Just a little post to say I’m back in the saddle and have some time to do commissions if anyone wants one. If I can think of anything I’ll do some more YCHs if folks want any.

Hey everyone!  thegreys is open for commissions! They have a great style and they’re fantastic to work with! $100 of the proceeds is going to charity. Check out the details here:

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43420484/

I decided to bring the page price for the Games remake down from $100 per page to $50. A lot of people are excited for this and the price cut gives it more of a chance as well as takes some strain off the folks who are able to fund it. This is as low as I’m going though. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t redo this whole thing (which is 18 pages right now o_o ) for free; it’s a lot of work and I traditionally don’t like to redraw the same thing. Still, I’m glad so many people are excited for this and it is fun to get back into comics with something like this. Thanks so much to everyone who’s been donating so far! We’re $20 away from the first page getting inks! :)

In case anyone has been confused or just wondering why I keep making them and what’s up with the short time limit.

I have ADHD and in general the attention span of a squirrel on speed. :D I’m still regaining my ability to draw and right now it’s kind of just an instinct with not much personal motivation. I want to draw but I don’t have a craving to draw anything specific. So I end up with a bunch of sketches that I like but no direction for them. That’s how these YCHs keep happening. They go away after a few days because I lose interest in the sketch/idea completely without anything to push it toward being done.

So, when you see them crop up and you like one, let me know! Even if you can’t pay right away, I’ll hold onto a sketch for a little while (like…a month or so; I have limits :D). I’ve been doing a lot of explicit ones because, frankly, that’s what sells, and after almost 20 years of this I can sketch out nsfw content without thinking about it heh. If folks are actually interested, I’ll try to think of some more tasteful and cute things. I do miss simpler pinups sometimes.

For the record, I’m open for normal commissions if anyone wants something more custom made. I don’t have much to do right now besides working on my mental health and trying to learn guitar. Give me something to do while I’m trapped at home in this heat wave/fire season/pandemic, please! XD

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk haha. I hope you’re all doing well!

Just to clear this up, I seem to be fine drawing Spyro art again. I’m not back to a point where I could read/write fic or even play the games, but drawing is pretty soothing for me regardless of the characters. So in case anyone was confused, I’m doing better of late at least with this and I’m fine drawing Spyro stuff for you guys. :)

Now that I’m back on the art horse, I’ve decided to bring comics back. Be aware that they’re the most expensive option because they take me a lot more time than anything else. But if you like my comics, I’ll do one comic project at a time.

From my price list:

Comic Pages
Short comics, maximum six panels per page. Planning fee will be applied to the cost of the first page.
planning (required) - $25
comic page - $150 each
color - $200 per page

My work list is mostly clear now so if anyone is interested in some custom art, hit me up! :)

I'm mostly caught up with my work list and I'm chilling out catching up on movies today, so if anyone wants some custom art, hit me up. :) I've got a couple YCH options up right now too and if you’re interested in either of those I recommend grabbing one before I take them down (I usually don't want to do anything with those sketches after a couple of days). Hope y'all are having a good weekend. :)

I’m genuinely curious, those of you who’ve read my accidental magnum opus “Games”, what about this comic did/do you like? Feel free to go into as much detail as you’d like. I have been wondering about its lasting appeal for over a decade now. XD

If anyone really wants to read bby’s first nsfw comic, it exists here:
https://e-hentai.org/g/295062/379ddadfe4/

Also I am willing to draw Spyro stuff for commissions again if that’s something people want. I’m open for a few right now (of any sort, doesn’t have to be Spyro).

Thanks for answering my question folks! :)

I wrote this yesterday and figured you guys deserve to see it too. This isn’t a plea for help or anything. I don’t expect comments and honestly there’s nothing anyone can say or do that makes any of it better. This is just what I live with now and if you’ve wondered why I draw so little these days when I used to do it all the time, well, here’s that answer.

(I am still working on the commissions I owe and I appreciate the patience you guys have shown me!)

... ... ...

I’m not entirely sure why I feel the need to put this stuff here. I guess in a way it’s just the smallest bit cathartic to have it out there and have it seen. Maybe someday somebody will see it and can at least feel a tiny bit less alone.

tl;dr: I’m sad today. Here’s how I write loss so well (they say write what you know...).

