Um.. Hi? Hello?

Is anyone still here?

I haven't been active in 3 years. A lot has happened in that time. I ended up moving to Illinois and back, job hopped, been employed and unemployed, fell out of the furry fandom for a bit (but never lost interest!) , stopped arting a bit... but now I'm back and wanting to pick up where I left off! Tell me how you've been! Any exciting updates on your end?

I'm attending/volunteering Anthro Northwest again this coming January!! I'm super excited to be back, in general and surrounding myself in the fandom! I have been itching to art and make conbadges again! I would love to start up commissions, especially for anyone attending the con. I'm currently unemployed which means I have all the free time to art and need to make money lmao.

Any style, any type, any customization.
Prices: https://www.furaffinity.net/commiss.....s/jaxis-black/
Examples: https://www.furaffinity.net/gallery/jaxis-black/

I have not changed or raised prices since creating the price form (3+ years ago?) and I don't plan to. I still think they're pretty fair for the time and quality I put into the badges.

If your interested, please comment or Note me! <3

I'm currently back into an art swing and would like to take some commissions!

Any style, any type, any customization.
Prices: https://www.furaffinity.net/commiss.....s/jaxis-black/
Examples: https://www.furaffinity.net/gallery/jaxis-black/

Turn around time is based on work schedule, but generally will be completed in a short amount of time. Not going to lie, my downfall is mailing the final piece out, that always tends to take me longer than getting the actual badge done.

I'm hoping to fill about 5 slots for the moment, please comment or note if you'd like a spot!

1. [open]
2. [open]
3. [open]
4. [open]
5. [open]

I'm back in that art swing at the moment and I want to take full advantage of it!

>> I bought some small jingle bells for a badge with a collar/bell and I loved the way it turned out, so I wanna do MOAR!! So if your character wears a collar with a bell on it (or if you want to improv and have them wear one), let me now!

> I'll do discounted conbadges for $20 instead of $25 for a headshot. (with FREE shipping once completed!)

Comment or note me for a slot! I've been getting badges started and completed in a day or two (pending on work schedule)


>> I've also been in the mood to make seasonal/themed badges - Autumn/Winter // Halloween/Christmas - so if you'd like one of them, please check out my -Commission Tab-, let me now a style you like, and I'll give you a $5-10 discount also (depending on style)! :)

I've been crawling out of an art funk recently and have a handful of completed badges waiting to be laminated and posted online.

Because of this, I'd like to open for some badges! Whatever you want, I'd be willing to do! Couples, headshot, bust/hip, themed, normal.. Examples of everything are obviously what my gallery consists of, prices are in my Commissions tab - http://www.furaffinity.net/commissi.....s/jaxis-black/

Please share the info if you wouldn't mind! And leave comments/notes if you're interested in a commission!

Thank you~

 Aleera-Zoroark is holding a raffle for a very pretty character she designed, all you have to do is comment on the picture! There's only two of us so far who have commented, but I feel like I should share the link to get more activity on it. It wouldn't be fair to just be the two of us, and I feel like I might have from followers who are character collectors.

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/25572680/ -- here's the link! Go ahead and comment if you like it! And follow the rest of her gallery!

So.. I've tweeted multiple times and only have answers from like. Three people.

MAIN QUESTION: Is ANYONE I KNOW going to ANW?? I feel like I'm going mostly alone (all 4 days). I have some friends who are only going a day or two, but who is really going to be there?

ALT QUESTION: Is anyone having a room at the hotel or nearby? I am NOT looking for a room! But moreso a safe, reliable storage space where I can keep my fursuit bin because of the fact that I'll be commuting to the hotel from an outside city. I don't really want to carry it with me on buses/light rails/etc.


I'm quite looking forward to the con. Despite it's terrible location (imo), the schedule looks really good and filled out for a solid 4 days of con, and the artist list is insane. (Which is good? Too much? Trying too hard to be too impressive with big names for a first con? How are they going to top it in the future?) Anyway, I've missed a more local Seattle furcon, since I've never been able to go to Vancoufur and Furlandia is still working on growing.

