:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19348761/ (C3: sfw-ish, f, pokemon - chubby)


Doran-Eirok:
https://www.weasyl.com/submission/1.....-paws-part-1-4 (C4: nsfw, m/f, dragon - macro)
(alt. link): https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19352678/


Flynx-Flink:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19353570/ (C4: nsfw, m/m/m, canine)


Red-Dog:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19357406/ (C4: nsfw-ish, f, lionness) - Hunrghh... those toeless nylons <3


Tazara:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19359909/ (C4/C5: nsfw, m, otter-hybrid)


Volac:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19362344/ (C4: sfw, m, charr!)


Evil-Sprite:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Just-.....erus-596495156 (C1: nsfw-ish, m, feline)
(alt. link): https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19366510/


Tag (aka Staggard):
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19369849/ (C4: nsfw, m, feline - light bondage)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19389495/ (C4: sfw, m, african-wild-dog)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19398536/ (C4 & C5: m/m, canine, avian) - Most Pawesome Runner-Up!


Kashmere:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19382372/ (C4: nsfw, f, fox) - so pretty! <3


KillTheSergel:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19379938/ (C5: sfw-ish, m/m, sergal, dragon - micro/insole)


Kyvax:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19384062/ (C4: sfw-ish, f, charr! - post-vore)


ZP92:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19386949/ (C1: nsfw, f/f/f/m, lion, meerkat)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19387049/ (C2: sfw-ish, f, panda)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19387098/ (C2: nsfw, m/f, dino, monkey - Donkey-Kong theme)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19387160/ (C1: nsfw-ish, f/f, feline)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19396830/ (C1: sfw-ish, f, wolf - tickling)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19396844/ (C2: sfw, m, fox - macro)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19409308/ (C2?: sfw, f, gazelle - Zootopia)

Okay comment warranted here - Zack has one-upped himself now; he took a pantigrade gazelle hoof, and make a hoof-tipped footpaw look DAMN good! Well done sir, well done.


BlitheDragon:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19388293/ (C4: nsfw, m/m, canine)


Dream-and-Nightmare:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19391187/ (C3: nsfw, m/m, dragon - on a BOAT!)


DemiDelerious:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19392401/ (C4: nsfw, m/m, canine) - Most Pawesome Runner-Up!

FurryBob:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19393245/ (C3: sfw-ish, m/m, wolverine, panda - tickling) - lol, an egg-timer. That's great.


KronexFire:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19393380/ (C3: sfw, m/m, bear)


Rukis:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19394363/ (C4: nsfw, m, canine) - holy MOLY, amazing realism!


SorcererLance:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19397773/ (C3: sfw, f, rabbit - Zootopia)


Kenson:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19398013/ (C3: sfw, m/m, feline - macro)


TideKeeper:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19398606/ (C4: nsfw-ish, m/m, Raskei)
https://www.weasyl.com/submission/1.....promo-toeclaws (C3: sfw, m, dragon - po) - its MEEEEEE!
(alt. link): https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19406067/

So um... yes, comment on this one - those big sexy footpaws? They're mine. :3 Click on the FA/alt link to read the description I wrote to learn more. But... basically, yes, I have a fursona now. :D


Gakuseigitsune:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/19390537/ (C1: sfw-ish, m/m, snake) - thanks to DrakeParadox for the heads-up on this one!


Raichupuppy:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19408165/ (C3: sfw-ish, m/m, raccoon)


RedFeathers:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19407930/ (C1: sfw, m, humanoid/sorcerer) - eee... he has NICE soles. :3


Restif:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Lynet.....foot-597106562 (C1: sfw, f, human - digital-art)

Okay quick note here - this is Lynette, one of Restif's sirens, and if I had to point you to a "perfect" female foot - these gorgeous ones are the closest thing I've ever seen. EVERY proportion is just beautiful to me.


Footografo:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Did-Y.....ster-595451303 (C1: sfw, f, human - real-life)

​
Artist Highlight: Iggi Eastwind!

