So, you seen the latest? It's the "Eat This" meme, or at least that is what I think this one is called. I got so fired up to do one, I thought what I had was an orginal idea, so funny and it gave me a chance to do some art rather than sit on my freakin hands. Well, the wind kicked up and the drama llama spat in it and guess who gets snotted on, the artists! You see, somebody began to complain, oh, it is not orginal, oh, it is spam, oh, folks are getting lazy and photoshopping heads on it, oh my ingrown toenail is aching! Blah blah! So here I am, with art ready to post, thumbnails set, a witty intro to my contribution to the community and here I sit trying to decide to post it and possibility face the wrath of faceless goons who don't seem to have any humor. Ok, so the photoshopping crap is funny for a whole hot moment, until somebody points out that it is not art... hey, I can live with that. Now it is the spam part and the no artistic merit part which got my boxers in a bunch. Now really, art is surposed to be fun first, then when you are good enough, profit from it, but come on folks, it is only a meme, a little play. True there were a few that merit the ban hammer, but give us artists a break. Still, I got this piece waiting in the wings and I won't post it until things cool down, eh? Hey, The  BooBooBunnyGirl meme was harmless enough and down right fun. This one might be fun to providing those folks don't go pissing in the pool and blame the dog. Cheers

Yep, my 2000th page view came and went and me without a picture to celebrate it! I've been bogged down with trying to get my latest project finished, praying that I don't have a system crash in the process, coming up with new ideas to draw and trying to finish posting old stories. Phew! I can see how folks with lots of time on their hands can do this, but even my free time is bogged up with things. Anyway, I might just wait until I get to 3000 page views before doing a picture, no pressure they say, no pressure.

So the new year started with the first fustration, the first fly in the ointment. last night I was closer to completing my first work of 2008, what was meant to be a surprise but it instead surprised the hell out of me. No point of keeping it secret since one of the purposes of a journal is to bare (or bear) one's soul. I'm not much of a meme person but now and then I do indulge. It was  BooBooBunnyGirl's meme that attracted my attention even though I told her more or less that I was going to give up on doing that meme. I decided what the heck, one more meme and the first piece of new art of the new year, not counting the nude deer piece. Nothing special, just a piece that took two pieces to complete. With all the cleaning up needed, adding color to the first part, I started on the second part which turned out to be more of a bother than normal. First off, I forgot to scan it to the right size for which I normally work on pieces, it was too large, thus too big even in greyscale to work with, but that did not bother me. Days of cleaning up, not in one sitting mind you, a few hours here, a few hours there since RL demands a lot from me now. Finally last night, with vocal trance blaring from the winamp player, with FA up on another page, Paint Shop Pro 7 eating much memory, and after getting an ear-full from my girlfriend for one reason or another, I finally finished the cleaning up of the second piece. Now was the time, even though I was totally medicated, to increase the colors of the picture to 16 million colors, reduce the size to about 6000 pixels by 4000 pixels, create another picture that was double the size, and combine both pictures to be reduced in sized after coloring to finish the piece. At this point, those professionals, and those who are more talented and skilled than I am would be asking themselves, "WTF is he doing!!!" Hey, it is how I work, I don't know any better! Anyway, color increase went well, however the darn thing shot up to about 148 megs as opposed to the 48 megs it was in greyscale. I went to resize the picture and lo and behold, the winamp player sputtered in the middle of some soothing trance music, and I was greeted with a blue screen of death, a core dump!!! All that work, that spanned over the period of days, gone in a flash. No tears flowed, no gnashing of teeth, just a reboot but lost was all that work. I know, save often, that was what I should have done, but no, too much into it I was, way too much in a hurry to finish. Enough of the picture was saved before to continue the clean-up. At the moment, I'm sitting at work with PSP 7 running going back over the picture and cleaning up again, but lesson learned. Of course I am thinking to my self why bother, it will only get just a few views, the person who started this meme will not even comment on it, and if they do, really, she was getting sick of the meme as it is, and another shows up??? But still, art is art and needed to be created. To boot, my 2000th page view is coming up and I'm at a loss at what to draw for that, if I do draw anything. 2008 had a lot on it's plate but I wonder now if I should even bother, bah! Maybe I should just reduce my art and writing workload and just become a toadie faving and commenting on the work of others, the easy way out?

Yea, way too long a read to even bother, but journals are for the ranting and raving and bearing of souls. I will finish this picture, this trainwreck of art, post it and continue to the next project, but somehow I feel a bit empty. Tis my lot in life I guess.

