peace <3

I learned how to put together a heavy duty frame and stretch raw canvas over it today. I had a blast and find it really fun to do. I will likely do this for most of my paintings from now on rather than buying pre-fab canvases.

I will be applying gesso to them in two different methods over the next week and later oil painting on them. So much fun aaaaa


Have any of you guys done this before? What type of raw canvas do you prefer and what type of stretcher bars do you like? Also, just curious, how many of you paint the sides of your canvases, or at least gesso them?


Take it easy everyone!

Starting my classes back at SCAD today! I'll just be taking one, which will be Painting Basics for the Non-Major. I've been excited about this course for months! Wish me luck!

for things.
ignore this.
yep.

At FWA I was given the rare privilege of fursuiting. I had suited before in a partial suit the previous year and occasionally was mistaken for the cis male suit owner, which is to be totally expected. This was absolutely no problem, and if my pantomiming did not work to inform the other person(s) that I was not this suit owner, I would discreetly verbalize this. Usually, especially when in costume, I don't really care what gender I am regarded to be, whether it be male or female, when in reality, I am gender neutral. I aspire to be as androgynous as possible as this is what makes me the most physically comfortable in my own skin, and this best reflects the gender I know I am and feel in my head and my heart. I go by neutral pronouns. I shy away from overt femininity or masculinity. This is just who I am. But when I am pretending to be a dog, I am not focusing on what someone thinks I am. I'm just a dog. And gender identity and its issues aren't quite what I'm wanting to discuss here.

Fullsuiting this year was amazing. It was great to learn about fursuits and their care, and to learn how to effectively perform at long intervals in such a costume. I would never trade the experience for anything - it was beyond compare, and I cannot thank my friend enough for that opportunity. However, there was a lot of disrespectful attention towards my gender and physical sex while I was in suit, and I feel it is important enough to bare mentioning and pointing out so that others who experienced this may have a forum for their voice, and to provide awareness that this is happening.

Granted, it's not too malicious a question - 'are you a boy or a girl?' And I really won't touch on that deeply. I get it, you want to know because you're curious. In my position, you don't need to know. I'm a dog right now and I don't speak people. While in suit, I do not speak, and thus, I will not answer this question. The character I was suiting as was male, the person inside identifies as neutral, and they were born female bodied. That's pretty complicated to explain for such short casual interactions that normally occur while in suit. Much easier to bark or pantomime something unrelated. This, personally, is not problematic for me, but I know that for many, this can be problematic.

The less than okay behavior begins when they are intent on knowing and immediately grasp at your chest. A few times were accidental. Several separate instances occurred throughout the weekend, multiple times a day, when someone decided to intentionally grab my breasts to check if I were male or female while asking aloud what I was. This completely floored me. I'm trying to have fun and pretend I'm a dog, not be felt up. A few times, folks tried to pet the doggy and would grab while petting. Some jerked their hands back immediately, apologizing. Some did not. This not only happened to me but to other female suiters I was hanging out with.

Bottom line. Please don't grope fursuiters. Even if the suiter is usually male, do us trans*folk and cis women a favor and just pet the back or the head instead of the chest. If you ask about gender and you aren't told, leave it alone (or speak up and ask again, foam is hard to hear through!). Never ever touch a suiter on the chest. It's really inappropriate. We're all here to have fun and bring a smile to your day - please do not make us uncomfortable and sad by inappropriately touching us.

In the end, I'm a dog. What's gender? I'm a dog. Woof.
The sex/gender of the suiter is unimportant - the acting and bringing a character to life is!!

/endrant

aaahh but like I really did have an amazing time at the con and I didn't let any of this ruin it for me!! I just really feel like it needed mentioning because it happened! Like I said, I wouldn't trade any of my experience for anything! I just want some awareness so hopefully no one else receives unwanted groping.

FWA.. oh my god, FWA. I don't think I can put into words how amazing this con was. Most fun I have had yet!

I loved hanging with my roomies, especially meeting Heartagram and getting to know her and EP! I am so lucky to have gotten to room with such wonderful people!

EP was incredibly kind and gracious and allowed me to full suit for my first time and wear his border collie, Scout, for the duration of the con. I had so much fun and learned a lot about suiting and care of fursuits, and have absolutely fallen in love with full suiting (and desperately want to create a border collie of my own, ahaha!)

I met so many new faces and got to reunite with so many others. The con went by at just the right rate, such a blast but slow enough to enjoy it all! I saw panels and contests and ugh awwwhhhh it was amazing! <3

Shout out to getting to see Fuzz, EP, Muck, Papaya, Keryu, and so many others again! And a special shout out to my new friends, especially Sars - my buttouchy doodlepal!

There's so so many of you that I cannot possibly list you all, nor express the excitement I had seeing you all, nor the joy I experienced bringing smiles on all those faces!