From Discord messages; March 29, 2021

Re art trauma: yeah it’s been rough. I lost a huge chunk of my functional vision a couple years ago in a very slow, dragging process, and it took the security and ease I’ve always felt about my art with it. :/ Unfortunately no therapist I’ve met has any solution so it’s kind of just a constant grief I get to drag with me now. Sometimes it’s easy enough to ignore and sometimes it’s overwhelming. It frustrates the hell out of me because I used to be so prolific and technically there’s nothing really stopping me except for the pain and the trust in my own body that’s been shattered. It would have been easier to just go blind in one shot, have the door shut in my face, I was ready for that. But this just leaves me in a lonely place where I can still see what I lost and can’t reach for it.

If I can ever think of a way to help with this I’ll definitely tell everyone. XD It’s just a lot of little sad things that not many people will ever know about. I remember the last print book I read and I know I’ll never get to read another one. I can look at it on my shelf and smell the paper but my hands are never going to smell like book paper again. I miss it. I’m never going to get to draw all those comics I spent years dreaming up and I wonder when I’ll put my stylus down for the last time. It’s just awful and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

I knew it was probably going to happen but I wasn’t prepared for it to be this way. I thought I would just wake up blind one day and there would be a solid line between the past and the future. I didn’t ever think I’d have to live through years of this slow fading, watching everything blur until I couldn’t do the little important things I took for granted. And I hoped surgery would help but in the end it just kind of left me in limbo. I can see everything I used to have but it’s all just out of reach. And there’s nothing that can fix it or undo the trust I’ve lost in myself because of it.

So. Some days I don’t think about it. I live my life like everybody does. And some days it’s just a knife, always twisting in me like it all just happened. I wish there was a way for it to be over but there isn’t. I just have to keep going, carrying the weight of my losses with me.

Hey video game fans! The Completionist is coming up on his 10 year anniversary (!!!) and to celebrate Jirard and co are fund raising for the Video Game History Foundation! A zine of art celebrating this awesome milestone is in production now with all profits going to the charity, but you can only get a copy until April 26!

https://thecompletionist.com/produc.....39334522060842

And, uh, let’s just say y’all know at least one of the articles. :) I’ve been a fan of this show almost from day one. Jirard and his awesome crew give people like me a chance to look at games we might not otherwise get to play and helps me find out if many games are accessible. More importantly, the show’s positivity even when playing bad games has cheered me up more than once in tough times. I admire Jirard’s commitment to his goals and I’m so honored to be part of this celebration. Definitely give this zine some consideration; I’ve seen some of the work going into it and it’s amazing! There’s paperback and digital options for anyone on a more limited budget.

And if you need something to do this weekend, Jirard and co are streaming for the charity right now!
https://m.twitch.tv/thecompletionist

 thegreys just released an 18+ comic set in their incredible Looming Gaia series! They’re an amazing author and artist and if you like fantasy and tentacles, this one’s for you! There’s a preview at their page and you can buy the full comic in digital or physical copies. Here’s one of my favorite pages with purchase info in the comments:

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/40932779/

My awesome writer friend JD is in desperate need of a car. They’re trying to raise $4,500 to get something decent and don’t have easy access to public transportation. You guys really pulled through for me and I’m hoping you can spread the word again and help them out. :)

https://www.gofundme.com/f/7y4a4?memberId=8722192&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

I want to offer art for this again but I’m still finishing donation sketches from Petey. If folks don’t mind the wait, I’ll do single character sketches for any donations over $10. :)

So I really enjoyed inking those sketches by artists who aren’t me. If anyone would like me to do that I’m going to make it a commission option. As long as the art is yours, a commission you paid for by someone else, and/or you have the artist’s permission, I’ll ink it! I’m going to say for now that it’ll be $25 with additional characters being $15 each.

Examples:

https://metalrat.tumblr.com/post/64.....-by-agaricales
https://metalrat.tumblr.com/post/64.....inks-check-out
https://metalrat.tumblr.com/post/64.....s-these-are-by
https://metalrat.tumblr.com/post/64.....-some-sketches

Edit 2: Welp. I jumped the gun on the vet bill yesterday. It is $500, they just didn't include the $100 exam fee in the receipt they sent and I forgot the cost of the ride there/back. So...sketches for donations are back on. XD Thankfully we're just $150 away from the goal thanks to all of you!