Cheers.

No I did not get tagged but I figured I will do it, new year and cleansing of the soul and all that rot. I can well advice to get out the eye bleach and the ice pick for the tickling of the brain for what I am about to present. It ain't pretty for sure and should be a well learned lesson on what happens when you get old.
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1. Is there anyone on your friends list you would ever consider having sex with?

Yes. I'm not sure if they will remain friends with me after this. I do not consider myself attractive as it is but you gotta allow a person to have their fantasies.

2. Sex in the morning, afternoon or night?

Mostly at night, too busy during the day but if the mood strikes me and the opportunity, of course these days the opportunity is quite rare.

3. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

When you sleep in a twin bed, there is only one side.

4. Pork, beef, or chicken?

Chicken but I don't try to eat it in excess, I'm self conscience about stereotype. Beef is my thing, providing I can afford it. Now and then I will have pork.

5. Have you ever had to pull over on the side of the road to puke?

Yes. From motion sickness which is rare for me.

6. Have you ever taken your clothes off for money?

Yes, I did it for Uncle Sam to join the military. They examined me, I signed the paper, I did my duty and got paid for it. :)

7. Shower or bath?

Shower, but now and then I will indulge in a bath.

8. Do you pee in the shower?

Rarely. I try to hold it until I get out of course.

9. Mexican or Chinese?

Either are OK, but on some rare occasions I try to mix both. Hey, food is food sometimes.

10. Do you want someone aggressive or passive in bed?

I have always dreamed about having an aggressive partner in bed, somebody who will take charge. Of course it is all fantasy.

11. Do you love someone on your friend list?

Yes I do, but I won't mention who for certain reasons. Of course they don't know about it.

12. Do you know all the people on your friends list?

There are a few on the list who are friends who have been with me for quite a long time. Sadly I think they may think I'm growing distant since I hardly talk to them. Tis my lot in life to be on the outside and never truly inside.

13. Love or money?

That's a hard call. These days hard to get love without a little security. Loving the poor is not all that fun sometimes but the real test is that the one you love accepts you for what you are and not what you could be to them.

14. Credit cards or cash?

I mostly deal in cash since I destroyed my credit cards when I left the service. I have a debit card but I try not to use it too much. I would love to have a credit card again since I think I can handle it now.

15. Has there ever been anyone in your family you wish wasn't?

Sometimes I wish my older brother was not around, but that would be wrong. Most times I'm the one who wish did not exist.

16. Would you rather go camping or to a 5 star hotel?

Camping if I have all the right gear but I won't turn down a stay in a 5 star hotel.

17. What is the weirdest place you have had sex?

So far those places I did have sex were in the usual places. I still have yet to find a strange place to have sex, and at my age, I very much doubt that will happen in the future.

18. Would you shave your entire body (including your head) for money?

No.

19. Have you ever been to a strip club?

Oh yes! Funny thing about being in the military, it would be the first place to experience the strip club experience. Yet I did visit one strip club before I went to the service, in fact before I was of age to even drink. Although at the time there were no strippers performing, there were a few around the bar. I kinda think they were giving me a good look. :)

20. Ever been to a bar?

Yes, but that was another time.

21. Ever been kicked out of a bar or a club?

No.

22. Ever been so drunk you had to be carried out of somewhere?

Yes. A few times in my past overseas, but of course that was part of the military experience.

23. Kissed someone of the same sex?

Yes. I have to admit, I did experiment. I found it interesting but not enough to turn me totally gay, just Bi enough.

24. Favorite drink?

It is a toss up between Sloe Gin Fizz and Jack Daniels and Coke. But now I can't drink anymore. :(

25. Had sex in a movie theater?

No.

26. Had sex in a bathroom?

Yes. Overseas, the Philippines, Dorm bathroom with a girl I took home with me. It was the only time.

27. Have you ever had sex at work?

No, not even in fantasies. :)

28. Have you ever been in an "adult" store?

Yes.

29. Bought something from an adult store?

Yes. I still think blow up dolls are a bit over-rated but in a pinch, it eases the pain.

30. Have you been caught having sex?

Yes, once when a roommate walked in on me.

31. Does anyone have naughty pics of you?

No. I offered my Girl friend a picture of me in the nude but she refused. Funny thing, she stated her mother would find out, and this woman is as old as I am now. :(

32. Who do you think has the guts to repost this?

Plenty of people but I won't go tagging anyone. I don't want to lose what few friends I have. :)

Cheers.

