In the time-honored tradition of thinking that I'm somebody important, I'll tell you all what's going on in my art world these days.

Nothin'.

Every other time I've been in an art block, it was because I had a million ideas I wanted to do and just had either no time or no ability to do them.

Now?

I just don't want to. I have... no desire to do anything artistic, and no idea particularly why. It's not that I'm not inspired, I just really personally don't want to create anything.

I'll keep you updated in the meantime.

As I look around more and more these days, I realize that 'manga' is becoming a household word. That anime is more prevalent than it was in the 1980s, if that were even possible. That some people are getting kana characters tattooed on their calf on the good faith that it really means what they think it does.

Now, I'm all for the appreciation of a culture, and that of Japan is a rich one, full of history and great works of music, art and writing. They are very valuable, and I enjoy many, many aspects of it myself. My boyfriend and I are big-time Gundam fans (Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 being our current hopeful port to the US). I started my induction to anime with Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2. I'm intrigued by the shamisen. I'm compelled by the historical exploits of the many warriors of the country. But I've finally discovered why the mainstream acceptance of all things Japan in this country has begun to grate on me.

We don't understand it.

That's not some crazy fanatical proclamation that somehow a country has a culture so deep and mystic in its very nature that we Western barbarians could never grasp it. It's just that... well, we don't live in Japan. There's no reason for us to understand what's going on in most anime underneath the pure dialogue that- for the vast majority of us- has been translated. And even if the words came out to mean exactly the same thing, the social significance has no way of translating. Why else would there be so many footnotes in translated manga explaining some oddball facet of the social structure or history that otherwise would leave us absolutely clueless? How many social cues are we still missing?

This leaves me baffled as to why so many storylines I read/watch are so very anime-esque at the base. If you have to take away the social significance, all you have left is translated speech patterns and barebones plot lines. This does not make sense to Western readers like myself, and isn't engaging at all, in my opinion. Characters need personalities that you can't explain in three words or less, or how am I supposed to feel their pain, their joy? If they're weird and spastic, how can I relate to them? I have a feeling this has a lot to do with how younger people now are growing up with a stronger and stronger anime influence.

Another problem is that the Western, particularly American opinion on the blast from the East seems to fall under "Japan sucks, I hate anime" or "GLORIOUS NIPPON." This is a horrible way to look at a culture. If you like something enough, you really have to be able to critique it for its faults as well as appreciate it for its virtues. Their warriors were amazing. But what did they fight for? Their industriousness as a nation is admirable. But did they not as well brush their ecosystem aside for this? Their sense of honor is almost unparalleled. But what about the total demonization of failure that leaves a cloud of unfulfilled expectations and suicide?

I fear I'm only half the writer to do it, but this is actually what I'm attempting to address through Mashato's story, a Tanuki's Tail. She's a Japanese American, so she has a lot more in common personality-wise with those of us on the Western side of the world than the East. Hers is a story of what it's like to not live up to expectations and to essentially have to reject preconceived notions like nationality, family responsibility and gender roles. She is her own person.

So, in closing, I really wish we would just stick to what we know until we learned better. This is not doing good things for kids, or for entertaining stories that make sense.

Here's the thing.

Sonic has never had a personality. As far as the games have gone, he's always had one dimension: Wisecracking and impatient. I never had a problem with that, because he was always put into a good context for it- brightly colored, detailed tracks and levels for him to explore, all a bit silly, but all relevant to the story.

The full personality we remember for Sonic was from the cartoons, AoStH, and SatAM. They both established a great character that had a full range, via the voice talents of Jaleel White. This Sonic, we remember, because he defined the character for us, filled in the gap where the game Sonic fell short. We equated the two and assumed it all part and parcel. Sega, however, did not.

When Sonic went 3D, the gameplay died, and thus, the fun did, too. He was given a different voice. He was given a different cast of characters. He was given a different world, and different music to run to. He was never the Sonic we thought he was, but he definitely wasn't, after all that- even the comics that had at first ripped off the shows and games we loved, started ripping off the shows and games we hated. So what do we feel as old, loyal fans of Sonic?

Upset. And arguably, rather justifiably. But even we can't seem to agree on why. Well, this is why. What do we do, then? We need to abandon Sega and step up the fan-projects. I've seen- and participated- in so many that died due to lack of organization or interest, and they all showed promise.