PayPal: zebitsofthegods(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Venmo: Razz-Terizzi

Edit: The vet bill turned out to be less than I thought it was! I mistook the quoted estimate for the total, but I saw the receipt today and it was only $350! You guys have paid it off and I can't thank you all enough! Thank you so much! Petey isn't quite on the mend yet and was sick earlier today (when the vet says limit your dog's activity they mean it XD); she's resting now and seems to be okay.

So my wonderful guide dog Petey cost me $500 yesterday in emergency vet bills. She’s fine, just some gnarly allergies and two bad ear infections. I’d like to do what I can to try and get that credit card bill down so my emergency funds, well, exist. Unfortunately I am very low energy these days. Would you guys be up for getting some sketches from me? I’ll draw a character of your choosing just let me know who, give me a mood you’d like, and I’ll do a sketch. These aren’t regular commissions so please do not overload me with specific poses or lots of details! If you would like something really specific I’m happy to take on a regular commission, but please be aware that my current completion time is slow (I get the sketches done fairly quickly but it’s been taking upward of a month or more for me to do inks; I always finish owed art I’m just exhausted these days). I will probably do busts and waist up sketches for these with full bodies and more complicated posing going to higher donations. Thanks for any help you can give and for spreading the word if you can! I know we’re all having hard times right now so please don’t feel pressured to donate. You guys have helped me through a lot just by being here. :)

PayPal: zebitsofthegods[at]gmail.com

Venmo: Razz-Terizzi

Goal: $360/$500

Yes for this I will draw Spyro characters if that’s what people want. :)

Sorry I’ve been so quiet here everyone! I haven’t been drawing much of late outside of the few commissions I have. Instead I’ve been doing a lot of short form writing. Haven’t been posting it here primarily because I’m not sure if anyone here would be interested. You can read and comment on my AO3 if you’re interested. Been doing a lot of magic realism, some sort of prose poetry, and accidentally writing horror. It’s been nice.

https://archiveofourown.org/users/TheBraillebarian

Hope you’re all doing well!

I’ve been watching my friend write this book for ages and I’m so excited it’s out! I did the cover lines with colors by the amazing TheButterfly (DA). If you like sci fi, space pirates, and lesbians, give this a read!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L4HVXH5

Synopsis:
Scarlet Wolfe, mercenary and bounty hunter, is hired to deliver a person of interest to a powerful client across the galaxy. The person of interest is a scholar who studies beings beyond mortal comprehension in dreams. It seems simple enough, however, the journey itself creates complications.

Guys!  rurik has started posting his wicked cool dragon books here! Lots of action sequences, cool world building, and really great characters are in these! The first series focuses a lot on Kyrik, a young dragon grappling with his awakening powers over death in a world trying to recover from the devastation wrought by fallen gods. But there’s also more sci-fi elements than I can go into here and dragons are just one of many cool species in this setting. Definitely go give Rurik’s stuff a read and check out his published books set in the not so distant future of the same world starring the best dragon soldier lady ever. 8D

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/38497988/

I hate to have to make such an announcement or whatever this is, but I’ve got to ask that folks stop asking me for Spyro art. I have one last commission featuring a Spyro character and I would like that to be the end of it. I loved those games but after everything that happened I can’t even think about them without feeling sick or sad. I’ve given away some of my Spyro collection and I doubt I’ll ever play them again. 13 years is a long time to love something so much and then have it ripped away from you. I just don’t want to think about it anymore. It’s gone, it’s over, I’ll never be what I was and I think the only way to heal for me is to just walk away. I’d like to at least retain a love for dragons but even that’s a bit shaky right now. These games and this fandom were a big part of some of my very worst years. I’m aware my work in the fandom may be my artistic legacy. I’m glad it helped so many people over the years but it’s hurting me now. It’s time to say goodbye to the world of dragons. Thank you all for respecting my wishes.

I’m still doing art and trying to find my way back from a really dark place. I think there’s some good stuff on the way. :)

Edit: I’m not going to delete anything! I just don’t wanna make any more content even remotely related to this franchise or really talk about it anymore.

So I like basically everything on this prompt list. :D
https://whumptober2020.tumblr.com/

If left to my own devices I’m just gonna draw Metalocalypse fanart for every prompt. This is your chance to stop me! XD I like drawing characters in distress, upset, beat up, etc, and that’s basically what this challenge is all about.

