Passing this along:

https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/11184422/

I post journals so infrequently anymore, but it's still tradition for me to ring in the New Year ... in journal form.

I have some plans for 2025 that I hope to realize without too much hassle, but my overall expectations for the year, both in personal terms and the world in general, are quite low. This is more a safety net than anything. I'm hoping that by expecting the worst, even 'mildly disappointing' could be seen as a pleasant surprise in relative terms.

I'm looking into the idea of auctioning off the original inked line artwork for some of my past comics seen on FAD, Patreon, and elsewhere. (would be conducted through posting(s) here, payment via PayPal) and I'm trying to determine a good way to do so. Should I:

* Auction all pages of a single comic story together in a pack (8 or more pages, depending on the comic)

* Auction single pages individually

* Something in between, such as smaller packs of 3-4 pages each.


Answers on a postcard to P.O. Box - ... or just reply in the comments. Just tryin' to get an idea what people want before I start doing the thing.

It's a terrible loss to the entire furry community, made even more tragic by the knowledge his last days were spent fighting the money-men of the health care system. I've had little to no direct contact with Dragoneer myself, but I'd be incredibly arrogant if I didn't say this site he founded was a constant and indispensable part of my life and work, even if I can't say FA 'made' me as others here could. I don't know what the future holds, and can only hope someone is able to step up and keep the legacy going. But regardless of whether it does continue long-term or whether it doesn't...

Thanks.

Another year is here. After a few years of tempting fate by either bad-mouthing the previous year or begging for better from the next, I've gotten gun-shy, and can do little more than hope for the best, or something better than expected. We already know 2024 promises a near-endless year-long parade of poop by sheer virtue of being an election year in the US, over and above ongoing global disasters and indignities. All that becomes background noise to life, as one looks around and thinks "I hope this year works out okay for me personally."

Looking back, I've noticed that, without even realizing it, that throughout 2023 I seem to have been gearing up for a new phase in my creative endeavors, from producing a Sabrina Online story that didn't focus on Sabrina or Zig Zag, as well as building up characters, designs, and more for stories and universes I haven't done much with yet, but intend to.

I guess good OR bad, 2024 looks to at least be interesting in several ways. Its all even numbers and ending in four - can't be bad, right?

In the interests of looking for alternatives in the wake of increasing issues with the site known once upon a time as Twitter, I can also be found on BlueSky :

https://bsky.app/profile/ericwschwartz.bsky.social

I'm not leaving TwitX, at least not yet, but it's always nice to have an option or two should XTwit suddenly force the issue.

It shows how little I care about FA journals that my last journal post was literally last year's equivalent to this journal. Last year I wished for 2022 to 'suck less', and you could - maybe - say I got my wish... from a certain point of view.

While there's undeniably a lot of things still going down in the world, it's moved along a bit, from global problems to more regional and localized issues, and 'bad' is not the same bad for everyone like it once was. It's not exactly a good thing, and a little too dangerous to risk complacently ignoring issues because "It's not happening to me." (and as a straight white suburban male, a LOT of things don't happen to me that happen to other people)

But, in a very basic sense, you could say that, for me personally at least, 2022 sucked a little bit less than 2021 and 2020. I'm well aware that is far from a universal thing. For certain individuals or groups, this last year was a step down, a net loss. For others, like those from Ukraine, it's been many many MANY times worse. So, once more, I will ask for the coming year to suck less than 2022 did, and suck less for many more people around the world as well.

I was cursing out 2018, as it was very bad year for me personally. 2019 could have been better, but 2020 came roaring in with pandemic vengeance. That made me gun-shy about bad mouthing a year on its way out, lest something worse come up for the next one. Some might argue 2021 was worse than 2020, some might say better, but most would probably agree it was more of a sidestep, not being MUCH better or worse, with gains in some areas offset by declines in others.

So, 2022, may I humbly request that the new year suck 40 to 60 percent less than the previous two years?

that'd be greeaaat....

I was gutted to learn of the untimely passing earlier this month of animation director & visual/character designer Derrick J. Wyatt, whose work is most recognizable in shows such as Teen Titans (the good one), Transformers:Animated, Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated, Ben 10 Omniverse. and much more. I was fortunate enough to meet him briefly at a convention once, and have some of my own work judged favorably by him. His loss will be deeply felt in the industry and fan communities. Several of my best Transformers-related fan works draw from his contributions to the visual canon.

2nd art jam in a hopefully ongoing series. This one is smaller than the first one last year. I think I needed to go harder on the promotion. An enjoyable little visual romp regardless.

https://e-hentai.org/g/2039475/815861447b/

Back as 2018 was drawing to a close, I wrote a journal basically implying the year should fornicate itself with a cactus, as 2018 was a pretty bad year for me in a lot of ways. I have this concern now that after being told off, all that bad fate took it easy during 2019, then came roaring back with a vengeance for 2020.

Because of this, I won't go filling up the curse jar berating the outgoing 2020. I'm sure others will already be more than happy to in my place, and I'd rather not risk the hypothetical possibility that 2022 might end up somehow worse if I tell off 2020 now. So Have a Happy New Year, all, and don't go tempting fate.


New Year's resolutions? - I dunno. I think this is one of those times the new year should be making its resolutions to US.

I'm not the type to go all-out (especially THIS year) - I don't go decorating the entire house, or sending stacks of cards to everyone I've ever met, but I will put up a few lights and a small tree, or send a group e-mail, as if to say "Yes, Christmas acknowledged."

So, obligatory Christmas greeting here. Enjoy!

