Hey All!

Wanted to thank those who have already donated to AVP Press. Here's some more good news:

Remember, ANY donation is welcome, no matter how small. For those who donate $5 or more get the AVP Press sampler issue, "Invasion of the Heroes"

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/541750/

Only 120 are left!

For any donation over $15, you can use towards pre-ordering "Robot House: Ohno and Friends" Mecha Doujinshi.

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/541731/

This exclusive book features art from TOJYO Ratbat, Junkpile, VailCross, FA's own kandlin and PizzaCat, and DA's @$$. There's over 72 pages full of shiny robot sexiness.

The cream of donations will get a special treat from  ebonyleopard. Jason mentioned that if you are the highest donor, Shawntae Howard will draw a cameo of your fursona in his full-color Extinctioner's Graphic Novel! If you know Shawntae and his artwork, you already know that is a damn sweet deal.

Finally, donations will help bring top Japanese artist  kensingshow to America for AC! He promises to bring exclusive merchandise from Karabiner and Tojyo with him to AC.

For all the hooplah, drop by this guy's site. You won't be sorry:

 Jason_Canty

Hey all,

Jason Canty is a friend of mine for over 10 years. Every year, he organizes the trips, lodging, dealer tables, printing, advertising and financing for several artists in the fandom. He's helped so many new and talented people get jobs in the comic book industry, I've lost count.

Now he needs your help.

If you have a minute and some spare change. I hope that you might check out the AVPress Donation drive happening at Ronzo's FA site:

 shonuff44

Just 5 Paypal bucks is all it takes to get a free B&W Boston Anime Sampler issue chock full of pinups and comics from top artists like Ronzo, JAxer, Shawntae Howard, Crybringer and many others. if you don't have that, then donate what you can. Seriously, no amount is too small.

I hope to see you guys at AC!

Every now and then (especially then) I'll venture out of FA to see what else is happening in the genre. A particularly talented artist had posted a link to his gallery on ArtSpots, a new fur art site like this one. I kinda figured it was yet another FA or DeviantArt, but for now, I couldn't find one non-professional quality piece in the whole lot. Everyone currently on there could work for Disney, or Bluth Animation studios at the drop of a hat. That said, there is a place to register for free, but I wonder if they really let the aspiring (ie new) artists post anything. Anyone have the 411 on this site? http://www.artspots.com

If I was quiet about it, would you listen? ;)

At work, I'm currently tasked to redesign a blog for one of our newspaper columnists. While looking over some fab blogs, I came across this guy from Brazil, or Spain or...not sure, but I believe he's Spanish. :)

In any case...his stuff absolutely floored me. Granted, it doesn't take much to make me go "ooh" and "aah". That happens here every day. But still, you have to look.

http://www.arthurdepins.com/index.php

Check out the illustrations on the left, and animations on the right. He cleans and colors most of his work in Adobe Illustrator. You've never thought that app could do this, though.

Check check it out!

PS: Thanks to you for watching this space. I know there hasn't been much of anything lately. I swear, once this Master's Degree is finally finished, I won't know what to do with myself for at least a week. ;)

PPS: I think the guy is French - just looking at some more stuff. Boy, I need to brush up on culture. ^_^;

I just had to post this http://www.mcallcommunity.com/tests.....mp/ez-bake.jpg A response to  ebonyleopard's girlfriend Natasha when she mentioned plans to bake clay "custom made on the spot 'over night' key chains of one's character in chibi lemondrop form)." at this year's AC. Look for 'em, folks!

Just happened to notice a trend here - FA members are posting IRL photos of themselves. Not just a torso or a hand, but a full-blown top shot. Kinda cool, actually - you notice that more artists here don't resemble a socially-deficient, stereotypically nerdy deviant. Some look nice n' normal to downright attractive. Usually the attractive ones will have several pictures of themselves looking sexy and whatnot -- garnering all sorts of comments. It's just like MySpace, only that site has plenty of cleavage and torso shots. ;) Maybe I should post a photo, too. But then, I don't need to encourage even fewer visits to my gallery. :P

Listening to: Nas 2nd Childhood (Cookin Soul Remix) available for listening at:http://www.toddkelley.net/2005-09-0.....php?autoplay=1

Some real head-noddin' stuff goin on in 2007.

