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Pics from the FC2012 photoshoot
Posted 13 years ago
softpawzFC 2012 fursuit parade
Posted 13 years agoFC meme -- me, I'm going!
Posted 14 years agoHotel:
The Hilton. Hey, I was kinda late booking, it came up at the last moment ...
Arrival/Departure:
Arriving Thursday, leaving Monday.
Means of transportation:
Rental car, yeah baby!
Sharing a room with:
All by my lonesome.
Who do you hang out with:
Mah homeboys. At least the ones who're there, turnout's a little small this year. If you want to hang out with me, just let me know.
Gender:
*looks down* Male. Still.
Orientation:
Lady, if ya gotta ask, you're not in my target demographic.
Status:
Taken.
How old are you:
31
Are you an Artist:
No. Well, I build fursuits. Does that count?
Are you a Fursuiter:
Yes.
How many Fursuits are you going to bring/wear:
Only one, and only the partial version, not the full suit. Airline baggage limits are a bitch.
Which Characters:
Adrian!
Any new suits or characters debuting:
Naw.
Attending parties:
If you invite me, sure!
Do you drink:
I do. Don't need to, but do enjoy it.
Can I buy you a drink:
Sure.
Can I give you lots of money:
Small unmarked bills only please. Or transferred directly to my Swiss bank account.
Are you attending any panels:
Rather unlikely given past performance.
Stage or public performance:
No.
How do I identify myself to you:
Saying "Hello, I'm XY" usually works. Even if we've talked before, I might not remember your name or your face, because I have a terrible memory for these things. Please don't be offended if I just stare at you blankly.
Rules of engagement (physical contact out of suit):
Again, if ya gotta ask, it probably means "no".
Personality Type:
INTJ
How do I know if you're not looking to socialize (angry, busy or upset):
Just go in the assumption that I'm looking to socialize. I will tell you if not.
What's the best way to find you:
Text or call.
Do you do trades:
What for?
How tall are you:
172cm, or 5'7" for you merkins.
Are you nice:
Has anyone ever said "no" to this question?
Are you cliquey:
No, I'm not a fully connected subgraph. I'm also really bad at forming or being part of cliques.
Can I stalk you:
We can see who's better at stalking.
Can I buy breakfast, lunch, or dinner sometime:
Sure. Let me pencil you in for, let's see, would Tuesday suit you?
Can I take a picture of ya:
Sure. I'll even smile for you.
Are you going to commission art at the con:
That's another thing I'm bad at.
Anything to add:
To infinity, and beyond!
The Hilton. Hey, I was kinda late booking, it came up at the last moment ...
Arrival/Departure:
Arriving Thursday, leaving Monday.
Means of transportation:
Rental car, yeah baby!
Sharing a room with:
All by my lonesome.
Who do you hang out with:
Mah homeboys. At least the ones who're there, turnout's a little small this year. If you want to hang out with me, just let me know.
Gender:
*looks down* Male. Still.
Orientation:
Lady, if ya gotta ask, you're not in my target demographic.
Status:
Taken.
How old are you:
31
Are you an Artist:
No. Well, I build fursuits. Does that count?
Are you a Fursuiter:
Yes.
How many Fursuits are you going to bring/wear:
Only one, and only the partial version, not the full suit. Airline baggage limits are a bitch.
Which Characters:
Adrian!
Any new suits or characters debuting:
Naw.
Attending parties:
If you invite me, sure!
Do you drink:
I do. Don't need to, but do enjoy it.
Can I buy you a drink:
Sure.
Can I give you lots of money:
Small unmarked bills only please. Or transferred directly to my Swiss bank account.
Are you attending any panels:
Rather unlikely given past performance.
Stage or public performance:
No.
How do I identify myself to you:
Saying "Hello, I'm XY" usually works. Even if we've talked before, I might not remember your name or your face, because I have a terrible memory for these things. Please don't be offended if I just stare at you blankly.
Rules of engagement (physical contact out of suit):
Again, if ya gotta ask, it probably means "no".
Personality Type:
INTJ
How do I know if you're not looking to socialize (angry, busy or upset):
Just go in the assumption that I'm looking to socialize. I will tell you if not.
What's the best way to find you:
Text or call.
Do you do trades:
What for?
How tall are you:
172cm, or 5'7" for you merkins.
Are you nice:
Has anyone ever said "no" to this question?
Are you cliquey:
No, I'm not a fully connected subgraph. I'm also really bad at forming or being part of cliques.
Can I stalk you:
We can see who's better at stalking.
Can I buy breakfast, lunch, or dinner sometime:
Sure. Let me pencil you in for, let's see, would Tuesday suit you?
Can I take a picture of ya:
Sure. I'll even smile for you.
Are you going to commission art at the con:
That's another thing I'm bad at.
Anything to add:
To infinity, and beyond!
Anthropomorphic animals or zoomorphic humans?
Posted 14 years agoThe furry fandom is frequently characterized as being about "anthropomorphic animals" -- being from the greek "anthropos" meaning "human" and "-morphic" meaning "having the form of" -- that is to say, it is about animals that have the form of humans (or some other human aspects.)
The more I think about this, the more I think that this definition is backwards. It is not about animals that have human characteristics -- it is about humans that have animal characteristics, that is to say, zoomorphic humans ("zoo" meaning "animal".) I posit that we are not really interested in animals that appear in some way human (walk on two legs, speak, ...), but that we are rather interested in humans that appear in some way like animals (have fur, walk on four legs, ...)
Let's take one of the earliest examples of "furry" -- Aesop's fables, for example The Fox and the Crow. The fable is not really about a fox, or about a crow, or any two animals having taken on human characteristics. The fox and the crow are humans, in essence -- one human who is susceptible to flattery, and another who is cunning and willing to use flattery to achieve their goals. Aesop puts them in the guise of animals for the sake of the story, but their essence remains human, not animal.