I guess we all just need to figure out what it was that made him special to us, and try to work off of that. We'll never re-create it, but we can get way closer than a werewolf punching black knights in a parallel-dimension Arabia.

I know, I know, but you people are crazy, and going to get me in trouble one day. XD Tailsko is a floating concept of the fandom, utilized way before I came on the scene by people like  illys. I just sorta added some features that made her unique to my drawings, like her figure and attitude.

What this means:
-You don't have to ask my permission to draw her.
-You're not required to credit me anywhere if you do.
-I'm not gonna go balls-out crazy if you include her in some wacky fetish I have no notion of.

Now, characters like Mashato, Alexandra, and Noriko? I made them, they're totally mine. Credit me somewhere and let me know if you're gonna have them smelling sock puppets in jell-o. Other than that, whatev!

Just had to clarify. =)

Seriously, you guys, thanks for everyone who wished me a good one, and the amazing, over-generous works of:

 colesutra http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1703290/ (Nosebleed city. Unbelievable. :D)
 oogzie http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1703234/ (Mah boi! Female plotting is what all true warriors strive for!)
 chibijenhen http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1706326/ (ADORABLE. I WILL EAT IT. omnomnom~)
 setsunew http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1705214/ (Talk about your eye-catching sign design! 8D)

and an extra special thanks to my sweetie, my honey nut bunches of love,  chayfox. All of you made my birthday excellent.

And I better get notes from you four tellin' me when your birthdays are~! Y'HEAR??

:3

So with my upcoming birthday on the 11th, my mother decided to commemorate my 22nd year on this Earth with tickets to my very, very favorite guitar god, Joe Satriani. It was my third time seeing him, and I've never been disappointed by this man. He is an inspiration to all who play and a humble, likeable guy on top of that. The show was beyond fantastic and I had a great time.

But something happened at the beginning that made this one different.

You see, Mountain (yes, that Mountain, with the Mississippi Queen and the you know what I mean) opened for Satch this time. Which, I was just thinking "Where the hell did you guys crawl out of all the sudden?" Three songs into their set, I'm eating my words and loving every minute of it. But suddenly something happened. At the end of the third song, their drummer knocked over a cymbal. Leslie West, being a concerned- if very old- lead singer, turns around and walks toward his side of the stage...

... Trips on a cable, and totally eats shit right on stage. Yes, this old man from a time I wasn't even born for, this legend of rock, falls flat on his face in front of hundreds of people. Three roadies pick the man up and replace his guitar. He recovers with,

"Sorry, that was part of the show.
Eh. I'm a fuckin' klutz."

Flips open the shade lenses on his glasses.

"Oh! NOW I can see!"

There's a lot of different stances on the 'fursona' thing, and that's just among those who have one. Some people think they represent themselves on a spiritual level. Others think they're a fun alternate ego with which to artistically cavort in various ways, like any roleplaying character. Still others have them just for the lulz (protip: No, they don't, and this is the weakest excuse to try and still be 'cool' I've ever heard).

But beyond that, I have to wonder something. If a character is essentially you, and you often draw them as the star of a comic, or the focus of humor, or (let's be honest, here) the subject of sexual hijinx/conquests... is there a point where it becomes narcissistic? Is there an appropriate percentage of pictures you can appear in vicariously without it being one big ego-stroke? Is it always a selfish endeavor? Or- with the whole thing being wish-fullfillment anyway- is it never inappopriate?

Your thoughts?

I appear to have, in the last two weeks, lost ten pounds. Virtually the only thing I've been doing for the past two weeks is practicing with nunchaku and eating home-made pizza.






Apparently I've just invented the Michelangelo Diet.

So recently, there's been a small gaggle of journals talking about the oversaturation of porn among the fandom. This entire debate was framed dishonestly, and since I'm an obnoxious know-it-all, of course I'm gonna say something about it. Here are my thoughts, point by point.

-There's too much porn in the fandom.

Really? You sign onto a site like furaffinity, and you're shocked to see this much porn? Listen, until somebody can produce some kind of geiger counter to decide how much porn is too much, I can't really take this one seriously.

-The fact that everyone draws porn drags down our reputation as a whole.

No, no it doesn't. Let me tell you something. The reason why people think that we're oversaturated with porn, is because we're a smaller social network. With people who have nothing to do with furries, they have access to exactly as much porn as we do, proportionally. The difference? It's separated. Porn is found in novelty shops, online, through pay-per-view, in magazines, in romance novels, in comics, in anime, and so on and so forth. That is a BOATLOAD of porn, if you ever bother to actually notice, but the difference is that if you find somebody's myspace, they probably won't have a link to that upskirt fetish they've got. But does that mean they're any less entrenched in porn? No. They have walls, we don't.