I had an amazing con. Next year, I hope it is hosted at another hotel, as those elevators were incredibly problematic. But, despite the extreme frustration I faced with the hotel itself, the con was fantastic. I feel that had the staff done as they had the last few hours of the con, things would have flowed flawlessly.

I made off with a little bit of swag and a final last minute prize, a silly sign that read 'FWE - Furries Waiting for Elevators 2013.' I feel this summed up the con quite nicely - fun, silly, and never forgetting those lifts, ahahaha.

Keep in touch everyone!

Stole'd from and someone else and then COMBINED!


Where are you staying?
The Westin

What day are you getting there?
Thursday afternoon

Departure?
sometime Sunday

Transportation?
I will either be picked up by my roomies or dropped off by my lover

Who will you be rooming with?


Who will you hang out with during the convention?
All aforementioned furs plus

aaaand anyone else who wants to chill!!!
Just hit me up before the con so I can note you my cell #

Will you be suiting?
Yep!!

Which suits?
My own which is a surprise!!! Plus maybe someone else suit(s) if they offer!

What is your gender?
tl;dr my pronouns are neutral!

How tall are you?
5'5"

Are you taken? Are you looking for a 'mate'?
I am in a monogamous partnership, but I loooove making friends!

Can I talk to you?
Yep!! But if I look like I'm in a hurry or busy, please leave me be! And don't interrupt me if I'm speaking to someone else please :3
I try to not talk in suit but will if communication doesn't get across

Can I touch you?
No thanks. You can shake my hand, high five me, fist bump me, brohoof me, but please don't otherwise touch me without asking. I'm very jumpy and stay freaked out all day if you scare me :c If you ask me though, I will usually agree to hugs! <3

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
You can GENTLY hug me while in suit without asking. If I make a motion to hug you, yes, you may. Otherwise, please ask. Again, I'm jumpy, and I am not always aware of my surroundings. Surprise hugs scare me! Don't do it! And absolutely no glomping, ever.

How can I find you?
I won't know what I'll be wearing until closer to the con! So I will post a journal informing everyone then!
I will be suiting. Outside the suit, I will most likely be wearing a black fox tail with a green tip, or a neon green and black striped tail. I am always wearing a green collar, a rainbow checkered bandanna, and I may be wearing antler barrettes in my hair! My hair is blonde in the back, buzzed on the side and brown, and the front/bangs are blue and teal!

Can I visit your room?
If I know you and my roomies are okay with it!

Will you be going to parties?
If I get invited, maybe!

Can I buy you drinks?
Absolutely! I prefer flavored vodkas mixed with sprite, and I also really enjoy drinks that taste like 'the beach,' so anything with pineapple juice and hypnotiq and such. I love fruity drinks, and especially enjoy peppermint schnapps and midori melon. My favorite drink is a shot or two or Pinnacle Gummy Vodka + a can of sprite. My favorite non booze beverages are vanilla Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, and propel waters.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Yell JUNKDOG!! or HARDWARE!!! or MUDDY!!!!
Or catch up to me and say hello!!

What/where will you be eating?
oh gosh I dunno haha

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
If I invite you and present company invites you, sure! Or you could invite me and then I'd come with you! Whoo! Please don't invite yourself though! I might have plans!

Can I take your picture?
Absolutely!!

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
As Foo said, actually take pictures! I am very bad about this! Oops!
I also really wish to spend more time with Fenwick, as well as my other friends. Last con, I only hung with one person,
which was fun, but I missed out on seeing my other pals.
I also hope to attend more events or panels!

Are you nice?
To a fault!

Can I draw in your sketchbook?
Only if I can draw in yours!

Do you have an artist table?
Most likely not. I may sit in the alley late at night for one night, but generally, I have decided I bring commissions to cons for delivery, not taking them at cons. I want to have fun like you too!

Do you do free art?
Usually not. We will see. I do take food in exchange for art if I am hungry.

Will you be performing?
How do ya mean? I will be suiting which I count as performance!

Have fun everyone! I am really stoked about this con!!

Hope everyone has a great one.

In the wee hours of the morning, hung with  tommicat,  zukazamme and  ink~ and made root beer floats and watched scary movies.

Today my lover and I will be hitting up a really nice restaurant and see Hansel and Gretel tonight. We might be joined by  ink~,  minkaccino, and their SOs if we can alter our reservation.

Cheers

1. Mali
2. Oreo
3. K
4. S
5. Lichdog
6. Ink
7. Atty

just posting this here, and it will just get buried under other notes. Will be linked to once my TOS is completed and it will replace this text, whoop!

I'm in the process of completely re-writing my TOS (Terms of Service).

If you'd like to take a look and provide feedback, please note me your e-mail address so I can send you my progress.

Thank you - I appreciate your help.

I'm currently constructing my profile and getting some artwork ready to post. Please bear with me!

I am also re-writing my TOS for commissions, which will be posted soon.