Another frequent example is egyptian gods -- gods like Bastet and Anubis that appear with animal heads. By the time of the egyptians, we were well on the way of replacing true animal gods (the way they are often found in "primitive" cultures) with gods made in our own image (and indeed by the time of the ancient greek we'd already populated the whole pantheon with entirely human gods.) We were not at the mercy of the animals of the forest anymore and did not need to idolize them anymore, and instead idolized the new masters of nature, ie. ourselves. Bastet and Anubis are holdovers from an earlier time, not true animal gods that have taken on a human form, but rather human gods with animal aspects.
Let's turn to something more recent. Is Mickey Mouse a mouse? I don't think so. Mickey Mouse is a little human -- a human with big round ears and a big nose, but still in essence a human. This is illustrated by the fact that Mickey Mouse has a pet dog -- Pluto -- but also an anthropomorphic dog friend -- Goofy. One is a pet and the other is a friend because they are different in essence -- Pluto is an animal in essence, whereas Goofy is a zoomorphic human. There is a divide between humans (even zoomorphic ones) and animals that cannot be crossed.
Therianthropy is another example of zoomorphism -- it is literally about a human taking on the shape of an animal (and losing some human characteristics in the process.) A werewolf does not start out as a wolf and takes on human form. He starts out in human form and takes on an animal shape. Describing werewolves as "anthropomorphic" is quite literally backwards.
It is probably too late now to rename ourselves to "zoomorphic fandom", but the difference between anthropomorphism and zoomorphism still bears thinking about. Are we interested in the animal essence, or the human essence?
The more I think about this, the more I think that this definition is backwards. It is not about animals that have human characteristics -- it is about humans that have animal characteristics, that is to say, zoomorphic humans ("zoo" meaning "animal".) I posit that we are not really interested in animals that appear in some way human (walk on two legs, speak, ...), but that we are rather interested in humans that appear in some way like animals (have fur, walk on four legs, ...)
Let's take one of the earliest examples of "furry" -- Aesop's fables, for example The Fox and the Crow. The fable is not really about a fox, or about a crow, or any two animals having taken on human characteristics. The fox and the crow are humans, in essence -- one human who is susceptible to flattery, and another who is cunning and willing to use flattery to achieve their goals. Aesop puts them in the guise of animals for the sake of the story, but their essence remains human, not animal.
Another frequent example is egyptian gods -- gods like Bastet and Anubis that appear with animal heads. By the time of the egyptians, we were well on the way of replacing true animal gods (the way they are often found in "primitive" cultures) with gods made in our own image (and indeed by the time of the ancient greek we'd already populated the whole pantheon with entirely human gods.) We were not at the mercy of the animals of the forest anymore and did not need to idolize them anymore, and instead idolized the new masters of nature, ie. ourselves. Bastet and Anubis are holdovers from an earlier time, not true animal gods that have taken on a human form, but rather human gods with animal aspects.
Let's turn to something more recent. Is Mickey Mouse a mouse? I don't think so. Mickey Mouse is a little human -- a human with big round ears and a big nose, but still in essence a human. This is illustrated by the fact that Mickey Mouse has a pet dog -- Pluto -- but also an anthropomorphic dog friend -- Goofy. One is a pet and the other is a friend because they are different in essence -- Pluto is an animal in essence, whereas Goofy is a zoomorphic human. There is a divide between humans (even zoomorphic ones) and animals that cannot be crossed.
Therianthropy is another example of zoomorphism -- it is literally about a human taking on the shape of an animal (and losing some human characteristics in the process.) A werewolf does not start out as a wolf and takes on human form. He starts out in human form and takes on an animal shape. Describing werewolves as "anthropomorphic" is quite literally backwards.
It is probably too late now to rename ourselves to "zoomorphic fandom", but the difference between anthropomorphism and zoomorphism still bears thinking about. Are we interested in the animal essence, or the human essence?
Proud doggy at Magdeburg Pride
Posted 14 years agoCoinciding with Eurofurence was Magdeburg Pride -- Magdeburg's gay and lesbian festival. They had their parade on Saturday, so I decided to do the honors and visit them -- in fursuit. And ended up pretty much leading the parade for 1.5km along their 5km route :D
Here's a couple of photos from the parade -- one also has tzup who also joined in the parade. Needless to say, they loved themselves a doggy. Or two!
http://www.lautundspitz.com/03_pici.....d=DSC_1913.JPG
http://www.lautundspitz.com/03_pici.....d=DSC_1917.JPG
http://www.lautundspitz.com/03_pici.....d=DSC_1775.JPG
http://www.lautundspitz.com/03_pici.....d=DSC_1924.JPG
Here's a couple of photos from the parade -- one also has tzup who also joined in the parade. Needless to say, they loved themselves a doggy. Or two!
http://www.lautundspitz.com/03_pici.....d=DSC_1913.JPG
http://www.lautundspitz.com/03_pici.....d=DSC_1917.JPG
http://www.lautundspitz.com/03_pici.....d=DSC_1775.JPG
http://www.lautundspitz.com/03_pici.....d=DSC_1924.JPG
Eurofurence 17 meme.
Posted 14 years agoWhere are you staying?
At the Maritim Hotel.
What day are you getting there?
On Wednesday.
Who will you be with?
My partner.
Who will you hang out with during the convention?
Mostly my friends, and whoever wants to hang out with me.
Are there any panels you might be attending?
I haven't been to a panel in years, probably won't attend one this year either.
Are you attending any stage or public performances?
Unlikely.
Will you be suiting?
Yes, of course!
Which suit will you be bringing?
Adrian, my rottweiler fursuit -- outfitted as a ninja dog to fit with the theme of the convention: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5875952
Do you do free art?
I can't draw to save my life.
What is your gender?
Still male, last time I checked.
How old are you?
31.
How tall are you?
5'8" or 172cm.
Are you taken? Are you looking for a 'mate'?
See above.
Can I talk to you?
Sure!
Can I touch you?
Like a tap on the shoulder to get my attention, or shake my hand? Sure. Anything further you'd pretty much have to know me already.