Life in 2006...it was a rough ride toward the end. Some ups...some downs. Getting better with each day.

My father is recovering from a stroke that occurred on Nov 21st. Before this, he was a semi-retired behavioral psychologist and mobile therapist with widespread success in helping troubled families. He was a published writer and received his Master's degree with a 4.0 GPA. There's nothing like watching your father - a man you've looked up to as a child, and respected as an adult - curled fetus-like in a cold bed, mumbling incoherently, nearly suffocated by tubes and a constant droning beep that's reminding me that he could've passed away just before Thanksgiving.

Two weeks after he was in the hospital, Dad was transferred to a nearby therapy facility. His first night there was absolutely the scariest, most heartbreaking situation I've had to endure. Just a few minutes before I planned to leave for home, dad started shivering uncontrollably in his bed and couldn't stop. He was visibly scared - already confused and disoriented from the stroke, and staring at me with tears in his eyes. This is a man who I've never seen cry before. He's always been the pillar that everyone looked to solve their problems. I knelt by his bed, held his hand tight and hugged him while the nurses frantically tried to inject something to calm him. All I could do is reassure him that he was going to be okay, and I wouldn't leave his side until he was.

Things sometimes happen to teach you a lesson...how to deal with life, to understand that no one has it that easy, and to realize that everyone has their own unique problems. I am the only family member nearby, and the first to hear that Dad was in the hospital. Since then, I've tried coordinating all of dad's affairs while he recovers...doctor visits, bills, family communication, etc, while holding down the job and finishing another semester of classes. Since then, my weight training regimen had stopped, MFA finals were extended into January, and a recent doctor visit warned me to watch my blood pressure. It always feels impossible to undertake until you're into the mix, dealing with it, and realizing that it could be a helluva lot worse. I've broken down a few times when there was too much for one person to do. Thankfully, family from a few states away were there to pick up the pieces.

Someone is looking out for him...he passed out at a bank right in front of a policeman, who immediately called for an ambulance. If he didn't venture out that day, I might have lost him.

Dad's recovering quickly - his speech has partially returned and he's gaining weight again. Doctors say that with an eye exam and official evaluation by the therapy facility, he may start driving again in several weeks. Until then, he's got me, and I'm glad that I've have him.

That pretty much explains my absence from posting anything on FA for the past 3 months. Been silently admiring everyone else's accomplishments for the while. One thing is for sure. There is no shortage of talent in this crazy world. I'm glad to be in close company as far as that's concerned. You guys rock.

Classes ended with A's in both subjects. Am thankful for empathetic professors who extended the finals due date. Going back into weight training Monday night. Not about to disappoint the ladies out there, or myself. ;3

I hope that someone listens to that Nas "2nd childhood" song. I played that one repeatedly when trying to write this, over the course of an hour. It's a beautiful song...smooth and mellow. 2007...I hope that you take it easy on us all.

I'm terribly bad at keeping up with the flurry of faves that either come in, or I give out. Honestly, you find a good picture, fave it, and follow the artist's favorites gallery to find even more stuff. Cannot...stop...gawking!

Seriously, thanks to you for faving and commenting. With school and work, it's almost too tempting to check in every few hours to see what's new. I mean to shout back thanking everyone for the good vibes, especially since I don't have a lot of art to show compared to others.

When xmas comes around, classes will end and I'll have at least one month off. Hopefully some art will get done.

Ever have those nights where you're dying to drink, dance and party, yet no one is available to join in?