-All the porn has lowered the quality of art in the fandom.

Once again, no. In fact, you have that backward: all the new artists have lowered the quality of the porn in the fandom. And if they choose to practice their skills on wolf sex with bad anatomy and proportions, it's exactly as valid and valuable as if they practiced on standing poses of clothed furries with bad anatomy and proportions. It's like music. Nomatter what kind of music it is, you want to hear the finished product, but nobody wants to hear you practice. There's no difference, none. Those beginners will be there today and tomorrow and forever. Get over it. Oh, wait! Or maybe, I dunno, give them some constructive criticism and help them improve.

-People get more watches for porn than for non-porn.

True to a degree, but you're missing the big picture, here! The people that watch others just for the porn... I don't want to stereotype, but if they don't care about any other kind of content, will they really have something constructive to say about your phantasmagoric goth art or furry motorcycle blueprints other than "LOL COOL"? Do you really care that these people aren't watching you? I'm guessing you don't, unless you take this whole thing as a contest, in which case you are doing it WRONG. I have a lot of intelligent watchers, and I adore them! But I have a lot of watchers who honestly just want to come around and see some tits. And you know what? I welcome both. But if you don't, then stop whining that they won't watch you.

-Porn is a cesspool of uncreativity.

AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHH
NO. That assertion is worthy of a Conan-What-Is-Best-In-Life "WROOONG!" I have spent the majority of my time as an... 'artist,' I guess, figuring out amusing, intelligent ways to tell the story of human desire in short snippets, through cartoon animals. The trope that porn is for the stupid is because of the porn industry, who refuses to make anything with a plot or even a clever idea. And anyone who knows industries should realize that there's no reason to judge an art form based on corporations that make money from it. Should I judge all oils by hotel paintings? All caracatures by mall jobs that charge you ten bucks for a shot of you and your cousin driving a go-kart? All comics by painfully unfunny newspapers strips and companies that never let their goddamn characters die? NO. No, I shouldn't. That would be stupid and presumptuous, and discounts anybody who's trying to make it better.

So in closing, no, the fandom does not need to change. You want more clean art? Either draw it yourself, encourage your favorite artist with a creative idea, or put your money where your mouth is and commission them.

... Is kind of amateurish, I know. But everyone has to start somewhere, and I'm determined for that to be here. I've been writing more and more of A Tanuki's Tail as I go along, and I'm really encouraged. I set up a little Previous/Beginning/Next system in each chapter as well, so you can easily go from one to the next.

I had a bit of a problem with a decision considering the tone of the story- in other words, whether I wanted to include graphic sex or not. And in response, I'm including "X chapters." In other words, if Chapter 2 had a sex scene in it, I'd just write out the story around it, then post that section as "Chapter 2x." This way, everyone who just wants to read the story but feels silly reading vulgar language in between can just enjoy the main piece, but without discluding those who really just want to see everything in its full glory. I think it's a good compromise.

Over 1500 watchers?
I mean.
500 was fun.
1000 was fantastic.
1500? The law of averages is playing outside of my favor; I'm gonna bump into one of you bastards one day, and when I do, I'm gonna scream and run!

Thanks, you crazy pervs. <3

By the very talented  technicolor_pie! She's doing them for a good cause, which you can read about here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/402570/

*plotty hands*

As in, I could really use 'em. Once upon a time, I made pictures entirely in Photoshop, but since then, I wanted to work on other aspects of art, so I got into pencils and OpenCanvas. But I'm in the market to finish some damn pictures, so if you know of a good one for blended shading, links plz! I'm pretty well-acquainted with cel-shading; no need there.

Life is the same old thing. Can't complain.

I haven't been around on messengers and whatnot for a little while now, and it's in part due to my involvement in http://nozakus.blogspot.com/ . This project has been fun thus far, but anything with  chayfox can be. :)

Alright, people, I figure I should let you in on what's been goin' on at my place lately. A couple of weeks ago, my boyfriend  chayfox became incredibly ill and lost a good chunk of weight he didn't have any business losing in the first place. It's been a long road to recovery and he's still not there just yet. He wanted everyone who he had a story trade with to know that he's trying to get well right now, but as soon as he's better and not exhausted by everyday life, creative things should come easier. Just wanted to put that out there.

