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Happy New Year!
Posted 5 years agoAn auspicious time to start posting again. No sense going into excuses.
Been away, haven't seen you in a while
Posted 8 years agoHow you been?
Sorry for the lack of activity. Very Life. Such Crisis. Wow. I've got a few little scraps of things to show you, though.
Sorry for the lack of activity. Very Life. Such Crisis. Wow. I've got a few little scraps of things to show you, though.
Oops!
Posted 9 years agoSorry about deleting the most recent two submission, they were re-posts. (I thought I had checked for that before posting, bleh)
Woot Happy New Year! Plus, Dreamkeepers!
Posted 11 years agoDavid & Liz Lillie’s comic 
Dreamkeepers has been on my radar for quite some time; I love the artwork posted here, but I have never had the opportunity to read it in its entirety. Finally, over the holiday break, I had the chance to curl up with all three volumes.
The story takes place in the Dreamworld, a parallel universe inhabited by the protectors of humanity’s dreams, exotic anthropomorphics called DreamKeepers. Each keeper has a unique magical power that they use to protect their corresponding human dreamer from nightmare forces.
…or they used to. The nightmares were defeated long ago, and it has been so long since any have been seen that belief in them has faded to myth. Society has grown complacent, and the use of keeper powers discouraged and eventually outlawed. But the dark things are real, and with the help of corrupt Dark Keepers they plan the conquest of the DreamWorld. Only a small underground resistance recognizes the true landscape of impending war.
Four young keepers stumble upon the nightmare plot and find themselves pulled into the looming war, and must help each other to stay alive while learning to master their keeper powers.
The artwork of DreamKeepers is lush. It combines streamlined, graphic character designs with incredibly designed settings. It is almost too lush in the early volumes; the images are sometimes difficult to decipher. But by volume 3 the art has really hit its stride, the images are sophisticated and readable, the color is rich, and the layouts are fantastically dynamic.
While drawn in a cartoony style, this isn’t a book for kids. It opens with a keeper sacrificed to the king of the nightmares; and while it is often light, funny, and almost childish in places, it is also by turns dark, sexy, and terrifying. It embodies what I consider the best of the anthropomorphic genre: it has all of the lushness and beauty of hand-drawn animated features that I grew up with, but without skirting around more mature themes. Using such themes in the service of the story allows for, in my opinion, more sophisticated storytelling.
And the storytelling is very good. There are four or more major story threads unfolding at any given time, and they are skillfully woven one to the next. The world is well-realized, and has that rare feeling of existing beyond the panel borders. The characters are a wonderful selection of crazy cartoons as well as genuine personalities, and the relationships between them are well-done. The nightmare creatures range from disturbing to terrifying. The action is amazing—volume 3 contains a scene in a library which manages to be both terrifying and hilarious, and is probably one of my favorite sequences in any comic I’ve ever read.
DreamKeepers is one of those comics that is better read by the physical volume; there is so much going on, and it unfolds in such a cinematic fashion, that it would be vexing to be at the leading edge of the story waiting for the next page to appear.
Highly recommended; would read again. =)
Dreamkeepers has been on my radar for quite some time; I love the artwork posted here, but I have never had the opportunity to read it in its entirety. Finally, over the holiday break, I had the chance to curl up with all three volumes.The story takes place in the Dreamworld, a parallel universe inhabited by the protectors of humanity’s dreams, exotic anthropomorphics called DreamKeepers. Each keeper has a unique magical power that they use to protect their corresponding human dreamer from nightmare forces.
…or they used to. The nightmares were defeated long ago, and it has been so long since any have been seen that belief in them has faded to myth. Society has grown complacent, and the use of keeper powers discouraged and eventually outlawed. But the dark things are real, and with the help of corrupt Dark Keepers they plan the conquest of the DreamWorld. Only a small underground resistance recognizes the true landscape of impending war.
Four young keepers stumble upon the nightmare plot and find themselves pulled into the looming war, and must help each other to stay alive while learning to master their keeper powers.