Main Site:
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/iggi

Alternative Sites:
Webshop: https://iggi.ink
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Iggi.Eastwind
Print Shop: http://inkedfur.com/creator/iggi

Work Samples: (picked by Iggi):
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/16702270/ (C3: NSFW: Flat Sketch: Artica)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/17369769/ (C4: NSFW): Flats: Athaina)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11112889/ (C2: NSFW: Complex: Deuce and Naru)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7274535/ (C3/C4: NSFW: Complex: Female Fox)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6832607/ (C4: Safe: Cell: Sheba)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/12055153/ (C4: MNSFW: CSS Sketch: Sierra)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13376001/ (C3: MNSFW: Cell: Sarah)

Work Samples (picked by TC):
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/17429574/ (C4: nsfw, m/f, dragon, canine)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/15746361/ (C3: nsfw, m, wow-druid)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/15776722/ (C3: nsfw, f/f/f, feline, canine - tickling)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13524099/ (C2: sfw, f/m/f, argonian, canine)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/12601962/ (C4: sfw, m, wolf, Loki!)

Personal Summary:
I've been drawing for most of my life, furry characters being the primary focus for most of it (with a dabbling of humans for a while too). I fell into the furry art community in college in 2008 via a college friend, though I've been furry most of my life not knowing there was a group of people for it! I joined the community as a means to share my art, and find a way of making a living doing one of things I'm best at. And my sona like many, has evolved over the years as I've changed. Starting from a Caracal cat neko-mimi type character, and then an anthro ocelot, moving to a bearded dragon ocelot that has had several marking revisions to be the current state I am now!

Comment Preferences:
I actually love thought out critiques, especially on personal work. Things that point out both weakness as well as strengths of pieces with as much as you can give to details on how you would view to fix it are well received. Though often I may not be able to or have the time to change problems, it always will help in the future. The only time I prefer to avoid it publicly is on commissions that are finalized. That way commissioners may not feel (or notice) a mistake and feel less happy with what they paid for. I'm always looking to improve, and try to do personal work whenever I can to endeavor to do so. Comments are almost always welcome, however on personal pieces I tend to shy away or hide the stuff that is a bit creepy or TMI. I try to post the  nocreepycomments whenever that might be an issue. Generally I'm drama-avoidant, preferring to hide things that I feel will cause a stir for myself or others.

Commission / ToS Info:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/.....HlPsKD3GUulMs/


Some Q&A!
(done live via Skype)

(TC) Hiya Iggi - and welcome to the Paw-Post Highlight! Thanks for being willing to take part. By now you're certainly no stranger to the fact that there are a LOT of paw-lovers out there in the fandom. What was your first impression on finding out your work appealed to them?

(Iggi) Well I was pretty new to the community then, I was just like 'Oh, they have a thing for that. Wow Furries have things for a lot of things'. So with the help of a friend who was quite into paws, I got better at drawing them for her which in turn got me more people interested in paws from me.

(TC) So being the paw-post and all, I'm gonna need to at least pop a few paw-centric questions at you, so bear with me. Now... I know ya pretty well and already know the answer to this, but for the sake of everyone else; do you have an interest in footpaws or feet yourself?

(Iggi) Hahaha, of course. Um, I like drawing the anatomical structures of them for sure. They are complicated and varied from species to species which makes them an interesting subject that I enjoy drawing. I find them cute many times, but sexually I can't say that I am. Though, I can't say that I don't like foot rubs and my feet are my only week spot for tickles. (Don't go tickling me though, I kick!)

(TC) *snickers* Noted. Feet are sensitive though - which is why they are so awesome when you get someone that knows how to give a proper massage to them! So... in drawing them, is there a particular type or species you like best? You seem to be really amazing all variations.

(Iggi) I wouldn't say I have a preference drawing wise. But I find C4 the cutest type, with my own sona having what I think are the most attractive. Which I imagine anyone would give their sona their favorite type right? ( https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12730130/ ) Dewclaws are adorable to me, little thumb toes!

(TC) Heee... yes, I love dewclaws in their various forms like your fursona (or charr! Yay for charr). And true - most folks go with the footpaw type they like most for their sonas. Iggi is a really amazing and unique sona too at that, but we'll get back to her in a moment. So... the next question; how in the world did you get SO good at drawing footpaws? I ask because I think you could count on one hand the number of artists on FA that draw them as well as you.