Choose a prompt (first come, first served; I’m only going to do each prompt once), give me refs for the character(s) and a little wiggle room on posing and I’ll beat up/emotionally scar them for you. :D It has to be either your OCs or favourite characters from a bigger franchise; I will not use this to attack anyone who doesn’t want to see their creations in such situations.

Prices (discounted from my usual):
1 character, bust - $15 each
1 character, waist up - $25
2 characters, waist up - $50
1 character, full body - $35
2 characters, full body - $75

These will be black and white, PayPal payment only. Backgrounds, if any, are up to me unless you want to pay for a specific one. Colors will be priced normally if you want them.

As always I won’t do anything with characters that look like human children, poop, gut/intestinal trauma (punches to the gut are fine, just not open wounds), or vomiting. I’m fine with everything else as far as I know; if something is an issue I’ll nicely let you know right away. :)

I’m also still open for regular commissions if anyone is interested, sfw and nsfw alike. :)

A friend of mine needs some funds to get their legal name changed. As someone who’s done this I know how much it means to have a name you can hear without feeling like someone is wiping snot off on your brain. Help JD get a name they want to hear!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/this-name-sucks-i-want-a-new-one?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

I’ll do quick digital sketches for proof of donations! Check my scraps to see what my sketches are like (these are not inked or colored!).
$5 - character head
$15 - character torso
$25 - full character

I’m open for commissions again! My price list is linked below and I’ve updated a few things. I’m going to go in and update my TOS too. If you’re able, I’d really appreciate the work, not just for the money (which I badly need) but alas for something to do. XD I’m basically home bound until there’s a vaccine. 8D

I’m open to just about anything and I’ll do my best to draw stuff outside my wheelhouse if needed (like cars and stuff). For nsfw I’m fine with everything except: kids/cubs, diapers, scat (pee and farting is fine), and barf. I have some experience with macro/micro, fatties, and snuff. I’m really not bothered by anyone’s fetish as long as it’s not on my “nope!” list.

Payment is PayPal only and I usually get the sketch started as soon as at least partial payment comes through. I have a quick finishing time, usually a week or less if my to-do list isn’t too massive. I will keep in touch with you throughout the art process and let you know if there are going to be any delays.

Send a note or leave a comment if you’re interested and thanks so much for being here everybody!

Edit: If anyone wants two pieces with the same two characters in both, I’m taking $50 off. So instead of two pics for $200, it’s two pics with the same characters for $150. And I always discount art with my original characters in it if that’s something you’re interested in. :)

Thank you thegreys and  captainscales!

I need a new iPad stylus and I really want a pizza. Does anyone want a two character commission for $60? Usually it would be $100 but...pizza! XD Characters would be full body, black and white. Payment through PayPal only. I’ll start sketching as soon as payment comes through. This offer is pretty much only good for tonight so send a note if you’re interested! :)

And it starts out with a bang! 8O Ray is a fantastic artist and really knows how to tell a story in comic form. I’ve been a fan of their work for awhile and this is one of my all time favourite comics. I’m really looking forward to where it’s going! Now is a great time to start reading with the first five pages up. I’m not sure about the update schedule but this is a story I think a lot of you will enjoy. :)

https://dnathewebcomic.com/comic/book-1/page-01/

For my furry friends, the story involves a lot of nonhuman characters too!

Ray is also one of the only comic artists out there who posts page transcripts for people like me who can’t always see all the awesome details. :)

One of my favourite fantasy series ever is now available in print! The first book of the awesome Looming Gaia series is out now!

https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/ale.....ct-dpjvzy.html

Do you like world building? Unique fantasy races and cultures? Comedy? Adventure? A bunch of messed up people finding a found family in spite of themselves? Queer themes and romance? This series has it all and then some!

Need to try it out first? You can read everything for free online with new stories coming out all the time!

https://archiveofourown.org/series/833844

I’ve been reading fantasy for decades now and  thegreys has created one of the best series I’ve ever read. If you’re looking for something new to read, give this series a look!

(Tried to post this on DA but the journal feature isn’t accessible on mobile, the app crashes on login, and status posts won’t let me paste copied text. 8D)

Hey check this out if you’re hankerin’ for some art!

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/37503196/

And go read the Looming Gaia series, it’s great!