Hey folks,

 mickeybamboo was kind enough to reach out for an interview a few weeks back, and it's just gone up over at his page here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/19233410/

He's posted interviews there with a bunch of fun, talented artists, so it was flattering to be placed in such esteemed company! We mostly talk art and a bit of furry history, but there's a smattering of random goofy fun as well. Also maybe just a little bit of ranting, because I have no self-control 9u9

If you're looking for an interesting podcast to keep you company while you drive/work/chill out, consider giving his interview series a try!

Hey all,

A number of folks asked after prints of the cat warrior pieces I posted here a couple weeks back, so I've put them up on Society6! They offer archival quality prints in a nice array of sizes (pre-framed, if you like -- what luxury!), you can pay with a credit card, ship pretty much immediately, etc. Seems like a good deal!

Even better, you can get free shipping until midnight tonight (Sunday, 8/10) by shopping via this link.

For everyone who expressed interest, thanks! I plan to put more work up there soon (the vintage travel posters, etc.), so stay tuned <3

People I know make music! This is a strange and novel thing.

Please listen to their strange and novel musics here:

 pools musics: http://qualiaa.bandcamp.com/album/activity

 thatoneguy297 musics: http://neilbones.bandcamp.com/album/ghost

Everyone else I know should clearly be making music like these cool kids.

In the world of music made by people who I do not know (unless they secretly pretend to be animal people here and I am simply not aware), here are a few tracks in no particular order that I have been jamming to recently. They're not especially new or unknown, but some may be new or unknown to some of you <3

Let me know what y'all are listening on, too! I'm always eager for new tips :09

Radiohead - Reckoner


Washed Out - Great Escape


Shugo Tokumaru - Rum Hee


Jai Paul - Jasmine

(Str8 Outta Mumbai off this same album-thing is a total booty jam, but it's not on youtube U_U)

Bibio - You


Junip - Line Of Fire


Telefon Tel Aviv - Fahrenheit Fair Enough


A Silver Mt. Zion - Could've Moved Mountains

So I guess I'm roadtripping to RMFC this weekend! I'll be at the Sofawolf table for a good chunk of it, sayin' hi and selling prints of the recent travel poster series. If you're in Denver, drop on by! I'll see you kids there u_u

Hey there folks! I posted some teasers a while back from a sweet zine I'm taking part in called RRUFFURR, and we've now come to the fun part where you go buy it!

It's 80 pages of art and comics by some of my favorite artists who may just be some of yours as well.


The Lineup:

ME

-and also-

 artdecade
 birds
 cubetriangle
 ghostmeat
 hottapwater
 ianjay
 marcothecat
 negger
 ozinec
 phylum
 pierrezaius
 redacteur
 thomas_blue
 weirdthingswithanatomy

The small-run books are printed digitally in full color and hand-bound with a no-slip grip cover™. Each copy comes with goodies including stickers handmade by Birds and a printed envelope for safe-keeping.

The book is available now for $20 at the RRUFFURR Etsy site, and previews are going up in waves over at rruffurr.tumblr.com. There's also a contest there to win a free copy!

Orders placed before June 17th will print and ship the week of the 17th, and a larger print run will follow in early July. There will be a small number available at Anthrocon in the hands of some of the artists, though I will sadly not be there among them/you.

Each purchase comes with a high five from me. And for the folks who can't get one due to logistics, the economy, despotic customs practices, etc., I still love you, and you can still help by spreading the word! Tell your friends! (Then steal their copy later <3)

Thanks for your help and support!

Basically this forever.

Hey all!

Thanks for making both panels yesterday super fun! Despite technical difficulties and some other hijinx, I think they both went off pretty well!

I still have some POSTER PRINTS for sale at blotch's table. I am also selling FEATHER BOW TIES(!!!) there. If you want anything signed, come on down and I'll be there!

Next door at the Sofawolf table, they have all sorts of goodies available for sale, including great big POSTER PRINTS OF THE ISOLATION PLAY PIECE. They're kind of hidden behind the table, but they're big, they're pretty, and they're CHEAP <3 Come grab yours!

Hey con-goers,

I suppose after posting a flyer for my two panels, it's a bit redundant to say, but I will be at FC this weekend! I hope that folks who are interested will be able to attend my talks on composition & narrative, and on color theory -- it should be fun!