(Iggi) I probably only got so good because I had a lot of demand for them when I started. But I've always felt paws were part of what made a species definable, so I studied it as much as I could once I started taking commissions in the community to make sure I was good at it. They aren't always species accurate when I draw them, but I try to when I can. Like anything though, references, study, and practice can make you good at it. and I do a decent amount of that. Plus with me knowing a lot of people who watched me like paws (like you TC), I make sure to put a little more detail into them which made me get better over time. Here is a basic guide to how I think about paws: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/5608600/

(TC) Oh cool - thank you for sharing! A nice C4 type guide. I can see how all those played into it for sure, but I would also say you have some serious natural artistic talent that helps. You have a real sense of detail to structure; IE, you can see how the bones and tendons and stuff would work in the footpaws you design. So... less a paw and more an art question, did you have formal training in art, or has it always just been a passion?

(Iggi) Well I was fortunate enough to have both parents that were into art growing up. And they were pretty diligent in training me once I knew I wanted to do that as a kid. I remember days in high school where my dad was like 'you have two hours to replicate this image from this book or you won't see your boyfriend this weekend'. Harsh yes, but I suppose it got me to work quickly and do well under pressure. I also recall my mom helping me with homework and discovering a nude I had drawn of my boyfriend at the time. My mom, though very Christian, pulled it out, took my pencil and corrected the anatomical mistakes of his manhood and put it back in my binder. (So embarrassing, imagine me not knowing what a penis looked like! XD) College wise, I had little training. I actually went to college for computer animation and it contained only 2 basic art classes with things I already knew from just high school classes. So I haven't had formal training, mostly just familial speed drills and high school art classes. The rest was just my own research and study. So really, just high school I would say is enough to get going, but you have to take your ongoing study to better yourself. Never stop trying to learn and go out of your artistic comfort zone!

(TC) Wow... that is pretty epic, and goes pretty far back! Also, not the first embarrassing art find from a parent of a an artist I've heard about. XD So wow, computer animation training too - have you ever taken that further with the crazy skills you have now?

(Iggi) Sadly, not yet. I actually didn't much like the animation part and rigging classes. I enjoyed concept art, character poly modelling, texturing, and that is about it. I had went to college with the hopes of being a concept artist for a video game company, but instead settled in to work on my own here. Both working from home and a company job have their perks. For now this works and I can work on improving and building a professional portfolio since there was little training in college to do such a thing, which I didn't realize then. I don't feel like I'm quite there yet to put together a portfolio worthy of a concept artist job, which is actually something I'm going to start doing. I realized that on my beginning of the year hiatus, that I needed to get back to my own personal progress as an artist.

(TC) I know from our past talks that this is what you do for a living - and you're very professional and organized about it too. But you see room for streamlining it more? Or expanding it?

(Iggi) There always is room for improvement since things evolve and change. I would probably try to smooth it out. I know the wording can be very daunting for a lot of people. Granted, most of it is standard procedures, but I like to lay them out. Someday I also endeavor to change the way I even take commissions and the types I offer.

(TC) What do you find the most challenging about being in business for yourself?

(Iggi) Saving money for tax season by far. Business more on a daily basis; managing my time effectively and doing my best to stay focused even when personal life gets in the way. I've had a hard time with that one lately, and it has caused a lot of problems for me. All I can do is learn from it, and make sure I don't take on more than a few commissions at once even if I think it will be hard to make ends meet with less. More just gets me overwhelmed, and having to play catch-up is never good for anyone.

(TC) Yeah, I think that would be very stressful. I certainly hope I'm not too big a distraction on the day doing this. XD So do you have a favourite thing you like to get for a commission - something that you really enjoy working on from start to finish?

(Iggi) Hmm, guilty pleasure artwork. Ahh I hate to admit these kinds of things, because even though I like them I don't want to get swamped with them! Variety is good. But if I were to divulge, pregnancy and family related artwork is near and dear to my heart. In the more adult spectrum, oviposition, food-play, and tentacles are the most fun since I enjoy it myself. On a purely artistic standpoint, close-ups of faces, hands and feet are a lot of fun and give me the joy of practising weird textures. I've also been interested in trying transformation artwork, it seems like a lot of fun!

