I should probably post journals more often considering what's featured on my page currently is a closed raffle from over a year ago. So, to freshen things up for what might be a whole extra year of staying featured on my page, I'll drop an update of where I'm at and my thoughts moving forward.

I'll start with the big one, which is my largest project to date. Counting the title page, I have been working on a 7 page tiger transformation comic for the last year. This comic has 40 panels, each of which I have finished lining for both the character and background. All that remains is to finalize the dialogue, then color, shade, and add effects. On paper, that sure seems like a lot, but it certainly won't take 13 months like the concept, sketching, and lining phases. If all goes well, I expect to start weekly uploads of the pages within the next few months.

Next up is a general update to how I will approach art moving forward. For NSFW drawings, I'm going to begin including a SFW version of most, if not all of them. The only exclusions would be posing which is provocative enough that simply turning off the naughty layers doesn't make it feel any less... naughty. If you're curious why I'm choosing to make this change, there are many reasons. One of the major reasons is because I often don't care to look back at my drawings once they're completed, and when I do, I usually don’t want to see those things. I spend so much time on each project that by the time I finish them, the art itself doesn't really do much for me. It's during the creative process of which I experience all of that expression, but by the end of it, the desire to indulge in it further has lost its flair. It feels good in the moment but feels terrible to reflect upon, so I want to adjust my approach to where I give myself an option to actually enjoy my drawings long after they're completed. This is not to say I will no longer draw NSFW, but I want it to be less of a focus in my art because it's too distracting.

The way I'll approach it will be to upload the SFW version first, then the NSFW on the following week. I did a little experimentation with my Halloween wolf drawing by uploading the SFW version to Bluesky on Halloween, I then spent an additional 4 hours over the next few days completing the NSFW version and uploaded it here on TF Tuesday. The first implementation of this here on FA will likely be for a horse drawing that's mostly done, it just needs a background and colors.

A quick side note is that I removed all my NSFW drawings from Bluesky, and I will only be uploading SFW art there. My NSFW art doesn't seem to do as well over there, and I've always felt really uncomfortable uploading it to a website that has a large population of users outside of the community.

Lastly, I'm going to bring up commissions, again... This is something I have wanted to do for a while but the hesitation *still* remains. I've done free sketches to determine whether commissions are a viable option for me, and I think it is. Through that experimentation I have learned that certain subjects make the process really enjoyable and other subjects feel like I'm drawing for the sake of drawing, which I dread. In order to focus on the former, if I do take commissions, I'd likely create a form for people to fill out and then I'd pick out the idea which sounds the most fun to draw, because forcing myself to draw something only for the money would cause burn out. The tiger comic has helped me practice so much that I've managed to cut down the total time of my drawings by about half (depending on the complexity), and time was a major part of my decision making process. With time not concerning me as much, the only thing holding me back now is the money side of things. I have no idea what extra income would do to my taxes, but I also still don't know how to price my art. A thought I've had is to try a YCH auction to gain a better understanding of what people are willing to pay and then to create my pricing model based on that. Overall, commissions are something I want to try - especially because the extra income would be helpful, and I've been making slow but steady progress toward starting them.

Anyways, hope you've had a wonderful New Years, and here's to another year of progress!

If you were to tell me I'd reach this milestone when I started uploading just over 3 years ago, I wouldn't have believed you. Since then, my art has improved significantly, and I have the support of the community to thank for that. To show my appreciation, I am holding a free sketch raffle with two winners. One winner here on FurAffinity, and another on Bluesky. For entry details, please read carefully below.


RAFFLE CLOSED

The Raffle is now closed and the winners have been contacted.

I want to thank everyone for participating, and for the support over the years <3

Whereas RNG has spoken, I may open for a few experimental sketch commissions Soon ™. If you’re interested in getting art from me, keep an eye open for that.

————————————————————————————————

The parameters I will be working with are as follows:

You must be 18+ to enter

I will draw:

SFW/NSFW
M -> M
F -> F
Feral (I may be open to Anthro, it depends)
Most animals (Max 4 Limbs)

Ends: December 23rd, 11:59 PM Pacific

Winners will be selected at random on December 24th.

If you are selected, please respond within 48 hours.

I reserve the right to reject any ideas I do not feel comfortable drawing.

I recommend having a few ideas ready, just in case.


To enter:

•Make sure you are watching my page

•Leave a comment about what elements makes a transformation drawing appealing to you, and if you'd like, feedback about where I can improve my art.

The feedback is optional, but I value it more than anything. I want this raffle to be an opportunity to reach out and learn more, for this is what helps me refine my skills.

Don't forget you may also enter on Bluesky!

Good luck everyone!

Hello everyone,

I feel I'm long overdue for an update, so here goes nothing.

I started uploading some of my drawings to X/Twitter recently. I'll be uploading highlights from my FA gallery over there until I'm caught up, to which I will likely continue uploading everything alongside FA. If X is your preferred platform or you'd like to receive updates there, feel free to follow me on my page [Here].