The artwork of DreamKeepers is lush. It combines streamlined, graphic character designs with incredibly designed settings. It is almost too lush in the early volumes; the images are sometimes difficult to decipher. But by volume 3 the art has really hit its stride, the images are sophisticated and readable, the color is rich, and the layouts are fantastically dynamic.
While drawn in a cartoony style, this isn’t a book for kids. It opens with a keeper sacrificed to the king of the nightmares; and while it is often light, funny, and almost childish in places, it is also by turns dark, sexy, and terrifying. It embodies what I consider the best of the anthropomorphic genre: it has all of the lushness and beauty of hand-drawn animated features that I grew up with, but without skirting around more mature themes. Using such themes in the service of the story allows for, in my opinion, more sophisticated storytelling.
And the storytelling is very good. There are four or more major story threads unfolding at any given time, and they are skillfully woven one to the next. The world is well-realized, and has that rare feeling of existing beyond the panel borders. The characters are a wonderful selection of crazy cartoons as well as genuine personalities, and the relationships between them are well-done. The nightmare creatures range from disturbing to terrifying. The action is amazing—volume 3 contains a scene in a library which manages to be both terrifying and hilarious, and is probably one of my favorite sequences in any comic I’ve ever read.
DreamKeepers is one of those comics that is better read by the physical volume; there is so much going on, and it unfolds in such a cinematic fashion, that it would be vexing to be at the leading edge of the story waiting for the next page to appear.
Highly recommended; would read again. =)
Ping
Posted 11 years agoJust a note to FA that I'm not dead yet. Lots of OT at work has been keeping me away.
Holiday Prints!
Posted 14 years agoI LIVE
For the holiday season I have made a bunch of my holiday card designs available as prints, magnets, and, of course, cards. So if you liked any of my card art from previous years, you are invited to head over to my DeviantArt shop to see what is available!
More stuff soon.
For the holiday season I have made a bunch of my holiday card designs available as prints, magnets, and, of course, cards. So if you liked any of my card art from previous years, you are invited to head over to my DeviantArt shop to see what is available!
More stuff soon.
Not dead yet
Posted 14 years ago...just listless.
Happy 2011!
Posted 15 years agoYear of the Rabbit, huh? I should get on that... oh well, the lunar new year is still some way off.
I cleared my new Watches, which had become too numerous to thank personally. Thank you all for being so wonderful! (And patient.)
I don't make a lot of resolutions specifically on New Year's Day, but my intention this year is (among other things) to post art at least once a week.
Non-anthropomorphic stuff will go here: http://sankam.deviantart.com/
Naughty stuff will go here: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/nezuya/
See you soon!
I cleared my new Watches, which had become too numerous to thank personally. Thank you all for being so wonderful! (And patient.)
I don't make a lot of resolutions specifically on New Year's Day, but my intention this year is (among other things) to post art at least once a week.
Non-anthropomorphic stuff will go here: http://sankam.deviantart.com/
Naughty stuff will go here: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/nezuya/
See you soon!
Rock Band Threeeeee
Posted 15 years agoI'm a Rock Band freak, mainly I play the drums but I also like to sing (if you could call it that). RB3 adds a keyboard, which has me excited (I used to play piano and *cough* accordion).
I played all evening yesterday, and the game is incredibly good so far: they addressed virtually all of my very few gripes from the previous game-- Your band members are there no matter what mode you're playing in; they added hi-hat functionality to pro drums; you can build setlists for quickplay and rate songs so that the ones you hate don't come up on shuffle; if you fail out of a difficult song halfway through a set you can still finish the set; keyboards are challenging but well set up.