I used to be mildly-known in the local Seattle/Furlife scene, and I feel like since I moved to and from Chicago, nothing's been the same.

I've also changed over all this time, I don't attend meetups much anymore, if at all, so I'm unable to make new friends of the area. I feel like I'm getting known for a poor turnaround time when it comes to art (which is true, I can fully admit I'm shit when it comes to schedules and being on time for art), but it sucks thinking about the reality of the fact that yes, it does in fact attach to your name and damage the reputation.

But it's also one of those things that if I open for commissions in an attempt to get art back on track and have a quick turn around, it's at a point where there's absolutely no interest via FA. So how do I get myself out there again? Go through another website? Post more frequently? Give gifts/free art to get noticed then open for commissions? Do I even TRY to get known again in the local Furlife scene when people like Matrices and Onnanoko are around as well? (nothing bad against them, but they're clearly everyone's "go to" for art or whatever when they're around *shrug*)

I would like to be able to open for 3-5 badge commissions when I'm feeling up for it and have people claim them, but.. idk.. idk how to get to that point again of not being a crumb in a dark corner of a room in the estate that is FA.

I'll be driving my way down to Portland a little later today! I have everyone's badges finished and laminated and ready for pickup at the con! I'll probably prop myself up somewhere in a hallway space for an extended period of time during all three days. If you see me outside of my personal 'station', feel free to stop me and ask for your badge (I won't recognize you, so please tell me your fur name). I'll also be tweeting out where you can find me for pickup, so make sure you follow that too! BlackVeilJackal

Finally, I'm going to be Fursuiting this year with Thirteen (https://twitter.com/BlackVeilJackal.....38196508241921), so be on the lookout for the witchy cat!

See you there!

WINTER ICON

WINTER ICON


This is one of my favourite icons I have, commissioned by  chocoeva a good while ago at this point. It's the only wintery icon I have, but I think the way she styled Jaxis is perfect and I'm always super excited to use it at this time of year.

One day I do need to commission more autumn/halloween // winter/christmas icons. Anyone know any good artists for themed icons like that? Other than Ifus, her icons have been on my radar for YEARS I can just never afford or be fast enough to get one.

-- jaxis.black[at]gmail.com --

I title this as "attempting" because in the past when I've tried to use it before, my computer just would not have it and act crazy slow and laggy with it always running in the background, so I never bothered to have it during it's prime. I'm not sure if people do still actively use it or not anymore, especially now since Telegram is the hot new thing (JaxisBlack to find me), but if you do use Skype or Telegram, feel free to add me and message me.

I'm copypastaing this from my Twitter..

"Hey guys. I've been a real piece of shit and haven't worked in any Furlandia badge homework since con. I'm really sorry about it all, but I've finally got my supplies out again and I'm going to start working on these. I'm determined to. I've gone through serious art block and lack of inspiration/motivation to draw, which I wasn't expecting to hit so hard and for so long after con. But I'm starting. I really appreciate everyone's patience with me. I'm sorry I'm THIS slow with art. Something this bad hasn't affected me for quite some time. I'm going to start slow with the simple square badges and work my way up. Hopefully motivation will come back to me by starting small. Please feel free to message me with any questions or concerns and thank you again for hanging in there. I'm really sorry."


I still have badges to mail out to AcidDog, Alphapak, and Loki/Magpie. I haven't forgotten about any of you. They're all in mailers also, I just keep putting the mailers in places I don't actively see them and forget to do anything with them until they're refound. ->irresponsible artist<-

But I really do promise. I'm going to start catching up. I want to get a good portion finished before the new year. Everyone who signed my forum upon getting a commission DID agree to the fact that "Badges could take a literal year (next con), before your badge is finished and received". So that's still a thing and if it takes that long to get your badge to you, that's just what it is. I hate it. I know you hate it, but I'm kind of a mess and these things happen. Art isn't a full time job for me, I don't think it ever will be because of reasons like this. So once again, I deeply apologize for the wait and lack of contact about things, but I'm getting started on them right now. RIGHT NOW.