I've been doing a lot of them lately. The reason? Pure lack of time when the digital resources are available to me. Sorry if this disappoints some, but I'm literally sneaking this stuff in while at work, so I'm just a little limited. Still, I hope my skills with the mechanical pencil are not disappointing, despite the fact that my 'soft line' style is moot in traditional media.

I can honestly say that there are Star Wars: Movie Battles maps of Shinra Tower that are more nostalgic and entertaining than this horrible, ill-advised piece of garbage.

And I even liked Dirge of Cerberus! So it's not like my expectations are astronomical!

... Dirge of Cerberus!

That proposal being put before the US gov't to grandfather in an orphan works law? Don't read that guy's article, he's full of propaganda. Instead, go read the thing itself:

http://www.copyright.gov/orphan/

Or, I'll just take the juiciest part out for you.

"c. Enthusiast User
As described, the enthusiast user is typically an individual who has expertise or
interest in a particular subject and wishes to make use of works, such as old journals,
books or articles, that relate to his area of interest. This use often involves making the
work available on the Internet for other enthusiasts or anyone in the public who is
interested in the subject matter. In most cases the use is not being made for commercial
purposes, but mostly for scholarly or hobbyist purposes.
This user will find himself in a similar position as the large-scale access user. He
must perform a reasonably diligent search for the owner, which will likely be part of the
user’s ongoing efforts to develop expertise in the field. In fact, in some cases the
enthusiast user might be in the best position to find the owner given the breadth of
knowledge and interest he has for the subject.
Once he has performed the search and been unable to find the owner, he can make
use of the work by, for example, posting it on the Internet for other enthusiasts. If the
owner surfaces and notifies the user of his copyright, the user can take the material down
to ensure that he has no monetary liability for the use (provided he has not made
commercial use of the work). As with the other uses, though, the owner may wish to
allow continued use of the work, given that many people who are interested in the subject
would likely visit the enthusiast’s site or otherwise become known to the owner."


See that? So anything you make, you still hold every kind of right on. If someone doesn't take it down after you ask, you're still entitled to every bit of legal recourse.

So chill, this law is really only for things that nobody claims and stuff that's no longer being renewed in the patent office.

Oh, and by the way? The commercial district is gonna have a cow about this, so it won't be passed.

It's okay, really.

I have a sneaking suspicion about this one. Here's the question:

Are you more creative when you go without masturbating for an unusual period of time? Does it affect the things you draw or write? Do you think there's a correlation?

What? I don't screw around, I just get right to the meat of it. :D HAW.

Buuuut not from me. :D I'm an atrociously inattentive writer.  chayfox Is offering them! http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/329540/ He also takes commissions, and is good at what he does. I'm not just saying that because he's my BF, either; I was a fan of his stuff before I even knew him personally. :]

As for me? Well, I'm just taking things a day at a time. I want to feel more useful to people on a personal level, but I just don't seem to have the time anymore. Speaking of writing, I've been working on something recently, and it seems to be shaping up... I just need to keep on it. What do you writers out there do to keep focused?

I know I don't say it enough, but thanks for all the attention you guys give my artwork and stray thoughts. I don't make it for any reason other than to make it, but it can't help but feel validated when somebody enjoys it and says as much. I've got 200 submissions here on FA, and I know I've received a lot of insightful, fun, silly or thought-provoking commentary on each and every one. I know you've all got lots of other things you could be doing instead of giving me feedback, so I'll keep finding ways to reward you guys for your diligence. :]

I've been talking to people a bit and I've been wondering something. This isn't a loaded question:

I've recently come across people who are of the opinion that making an established canon character homo- or bisexual alters their personality past the point of believability. As in, they would be a markedly different person if their sexuality was different. Which I suppose is a valid assumption if you look at pop culture and majority, but what I want to know is, how do you feel? Do you feel that changing a character's gender preference makes them different on a base level? How?

No flames, now. Don't be the douchébag. :|

I forgot to do this when he joined, but I would really beseech y'all to have a gander at the work of  tendrak! He's primarily an anime artist, but he does great things with furries, I find, and his stuff is fun to look at on the whole. :]

Also, I don't give a damn about Valentine's Day anymore. So! A whatif question:

Let's say a colony of anthropomorphic people were found, or landed, or just appeared on this modern day Earth of ours. What would be their fate, in your mind? What social problems would they have to overcome? And finally, how long would it take, if ever, for them to integrate with our society?