(TC) I like that there's a lot of variety in that - always something to keep your interest. And one paw-specific thing at that! That reminds me of something else about your work - you're exceptionally good with expression work, not just in the face, but body language as well right down to the footpaws. Would you find it a challenge if someone asked for, say a just a paw or face or hand picture close up that conveyed a certain emotion that had to be depicted with just that area?

(Iggi) Just about everything I try to take as a challenge. From 'make that weird ugly monster sexy' to 'convey an emotion on something specific'. As for challenging, yes it would be. I could likely visualize it, but getting it to a piece of art is a whole other story. But as I said, I do like challenges art-wise; it is how one improves.

(TC) *grins at the monster comment* You know, that said - I have never seen anyone make such a wide array of monsters look SO dangerously attractive as you. That is a crazy cool skill. So for a picture like that, do you sometimes find having a reference of some sort useful?

(Iggi) Most of the time references help, but I typically will use my own body, or mates body so I can look at it in 3D. Sometimes though it is hard to do and I'll have to try and find one on the internet or bring it out of my mind-space.

(TC) I like that term "bring it out of my mind-space". So... as an artist, particularly one doing it as a living, what do you do to stay inspried and/or keep a good workflow?

(Iggi) Perusing the internet way too much keeps me inspired. Seeing art from my favorite artist like Corvus Pointer, Centradragon, Kacey, Cooper, and Diago just to name a few. They give me ideas for things I would like to try in my own personal art, and I often try emulating new artists I find and ones i already love with my own work. I pick up little things that I enjoy that get folded over into my style. In fact I'd say that is a huge part of how my personal art style became what it is. Little bits here and there from art I like and how I perceive the world. Keeping a workflow going smoothly is the hardest part. Getting up and moving and doing exercise before art really does help if I can get off my butt to do it. Laying out a schedule with some basic goals, with daily stretch goals also helps. Breaking up the day into 2 hour arting chunks is also helpful sometimes, though also sitting solid and over-focusing is good too if I can do it. For me, silence really helps me focus though I know for many music helps a lot.

(TC) Alright... now let's get back to your Iggi sona. She is a very beautiful character, and of course, has amazing footpaws. But anyone who's watched you for a time might notice she looks different now than originally. Can you explain the changes and reasons for the evolution of Iggi?

(Iggi) There has been even more changes than just what was on FA too! I originally started off as a caracal cat lion type thing back in middle school ( https://www.furaffinity.net/view/3014998/ ), and didn't become and ocelot until 2006. ( https://www.furaffinity.net/view/3015378/ ) The ocelot was what a had a few friends that said it was my spirit animal. I didn't even own any spotted cat stuff, but I thought they were d'aww and went with it. In college I had bearded dragons and after living with them I realized a lot of personality traits that we shared. Around that same time in 2008-ish I think, I joined the online furry community. So with that brought a new sona and chapter into my life. I've changed her a few times, every time a major life change has kind of hit. Mostly just markings and slight tweaks to her colors as my favorites changed. Will I change her again even? Probably, but at this point I don't know when or to what degree.

(TC) Oh wow... I didn't realize the changes had been that dramatic! Very neat. She has been beautiful in all her forms, I think - very free and soulful sort of character, as well as very nurturing. Whatever changes might come for her, I'm sure they'll continue that trend. :) Alright - I think I asked just about enough questions of ya, so one more - is there anything you'd like to say to the folks and your many fans on the Paw-Post?

(Iggi) If you are an artist, keep practising, don't give up, and try to do at least one piece a week out of your comfort zone. As a commissioner, remember to always be nice and upfront about what you want so you can be more likely satisfied with the outcome (actually that goes for artists too). Keep loving you art, doing your best every day, and come to FA when you need a smile. (and preferably my page, I like to try to do art smiles) Thanks for watching me and doing this interview, it was fun!

Thank you so much Iggi! That was one very thorough and fun interview. SO - everyone please go have a look at her gallery because what's linked about is a TINY fraction of the incredible amount of work that Iggi has posted. And give her a watch if you haven't already! There are few artists who draw paws better than her. :) And that brings us to the end of a rather late, but massive Paw-Post! Have a good weekend everyone!

TC