Thank you <3
- Jaxis

I feel like I should put a disclaimer like "This is not a sponsored post!" lmao I've been watching too much Youtube.

BUT! I've been seeing some really cool art bases in my inbox recently and I can't afford everything, so I want to share the stuff with you guys and maybe things can be claimed!

~  magenta Has a GORGEOUS traditional art YCH ladder auction which I would snatch up the AB for immediately if I had another paycheck or two in my bank! -- https://www.furaffinity.net/view/20441925/

~  treeline Has a YCH flat price ref sheet opening with an anthro shot, feral shot, 3 outfits and 2 headshot options for only $50! Other ref examples are in her gallery, and I'd snag this for Jaxis (since she needs a proper ref), but again can't quite afford it in one go. -- https://www.furaffinity.net/view/20413638/

~  Galix_Artistry Has unlimited chibi premades! Your character in sushi (good for you vore fans), or a 5 image lineup for your character in different poses! This was the one I had to spend my money on, those sushi's are too awesome. She's also having a hard time with being released from her job and vet bills. So she could definitely use the help. -- https://www.furaffinity.net/view/20415553/


GO FORTH!
ENJOY ART!!

Ravensword - http://flightrising.com/main.php?p=.....&id=248615

Add meeeee

I posted a huge long recap with a lot of information and accidentally backspaced and lost it all.

That was two days ago.


LONG STORY SHORT: The con was twice as successful for me this year than last year. I printed out forms to take commissions and keep myself organized, so I only had limited slots. Once I ran out of those, I was done taking commissions so I wouldn't overwhelm myself. I ran out halfway through Saturday. I had about 25 pages in total.

So for future cons, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING A PREORDER BADGE to pick up at con and wear for that weekend. I will only accept 3-4 "at con" badges to finish before the end of Sunday, but if you intend on wanting a badge from me at the convention, getting a preorder instead of ordering from my booth is the best way to go to guarantee you a badge.

I might not sell Bust/Body/Couples badges at future cons. Preorder and outside con options will stay available, but it would be too difficult to chance getting a commission and try and get them done in a timely manner in the time allowed.


OTHER THINGS OUTSIDE FURLANDIA: I have a small list of commissions that I took before Furlandia which have priority before starting any of these homework pieces, so hang on for a bit when you see me posting other things that aren't described with Furlandia stuff.

I'm looking to attending Vancoufur 2017. If anyone is already planning to go and/or may have a quiet room space available, let me know! I MIGHT also think about getting a dealers table there as well, but then I'd have to figure out tax stuff and idk if I want to put that much work into it. I'd rather have more fun suiting at a new con (for me) than working it.

Hello cuties!

I just got home from Furlandia this weekend (where I think some of you may have come from as well?) I'll cross-post a journal about it all and my various thoughts I've got going for next year's plans. :)

Thank you for the follows! I appreciate each and every one of you! :* Muah!

Bullet lists are always easier to read...

- There are never any active grabs at conbadges when I'm open. There never really has been, but I've been posting about things everywhere and offered discounts and no one bites.
- I've been out of work for two months (which should be starting up again this month, so I'm not completely jobless, just at a standstill/waiting game).
- When my tax refund came in, my parents and I agreed that starting last year, I would give them a chuck of the return as a minuscule payment of life because they still let me live in their house and pay for nothing except gas for my car, toll bridge money, and whatever food or cigarettes or whatever fun stuff I want. So that's fair.
- But this year was Sakura Con right at the same time, so I asked to keep the money and I would eventually pay them back once I started working again. Also last year's SC I still have to pay my friend back for her covering my part of the room split.
- Now the cooling fan of my computer is dying and I'm scared of it overheating my laptop and ruining everything. Of course my warranty is expired and of COURSE I go to look up what I can do about it on the HP website and: "This product is no longer serviced by HP."

So with the total of everything I owe and potentially needing to buy a new laptop, the entire cost is almost $1500.