So I broke down and did a nude deer pic for 2008, yea! Even though I do not really look forward to the new year, I just as well buckle down and get at it. It is just another year to look forward to. On the list of things to do is to try and be more sociable, yep, that will be a task. I won't turn away the younger crowd even though I might run around just for a few seconds screaming "Ewww! kiddies!!! get them off me, get them off me!!!" I will offer the sage advice warrented by my years of experience but I will hold my tongue when it comes to oppinions after all, those are like assholes, everyone has one and nobody needs to hear mine. I can stand to improve on my art so I will be hitting the books and whatever reference I can get my mad hands on. So I might be still shooting for number 2418823 in the long line of artist, but I figure I better make an effort at not being all that crappy. As for my personal life, I can only try not to hate it so much, after all, there are those less fortunate than me out there so I should have no real complaints. At the very least if one person acknowledge my existance, it's better than being that annoying invisible voice folks tend to not hear. I don't know, maybe I am mellowing out in my old age, striving to keep from being that grumpy old man who give folks the creeps. Heh, who am I kidding anyway. Oh well, here to a new year folks, may it give you all much joy, and at least give me something to look forward to.

Tis the season to be jolly, yea, right. I'm not really feeling it, but it is to be expected. This time of year seems normal for me to feel the sting of the old Humbug. Stressing out over getting art done, that's not good. Trying to shop to get stuff for folks and coming up short, not also good. The little Christmas twig which I call a tree was not decorated yet, it sits bare on the coffee table. Something still drives me to keep on and not take the chicken way out, oh well so be it. I find myself trying to spread the cheer, embrace the stranger and tell them things are alright yet I have only myself to console and I do a real crappy job at it. Each year about this time I sit and try and re-evaluate what friends are for and what they mean and each year I find myself distancing myself from those who seem willing to befriend me for fear of souring up the relationship. Speaking of which, the one between me and my girlfriend is slowly growing sour. I try to make her happy and I wind up making things worse. I can't leave because in some way she needs me, if not as a lover, as someone to help her and her pets. At this point I will wind up just being the servant than just a partner but enough of that.

This is just a phase I go through each year so if anyone is reading this, don't worry. I'll get through this, I always do. I will finish what I promise, even if it is a tad late. Perhaps looking forward to the next year may make me feel better. I will try and continue to help, offer a kind word, a critique or two if it is within my power to do so, it is all one person can do. Thanks and Cheers.

Yep, it's that time of year again, it rolled over me like so many zombie snowmen leaving a bad taste of gingerbread in my mouth. As usual, the holiday is upon me and I have yet to sit down and draft a picture to celebrate this holiday, for that matter, I have no clue on what to do for the Happy Nude Deer picture I try and do each year. The dreaded artist block continues and little by little I try and finish my latest submission while ideas like sugar plumbs dance dance revolution in my head. Oh I could do a rendition of "Randolf the Stressed out Reindeer", yet again, or perhaps add onto "Have a Paramilitary Christmas!" by actually drawing elves marching in review. Heavens knows how many things you can sexually do with a candy cane and a willing bunny but it just does not seem the same as in the old days.

For those out there who are itching to draw something of a festive scene a few ideas I know I won't draw. From Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Characters from the Island of Misfit Sex Toys, Frosty the Snowman: Crack Addict, The 12 nights of Christmas with Krystal and twelve of your favorite kinks.

The list goes on but maybe this year I will keep things to a low roar and just try my hand at a calm snow scene, with little animals making snow angels underneath pine trees. Anyway, the holiday has got me tied up like a Christmas goose and I can feel the tinsel coming out my butt. Merry Christmas to all and to all a horny bunny gal. :)

Sometimes life's lessons hit you hard and sometimes it returns for a repeat performance. This is the case with doing such things as art trades and gift art. (before I continue I would like to note that this was not the result of a recent... I can't say incident, it was innocent enough and I honest to god hope no ill feelings were generated.)

In any case, again I learned that one must ask before one proceeds to draw outside their own circle of influnces. One could blame popularity for it, everyone wanting to jump upon one bandwagon or another. I thought it was just a harmless show of appreaciation (sp?) towards a fellow artist. Again, no ill feelings, just a reminder not to get too close. I'm not saying that I'm going to put the walls back up and string razor wire along the ramparts or anything like that. I'm just going to take a step back, remember who and what I am and take a long deep breath and chalk it up to another life experience.