The only disappointment is aesthetic. They went for a more realistic look, which is understandable considering the pro mode, but they didn't do a very good job with it. The character models are not as appealing-- badly proportioned, wonky anatomy. There is some degree of customization, but not enough to nail a look you are going for (it was actually easier to do in RB2 with fewer options). The animations are not good; one of my great pleasures in RB2 was watching my band members perform and interact onstage. I actually learned a couple of things about drumming from watching my avatar play. Now the drumming animation is stiff and lackluster. The other band members interact well, but since you can no longer assign attitudes to your characters they all look kind of the same. And since, inexplicably, you can no longer assign a stand-in band member to a specific instrument, you don't even get as much personality as 'this is the bass player, this is the drummer'. The crowd is the worst-- bad models, terrible animation, it should not have been allowed into the game in that state.
I played all evening yesterday, and the game is incredibly good so far: they addressed virtually all of my very few gripes from the previous game-- Your band members are there no matter what mode you're playing in; they added hi-hat functionality to pro drums; you can build setlists for quickplay and rate songs so that the ones you hate don't come up on shuffle; if you fail out of a difficult song halfway through a set you can still finish the set; keyboards are challenging but well set up.
The only disappointment is aesthetic. They went for a more realistic look, which is understandable considering the pro mode, but they didn't do a very good job with it. The character models are not as appealing-- badly proportioned, wonky anatomy. There is some degree of customization, but not enough to nail a look you are going for (it was actually easier to do in RB2 with fewer options). The animations are not good; one of my great pleasures in RB2 was watching my band members perform and interact onstage. I actually learned a couple of things about drumming from watching my avatar play. Now the drumming animation is stiff and lackluster. The other band members interact well, but since you can no longer assign attitudes to your characters they all look kind of the same. And since, inexplicably, you can no longer assign a stand-in band member to a specific instrument, you don't even get as much personality as 'this is the bass player, this is the drummer'. The crowd is the worst-- bad models, terrible animation, it should not have been allowed into the game in that state.
'Composing Pictures' Back in Print!
Posted 15 years agoDon Graham was an instructor at the Chouinard Art Institute (later CalArts) from the 1930's to the late '60s. He also taught evening art classes at the young Disney studio for many years.* His seminal work Composing Pictures was a epiphany to me. Among other things, it taught me that from a compositional standpoint there is no difference between abstract and representational art, and that good composition is the most important aspect of a graphic work (a lesson I continually forget). It's one of those books that every artist should read, but like most such books, it has been long out of print. I had to pay through the nose for my copy, which I was lucky to even find.
But now it's back in print, softcover, thirty bucks on Amazon. Run! Go! Get it! Read it! You can't help but benefit from it.
*(A position now held by Marc McDonnell, whose book is also excellent.)
But now it's back in print, softcover, thirty bucks on Amazon. Run! Go! Get it! Read it! You can't help but benefit from it.
*(A position now held by Marc McDonnell, whose book is also excellent.)
Thanks for Watching Me!
Posted 15 years agoI try to make a point of thanking all my watchers personally, but as I have been pretty busy with OT at work the last few weeks, I have fallen hopelessly behind. So please let me say en masse, Thank you! Your views and comments are an energizing force for me. And as always, thanks for your patience.
More art blah blah blah
Posted 15 years ago
DevRaccoon linked to this article in another thread, and I thought it was worth passing on. It hits a lot of the same points I made, but in a broader context. I'm not sure if I agree with all of it, but the author makes a good argument.Commission Info
Posted 15 years agoI have had a few polite inquiries, and FA's commission field still isn't working, so I thought I would post here for the curious:
I am not taking commissions, and do not plan to in the foreseeable future. I am not opposed to the idea, but I need to put my own house in order before I'll take on any outside work. Thanks for understanding.
I am not taking commissions, and do not plan to in the foreseeable future. I am not opposed to the idea, but I need to put my own house in order before I'll take on any outside work. Thanks for understanding.
Blah Blah Blah Art Blah Blah
Posted 16 years agoThe Neuroaesthetics article got me thinking about art theory, so I thought I would explore my current views for the record, and revisit them at some future date.