How can I find you?
Tricky. Best of luck!
Can I visit your room?
If the occasion arises I'll let you know.
Can I buy you drinks?
Sure. Beer, wine, cocktails, anything goes.
Can I give you stuff?
Only if it's good stuff.
Can I hug or snuggle with you?
If you could you wouldn't have to ask that question. So, probably not.
Are you nice?
I try to be. I don't always succeed.
How long are you going?
Leaving on Sunday.
Do you have an artist table?
No. See above.
Do you have prints/CDs?
No. See above.
Will you have art in the Art Show? General or Adult sections?
No. See above.
If I see you, how should I get your attention?
A tap on the shoulder or a friendly wave usually works, followed with a brief introduction. (I have a bad memory for faces.)
Where will you be most of the time during the days?
No idea.
What/where will you be eating?
Well, there was that Chinese place that wasn't bad. I hear there's also a pretty good steakhouse near the hotel. And a pizza place.
Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
If you ask nicely!
Can I look in your sketchbook?
Don't have one.
Can I draw in your sketchbook?
I might buy one just for you to draw in!
Can I take your picture?
In suit, of course! Out of suit, maybe only if you know me a little.
At the Maritim Hotel.
What day are you getting there?
On Wednesday.
Who will you be with?
My partner.
Who will you hang out with during the convention?
Mostly my friends, and whoever wants to hang out with me.
Are there any panels you might be attending?
I haven't been to a panel in years, probably won't attend one this year either.
Are you attending any stage or public performances?
Unlikely.
Will you be suiting?
Yes, of course!
Which suit will you be bringing?
Adrian, my rottweiler fursuit -- outfitted as a ninja dog to fit with the theme of the convention: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5875952
Do you do free art?
I can't draw to save my life.
What is your gender?
Still male, last time I checked.
How old are you?
31.
How tall are you?
5'8" or 172cm.
Are you taken? Are you looking for a 'mate'?
See above.
Can I talk to you?
Sure!
Can I touch you?
Like a tap on the shoulder to get my attention, or shake my hand? Sure. Anything further you'd pretty much have to know me already.
How can I find you?
Tricky. Best of luck!
Can I visit your room?
If the occasion arises I'll let you know.
Can I buy you drinks?
Sure. Beer, wine, cocktails, anything goes.
Can I give you stuff?
Only if it's good stuff.
Can I hug or snuggle with you?
If you could you wouldn't have to ask that question. So, probably not.
Are you nice?
I try to be. I don't always succeed.
How long are you going?
Leaving on Sunday.
Do you have an artist table?
No. See above.
Do you have prints/CDs?
No. See above.
Will you have art in the Art Show? General or Adult sections?
No. See above.
If I see you, how should I get your attention?
A tap on the shoulder or a friendly wave usually works, followed with a brief introduction. (I have a bad memory for faces.)
Where will you be most of the time during the days?
No idea.
What/where will you be eating?
Well, there was that Chinese place that wasn't bad. I hear there's also a pretty good steakhouse near the hotel. And a pizza place.
Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
If you ask nicely!
Can I look in your sketchbook?
Don't have one.
Can I draw in your sketchbook?
I might buy one just for you to draw in!
Can I take your picture?
In suit, of course! Out of suit, maybe only if you know me a little.
Airbrushing with a CO2 tank
Posted 14 years ago(Crossposted from http://fursuit.livejournal.com/4813558.html)
A short tutorial on how to connect an airbrush pistol to a carbon dioxide (CO2) tank -- I could not find a good one on the net. This is useful for people who do a reasonable amount of airbrushing but would prefer not to get a compressor.
First, why would one want to use a carbon dioxide tank with an airbrush pistol? There are two common sources of compressed "air" (any kind of gas really) for airbrush: Compressed air cans or compressors. Cans don't last very long, are often filled with flammable gas (butane/propane), and get very cold when in use (gas cools down when it expands.) Compressors are expensive, heavy, can be loud, and need a water trap to prevent water from getting into the airbrush pistol (again, gas cools down when it expands, causing the moisture in the compressed air to condense.)
Carbon dioxide tanks, on the other hand, contain a lot of gas (the smallest ones are 1.5kg, normal "portable" size is 7.5kg, and you can get up to 30kg in one tank), the gas is not flammable, it's naturally dry so doesn't need a water trap, and is comparatively cheap to refill. CO2 tanks don't cool down as much as compressed air cans because they have a lot more mass. Plus, if you own a fish tank, you probably have one of these already.
This is what you need, and where to get it (prices and sources reflect my experiences in Switzerland; you might be cheaper or find different sources.)
A carbon dioxide tank: You can get these either from a pet store (for use with fish tanks), or from a specialist gas supplier (like PanGas in Switzerland.) If you don't know where to get one, ask at your local hardware store -- carbon dioxide is used for welding, and if the hardware store sells welding supplies, they know where to get the gas for welding. These tanks work either on a deposit system or a rental system; I paid 100 bucks deposit for my 1.5kg tank from the pet store, but I could also rent one for 60 bucks a year. Refills are about 40 bucks and get dramatically cheaper with larger tanks (a refill for a 1.5kg tank is the same as a refill for a 7.5kg tank, for example.)
A pressure reducer: Carbon dioxide tanks have between 50 and 70bar (1000psi) of pressure. You need a pressure reducer to get this down to a safe pressure of 1-2 bar for your airbrush pistol. A pressure reducer is about 80 bucks at a good hardware store or DIY store. Be sure to get one for Argon/CO2 -- every type of gas has a special kind of thread on the tank (for CO2 it's something called "W 21.8 x 14TPI") to make sure you don't connect the wrong equipment to a tank. A pressure reducer for a different kind of gas won't fit. Be aware that there are two kinds of pressure reducers for welding: Constant flow and constant pressure. You want a constant pressure reducer -- these are the ones with two dials. (Constant flow reducers have one dial and a strange glass vial that shows how much gas is flowing.)