Or, for simpler, more relevant minds: What characters would you like to see me draw more of?

A journal about the art? Pshaw.

Okay, so like, I'm coming up on a bit of a stirring realization. It came when I recently had a batch of pictures that featured elongated torsos and I couldn't really notice it until I photoshopped them a bit shorter. Hopefully I've remedied that problem now, but it's a disturbing trend in my artwork- it's getting worse, not better. My art progress had been seeming to flatline a bit for a while, but now I worry that the things I've already established are beginning to decay. I notice myself stumbling to draw things that I used to bust out easily- things like eyes and heads and... proportions.

Now, it's a grabassing 'gotcha' to blame it on the fact that most of my drawings have ludicrous proportions, but drawing big boobs shouldn't have an effect on your ability to render toes. So I guess the point of this journal is a warning and a request. I'm gonna slowly be trying to re-establish myself, and so I'm most likely going to have a lot of mistakes. And what I want you guys to do, if you could, is to point out the ones you see to me. I always appreciate constructive criticism. Try to be as specific as you can, but even if you can't, just go ahead and express it anyway; I'll ask you some questions or something and we'll figure it out from there. I'd really appreciate that.

So in closing, please excuse any unintentionally goofy drawings from me, I'm workin' my way out. <.<;

1. Is there anyone on your friends list you would ever consider having sex with?
Sure!

2. Sex in the morning, afternoon or night?
Yes!

3. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
Topside.

4. Pork, beef, or chicken?
All of the above. Nom nom nom.

5. Have you ever had to pull over on the side of the road to puke?
Yes, but that was because I walked 30 miles with no food or water. True- and very embarassing- story.

6. Have you ever taken your clothes off for money?
I can get money for doing that???

7. Shower or bath?
Showers. Because damn I just can't find laying on porcelain with a person on me all that comfortable, considering.

8. Do you pee in the shower?
There's a toilet... RIGHT there. Rip the curtain back and let 'er go!

9. Mexican or Chinese?
Both, but home-made. I own a frying pan and a wok, there's no reason to go without.

10. Do you want someone aggressive or passive in bed?
I love both! I lean sliiiiightly more toward them being aggressive.

11. Do you love someone on your friend list?
It's all different kinds of love! I certainly don't hate anyone.

12. Do you know all the people on your friends list?
I couldn't possibly.

13. Love or money?
Love. I could do without money, but without love I'd have no will to make any.

14. Credit cards or cash?
Cash! You appreciate its weight more when it leaves your hands.

15. Has there ever been anyone in your family you wish wasn't?
You mean the brash, ignorant, intolerant, Southern alcoholics and the vindictive, lawyer-like New Englanders? Who wouldn't want them?

16. Would you rather go camping or to a 5 star hotel?
A 5-star hotel in the woods! Like a huge tree filled with furries and a Tom Bombadil-like atmosphere. Yeah. :D

17. What is the weirdest place you have had sex?
A random couple's living room floor. They, uh. Came back.
Fortunately they were very understanding.

18. Would you shave your entire body (including your head) for money?
Mmmf... The body, sure, but the head hair? I think I'd cry.

19. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Yeah, but I didn't much care for it. The gay ones attract the flaming types I can't stand, and the ones for straight men just depress me. Why must the announcer sound like Wayne Newton?

20. Ever been to a bar?
The only drink I enjoy is straight Jack, and you can't have a good time with that.

21. Ever been kicked out of a bar or a club?
Nope.

22. Ever been so drunk you had to be carried out of somewhere?
Nope.

23. Kissed someone of the same sex?
Every day~! <3 But in the spirit of "ooh, taboo," I've kissed someone of the opposite sex, too.

24. Favorite drink?
Iced tea.

25. Had sex in a movie theater?
I can't sit still during movies.
Hey...!

26. Had sex in a bathroom?
It's a very convenient place for it! But not public ones.

27. Have you ever had sex at work?
How would you manage that?

28. Have you ever been in an "adult" store?
They know me by name!

29. Bought something from an adult store?
I have a collection! I love it when lube is on sale. Mmm, tangerine...

30. Have you been caught having sex?
Yes.

31. Does anyone have naughty pics of you?
Yes! I ain't afraid!

32. Who do you think has the guts to repost this?
I challenge you!