Remember when I was plugging for an art jam for Playboy's Little Annie Fanny? No? Well, here it is regardless! Works by twelve different artists!

https://e-hentai.org/g/1746458/8bce57a667/

Perhaps it could have been a larger gallery, but with a character whose saturation was greatest in the 1960s and 1970s, I might have been fighting an uphill battle. :)

Some like them, some enjoy them as a fashion accessory, and for some they represent the traumatic memory of a terrible period we're forced to live through,

SO HERE THEY ARE!!

Starting out, on offer we have a Sabrina Online logo mask, and masks featuring the famous muzzles of Sabrina herself, Amy the Squirrel, Sheila Vixen, and  maxblackrabbit 's Zig Zag.

https://www.furrydakimakura.com/pro.....ce-mask-by-ews
https://www.furrydakimakura.com/pro.....ce-mask-by-ews
https://www.furrydakimakura.com/pro.....ce-mask-by-ews
https://www.furrydakimakura.com/pro.....ce-mask-by-ews
https://www.furrydakimakura.com/pro.....ce-mask-by-ews

$2 from the sale of every face mask will be donated to https://www.directrelief.org

If these do well, I'll look into adding more designs/characters, such as R.C. and Helen. They're reusable and washable, so you don't need to toss 'em after wearing 'em for the day, but you're welcome to buy several anyway, if you want. ;)

I was asked if I was interested in producing designs for those protective face masks that are all the rage today ( ... cough.), so I'm trying to gauge the level of potential interest. Would anyone out there be interested in masks with Sabrina Online (or other) character designs?

Twitter poll here: https://twitter.com/ProductionsEric.....31033358589953

Feel free to add your comments here or there for what designs you'd want to see, or how they should look - or just say it's an idea in poor taste. 'sall good. ;)

(AKA "I take my Ko-Fi Blackrabbit")

Like far far FAR too many people around the globe,  maxblackrabbit has been through some COVID-related shit over the last several weeks, away from home-base when the walls went up, quarantined on the way back, and out of work at the moment, so I felt I might as well plug his Ko-Fi page.

https://ko-fi.com/maxblackrabbit

And here's the full story, in his own words:

https://www.furaffinity.net/journal...../#cid:57029939

Best wishes and health to everybody, and good luck. We all need it.

Finished up the ten-ep first season story and I... liked it, quite a bit, in fact, and don't regret shelling out six bucks a month for the privilege of viewing it. It ain't perfect for sure, and I could see the issues some would have with it, but it worked well for me as a post-TNG-era piece of storytelling and canon, though I'm probably too biased to say how well it works without any nostalgia goggles on.

If anyone's curious, as of this writing CBS is offering a month free trial for their All-Access. (in that 'remember to cancel before they start charging you' way), so you can check it out for yourself if so inclined. Worth a look IMO.

(and don't let the door smack yer ass on the way out)

For me personally, or if I was a sports team, 2019 was a 'rebuilding year' after all the crap I contended with before that. My finances have stabilized and improved somewhat (They must be getting better - I've been buying more crap I don't need), I adopted a very nice and only slightly insane dog, and I got into Twitter after the Great Tumblr Dump of 2018. My home town was less fortunate, hit by more and larger tornadoes than usual, along with its first mass shooting, at least that I'm aware of. Hard to say if 2020 will be a step up or down for me or the rest of the world. I already know it will undoubtedly be a year-long political shitshow in my land, which will result in a horrible swirling vortex of butthurt for some group(s) of people regardless of the final outcome. Not much to do but try to enjoy the ride where possible, and hope for the best, or the least worst.

Happy New Year, folks.
Eric S.

Talk to me again around the end of 2021.

https://soundcloud.com/theessential.....ked-bean-month

(Always about nothing but classy informational discourse around here.)

Yeah, I'll be there.

I can be found during the con in the Artists' Alley (depending on availability). I'll be doing a limited number of commissions at the con, and selling Sabrina Online books, both the hardcover volumes and the newer 'Baby Steps'), Original line-art piece from past works, and I'll also have some Transformer promotional items. :)

See ya.

This was pointed out to me by  roocat_uk recently. While I wouldn't go so far as to say it IS Sheila Vixen. it's definitely putting out that vibe. (please say it doesn't vibrate)

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det.....87fc3adcfjXQAG
(Why is it so TALL?)

If you'd rather have OFFICIAL questionable merchandise featuring my characters, there's always FurryDakimakura.com .

(Wall Scrolls - decorate your living space with risque comic cover artwork!)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....-eric-schwartz (A Story Before Bed)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....-eric-schwartz (Chiropterana Begins)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....-eric-schwartz (Stellar Voyages - Art of Diplomacy)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....-eric-schwartz (Adventure Begins at Home)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....-eric-schwartz (Jane Cottontail)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....-eric-schwartz (Sheila Vixen)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....-eric-schwartz (Sabrina Online)

(or if you like naughty covers for them body pillow things...)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....-eric-schwartz (Helen Dish)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....imakura-by-ews (Sheila Vixen)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....-eric-schwartz (Skunkettes Stacey and Tracey)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....zag-dakimakura (Zig Zag by Max Blackrabbit)

( -and plush things!)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect...../sabrina-plush (Sabrina)
https://furrydakimakura.com/collect.....nt=11813208899 (Zig Zag)

(Please enjoy this transparent plugging)
Eric S.

Me: "You know, I'm not the biggest fan of the Masterpiece Transformers line. They tend to be over-complicated and fiddly in the name of looking as close as possible to a cartoon visual model, and the prices keep going up. I've already skipped a number of them - just not worth it. Perhaps I should just swear off the line entire--"

https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/02/09.....l-japan-382419

(Cue extreme overuse of the Fry "Shut up and take my money!" meme.)