I've drifted back and forth about formal rules in art (including film and literature as well as visual arts). One of my teachers used to say 'No Rules, Just Tools.' But he also said, '...but while I'm teaching you, do it exactly how I tell you to.' I guess that is to say that before you can think outside of the box, you need... a box.
Foundation skills and theory give one the platform from which to push off into uncharted territory, and a parachute if something fails. For me, the one solid rule of art is 'If It Looks Right, It Is Right.' You really can do anything you want. When you get hopelessly stuck, the theory is there to offer some solid footing while you get your bearings. Most artists have the foundations internalized to instinct. Clever artists know when to ignore it. Geniuses don't need it at all.
But there is a reason that foundation exists. Art theory wasn't just thrown together out of thin air, it was built and shaped as artists explored and discovered what best allowed them to connect to their audience. It is that universal connection to the viewer that makes something a 'masterpiece.' To step away from that body of accumulated experience is to risk an inability to connect with the viewer. The Philosophy Today article seems to support the idea that our brains really do engage with many of these foundation rules, which is why they became rules.
My college art education was at UC San Diego, where the philosophy was 'just go for it.' There were foundation classes, but although they placed the student in front of a model or still life, they offered very little guidance as to what we should be paying attention to, or how to use the tools we had, or even what tools we should have. As a result, student work tended to be abstract concepts that were so ineffectively expressed that a lengthy verbal explanation of the piece was required. This is reflected in many of the pieces in the university's Stuart Collection, which may be visually interesting,* but are either very simplistic in theme, or incomprehensible without a long explanation.
When I say "incomprehensible," I mean a failure to connect with the intended audience. Picasso's work, for example, was probably most understood by his colleagues, then by his followers and countrymen, and it still has found a resonance with a large segment of the general population.
This is not to say that all art should be perfectly comprehensible without any explanation. A knowledge of what the artist is trying to accomplish makes a deeper appreciation of their work possible. But a masterpiece should be able to stand on its own.
I personally tend to stand too much on theory. I don't have a lot of ideas, but I have a lot of education, so my finished work tends to be pretty formal and stiff, even when it is supposed to be light, because I'm relying more on my intellect than my imagination. Another great piece of advice I got was to make a mess first, then try to clean it up. "You can't steer a car that's not moving." Once you have something down, it's easier to see where it is not working and fix it, than it is to whip it up perfect out of thin air.
(There should be some sort of conclusion here. Oh well.)
*I make a distinction between something that is art, and something that is merely visually interesting. It has to do with the intent of the creator, and how well that intent is passed to the viewer. If the artist's intent is received intact by the viewer, his piece is successful. Visual interest is ridiculously easy to achieve. You can throw a bucket of paint off of a building, or set a car on fire. If these kinds of things are considered art, it allows art to be defined too broadly, in my opinion. Visual interest is Pluto in the artistic solar system. It's like a planet, but it's not a planet. That is to say, it is a necessary but not a sufficient condition of art. If we can agree that art does not encompass every human act, then the viewer has to understand why you threw the bucket of paint or set the car on fire.
I've drifted back and forth about formal rules in art (including film and literature as well as visual arts). One of my teachers used to say 'No Rules, Just Tools.' But he also said, '...but while I'm teaching you, do it exactly how I tell you to.' I guess that is to say that before you can think outside of the box, you need... a box.
Foundation skills and theory give one the platform from which to push off into uncharted territory, and a parachute if something fails. For me, the one solid rule of art is 'If It Looks Right, It Is Right.' You really can do anything you want. When you get hopelessly stuck, the theory is there to offer some solid footing while you get your bearings. Most artists have the foundations internalized to instinct. Clever artists know when to ignore it. Geniuses don't need it at all.
But there is a reason that foundation exists. Art theory wasn't just thrown together out of thin air, it was built and shaped as artists explored and discovered what best allowed them to connect to their audience. It is that universal connection to the viewer that makes something a 'masterpiece.' To step away from that body of accumulated experience is to risk an inability to connect with the viewer. The Philosophy Today article seems to support the idea that our brains really do engage with many of these foundation rules, which is why they became rules.