I felt a bit recharged at the latest round of art and stuff and feel that I am now ready to take on some of the back projects I have been putting off for years. I'll let the other circles revolve around themselves and let popularity pick and choose their own without intruding. (sigh) At any rate, been busy with other stuff and I think once I am done I can finally close 2007 as the year I returned to art, with the hope I don't crash again and go on another two or three year hiatus on art.

For all those reading and watching, thank you and I will try not to make a mess on your lawn. (woof woof)

Oh Snap! I got tagged by  RoseTheSexKitten So it looks like it is my turn
to contribute to this. Here are the rule for those who are lucky enough to be tagged:

1. Post These rules.
2. Each person tagged must post 8 random (Hopefully interseting) facts about themselves.
3. The tagged should write a journal of these facts.
4. At the end of the post 8 more bloggers are tagged and named.
5. Go to their page and leave a comment telling them that they'er tagged.

Ok, 8 facts and don't blame me if they are not interesting. I did not lead a very interesting life such as it is.

1) When I was young and living on a farm, I came across a baby chick in the hen house which just stood there and
then keeled over dead. (I was 8 years old at the time. To this day I have a problem with chickens. :(

2) Again, when I was young I made my own plush toy, a rabbit. (Understand that I am male and 9 years old at the time.) I showed it off to my family and did not understand wny my grandparents frowned upon it, perhaps they were afraid of their grandson turning gay. (I surprised them by just turning Bi. :) )

3) I used to have a deep seated fear of eating tomatoes because I thought ingesting the seeds would cause the plants to grow inside my stomach. Silly really and I outgrew that fear. Now I only get squinked at the thought of eating Okra. :)

4) I used to growl like a dog when I get angry and fustrated. My parent tried to break me out of the habit but with no luck. I still growl but now I am more aware of it.

5) (sigh) In highschool I had a girl make a pass at me and did not even know it. It was later when I discovered she grabbed ahold of my crotch and squeezed. To this day I still regret not receiving the message.

6) I have a inner conflict dealing with order. I organize my underware drawer by size and wear, while I just toss my other clothes hither and yonder in assorted drawers. You would think I would organize everything, but oddly enough, just underware. (Good thing I don't collect panties, yet. :) )

7) I cry for no reason sometimes when I see certain movies and TV shows. I'm at a loss to explain this, I just do.

8) (I saved the worst/best for last.) I actually have a fear of being sexual. My last short relationship ended when I refused to do certain things. I considered myself damaged at times but I still hold out hope. (yea, right.)


Yea, like I said, into all that interesting but that is what happened when I get tagged. Anyway time for me to try and tag others to do this. Perhaps you readers will get lucky and find the others more interesting than me. Oh well, sorry in advance if this list of mine is lame.

I TAG the Following:

 NeosAnthroSoldier
 Kitt_Kitten
 CherryFox
 Binnoc9
 Pouncer
 Saber
 NeoSibe
 awash2002

I can never seem to shake it, each time I get a renewed flow if inspiration to draw, something always jumps in to spoil it. In this case, the old fear of doing gift art and art trades. :( I have one birthday picture that is going to be way late because I'm too critical on how it will turn out, and It is not even going to be colored. Again I am doubting my skills to produce even the most simple labor of love, for that I am sorry for the one promised the birthday picture. I got a go-ahead by one person to do an art trade but now I am more than afraid to do it. I've done rough sketches but they may never get scanned. This person is quite good at art and again the fear of not measuring up has cost me a possible friend and comrade in art. Two more I wanted to do gift art for, one does not even know, yet something holds me back. I've done gift art before and at one point or another I did not feel happy giving what was my best. It never gets easy, or does it? Those sketches languishes in my sketchbook begging to be done, ideas for new projects roll around in my head waiting to be born. I can only try to shake off those fears and press ahead. The artist's light flickers a little, wavering with each doubt and misgivings. I can only pray it does not go out and usher in yet another period of darkenss in my world of art.

500 comments given, well ahead of comments received. I think I may be overdoing it a bit, but what can I say, the work out there either mediore (sp?) for fantastic needs to be commented upon. I might just hold back for awhile, but where would the fun be? Anyway, maybe I should shoot for 1000.