With how Furlandia went last year, I had a really good turn around, so that'll hopefully give me a little money boost at the end of the month if all goes well, but I'm looking for other way to make money. Traditional ideas, digital ideas, adoptables (which i know are pretty dead now), YCH ideas, anything. What do you like seeing in general? What do you want to see from me? I'm not super skilled with using a tablet (I never have been), but I'll make things work if I have to. I have a feeling portraits are going to be the things people want.

But ideas or suggestions would be really helpful. Even if you know you're not going to buy from me, just let me know what you like seeing. If you sell commissions, what works for you? What do you see other artists sell a lot of that you enjoy?
All digital art will be posted to  Eluned and not here, so if you're not following that you should, but I will forewarn you that it's almost never updated because my focus is conbadges.


I'm just not in a good place right now and could really use the guidance.
Thanks guys.

Blessed be the art gods, I have a queue of commissions to work on! :D

This is enough work to keep me going that I can close my open commission slots. This list is roughly the order I'm going to work on things as well, unless I magically get a last minute Furlandia preorder which will be bumped to the top to make sure it's completed before con. Thank you everyone! <3


~  wadis0n &  gummyfreaks - Couples badge - [95% done ~ needs laminating!]
~  randalwolf - Two sided headshot badge - [0% not started]
~  fuzzypaws - Headshot badge - [0% not started]
~  fuzzypaws - Headshot badge - [0% not started]
~  piret - Headshot badge - [0% not started]
~  piret - Headshot badge - [0% not started]
~  piret - Headshot badge - [0% not started]
~  piret - Couples badge - [0% not started]

It's that time (for me!) to start taking badge preorders for  Furlandia!

This will be my second year in the dealers den and I would love to set up my booth with brand new examples and badges to hand out to people! Last year was such a success, and by the guidance of a lot of people, I'm going to raise my 'at con' prices (not by a lot), but they're going to be cheaper if you order through FA!

PRICE GUIDE:

Headshot badges
[x] [x] [x]
$15 preorder / $20 at con

Couples badges
[x] [x] [x]
$30 preorder / $40 at con

Body badges
[x] [x] [x]
$40 preorder / $50 at con

The theme for this year is "1850: Age of Industry" which kindasorta is supposed to go in hand with steampunk? Even though it's not really steampunk themed?? But I'll make your badges themed that way anyway!

Here's a (two year old, ouch) example of something steampunky: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/11202791/
I have Silver, Copper, and Gold metallic paint which I use to really enhance and pop out anything metal in the design.

I'm only going to take a queue of 5 at a time so I don't overwhelm myself, so leave a comment or send along a note with this form filled out, please!

Style of badge:
Themed?:
Name on badge:
References: [please have images available instead of text]
Email: [to send you invoice after initial sketch is approved]


---QUEUE---
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

I'm home from my month away on tour! It was an absolute blast, I made a new family with the band that I lived with the whole time, and I feel incredibly honoured that I got to spend every day seeing the band I love play their final US shows ever.

But now! I'm home! And jobless! And already bored after a day and a half of not doing anything and being productive, so PLEASE GIVE ME ART TO DRAW!!

I was going to wait until the first of December, but a week feels so far away, that I may as well do it now.
So. Commissions.
Furlandia Preorders.
Holiday themed badges.
Basic badges for any day or time you'd want to use them.

WHO WANTS ONE?!

Comment or note me if you have been waiting for a badge for a while. I'll probably start with a queue of 3-5 and begin working on badges as soon as I get info for it!

CURRENTLY FULL THANK YOU!!
1)  CelticwolfNW - Finished
2)  CelticwolfNW - Finished
3)  CelticwolfNW - Finished
4)  kirazi - attempting to sketch (NOTHING'S LOOKING RIGHT SDKHDSJSD)
5) DiselDragon remake - 2% started
6) Acid wolf remake - 2% started

Rainfurrest went well for the most part!