Here are the details on those:

Composition & Narrative Art
Friday at 1pm in Room K of the Convention Center

Color Theory & Digital Painting
Friday at 6:30pm in the Guadalupe Room of the Marriott

***Because of some changes to the panel schedule, these panels may not appear in the con book or other printed schedule materials. Rest assured, THESE ARE THE CORRECT TIMES AND PLACES. I will be there! I promise!***

I'll also be in the Dealers' Room selling poster prints of some of my work! Look for me at the Sofawolf table, or lurking with the blotch one table over. I know you're all going to be there anyway buying all the hot hot porns from them -- take a peek at my somewhat less hot hot porns while you're at it!

For the record, prints I'll have with me are:

Pleasure Merchant of Cairo
Back at the Market
Heat 8 cover
Go Team
Baby, Leave It On
Not Helping
Coffee Cats

There are only two or three copies of each, so if there's one you want, I'd jump on it! The Sofawolf guys should also have giant poster prints of the Isolation Play promo as well <3

A few folks expressed interest in t-shirts featuring my homage to redacteur's All-Wolves (here), so I whipped some up over at the Flossalot page on Redbubble!

There are two versions, one with light text for print on darker colors, and one with dark text for lighter tees. Both are also available as stickers, because I apparently forgot to disable the sticker option (lol)!

And as ever, the "Kiss me, I'm an [animal]" Linnaean shirts are still up for sale here!

Order now to have yours in time for FC, or give a fuzzy friend a nice belated holiday gift!

Oh my god you guys cartooning is so hard.

Folks like henrieke and louvelex and hodori and weremagnus and macks and gingham and birds make it look so easy and I AM DEFEATED.

I think in a lot of ways, it's because the realist has a concrete model to strive for. The human (or animal) form is a concrete and well-documented thing, and an inexhaustible supply of reference is available. Sure, diversity exists. Some people are short, some are tall. Some people are all muscle and fat, others are skin and bones. But all of those types are still verifiable.

Just as for realists, in cartooning, proportion is everything. Proportion is the source of all emotional response to a character, whether they be cute or bad-ass or sinister or anything in between. The problem is, a realist can (should, really) look up the proportions of the figure they're painting, and the closer they get to the model, the more convincing it will look. The cartoonist has no definitive source, and exaggeration and distortion isn't just allowed, it's required. That's where all the magic happens. But what to distort, how far to exaggerate?

As with anything, I assume it's half study and half exploration. A lot of looking at the masters' work, and a whole lot of scrapped sketchbook pages. Eventually, I assume you get an intuitive sense for what works, and you don't have to go down all the dead-end paths to recognize them for dead-end paths. Eventually, you get to be the sort of person whose work feels effortless <3

If anybody has tips for a cartooning neophyte, I would gladly beg a lesson ^_^


Oh, also I'm still selling t-shirts. (Just saying.)

Oh man, you guys. I made the Flossalot t-shirts.

By which I mean I made other people make t-shirts for me...for you.

The storefront is RIGHT HERE.

I wound up going with Redbubble since they actually use nice shirts, and their printing is solid and durable. No point in saving a buck or two to buy a shirt that feels gross, falls apart, and can't hold a print for more than three washes, eh? So treat yourself -- I think you're worth it.

HERE is an example of the shirts in action! If you picked up a shirt and have a photo to share, let me know and I'll add it to the list!

On a navigation note, I kind of wish the titles of the designs were visible, because they include the common names for the various animals, which makes scanning for your own (clearly superior) species easier, but I reckon anybody who's looking to buy one of these bad boys is the sort of nerd who already knows all these names anyway <3

SO YEAH, I started with a batch of the more common species you see around these parts, plus a couple of less common choices that folks had specifically asked for. Now we're up to 60-some species represented! If you don't see yours yet, but are interested in a shirt, just leave a comment right here on this journal and I will HOOK YOU UP.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IT OUT, Y'ALL

Now you just have to spread the word to anyone you think might be interested! Bug your friends! Berate your acquaintances!