A reducer for your airbrush pistol: The pressure reducer's output has a 1/4" thread, and you will need a reducer to attach your airbrush pistol. Airbrush manufacturers tend to use custom non-standard thread sizes, so get one from your airbrush manufacturer.
That's all you need, and it should set you back 200 bucks or less. To connect it up, first connect the pressure reducer to the gas tank. It is good practice to blow out the valve of the gas tank first (open the valve a tiny bit until you hear gas rushing out) to remove dirt that might otherwise end up in the pressure reducer. Close the main valve again and screw on the pressure reducer. Then connect the reducer to the pressure reducer; you may need teflon tape (and potentially lots of it) to achieve a tight seal. Connect the airbrush, and you're set.
The pressure reducer will come with a manual on how to connect it and how to operate the valves. Always read the manual carefully -- you are dealing with 70bar of pressure in the tank, which can do quite a bit of harm if handled improperly.
Usually there are three valves in this setup: The main valve on the gas tank, the regulating valve on the pressure reducer, and a secondary valve on the pressure reducer. Typically, you close both valves on the pressure reducer fully. Then open the valve on the gas tank. Use the regulating valve to set your desired output pressure (typically 1-2 bar for airbrush), and open the secondary valve on the pressure reducer to allow gas to flow to the airbrush piston. Now you're ready to start airbrushing.
To disconnect the pressure reducer, first close all valves (both valves on the pressure reducer, and the main valve on the tank.) Trigger your airbrush gun to remove pressure from the hose. Disconnect it from the pressure reducer. Then first open the secondary valve, then the regulating valve, to remove pressure from the reducer. Now you can disconnect it safely. Close the valves again before storing it.
I hope this explanation helps some people. Please leave comments if you have any questions.
Here are a couple of pictures of my setup: https://picasaweb.google.com/postfu.....eat=directlink
A short tutorial on how to connect an airbrush pistol to a carbon dioxide (CO2) tank -- I could not find a good one on the net. This is useful for people who do a reasonable amount of airbrushing but would prefer not to get a compressor.
First, why would one want to use a carbon dioxide tank with an airbrush pistol? There are two common sources of compressed "air" (any kind of gas really) for airbrush: Compressed air cans or compressors. Cans don't last very long, are often filled with flammable gas (butane/propane), and get very cold when in use (gas cools down when it expands.) Compressors are expensive, heavy, can be loud, and need a water trap to prevent water from getting into the airbrush pistol (again, gas cools down when it expands, causing the moisture in the compressed air to condense.)
Carbon dioxide tanks, on the other hand, contain a lot of gas (the smallest ones are 1.5kg, normal "portable" size is 7.5kg, and you can get up to 30kg in one tank), the gas is not flammable, it's naturally dry so doesn't need a water trap, and is comparatively cheap to refill. CO2 tanks don't cool down as much as compressed air cans because they have a lot more mass. Plus, if you own a fish tank, you probably have one of these already.
This is what you need, and where to get it (prices and sources reflect my experiences in Switzerland; you might be cheaper or find different sources.)
A carbon dioxide tank: You can get these either from a pet store (for use with fish tanks), or from a specialist gas supplier (like PanGas in Switzerland.) If you don't know where to get one, ask at your local hardware store -- carbon dioxide is used for welding, and if the hardware store sells welding supplies, they know where to get the gas for welding. These tanks work either on a deposit system or a rental system; I paid 100 bucks deposit for my 1.5kg tank from the pet store, but I could also rent one for 60 bucks a year. Refills are about 40 bucks and get dramatically cheaper with larger tanks (a refill for a 1.5kg tank is the same as a refill for a 7.5kg tank, for example.)
A pressure reducer: Carbon dioxide tanks have between 50 and 70bar (1000psi) of pressure. You need a pressure reducer to get this down to a safe pressure of 1-2 bar for your airbrush pistol. A pressure reducer is about 80 bucks at a good hardware store or DIY store. Be sure to get one for Argon/CO2 -- every type of gas has a special kind of thread on the tank (for CO2 it's something called "W 21.8 x 14TPI") to make sure you don't connect the wrong equipment to a tank. A pressure reducer for a different kind of gas won't fit. Be aware that there are two kinds of pressure reducers for welding: Constant flow and constant pressure. You want a constant pressure reducer -- these are the ones with two dials. (Constant flow reducers have one dial and a strange glass vial that shows how much gas is flowing.)
A reducer for your airbrush pistol: The pressure reducer's output has a 1/4" thread, and you will need a reducer to attach your airbrush pistol. Airbrush manufacturers tend to use custom non-standard thread sizes, so get one from your airbrush manufacturer.
That's all you need, and it should set you back 200 bucks or less. To connect it up, first connect the pressure reducer to the gas tank. It is good practice to blow out the valve of the gas tank first (open the valve a tiny bit until you hear gas rushing out) to remove dirt that might otherwise end up in the pressure reducer. Close the main valve again and screw on the pressure reducer. Then connect the reducer to the pressure reducer; you may need teflon tape (and potentially lots of it) to achieve a tight seal. Connect the airbrush, and you're set.
The pressure reducer will come with a manual on how to connect it and how to operate the valves. Always read the manual carefully -- you are dealing with 70bar of pressure in the tank, which can do quite a bit of harm if handled improperly.
Usually there are three valves in this setup: The main valve on the gas tank, the regulating valve on the pressure reducer, and a secondary valve on the pressure reducer. Typically, you close both valves on the pressure reducer fully. Then open the valve on the gas tank. Use the regulating valve to set your desired output pressure (typically 1-2 bar for airbrush), and open the secondary valve on the pressure reducer to allow gas to flow to the airbrush piston. Now you're ready to start airbrushing.
To disconnect the pressure reducer, first close all valves (both valves on the pressure reducer, and the main valve on the tank.) Trigger your airbrush gun to remove pressure from the hose. Disconnect it from the pressure reducer. Then first open the secondary valve, then the regulating valve, to remove pressure from the reducer. Now you can disconnect it safely. Close the valves again before storing it.