I've been staffing for the last 3-4 years or so, so I can only enjoy so much of the con because of having to work, but even without working, there are other reasons why I STILL can't enjoy the con to it's fullest. Idk. Realistically, deep down, I think RF (unfortunately) has a lot to work on when it comes to interesting panels and artist selection for the den etc. I feel like I can't enjoy it as a new con every year because it's gotten pretty repetitive. Not to mention poor actions from attendees that ruin everything for everyone else, and poor security/staff that don't uphold any sort of.. *ahem* dress code. I'm not going into detail about any of the mentioned problems, but if you're on twitter I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I'll keep attending though! I'll probably keep working! And I'm still trying to figure out a way to sell conbadges in the Art Show (since it's too hard to work the Den/Alley)

Speaking of Conbadges, I printed out something less than 100 of my business cards and passed them out on the flyer tables throughout the center, just on Saturday and Sunday, and I only refound 7 as I went to recollect them to reuse them later on Sunday night. So that's amazing! I haven't seen much of an influx of followers on any social site, but I'm just impressed that so many were snatched up in two days! I was really regretting not tossing them out on Friday because all the tables ended up so cluttered on Saturday, I was sure my little cards would be lost.

So on to that whole "Life and Future Commission" part of my title.. I am officially leaving Michael's on the 15th. Reason being, I'm going on tour with one of the musician's I work for. I'll be gone for an entire month, leaving on the 20th, home on November 24th give or take. I am not planning on reapplying for Michael's again immediately after. Or at all. I might end up being a jewelry class teacher, if anything. But I really want to try and focus with badges and art and jewelry as a source of income, while still having some side work. So unfortunately any and all badges won't even begin to open and get worked on until December 1st. I'll be posting another journal then when I'm open, and I'll probably only take a couple at a time so I don't get too overwhelmed until I can get a schedule managed which I'm comfortable with.

I WILL be attending Furlandia next year! And I hope to have a dealers table again and have a much more organized way of accepting and working on badges for that weekend, so I don't have such an issue with all these take home badges. Also I might have to raise the price of my badges a little more.. Not by too much though! I enjoy having affordable prices because I understand that furries are broke, but with last year I came to realize how much time and effort I do put into my badges and and do need to raise the styles by a couple rounded bucks.

That's all, I think! Thanks for sticking around! Cross your fingers for me that I can get a smooth schedule worked out when it comes to art! I really want to try and make arts and crafts a source of income and prove my parents (and myself) wrong that I don't have to rely on retail work to keep myself barely afloat! I can actually do something that I enjoy doing and live off it!

<3

-- TL;DR --
~ Rainfurrest was mediocre
~ Quitting retail job on the 15th
~ Going on tour with a band for a month
~ Commissions will open on December 1st
~ Attending (Dealing?) Furlandia
~ Cross fingers that I can start to support myself with arts and crafts and prove everyone wrong !!!

I need a steady income, so I work retail. But even $10/hr isn't enough for anything in my life. I firmly believe in the fact that I'd rather not make any money and do what I enjoy, than be miserable in an office job for a comfortable life.

Saying that; I am an artist. I love drawing and making commissions and gifts and crafting jewelry (I'm working on possibly opening an online store for necklaces/bracelets/earrings). These are my hobbies, but a hobby enough that I wouldn't mind spending my time doing these things every day, and have another job screen printing job for a musician making and selling his merch. That's still a craft and something I've enjoyed doing ever since high school and have wanted to do.

However, I've come to notice that when I'm at home, I procrastinate like hell. It's been almost a month and I haven't had the motivation to work on Furlandia conbadges which are already paid for and I really owe. But how come at the convention I was so focused and determined to work, I was able to stay after den hours to continue working on commissions, but now that I'm home with all my supplies, I can't do a thing?

Maybe it's because I have my laptop as a distraction in front of me? Maybe it's because I have people around watching me and I want to show off that I'm working? Maybe it's because I live in my bedroom and if I actually left my computer and supplies in another room, I would have to physically leave to get online and be in a separate space to actually work on things.