As most may have noticed in my newest artwork, I've changed the noses of my bunnies from nose pads to nose slits. This is not the first time I've made changes like this. Before now, any design changes were just for personal preference but lately I've been torn between going back to a more toon look to something more realistic. Maybe it has been the art I have been favoring that has influnced me, then again who can say. Don't be surprised if I do switch back to a more toony look for my characters because I am trying to find a happy medium.

I started today posting the short stories I have written over the course of time. The first one posted was "Whispers of a spirit." a little story that takes a short dive into mysticism (sp?) I wanted to do thumbnail art for it but I wound up doing a large picture. Oh well, I have not really made up my mind what to post next. I figure I will post stuff that is outside the Artist's Continunity before I start posting stuff within that as well as the continuation of the Artist's Light series. If anything, "Kindred Spirits" would be the next to post. More to happen soon.

I guess it is that fall transition thing. I would have been happy that 1000 folks would have taken the time to view my page, but somehow I don't seem that excited. I'd had thought that most of those pageviews was myself checking my page, but somehow that did not seem to feel right. Maybe the fact that I have been pushing myself to create new art rather than post old stuff and re-done art, yet I just can't blame the users of FA for that. It has been so hard to find inspiration to do fresh and new stuff that those old feelings have crept back into the back of my brain and slowly advanced into my thoughts. Oh well. I guess the only thing left is to just bang away at stuff and just try to put such things as pageviews and comments out of my mind. I do feel cheap for commenting on others works and not expecting any comments on mine, but I guess that is the way things work. Could be worse, I could be so good at art that I would have to seclude myself and tell folks to just leave me alone. Feh, why kill yourself trying to be number one when number 432118 is just good enough. The only person(s) I have to prove anything to is myself, yet some days, self just does not matter.

After working on the Lexington and Melissa picture, a thought hit me. I have so much art I have done but never moved them forward to the finished stage. It was a little bit out of doubt that I never thought of finishing something, not too sure of myself that what I finish would be viewed by anyone outside of the small circle of folks how have followed my art. Sometimes it is hard to keep a mindset that I am only doing my art for myself, a vow I made to myself awhile back. I figured going through all that old art, it would be best to finish them, put them to bed before working on new ideas. Maybe a recent picture done by another artist on one subject I thought I would have a chance to work on may have drove me to finish my old art, I don't really know because I have tried so hard to avoid competition, heh, what is the use of playing a game you know you can't win at.

I might work on new art, a few ideas I'm puttering about with, but for now it is the old art. Perhaps it is a sign that by working with the old stuff, I might finally break that barrier that held me back for so long. All I can say that anyone who is watching my work, bear with me, or if you feel the quality of my work has degraded that much, unwatch me, please! I is never my intentions to dissapoint and I would feel devastated if more accomplished artists don't get the views they should have by someone watching my work, better them than me. Oh well, time to crack the whip and get down to it. I also might take up needle punch again, after all, I can only get better.

There was a time when there was those in the Anthro Genre of art that I held in high regard, nay worshipped as heros. Some who I found myself running to the local bookstore to find their titles, at the confusion of the owners who normaly did not carry such titles, but found themselves liking it once they got a glance at the art and the stories. There were those in the genre who I held in high regard for their views and thoughts which at the time I thought mirrored my own, folks I would listen to but kept a distance not speaking for fear of being out of place in the status quo.

Funny how time evolves one, to go from hero worship, or for some being fanboyish, to just admiring them with respect. Also strange how one moment they rock and another moment, one thing said could send them crashing in your eyes, fallen from grace. Odd how even if that happens, a "Say it ain't so joe!" moment, their fall from your eyes means nothing when there is always somebody else to step up and fawn, taking your place in line that you give up. Only a few artists I have admired have fallen from my eyes, one or two from no fault of their own, another who showed signs of a willingness to treat their fans like crap. A moment at an Anthrocon so many years ago, maybe in the Zoo and maybe on a table with a hastely scribbled sign that said "Free to a good home." sat the labors of many trips to the bookstore. Titles that perhaps now are so rare that it would bring a hefty sum, or maybe bring a twinkle to the eye of a new fan of the genre. No regrets I say, it is just part of the cycle.

Hours, days, weeks, and even a whole month, working in a medium newly discovered, vowing to oneself that what was being created was a labor of love and admiration. Two pieces never to be sold, regardless of what was offered because it would not do the orginal artists justice, only to be used by self on the back of two jackets, to show the love for the artists. One piece given to the orginal artist to show admiration for the work they did and in the hopes to inspire that artist to explore the medium the gift was presented in, just doing my part. One jacket piece was destroyed, burned in a momentary fit of anger that was followed by regret. The other jacket piece is locked away, hidden from view to never see the light of day again. True, these items can be made again, but gone is the desire, faded with time.