SPECIES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE:

Badger (American)
Badger (English)
Bat (Vampire)
Bison
Bobcat
Bear (Black)
Bear (Brown)
Bear (Polar)
Bear (Panda)
Cacomistle
Caracal
Cat (Domestic)
Cheetah
Chipmunk
Cobra
Collared Peccary
Cougar
Coyote
Deer
Dog (Domestic)
Epicyon
Ferret
Fire Skink
Fox (Arctic)
Fox (Fennec)
Fox (Red)
Hawk (Red-Tailed)
Honey Badger
Horse (Domestic)
Horse (Wild)
Hyena
Jackal
Jaguar
Kangaroo (Grey)
Kangaroo (Tree)
Leopard
Leopard (Clouded)
Leopard (Snow)
Lion
Lynx
Marten
Mink
Mouse
Ocelot
Okapi
Opossum
Otter (River)
Otter (Sea)
Pangolin
Peccary
Rabbit
Raccoon
Rat
Raven
Red Panda
Sheep
Skunk
Squirrel
Tiger
Tiger Quoll
Walrus
Weasel
Wolf (Arctic)
Wolf (Grey)
Wolf (Red)
Wolverine

***If you'd like a shirt, but don't see your species, just leave a comment on this journal post!***

Congrats to the guys at Sofawolf on the launch of their freshly remade site! It's looking sharp, and will hopefully be easier for folks to navigate and use to boot. For my part, I hope folks dig the design, anyway ^_^

The new releases from AC like Heat 8 and Across Thin Ice are up and available online now -- if you couldn't make it to the con, drop by the site and check 'em out there!

Sooo it looks like somebody nominated me for an Ursa Major Award(?). I'm flattered!

The piece in question is my cover for  rikoshi's novel, the Seventh Chakra (which is up for an Ursa Major as well!). There are a bunch of other cool illustrations up for consideration, and a laundry list of worthy entries in all the other categories as well.

If you feel like taking a look and casting your vote, just go here to the voting page before April 17th!

I had a good con! I hope you did, too.

Highlights for me included catching up with good folks, meeting a few new ones, and hosting a painting panel! The panel was supposed to cover theory and technique, but wound up being way more of the former than the latter. I feel like the last couple of years' panels have been more technique-heavy and Photoshop-specific, so I wanted to mix things up a bit and talk more on things to think about when starting and setting up an illustration that will help make things flow a bit smoother and hopefully wind you up with a better end result. Hopefully it was useful stuff for folks, or entertaining at the very least -- I know I had a lot of fun hosting! Maybe next year I'll try to split up the theory and the technique into two separate panels...

Kind of a bummer that UPS lost the Isolation Play posters that the rad dudes at Sofawolf went to all the trouble to rush-order for the con. Sorry to anyone who was looking forward to picking one up this weekend! I was excited to see them, myself. The good news is that apparently they've been found and are back on track, so the Sofawolf guys will have them to sell at future cons. To all the folks out there going to AC this summer, drop by their table and have a look!

In the meantime, it's Monday and back to work as usual for me. Cheers to another fun FC!

Hey there, con-goers!

I'll be at FC for Saturday and Sunday, and hosting my digital painting panel Sunday evening.

I'll also make a point of dropping by the Sofawolf table here and there to sign any posters or books you have -- come say hi! That's also the place to head to pick up your copy of the ginormous Isolation Play posters (only $12!). Be sure to stop by and pick yours up while supplies last! And while you're there, buy a copy of the book, too <3

Here's the info on the painting panel -- I hope to see everybody there!

___________________________________________________________________

Digital Painting: Theory and Technique

Watch Kamui walk through the process of sketching, composing, painting, and finishing an image!
Learn to use color, form, light, and texture in Photoshop or real media more effectively!

Room Assigned: Club Regent
Scheduled Time: Sunday, Jan 16 05:00 PM to 06:30 PM
___________________________________________________________________

Not that many folks here have too much occasion to use fonts, but if you have an interest in type (or if you're in the business of putting together con books and fan zines!), you might/should have a look at this brief treatise on selecting a font(s) well-suited to the task at hand <3

Dudes, seriously, meet him now.

These French animation kids are nuts, man.

http://www.vimeo.com/5818298

Some people were joking about macro vore at a Thanksgiving party I was at this weekend.

This is my reply

Sooo, I know I ask this every year, but if I were to do another painting demo / panel at FC'11, what sort of material would folks be interested in seeing covered?