My college art education was at UC San Diego, where the philosophy was 'just go for it.' There were foundation classes, but although they placed the student in front of a model or still life, they offered very little guidance as to what we should be paying attention to, or how to use the tools we had, or even what tools we should have. As a result, student work tended to be abstract concepts that were so ineffectively expressed that a lengthy verbal explanation of the piece was required. This is reflected in many of the pieces in the university's Stuart Collection, which may be visually interesting,* but are either very simplistic in theme, or incomprehensible without a long explanation.
When I say "incomprehensible," I mean a failure to connect with the intended audience. Picasso's work, for example, was probably most understood by his colleagues, then by his followers and countrymen, and it still has found a resonance with a large segment of the general population.
This is not to say that all art should be perfectly comprehensible without any explanation. A knowledge of what the artist is trying to accomplish makes a deeper appreciation of their work possible. But a masterpiece should be able to stand on its own.
I personally tend to stand too much on theory. I don't have a lot of ideas, but I have a lot of education, so my finished work tends to be pretty formal and stiff, even when it is supposed to be light, because I'm relying more on my intellect than my imagination. Another great piece of advice I got was to make a mess first, then try to clean it up. "You can't steer a car that's not moving." Once you have something down, it's easier to see where it is not working and fix it, than it is to whip it up perfect out of thin air.
(There should be some sort of conclusion here. Oh well.)
*I make a distinction between something that is art, and something that is merely visually interesting. It has to do with the intent of the creator, and how well that intent is passed to the viewer. If the artist's intent is received intact by the viewer, his piece is successful. Visual interest is ridiculously easy to achieve. You can throw a bucket of paint off of a building, or set a car on fire. If these kinds of things are considered art, it allows art to be defined too broadly, in my opinion. Visual interest is Pluto in the artistic solar system. It's like a planet, but it's not a planet. That is to say, it is a necessary but not a sufficient condition of art. If we can agree that art does not encompass every human act, then the viewer has to understand why you threw the bucket of paint or set the car on fire.
Printer?
Posted 16 years ago[EDIT: Thanks everyone, this has been fairly surreal. ^^; Most of your suggestions were for ways to keep running the existing printer, which is well and good, but I don't have the room or the inclination to deal with another computer, so I went and got an Epson Stylus NX515, which so far has been aces. It's a printer-scanner, but still small enough to fit in the space available.]
"We are sorry to inform you that there will be no Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) support available for your HP product. Therefore your product will not work with Mac OS X 10.6.
"If you are using the Mac OS X 10.6 operating system on your computer, please consider upgrading to a newer HP product that is supported on Mac OS X 10.6. The majority of HP peripherals on the market are supported with Mac OS X 10.6."
Yes, yes, splendid idea. I will buy another product from you when you have just forced obsolescence on my perfectly functional product that I already bought from you. I love being forced to hand you more money.
No, wait. Sorry-- I hate that. I think I will buy from your competitors. Burn in hell, jerks.
So! Can anyone recommend a good color printer that is not made by Hewlett-Packard? I'd like it to be under $300 and have a fairly small footprint like my old Deskjet 932c, which I would like to point out still works, but has been rendered useless.
"We are sorry to inform you that there will be no Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) support available for your HP product. Therefore your product will not work with Mac OS X 10.6.
"If you are using the Mac OS X 10.6 operating system on your computer, please consider upgrading to a newer HP product that is supported on Mac OS X 10.6. The majority of HP peripherals on the market are supported with Mac OS X 10.6."
Yes, yes, splendid idea. I will buy another product from you when you have just forced obsolescence on my perfectly functional product that I already bought from you. I love being forced to hand you more money.
No, wait. Sorry-- I hate that. I think I will buy from your competitors. Burn in hell, jerks.
So! Can anyone recommend a good color printer that is not made by Hewlett-Packard? I'd like it to be under $300 and have a fairly small footprint like my old Deskjet 932c, which I would like to point out still works, but has been rendered useless.