I hope this explanation helps some people. Please leave comments if you have any questions.
Here are a couple of pictures of my setup: https://picasaweb.google.com/postfu.....eat=directlink
I have a Quality Murr Suit.
Posted 14 years agohttp://qualitymurrsuits.tumblr.com/.....-tits-the-suit
*bwahahahahaha*
And thanks for the compliment!
*bwahahahahaha*
And thanks for the compliment!
My first time -- going to an anime convention
Posted 14 years agoLast weekend saw JapAniManga Night -- an anime convention about half an hour from my home. I don't really watch anime anymore, but I know some cosplayers, and some of the local furries were going there, so I decided to check it out. Plus, I figured that between all those cosplayers, a fursuit wouldn't look too out of place!
And, man, did I have a blast. I'm not sure what it is, but I've never been hugged, petted, and asked for photos as much as I was at that con! And (almost) all by pretty girls! Cosplayers, eat your hearts out! This doggy ruled!
I'm sure it had something to do with being the only fursuiter in the village too, but hey, I'm not complaining! I was really stoked that I as a non-cosplayer got such a warm welcome at this con.
Fursuiting aside, it's interesting to note the differences and similarities between an anime con and a furry con. The basic structure is pretty much the same -- you have a dealer's den, a main stage, workshop rooms, and a game room. The anime con also screened movies almost constantly, whereas furry cons tend to cater more towards costumers with the headless lounge (this anime con didn't even have changing space for costumers, people changed in the restrooms.)
Cosplays tend to be more wearable than fursuits, so you saw more cosplays at any given time than you'd see fursuits at a furry con. And the food -- this con had two kitchens going full blast all the time, doing okonomiyaki, ramen, curry and other Japanese dishes, plus a cafe serving coffee, tea and cake. I'm not going to slag the efforts of the Ringberg or the Maritim Magdeburg, but ... it just doesn't compare.
I only had two unfortunate encounters at this con: While fursuiting, I was twice asked to take my head off by other attendees, and when I declined I was physically assaulted (ie. my fursuit was socked on the nose.) I still don't quite understand the thought processes that could lead to such a reaction; thankfully my suit is sturdy and didn't take any damage. Still, I don't think this would have happened at a furry con. In this case I just walked away; I should probably have notified convention security. That sort of behaviour just doesn't stand.
I'll try to be back next year. I'll be back until the novelty of a fursuit wears off :-D
And, man, did I have a blast. I'm not sure what it is, but I've never been hugged, petted, and asked for photos as much as I was at that con! And (almost) all by pretty girls! Cosplayers, eat your hearts out! This doggy ruled!
I'm sure it had something to do with being the only fursuiter in the village too, but hey, I'm not complaining! I was really stoked that I as a non-cosplayer got such a warm welcome at this con.
Fursuiting aside, it's interesting to note the differences and similarities between an anime con and a furry con. The basic structure is pretty much the same -- you have a dealer's den, a main stage, workshop rooms, and a game room. The anime con also screened movies almost constantly, whereas furry cons tend to cater more towards costumers with the headless lounge (this anime con didn't even have changing space for costumers, people changed in the restrooms.)
Cosplays tend to be more wearable than fursuits, so you saw more cosplays at any given time than you'd see fursuits at a furry con. And the food -- this con had two kitchens going full blast all the time, doing okonomiyaki, ramen, curry and other Japanese dishes, plus a cafe serving coffee, tea and cake. I'm not going to slag the efforts of the Ringberg or the Maritim Magdeburg, but ... it just doesn't compare.
I only had two unfortunate encounters at this con: While fursuiting, I was twice asked to take my head off by other attendees, and when I declined I was physically assaulted (ie. my fursuit was socked on the nose.) I still don't quite understand the thought processes that could lead to such a reaction; thankfully my suit is sturdy and didn't take any damage. Still, I don't think this would have happened at a furry con. In this case I just walked away; I should probably have notified convention security. That sort of behaviour just doesn't stand.
I'll try to be back next year. I'll be back until the novelty of a fursuit wears off :-D
Furry performance art on the big stage
Posted 14 years agoSometimes you come across something genuinely furry in places you wouldn't expect it.
Last week one of the local theaters, Theaterhaus Gessnerallee in Zürich, staged a performance called Furry Species -- a "lecture performance" on human-animal hybrids by one Corinna Korth. In the lecture part of this performance, the artist explores a "scientific" perspective on creating hybrid beings, like genetic engineering, crossbreeding humans and animals (and the resulting phenotypes), and surgically altering humans to be more animal-like. (I would describe this as a parody of science, rather than a scientific lecture, hence the quotation marks.) The performance part deals with the artist's own desire to become more animal-like, in her case, more like a wolf. It culminates in a fake "operation" where a tail is sewn to her backside -- including lots of fake blood squirting at the audience. After all, you can't have performance art without fake blood.
The artist had reached out to the local furries beforehand, so seven of us attended the performance, including one fursuiter. (Not me -- I had to excuse myself for health reasons.)
Looking at other sources, it seems that Corinna Korth has been pursuing the idea of becoming a hybrid being for quite a while, while at the same time being completely outside of the furry scene. Her "scene" is performance art, to her turning into an animal is an artistic pursuit. Walking around in a wolf mask and riding the subway in it is an artistic expression. And yet becoming an anthropomorphic animal (or a zoomorphic human) is so quintessentially furry.
We talked with her after the show, and she was delighted that we came to attend her performance -- it seems that she's been trying to get in touch with the furry scene for a while but hasn't been very successful. Maybe we'll be able to change this -- I think her own special kind of furriness would be a worthwhile addition to the fandom. She has a kind of playful seriousness that sets her apart.
Here is a short video of her performance, see for yourself: (Some German may be required.)