After a long week of work, school and whatnot, I'd really like to grab some friends and hit the scene Friday night. Tonight looked like a great opportunity. After the weightlifting regimen, I took a long hot shower, got dressed pretty slick, cologne and gel. I looked pretty damn good, actually. Now all I needed were those friends and a good hang out.

Sometimes things don't work out as one hoped. My current friends are pretty content staying at another friend's house, watching horror flicks tonight. One of them is sick, and the other has his own late-night workout. So as the title says, I'm all dolled up, but don't have anywhere to show it.

Times like this, I wish the circle o'friends was a bit larger. Most college buddies are now out of state, and I don't get to hang with many people from work. Most others are married w/children. This town itself is pretty sleepy. I'm sure there are some hot spots, but I have no idea where they are, and going to any club or bar alone doesn't work well around here. If people don't know you, they're not going out their way to find out.

Any ideas what general places single people like to go where they don't feel so excluded?

As for tonight, I'll either take up a horror movie or start looking for something else to do. Gotta make things happen, y'know?

If anyone knows me, they know I absolutely love Chinese food. I could eat it for days on end...that is, if the American, corner restaurant version of it wasn't so bad for you. I heard that in China, they don't serve large portions of fried everything topped with duck sauce.

Every Friday, my workplace will order Chinese food from the take-out place down the street. I ordered pork lo-mein - typical chinese fare by most people. This particular batch had an odd taste to it. I couldn't figure it out, but it wasn't enough to throw it away. Now, since we get unusually large amounts of take-out for lunch, this stuff can last 2-3 days. I order at least 3 egg rolls to eat during the weekend. That weird taste extended to the egg rolls, too...whoever made lunch that Friday needs to get his taste-buds checked. Worse yet, I was out of duck sauce.

Getting off Chinese for a few weeks is for the best. Two months ago, I started a weightlifting regimen that required me to increase my weight. That of course meant eating more since my current metabolism is off the charts, but that didn't mean eating so much junk. A weightlifting friend of mine said you could eat just about anything to gain the weight. That might be true, but I think I'll stick to healthier foods and try weight gain supplements.

So why start the weightlifting? I'm a decent looking guy and was never really out of shape, but am not getting any younger and I'd like to stay fit. Plus, some women seem to like a guy that takes care of himself. :) I often go to the fur cons and am surprised by the nature of some people. We get so caught up staying at home and on the computer, that we forget how we look, or just stop caring. Now, most guys attending fur cons understand that unless they came with their mate, they aren't going to hook up with a female. Still, you never know, so it's better to increase your chances by looking fit and hygienically sound. If anything, you'll make a new friend that likes more than your artwork or fursuit. ;)

So yeah, I'm not eating Chinese for a bit - at least the fried and smothered version of it. Maybe there's some authentic places in the area.

Today, some friends and I went to Quakertown Farmers market, which houses a rather large collection of odd shops, restaurants and such. One of them decided to venture into a candle shop to pick up one of those oversized (and overpriced) Yankee candles to spruce up his kitchen. Now, like most beauty, jewelry, health and feminine stores, you'll often find attractive women working there. Believe it or not, I actually wanted to find a electric liquid potpourri heater that didn't have pictures of cows and raggedy-ann dolls adorning it. There just happened to be a pretty young woman working that afternoon, so I asked her about them. No harm in that, plus she had a wonderful smile and giggle that didn't stop when we talked. :)

She and her co-worker looked all over the store to find a suitable warmer, stiil smiling at me and giggling. We eventually got to talking about the myriad candle scents, which led to asking how long she worked there since one could get tired of sweet-smelling candles all day. Turns out she just started working the other day. It made sense to ask if she was employed part-time for college. Oh, I wished that was her answer, but no...not quite. This rather attractive woman was still in high school, which obviously made me ask "WTF am I *doing?*"

I'm a young-looking guy. Most would never guess my age in just two tries. That's nothing worth bragging about, especially when it took her four tries to get to 30 and I still had to add one year. We laughed about it, and she said that "You're in pretty good shape for 31." It's a flattering comment...if I didn't already feel like a dirty old man at the time.