I don't know if it would mostly be folks who were kind enough to show up in previous years who'll want to see new material, or if new folks are going to come and want to see my sort of core process, or what. I'm happy to talk about whatever people want to hear, but it would help to have some idea ahead of time in order to prepare for it ^_^

So yeah, let me know your thoughts! Even if you're not going to make it to FC, I'd still be happy to hear suggestions <3

I'm super jazzed for the upcoming Sufjan Stevens concert here, and in the meantime, I've been listening to his All Delighted People EP on super-loop for the last solid week or so. Here's a cut off the EP:



If you don't know his music, he's one of the indie scene's big maximalists, alongside folks like Owen Palette or Joanna Newsom, though there are plenty of differences among their styles as well. He's probably still best known and loved for his Illinois album.

More recently, he's been moving from the acoustic sounds of his piano/guitar/trumpet/banjo-based work on Illinois into a more electronic space, and his upcoming album, The Age of Adz, sounds like it's going to fall pretty squarely in that camp. This latest EP (which is an EP in name only, as it's over an hour long) seems to be a kind of transitional step between them, and it's really enjoyable.

I still love his old sound, and I'll always have an emotional attachment to Illinois, but it's fun to see where he's going next as well.

So here's the trailer for an animated adaptation of Around the World with Mouk, by illustrator-auteur Marc Boutavant.

I know of at least a few Richard Scarry fans here who'd probably dig this. There's even a little hint of Charley Harper-esque Modernism in there.

If nothing else, it's cute little animal dudes jet-setting around and being cute <3

So I know at least a few folks who watch me listen to Joanna Newsom and/or Sigur Ros and/or First Aid Kit, or at least enjoy acoustic guitar and singer-songwriter-y tunes. Here's a rec from Iceland that sounds like a mix of the above, but might not otherwise pop up on folks' radar <3

Ólöf Arnalds - Innundir Skinni

(And yes, she apparently hangs out with Bjork.)

I figured it was about time I changed up my top journal, so here's something goofy <3

The following prompts have been answered using only titles of songs by Lovage:

1. Are you male or female: Sex (I'm A)

2. Describe yourself: Ladies Love Chest Rockwell

3. How do you feel about yourself: Lies And Alibis

4. Describe your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend: Book Of The Month

5. Describe your current boy/girl situation: Stroker Ace

6. Describe your current location: Strangers On A Train

7. Describe where you want to be: Lovage (Love That Lovage, Baby)

8. Your best friend is: Tea Time With Maseo

9. Your favorite color is: Pit Stop

10. You know that: To Catch A Thief

11. What’s the weather like: Everyone Has A Summer

12. If your life was a television show what would it be called? Koala's Lament

13. What is life to you: Anger Management

14. What is the best advice you have to give: Herbs, Good Hygiene and Socks

15. If you could change your name what would you change it to: Archie & Veronica


This was extra fun, considering there's only one Lovage album (Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By), and it only has 16 tracks total to work with. For those of you playing along at home, the one omitted track is "Lifeboat."

So, I was talking with  ssirrus on dude's post about how to survive being an artist, and the idea that we can all learn a lot from looking at established artists both contemporary and historical, inside and outside of the furry fandom came up.

I know I've learned a ton and been heavily influenced by some of my art heroes, and I assume that goes for everybody here. I figured that a meme like this could be a great way to both see which artists have inspired and informed the people here, and to learn about some awesome new artists myself! Which brings me to...

Art Hero Meme!

In no particular order, list FIVE artists (furry or otherwise, contemporary or historical) who you feel have greatly influenced your growth as an artist, along with a link to one piece by each that you feel represents their work! (For those who don't know the tags here, just type [ url = (the URL) ] the artist's name [ /url ], but without the spaces!)

1. JC Leyendecker
2. James Jean
3. Sam Weber
4. Claire Wendling
5. NC Wyeth

Bonus 6 who everybody already loves so it barely counts: Alphonse Mucha (okay and also Yoshitaka Amano)

I have failed to follow the rules of my own meme. Hopefully  ssirrus will behave better.

It looks like I'll be giving another digital painting panel this year at FC. This time around I lucked into some prime time real estate Saturday afternoon before the dinner hour, so hopefully it will be easy for folks who are there and interested in attending to schedule it in ^_^

Now I'm putting together ideas for content, and trying to remember what all I covered last year (and what people told me I should have covered last year), and I figured I'd get you guys' input.

So! Regardless of whether you can attend mine or not (though I hope that you can), what would you like to see covered in a talk/demonstration on digital painting? The time slot is for 90 minutes, so I should be able to touch on a decent number of topics -- what's the one thing you'd be most curious to know more about?

Thanks for the input, and I look forward to seeing at least some of you guys there!