Last week one of the local theaters, Theaterhaus Gessnerallee in Zürich, staged a performance called Furry Species -- a "lecture performance" on human-animal hybrids by one Corinna Korth. In the lecture part of this performance, the artist explores a "scientific" perspective on creating hybrid beings, like genetic engineering, crossbreeding humans and animals (and the resulting phenotypes), and surgically altering humans to be more animal-like. (I would describe this as a parody of science, rather than a scientific lecture, hence the quotation marks.) The performance part deals with the artist's own desire to become more animal-like, in her case, more like a wolf. It culminates in a fake "operation" where a tail is sewn to her backside -- including lots of fake blood squirting at the audience. After all, you can't have performance art without fake blood.
The artist had reached out to the local furries beforehand, so seven of us attended the performance, including one fursuiter. (Not me -- I had to excuse myself for health reasons.)
Looking at other sources, it seems that Corinna Korth has been pursuing the idea of becoming a hybrid being for quite a while, while at the same time being completely outside of the furry scene. Her "scene" is performance art, to her turning into an animal is an artistic pursuit. Walking around in a wolf mask and riding the subway in it is an artistic expression. And yet becoming an anthropomorphic animal (or a zoomorphic human) is so quintessentially furry.
We talked with her after the show, and she was delighted that we came to attend her performance -- it seems that she's been trying to get in touch with the furry scene for a while but hasn't been very successful. Maybe we'll be able to change this -- I think her own special kind of furriness would be a worthwhile addition to the fandom. She has a kind of playful seriousness that sets her apart.
Here is a short video of her performance, see for yourself: (Some German may be required.)
Back from MMC
Posted 14 years agoI just got back from MMC. Yay!
chdoggy took some awesome photos, so Imma gonna be spamming my gallery with them over the next few days, starting with http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5673449
Hope y'all don't mind.
chdoggy took some awesome photos, so Imma gonna be spamming my gallery with them over the next few days, starting with http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5673449
Hope y'all don't mind.
Give me an M! Give me another M! Give me a C!
Posted 14 years agoOr, in other words, I'm off to MephitMiniCon tomorrow.
This year's MMC will be seeing lots of hanging around again, hopefully better weather than last year, and a rottie in a new guise.
This year's MMC will be seeing lots of hanging around again, hopefully better weather than last year, and a rottie in a new guise.
Vote vote vote!
Posted 14 years agoAdrian's up in the FFFF, so go vote vote vote!
http://fursuittourney.livejournal.com/98233.html
Vote vote vote! Like a baby stoat!
Stoat stoat stoat! Cast a leetle vote!
(I'd link you to the cuteoverload.com page, but then you'd get distracted and forget about voting. So I won't.)
http://fursuittourney.livejournal.com/98233.html
Vote vote vote! Like a baby stoat!
Stoat stoat stoat! Cast a leetle vote!
(I'd link you to the cuteoverload.com page, but then you'd get distracted and forget about voting. So I won't.)
Eff Double-U A!
Posted 14 years agoJust wanted to let you know that I'll be at FWA (Furry Weekend Atlanta) -- arriving on 3/17 around noon and leaving on 3/20.
I'll be bringing my fursuit, so if you see a big bulky derpy rottie walking around, say hello! If you see me walking around sans fursuit and still manage to recognize me, say hello too!
I'll be bringing my fursuit, so if you see a big bulky derpy rottie walking around, say hello! If you see me walking around sans fursuit and still manage to recognize me, say hello too!
100 Watchers!
Posted 15 years agoI posted my first picture on here some 15 months ago, and as of today, there are 100 people watching my account for updates! Wow! Just imagine yourselves, all of you together in one group! You're a crowd!
Thanks a lot to all of you!
Special thanks to baracudaboy, my 100th watcher! I can't really offer you a commission, on account of, you know, me not being much of an artist. But if you're ever in the area, I can promise you extra-special double fursuit hugs from Adrian!
Thanks a lot to all of you!
Special thanks to baracudaboy, my 100th watcher! I can't really offer you a commission, on account of, you know, me not being much of an artist. But if you're ever in the area, I can promise you extra-special double fursuit hugs from Adrian!
The Dabbler’s Manifesto
Posted 15 years ago[I have always wanted to write a manifesto. This one is as good as any.]
We are the dabblers, the amateurs, the dilettantes. We are the makers, not the owners.
For us, the pleasure is not in owning something. The pleasure is in making, in creating. Being able to say "I made this with my own hands." Mere ownership does not create this feeling for us.
We never get really good at any one thing, because we never invest the time in it. There is always something else to try, something else to do.
We will never win a prize for our creations. Unless there is very little competition.
Our friends compliment us on our creations. They are amazed that we can do this. But deep down we know:
We are like the dancing bear. You do not admire the bear because he dances well. You admire him because he dances at all. You do not admire our creations because they are exceptionally well done. You admire them because we did them at all.
Maybe we do half a dozen projects at the same time. Maybe we have supplies sitting in a closet gathering dust, bought years ago for a long forgotten project. Maybe we'll still do that project. Maybe we won't. Maybe we are already on a wild goose chase again for some exotic component that is just what we need for that next project.
Some people think we are cheap, because we make stuff ourselves rather than shelling out the money to buy it. But dabbling is an expensive pursuit. All the supplies we end up buying and never using again (always telling ourselves might need them again sometime), most of them still half-full (because we always buy too much), all the specialized tools, all the equipment often add up to more than just paying someone else to do something for us.
And that is not even factoring in the time. The time for the first attempt, the second attempt, and the third one that finally kinda works. And the time we start over because the first acceptable attempt was just that -- acceptable, but not quite right. And when we start over again because we think we can still make it a little better. Before we lose interest for good.
For some people, their possessions are an extension of their personality. They become collectors (of art, artifacts, memorabilia). They realize themselves by buying something new, nicer, better. For other people, their products are an extension of their personality. They become artists, writers, craftspeople. They realize themselves by producing something new, something nicer, better.
We dabblers sit in the middle between the collectors and the artists. We are too interested in possessing the product to be artists, and we are too interested in producing our possessions to be collectors.