I'm getting real tired of working my retail job (even though it's at a craft store, which is nice, but I'm constantly dragging just getting TO work let alone being AT work), and I would love to quit it to focus on craft and art, but if I can't figure out a way to motivate myself daily and actually work on shit I need to do and be a stay at home artist who is successful at doing this, I'm afraid to leave. Not to mention I still live with my parents and they're going to have a fit if I quit without proof that I can survive this way. If I'm not making enough money through outside work to move out on my own, I don't see why I can't do art for the same amount of money and stay in the same position.

I know for a fact I COULD make income off of art if I just fucking sat down and FOCUSED, but that's where my issue lies. Does anyone have any suggestions of advice on what I could do? I know people like Idess, LuthienWolf, Mordrude, Goldenwolf, etc are able to work from home and focus on art (and sometimes other things), but they also have someone else to help out with the other half of income. I just.. I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm stuck in a rut and I want my life to go this direction now, but I have no idea how to focus my energy toward this and turn around some sort of profit.

It was a personal success!

My first time doing dealers den, so I was a little nervous and felt over AND under prepared at the same time and didn't know what to expect or how well commissions would go. And holy shit. I booked up my entire weekend and have a lot of takehome work just from FRIDAY'S commissioners!!

THANK YOU so much to everyone who bought a badge from me! And let me apologize 100 times over to all the ones that I didn't get to finishing that weekend. I knew I could get badges done in a matter of hours, but I'm apparently a lot slower with people around than when I am just at home in my bedroom.

I had so much fun at this con though, and met so many great and sweet new people! I've already registered for next year and have my fingers crossed to get another table! :D And now that I know what to do and what not to do, I'll hopefully have it more organized and not get so overwhelmed taking on commissions.

I'll do my best get to starting my take home work soon and finish them as quick as possible, but with two part time retail jobs, by free time is pretty sucked dry.

Thanks again to everyone for giving me a great time!
<3!

Super adorable free icon by  Zyira which can be found here! - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14670112/

Unfortunately it's only got one female hair style, but it's on its own layer so you can customize your own hair style onto it if needed.

Uuhhh other than that I have a badge to upload tomorrow.

RF was fun
Not as fun as I was expecting? I got to wear my first suit though and that was a blast every time!
Need a hotel room in future years so I can be proper drunk and not have to worry about driving to crash space.
I will probably be one of those asshole people in the tan shirts again next year.

WHICH BTW IS THEMED "SWORDS AND SORCERY" WHICH IS BASICALY #LOTRANDHPCROSSOVERCON2015 I'M GOING TO MAKE SO MANY HP THEMED BADGES AND THIRTEEN CAT IS GOING TO BE A HUFFLEPUFF AND OMG IM SO EXCITED FOR ALL THE ART!!! If you want a badge for next year, let me know now and I'll make sure it's done way ahead of time!

Soooo yeah! This year was great for meeting all you lovely new people and friends and watchers and dang I need to take a free day to work on gifts and trades.

Love you all <3

Do you has them?
Looking to get rid of them?
I wants them!!

I'm not much of an avid collector, but I am looking to have one of each card/design, especially first generations to complete the original 151, but I'll still accept any gen! I'm even willing to pay for your cards! Though I don't see much value in 90% of them, so if you're looking for like, $5-10 for a card (depending who/what it is), I'm probably not going to give you that.

- I'm thinking 25c for every standard card
- 50-75c for any holographics (probably a couple extra bucks for holographed original Venusaur/Charizard/Blastoise/Eeveelotions/legendary birds/Dragonite)
- 50c-$1.00 if you have any Japanese/Holographic cards

If you're willing to part with ANY of your cards, please leave me PHOTOGRAPHS instead of text comments so I can compare the images to the cards I already have. And remember, feel free to show me ANY AND ALL cards you're willing to part with!! Even the super common ones like Caterpie, Rattata, Pidgey, Pikachu, etc! They might have different designs/looks and I'll want those!

I have a couple I can trade as well if you're looking for something in return, but it's not a lot.

Thanks! <3