As many of you know by now, I give away free sketches to anyone who finds specific Easter eggs hidden within my drawings and stories. These are meant to be hidden references that if you know them, you'll see them. Not all references are straight forward and may require a bit of decoding to discover the answer, and some uploads may have multiple references to throw you off the scent. I've had a ton of fun engaging with the community, as some of you have gone full detective mode to find these; However, I won't be giving away hints as often moving forward. Originally, I didn't want these to exceed 4-5 hours invested, but somewhere along the line I found myself spending upwards of 17+ hours on them. Any future sketches will be aiming for the intended 4-5 hour mark as a way to push myself to learn new ways to increase the efficiency of my art process. Whereas I may no longer hint to these Easter eggs, know that almost every upload dating back to about a year and a half ago has one. I love hiding these, so you can look forward to seeing more with future uploads. Happy hunting!

I started giving away these sketches because I wanted to see how well I handle drawing for others. My experience thus far has been mostly positive, as I find it fun trying ideas I likely would not have explored otherwise. Now that I have a good idea of what works for me, I'm starting to consider taking commissions, but there are a few caveats I'd like to discuss. Drawing is a hobby I do on the side and once it begins to feel like a job, I stop enjoying it. A few of the free sketches I've drawn felt strictly transactional and that sapped the fun out of it. On the contrary, I've formed lasting connections with people that make the experience that much more special to me. I know not every interaction will result in this, but I am trying to find a balance between the two. The solution I'm thinking of is to open commission forms and select the ideas I'd love to draw regardless of other factors.

However, If I did open for commissions, it might be one or two slots per year. For a fully colored and shaded drawing, it takes me roughly 50-60 hours, but that's only the time tracked in my art program. I'm still learning, and each drawing consists of several additional hours of research for references and anatomy. Now saying this may seem like I'm forcing myself into this, but it's something I genuinely want to try. I'll admit I'm a bit uncomfortable with the idea, but personal growth doesn't happen in the comfort zone.

Despite all the progress I've made with my art, I still struggle with perfectionism. Every drawing is an emotional rollercoaster between I love and I hate this, with the latter unfortunately being the outcome I settle upon. After spending that much time on a drawing, I get so fatigued that I don't even want to look at it by the time it's done. I'll maybe look back on a piece of art a year later and think, "Wow, this almost looks good." Needless to say, I think very little of my art, which is why it's quite difficult for me to put a value on it. There's many artists out there who are objectively better than me, but in order to make commissions afforable, they charge less for their talents. Given my current circumstances, I may have to charge a little more than what I believe my art could be worth and that makes me feel bad. I'm stuck in this dilemma where I want to try this, but I don't know what is an appropriate price that justifies the time investment and added stress.

I'd like to start a conversation about this in the comments to gather outside opinions. How interested are you in a commission from me? If you were to get commission me, what would you like me to draw? After reading the context this journal, how much would you be willing to pay for a commission from me (USD)? Is there more ways I can utilize X/Twitter aside from simply uploading my art?

I would greatly appreciate your feedback, as it will aid in the decision making process.

Hello everyone,

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for their participation in the raffle. I appreciate the feedback and I'm always open to constructive criticism. I am thankful for the insight I have received from reading your comments on my last journal. Many ideas have since popped into my head, and I'm curious if I should start uploading some of my doodles again. Ever since I began uploading "finished" pieces, it has been my obsession to only upload finished projects. I'm always trying to push my limits with every drawing, but I'd likely benefit from a more consistent form of practice. A possible idea is having people throw random transformation related prompts at me, and I'd doodle whichever ones capture my attention. I fall short of ideas sometimes and it would be a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Comment below and let me know what you think about that.

Moving onto the raffle, the winner has been selected. As of the time of me posting this, I have just sent a note to the winner. Please check your inboxes to see if you've won. If the current winner does not claim their prize within 48 hours I will roll another winner, so keep an eye on your inbox for the next couple days. Unfortunately not everyone can be the winner of this raffle, but I'm still offering a sketch to the first person to find the hidden reference in this drawing. (I'll give you a hint, it's a video game reference hidden in plain sight).

Update: Both the raffle drawing and free sketch have been claimed.

Speaking of references, if anyone was curious about the easter eggs hidden in the last journal, I'll reveal them because they will no longer be relevant. Both references have to do with the date the raffle ended on, November 8th. By no means am I inviting any form of political discussion to my webpage, but it's election day here in the states, which I found to be symbolic of a selection being made. Tonight is also a full moon, which is often symbolic of transformation because of werewolves. Combine the two together and you get the day in which someone is selected to be transformed, which perfectly matches the theme of this raffle. :P

Update: Raffle Closed

Please read this journal carefully for a chance to win!