If you judge us by the criteria for artists, you will have to conclude that we do not produce a lot, and what we produce is of mediocre quality. If you judge us by the criteria for collectors, you will have to conclude that we do not own a lot, and what we own is of mediocre desirability.
We are neither. We are dabblers.
We are the dabblers, the amateurs, the dilettantes. We are the makers, not the owners.
For us, the pleasure is not in owning something. The pleasure is in making, in creating. Being able to say "I made this with my own hands." Mere ownership does not create this feeling for us.
We never get really good at any one thing, because we never invest the time in it. There is always something else to try, something else to do.
We will never win a prize for our creations. Unless there is very little competition.
Our friends compliment us on our creations. They are amazed that we can do this. But deep down we know:
We are like the dancing bear. You do not admire the bear because he dances well. You admire him because he dances at all. You do not admire our creations because they are exceptionally well done. You admire them because we did them at all.
Maybe we do half a dozen projects at the same time. Maybe we have supplies sitting in a closet gathering dust, bought years ago for a long forgotten project. Maybe we'll still do that project. Maybe we won't. Maybe we are already on a wild goose chase again for some exotic component that is just what we need for that next project.
Some people think we are cheap, because we make stuff ourselves rather than shelling out the money to buy it. But dabbling is an expensive pursuit. All the supplies we end up buying and never using again (always telling ourselves might need them again sometime), most of them still half-full (because we always buy too much), all the specialized tools, all the equipment often add up to more than just paying someone else to do something for us.
And that is not even factoring in the time. The time for the first attempt, the second attempt, and the third one that finally kinda works. And the time we start over because the first acceptable attempt was just that -- acceptable, but not quite right. And when we start over again because we think we can still make it a little better. Before we lose interest for good.
For some people, their possessions are an extension of their personality. They become collectors (of art, artifacts, memorabilia). They realize themselves by buying something new, nicer, better. For other people, their products are an extension of their personality. They become artists, writers, craftspeople. They realize themselves by producing something new, something nicer, better.
We dabblers sit in the middle between the collectors and the artists. We are too interested in possessing the product to be artists, and we are too interested in producing our possessions to be collectors.
If you judge us by the criteria for artists, you will have to conclude that we do not produce a lot, and what we produce is of mediocre quality. If you judge us by the criteria for collectors, you will have to conclude that we do not own a lot, and what we own is of mediocre desirability.
We are neither. We are dabblers.
Eurofurence 16 -- Yes, I'm back too.
Posted 15 years agoWent back to work today, but I'm still pretty stoked.
I had a great time at Eurofurence. I suited a lot in the new Adrian fursuit -- he's the first of my fursuits that I'm 100% satisfied with, and I had a lot of fun taking it out. And people's reactions to it seem to justify my judgement ;)
I hung out a lot with my friends from across the pond -- you guys know who you are. I only get to see you once or twice a year, but I treasure the time I spend with you. I also renewed some old acquaintances and made some new ones. Maybe some of them will become friendships over time. For those of you that I didn't talk to, or only talked to shortly -- there will be other times.
I didn't go to any of the stage events, didn't go to any SIG, only hit the art show twice, and hit the dealer's den 30 minutes before it closed for good. I did hit all the fursuit events though -- the group photo, the fursuit photoshoot, and the fursuit parade.
I danced a lot. I'm sure there will be some dorky videos cropping up with a large doggy flailing around.
I had breakfast in suit in the headless lounge -- a combination of getting up too late, realizing that the group photo was on shortly, and not wanting to get out of suit only to put it on again an hour later for the fursuit photoshoot.
My luggage was 3kg heavier on the way back than going there. I figure at least 1kg of that was stale fursuit sweat. (The other two kg was souvenirs from Berlin.)
Favourite moment of the con: Two kids each taking one of my paws during the fursuit walk through inner-city Magdeburg and deciding that they were going to "take the doggy home."
Favourite quote: "Oh my god, that doggy is built like a brick shithouse!"
Why do I have the urge to suit up now?
I had a great time at Eurofurence. I suited a lot in the new Adrian fursuit -- he's the first of my fursuits that I'm 100% satisfied with, and I had a lot of fun taking it out. And people's reactions to it seem to justify my judgement ;)
I hung out a lot with my friends from across the pond -- you guys know who you are. I only get to see you once or twice a year, but I treasure the time I spend with you. I also renewed some old acquaintances and made some new ones. Maybe some of them will become friendships over time. For those of you that I didn't talk to, or only talked to shortly -- there will be other times.
I didn't go to any of the stage events, didn't go to any SIG, only hit the art show twice, and hit the dealer's den 30 minutes before it closed for good. I did hit all the fursuit events though -- the group photo, the fursuit photoshoot, and the fursuit parade.
I danced a lot. I'm sure there will be some dorky videos cropping up with a large doggy flailing around.
I had breakfast in suit in the headless lounge -- a combination of getting up too late, realizing that the group photo was on shortly, and not wanting to get out of suit only to put it on again an hour later for the fursuit photoshoot.
My luggage was 3kg heavier on the way back than going there. I figure at least 1kg of that was stale fursuit sweat. (The other two kg was souvenirs from Berlin.)
Favourite moment of the con: Two kids each taking one of my paws during the fursuit walk through inner-city Magdeburg and deciding that they were going to "take the doggy home."
Favourite quote: "Oh my god, that doggy is built like a brick shithouse!"
Why do I have the urge to suit up now?
Adrian V2 is finally done.
Posted 15 years agoI've finally finished the new head for my Adrian fursuit: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4320993
I started this sometime in February, and it's been a long time coming. The technique is similar to the previous head, with some refinements: Balaclava base, foam, buckram eyes, nose and teeth made from Fimo, jaw frame made from aluminium. I figured I should get this technique down before trying something completely new.
So what's changed?
The entire head is much smaller than the previous one. In the previous head I tried to imitate the blocky head shape of a rottweiler. This one is toonier and lighter. Also, the foam doesn't enclose the whole head in this one; the back of the head is just fur.