Recently another favorite of mine spoke out on a sore subject. Still a favorite but now just another person of interest, nothing special. I refuse to name names and point fingers because somewhere in my mind, they are still greats, they just faltered and stumbled a bit. Why ruin it for a new fan, let them have their hero worship, I just hope when their heros fall before them they have the courage to offer a hand to help them get back up, if not physically, then through thoughts.

My lessons were harder to learn, some were mis-learned and misunderstood. It did not make me a better person or a better artist, just look at my gallery. It allowed me to reflect and perhaps shaped my current mindset, maybe for the better or for the worst. Either way I can only say don't be taken aback if I refuse to get close to anyone, it just takes a little time to find your own footing after your heros fall. Sorry.

It's been eating on the back of my mind, I tried so hard not to even think about it, or voice my oppinion about it or else face the wrath of it, but still, the entire mystery of Oc kept poking at me. I'd planned a full page rant about it, but I figure what is the use? Everyone seems to be doing it, you get a few artists together and create until the cows come home. I felt the urge and started by downloading the program, then the trouble started. My cheap excuse of a graphics pad decided to go on eternal strike. No biggie, I could use a mouse, oh but with the problems I have with my hands, a mouse won't hack it. Ok, back to square one. Err, what square one? One problem, a major problem. In order to do a decent Oc, you gotta have at least one other person to Oc with. Ok, cue the music "One is the lonelyist number" (spelling?). Oh well, I've gotten this far with little to no collab from anyone else, just a few ideas passed my way. Maybe this Oc thing is not all what it is cracked up to be. At any rate I do have plans to get a new graphics pad, one of these days, but now I feel a bit jaded about the whole Oc thing, maybe it is for the best. If anything I can still view the Oc works of others and favor them, and comment on them, just that Oc is now on the list of things I won't see myself doing any time soon, along with improving to a point where my art is general public consumable. Enough ranting out of me, time to contenplate doing some art.

I usually don't complain, most times I just sit there and suck it up and hope for the best, but this time something came to my attention which I gotta speak out on. For the past few days on the FA forums, in the violation section, I won't mention names although I very much doubt folks read my journals, somebody felt it was their duty to report on a few copyright violations. Hey, that is all well and good ya know, copyright violations hurt the orginal artist and such, but the reports were on trival items, such as photos of what would be considered known cultural icons, packages of consumer goods and items of questionable nudity. Hey, If I did notice something funny about a package of hotdogs with a funny logo, I would share it with folks and even though I am no copyright lawyer, I would consider it either fair use or parody, but to go as far as saying, "Ooooh! posting the picture of the wiennies would cause that company to lose profit and increase the price of those wonderful hotdogs." Oh come on now! Ok, I'm not saying the person in question is wrong and I do not think ill of them. I'm just saying think a bit. If it is swimwear, as long as it is covering up those naughty bits, no problem. Even something a little risque like a thong should not cause such a rage. And for god sakes, don't get your panties in a bunch about camel toes and perky nips! as long as nothing is going into them or out of them in real life photos, no real harm done. I know this guy/gal/whatever is doing us a favor by keeping us honest, but frankly I'd rather create in a free enviroment than live in a big brother type community.

Phew, this was a long winded one and chances are, if this do get read by the lesser tolerant folks, I apologize but it had to be said. Cheers.

Usually when I do faves, I go back later to comment on them. I for one do read what the artist has to write before I inject wit into my replies. Well, today something caught my eye, invoking my creative juices to flow... until I read the artist's comment (I won't mention names, they have the right to say what they want to say.) For an image that invoke such comedy, the artist wanted maturity in the reply comments. So I did, feeling the burning flames of witty remarks die out. Oh well, if it is what they want, then it is what they will get. Now mind you, I have nothing against such a request, but really. If somebody draws a tender scene but only want cold serious comment, won't that just kill the buzz? Anyway, I will continue making my comments, funny or serious, but I will tread softly and carefully. No need to step on any toes.