Looking back to my upload titled "Branded," I hinted to the presence of foreshadowing. In the story, the main character entered into a raffle despite the odds being stacked against him. Much to his surprise, he was the "lucky" winner; but to many, luck may not be the best word to describe what followed. The twisted events of the story resulted in a witch transforming him into an animal against his will. As the title of this journal suggests, that could be you! But more details on that later. I love hiding easter eggs within my uploads, and hinting to this raffle is one of many. "Branded" alone has three references hidden in the story and one in the image. However, some of the references are a little less obvious. The date of my first upload, which was exactly a year ago today, is my birthday. I wanted the inception of my time as an artist on this platform to be symbolic with the dawn of my time on this planet. Some of these easter eggs stand out more than others, but a constant remains: no one has pointed out any of these references. So if perhaps the RNG is not favorable with the raffle, I may have to do something special for the first person to point out any of the more obscure easter eggs. If you enjoy searching for that kind of stuff, I'll give you a hint and say there's at least two minor ones in this journal. Happy hunting :P

A few years ago I wanted to pursue digital art, but the only thing I had available to me was an old phone with a stylus. One day, I downloaded a free art program and started playing around with it. After I learned how to use it, I decided I would try my best to draw something. For my first project, it didn't turn out too bad and I actually enjoyed myself during the progress. I continued drawing for a year and a half, but I didn't see much progress. I learned that I wasn't taking enough risks and jumping out of my comfort zone with art. I didn't want to risk failure, but failing is the most effective way to learn. I was afraid to draw anything 3-dimensional because I knew perspective is extremely difficult. I pushed through the struggle of learning and the result of my efforts was the first drawing I uploaded, "Transformational Thrills." I honestly did not expect it to be well received by others, but my expectations were blown out of the water. With that newfound energy, I felt invigorated with the inspiration to continue getting better.

As my art style continued to develop, I started learning how to add more detail into my drawings. I found ways to ensure my progress would not slow despite drawing on a seven year old phone. However, I knew at some point that I would need to upgrade, which was fair to think considering I had to charge that phone three times a day. I eventually acquired an iPad and selected Procreate as my program of choice. I immediately noticed that program was much more refined than the one I was using, which gave me the freedom to improve more. Once I felt my art was consistent, I wanted to try my best at coloring. I constantly struggle with it, and in many ways I'm still unsatisfied with the results.

I have my fair share of personal issues and I knew from the start that my insatiable sense of perfectionism is both my greatest tool and largest obstacle. On one hand, it pushes me to consistently improve; but on the other hand, it leaves me with a lack of fulfillment after every project. I can't say it's the healthiest way to pursue a passion, but the results certainly show. Unfortunately, even after I see the outcome, I still find some way to discredit myself from feeling any sense of accomplishment. The reason why feedback is imperative to my progression is because the ability to create something that others are able to enjoy is what drives me. I can't find the words to describe how much I value the support, so I chose to do this raffle as a way to give back to the community. However, I must also add something into this journal to make sure it's being read. Below you will find a couple conditions to enter. In order for your entry to be valid, you must also send me a note with the word "progress." I understand that the opportunity for free art is exciting, but I know how often people skip the reading and jump right to the goodies. I appreciate that you are taking the time to read my story, and we'll just have to wait and see where the next chapter goes.

If there's anything I've learned in the past couple years, it's that being an artist is more about personal growth than anything else. Will I persevere once faced with a challenge? Will I push through the frustration and accomplish my goals? I could easily just lay the pencil down and go back to playing video games, so why bother? The beauty of art is to take a blank canvas and turn it into a visualization of one's imagination. I have so many ideas in my head that I want to bring to life through art, but many of those ideas I am reserving for when my skills improve. I understand that the experience I desire will come with time, but there's always that itch, that need for instant gratification; but with art, there is no such convenience.

My most recent project took 60 hours to complete and I pushed myself so hard that I lost my enthusiasm for the drawing. Arguably, it's my best work of art so far, but I don't even want to look at it because I feel fatigued from working on it for so long. My art process is sloppy and inefficient, and I often get discouraged very easily. To answer the question I've received multiple times about doing commissions, the answer will remain no for the foreseeable future. I stress myself out enough drawing as is, and monetary gain would not outweigh the added pressure and responsibility. I wish to preserve art as an enjoyable side hobby and I do not want to see it as a job. However, to those who are interested in a commission from me, there may be hope. This art giveaway allows me the opportunity to gauge how much stress I would experience if I was to take commissions. Depending on the outcome of this raffle, and given my art process becomes more streamlined, perhaps I may change my mind in the future.

What I hope everyone participating in this raffle understands that despite how far I've come, I still have a very long road ahead of me. My capabilities as an artist are still limited, and certain compromises may need to be made. I'm uncertain how complex of characters I'm capable of replicating, but I'll give it my best. I don't have a defined list of what I can and cannot draw, nor what I will or will not do. All these details will be discussed with the winner. Please, have patience with me and expect the finished result to take roughly a month, if not longer to complete. I also want to apologize if this journal is a bit much. This is my first time doing something like this and I wanted to tell part of the story that got me here.

This raffle will end at 11:59 PM EST on Nov. 7th. I will post a journal the following day once the winner has been selected. The winner will receive a note with a congratulations and further instructions. Please respond within 48 hours. If the winner does not respond within the allotted time, they will forfeit their win and I will roll another winner. The winner will receive a full body colored image with a solid color background.

Raffle Entry Instructions

•Make sure you're watching this page, as there is more art to come!

•Leave a comment on this journal discussing what you like about my art so far and what you would love to see in the future.

I wish you all good luck!