The head fur is entirely hand stitched before glueing it to the foam base. In the previous head it was machine sewn, which is much less precise. Also, I used contact cement for glueing the fur to the foam base this time, rather than hot glue. Contact cement produces a full surface bond.
The teeth are molded around the aluminium that forms the jaw. This should prevent them from falling out. In the previous head, the teeth were attached with epoxy to the foam. Lesson learned, attaching something rigid to something flexible is likely to make the rigid thing crack.
I used the proper paint for the Fimo this time. Regular clear paint doesn't dry on Fimo and stays tacky.
The lips are made from patent leather, wrapped around cotton rope and sewn down.
The tongue is attached with velcro. I can exchange it for a different type if I don't like this one anymore. (I stole this technique from wulfer.)
What could be better?
The jaw was supposed to be movable, but it isn't. Next time I need to fur the lower jaw separately from the rest of the head.
Glueing the head fur with contact cement was a bitch. There are a couple of spots with folds in the fur. I need to be more careful with this, or not sew the whole head fur at once (rather glue a bit, sew a bit, glue a bit etc.)
I didn't change the recipe for the eyes; I might want to attempt 3D eyes next time.
There's always a next time and a next fursuit to build, right?
I started this sometime in February, and it's been a long time coming. The technique is similar to the previous head, with some refinements: Balaclava base, foam, buckram eyes, nose and teeth made from Fimo, jaw frame made from aluminium. I figured I should get this technique down before trying something completely new.
So what's changed?
The entire head is much smaller than the previous one. In the previous head I tried to imitate the blocky head shape of a rottweiler. This one is toonier and lighter. Also, the foam doesn't enclose the whole head in this one; the back of the head is just fur.
The head fur is entirely hand stitched before glueing it to the foam base. In the previous head it was machine sewn, which is much less precise. Also, I used contact cement for glueing the fur to the foam base this time, rather than hot glue. Contact cement produces a full surface bond.
The teeth are molded around the aluminium that forms the jaw. This should prevent them from falling out. In the previous head, the teeth were attached with epoxy to the foam. Lesson learned, attaching something rigid to something flexible is likely to make the rigid thing crack.
I used the proper paint for the Fimo this time. Regular clear paint doesn't dry on Fimo and stays tacky.
The lips are made from patent leather, wrapped around cotton rope and sewn down.
The tongue is attached with velcro. I can exchange it for a different type if I don't like this one anymore. (I stole this technique from wulfer.)
What could be better?
The jaw was supposed to be movable, but it isn't. Next time I need to fur the lower jaw separately from the rest of the head.
Glueing the head fur with contact cement was a bitch. There are a couple of spots with folds in the fur. I need to be more careful with this, or not sew the whole head fur at once (rather glue a bit, sew a bit, glue a bit etc.)
I didn't change the recipe for the eyes; I might want to attempt 3D eyes next time.
There's always a next time and a next fursuit to build, right?
Open wide!
Posted 15 years agoI just gave my new fursuit head a professional teeth cleaning. With a dremel.
New/old serger
Posted 15 years agoTwo weeks ago I got a serger from my grandma. It used to belong to my other grandma, who was a professional seamstress. She died 25 years ago, and she got the serger some years before that, so I reckon it must be 30-40 years old. It's a professional model (a Pfaff Calanda 710), all metal, and very sturdy.
I tried it out a bit when I got it; still need to figure out how to get the thread tension right so it doesn't skip stitches. But after about 10 minutes, it went "bzzzzt fzzzle" and white smoke came out of the motor casing.
When I opened up the motor, I found this: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot.....eat=directlink
It looks like an old film capacitor. It was in parallel with one pin of the pedal and the neutral of the motor, and connected to another pin of the pedal. I have no idea what it was doing there. Provide starting power to the motor?
In any case it looks like a reasonably easy component to replace. I was afraid that the motor itself gave, and I'd have to get the motor coils rewound, which would be considerably more expensive.
So once I've got this replaced, I should have a functional serger.
I tried it out a bit when I got it; still need to figure out how to get the thread tension right so it doesn't skip stitches. But after about 10 minutes, it went "bzzzzt fzzzle" and white smoke came out of the motor casing.
When I opened up the motor, I found this: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot.....eat=directlink
It looks like an old film capacitor. It was in parallel with one pin of the pedal and the neutral of the motor, and connected to another pin of the pedal. I have no idea what it was doing there. Provide starting power to the motor?
In any case it looks like a reasonably easy component to replace. I was afraid that the motor itself gave, and I'd have to get the motor coils rewound, which would be considerably more expensive.
So once I've got this replaced, I should have a functional serger.
Suit walk at Comicbörse Zürich
Posted 15 years agojassorangecat posted some videos he made last week at our fursuit walk at the local comic fair. Watch part 2 for some footage of the doggy doing tricks!
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UUT2LrnOCc
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEaxCsXt5Rs
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLIYupceK5U
Thanks a lot to jassorangecat for the videos!
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UUT2LrnOCc
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEaxCsXt5Rs
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLIYupceK5U
Thanks a lot to jassorangecat for the videos!
Latex Applique Tutorial
Posted 15 years agoI finally got around to making a tutorial video on the latex applique you can see in some of my submissions. The tutorial takes you through the whole process, from transfering the design to the latex, cleaning, cutting, and glueing it all together. I've had to develop a couple of special techniques to transfer it cleanly.
It's in two parts due to YouTube's length restrictions; part 1 is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M24IvhGGKVo
And here's part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwuuqIhs_js
Let me know what you think. Never done a video before, and this is shot with a still camera. I bet there's room for improvement there.
What else would you like to see in a video?
It's in two parts due to YouTube's length restrictions; part 1 is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M24IvhGGKVo
And here's part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwuuqIhs_js
Let me know what you think. Never done a video before, and this is shot with a still camera. I bet there's room for improvement there.
What else would you like to see in a video?