I used to be quite vocal when it came to art and the motivations that drive us to create it. I more or less mellowed out in my old age, allowing my own eyes to glaze over when such things like Artistic skill vs Artistic talent are flinged back and forth at everyone. I turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the Certified Artist grumbling that has been going on, and idly scritched my butt at the bashing of neophite artists applying their craft and wanting at least a little feedback for their efforts. You would think that all this would have left me a very cynical old hack artist, yet sometimes just a little word, an act would stir something deep within me. "Six Shallow Graves." That post from the past still haunt me so to think that back then this argument still continued. It is why to this day I will still comment and fave artists who may show a emerging style, plagued with mistakes in anatomy, (sp?) and such things as perspective and negative space. It is only fair that the underdogs get some form of praise for their efforts because art should be about fun first and then maybe profit later. For those artists out there, don't take my comments as some sort of security blanket to protect you from the cold cruel art world, but a small comfort that somebody, no matter how small has noticed. Viva La Pound Underground.

Without looking, I've reached 500 pageviews. Should I be happy, should I drop everything and draw up a little witty doodle announcing to the world tht 500 pageviews have been reached? Nah. For some unknown reason I don't feel happy about it. I could be just jaded about re-entering the art world. Oh well maybe I might do something after 1000 pageviews.

Some may wonder why is that with mostly all the pictures and other comments I fave, why do I give out favorable comments? I wish the answer was simple, maybe it is, but I firmly beleive that without comments, the artist tend to either get stale or discourage. More so with my own works. Over the years I have grown to not expect comments either good or ill on my work. In a way some may say it is over-compensation for something, I then to think otherwise.

I'm just saying, in case anyone is reading my journals, that regardless if the artist is the rave of the genre, or some unknown just starting out, they will get comments, good, favorable, or the rare bad comment from me, it's the nature of my beast.

Thanks for sharing.

I've given a lot of thought about dusting off my stories and posting them on this site instead of creating another website which would just accumulate dust and cobwebs. Many times have I examined the why of posting something that seems to have no meaning in a visual genre such as this. The common argument is that others have done so and have gotten noticed, my rebuttle was that those folks already had a following and regardless if they posted crass or gems, the fan service will always be the same for them. Those writers have risen the bar that only they could reach and surpass. The written genre as well as the visual one seems to be geared to have an overage of talent of varying degrees, to more than compensate for any shortcomings. Everyone gets a turn, depending on how good they are, they get to go again, and again, while others are just one shot wonders to vanish, or remake themselves. Of course it is the nature of competition and nobody should interfere with that. Fustration is part of the creation process and those who don't learn to adjust to it are doomed to fail over and over again.

Again, the point of posting stories? I may never know but anyway, I'll continue to. I did have a following and maybe those who have read may be waiting to see if I might produce something new. All I can do at this point is to continue hammering away at it and hope for the best. After all, it is not like I'm doing this for a living, heavens no, I would starve. I'm smart enough to keep this only as a hobby and such that if I decide to dump the whole thing, no regrets will be felt, well maybe a little regret and anger. Also I think of this as my contribution to the genres, after all, my example may help an inspiring writer and artist to avoid the mistakes I made.

Shooting for number one is good in all, but what is wrong for shooting for number two thousand and forty three? It may not be the top, but it is a number and much easy to shoot for. To quote Steely Dan, "They got a name for the winners in the world, and I want a name when I lose."

Rather cute, it started out as one and have mutated into droves. Along the way it picked up some lint in the ways of folks who think it rather silly and non productive. I beg to differ on the latter. Since I joined FA, most of my postings have been of old work with only one or two pieces being new. Unlike some I have observed, I can't pull an idea out of my behind and work with it. Since the meme, I've been rather productive although I only plan one more picture before I leave this meme behind and move on to other things. Bottom line (or lines) is that as stupid as this meme is, it did spur creativity and productivity in a vast majority of artists here. Hey, this is just my opinion. Some things in moderation is good but too much, well you get the picture. At least it lit a fire under me to do something even though it follows along with the group-think of the meme. I say lighten up and let this thing run it's course, for now. If it does get out of hand, I'll will be here handing out the torches and the pitch forks.

I am actually surprised at the amount of activity I'm spending on FA. Addicting as bingeing on skittles? maybe, but it keeps me busy and maybe out of trouble. The new art track has been slighty derailed. I pick up the sketchbook, draw a few construction lines and stop there. It's not for the lack of ideas, I got plenty, I just gotta get myself motivated. Ya know, an art trade would be nice, but I will have to wait for that, gotta practice.