Let me go on the record by saying: I don't know what you women are eating nowadays, but I apologize to any of you that I've misinterpreted for being close to my age. As my friend said as we left the store, "It's gotta be the cornbread." ;)

Where have I been?!

i don't even know where to start... except to apologize for anyone that has commented, watched and otherwise actually gave a damn about what I was doing here. Going throgh Masters-level courses right now hasn't allowed much time for anything except work and school. I miss coloring stuff, but honestly I needed to make time for it, rather than feeling bad about not having time for that. It's like a fat person complaining about their weight and not exercising. So no, I have no excuse.

Finals end in two weeks. For that, I would like to take a moment to thank eveyone and anyone that stopped by to comment or say "hi" I've got moe than a little catching up to do...

It's Saturday night...

Not a social creature in sight...

And I need a bite...

of some Chinese delight.

Ever have one of those weekends where no one in your group is really doing anything? It's cabin fever over here. Classes start again in about a week, and we've been planning to head to Philly for Goth Night the past three weeks! Mind you, I've never attended Goth night before, but the requirement is to wear black - lots of it.

I went out n' all of the black I could find. Jet black pants, black sneakers, black skullcap and t-shirt with just a tinge of red for color. Only thing I haven't done was buy black eye shadow n' fangs. ;) That might work, actually. (writes that down)

So yes, I'm ready to goth it at Shampoo, one of Philly's hot spots for stuff like that. So far, something has come up each week we've tried to go. Bad weather; one person can't make it; someone wants to get a new outfit...you name it, it's happened.

So now it's Saturday, and I'm passing the time listening to House and inking a drawing of Spongebob Squarepants that my father asked me to design for a client.

Back to the point of this journal...if there ever was one to begin with. :) I've fallen soooo behind in properly thanking everyone that has watched, faved or commented on my submissions thus far. Tonight marks the first night of catch up time. To all that have kindly stopped by and said "hi" thanks very much! I haven't forgotten you, and will try to reply back ASAP. Gotta do SOMETHING useful tonight...

Here's how it goes...

You login and find a drawing you like.
You click on that drawing, fave it, +watch the artist, and click on an avatar that looks cool.
You find more awesome art and start faving them.
People comment and fave your stuff, and you're like "This is sweet!"
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

It's so easy to get addicted to FA and start faving all over the place like it's a sickness. Ther's so much great artwork here.

But still I want to reply to each comment and thank every fave I get. You know how it goes - it's hard to keep up!

To anyone that I haven't yet replied to personally, a huge thanks to you for taking the time to see and comment on the artwork. It's very much appreciated. This kind of love is infectious! ^_^=

I wonder how one activates their view counter? i see lots of cool people coming in, but no pagevews. That's odd...

Speaking of counters, I've got another Playmouse mascot Melissa drawing to finish coloring. This one was drawn by the illustrious Ken Singshow. I dig his cartoony style. Will post a WIP soon.

Does anyone here have an iPod video? I just ordered one last week and should get it soon. This will be my very first iPod! Glad to say that it was worth the long wait to see them put video in it. What do you put in yours?

One more question. Does anyone know of a god furry anime/hentai? I know of Bagi and Sherlock Hound, but that's it. I'd like to see more.

Will post some more moldies in a short while, including some *gasp* drawings I've done. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my colorings. You guys are awesome!

I'm guessiing that it had to happen. There's just no way that the furry genre would ignore the chance to have a deviant art site of their own. I'm not complainin - no doubt it's cool! Best of all, FA kicked it up a notch by allowing XXX stuff. I'm gonna take advantage of that reaaaaal soon. for those who might know me, a big HELLO to ya!

Now, how do I add an avatar to this beeyatch??