Ooops
Posted 16 years agoI accidentally deleted my recent watcher list. Sorry about that guys, but thanks for watching me!
Neuroaesthetics
Posted 16 years agoFor those of you who like to analyze art as well as produce it--
http://www.psychologytoday.com/arti.....-artistic-mind
Apparently there is some scientific underpinning to aesthetic theory. Who knew? Does this mean artistic principles weren't just pulled randomly out of thin air? (/sarcasm)
Not to denigrate the article, which is really pretty interesting.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/arti.....-artistic-mind
Apparently there is some scientific underpinning to aesthetic theory. Who knew? Does this mean artistic principles weren't just pulled randomly out of thin air? (/sarcasm)
Not to denigrate the article, which is really pretty interesting.
Furry Meme
Posted 16 years agoSince I have Opinions, I thought I would do this one. =) Don't know where it originally came from, I copied it from 
lintu
Are you a furry?
By my own definition, I'd have to say yes. By 'lifestyle,' probably not.
If you have a Spouse/SO - Is he/she a furry too?
I'm single.
How long have you been in the community?
I've been on FA since 2007, if that counts as 'in the community.' I've been friends with furry artists for close to 20 years though. I have only been to two conventions in that time.
How did you find furry?
Steve Gallacci's Albedo and Eclipse Comics' Fusion by Gallacci, Lela Dowling and Ken Macklin were the first stories I read that portrayed anthropomorphics as sexual creatures in a mature fashion.
What's your reason for furry (what interested you to get into the community)?
I have always liked cartoon animals, I like sexy anthropomorphic girls, and let's face it, I've been single a long time.
What's Furry to you?
'Furry' is such a loaded term. As an adjective I think its essence is simply the fetishization of anthropomorphic animals. But the noun seems to have come to mean someone who likes anthropomorphics and also is an extreme sexual deviant (whether that is true or not). It's no wonder that many people are uncomfortable with the label.
If someone found out you're a furry and asked you about it how would you respond?
I'd ask them what they mean by 'a furry;' then I'd explain as above. This has happened.
What are your favorite aspects of our community?
I'm not really involved in 'the community.' I'm kind of uncomfortable with fandom as a lifestyle in itself. Of the friends I've made, though, I like that they are friendly and confident, they know what they like in life and they are not embarassed by it. There also are so many great, talented artists.
Do you use any furry terms? (i.e. yiff, paws, murr?)
Not really.
What do you wish furry was NOT associated with?
Sexual fetishes that have nothing to do with a furry fetish. There seems to be a prevailing opinion among people who are critical of furries that if you like anthropomorphic animals, you are automatically also into vore, scheiesse, pedophilia, bestiality, gigantism, herms, etc. etc.
How strongly do you feel about someone bashing the community as a whole?
Not very strongly. It is my opinion that the vast majority of the world doesn't give a damn about furry fandom or any kind of fandom. Of people that are critical of it, I think that most are outraged as an excuse to fuel a guilty fascination (like the anti-porn evangelicals who have huge porn collections as 'research'), and the rest are worked up into hysterics by them.
How strongly do you feel about anyone bashing you yourself for your interest based on the media's aspect of what furry is?
It hasn't really happened to me, but I will admit that I don't broadcast my interests because I don't want to have to deal with that sort of thing. It's no-one's business anyway.
We all know furries have a lot of sexual aspects in this fandom, What's your opinion on it?
In my opinion furry is inherently sexual, since fetishization is the basis of the fandom. While I do think some fetishes (eg. vore, transformation, etc.) pair naturally with furry fetish, I object to the automatic lumping together of various unrelated fetishes with furry.
Personal
What is/are your fursona(s)?
I don't really have one. Rohan, a faerie dragon, has been my mascot for years and is probably the closest to my own personality, but although I sometimes use him to represent me, I don't really 'play' him.
Do you have any fetishes that pertain to the fandom?
I suppose transformation would qualify.
If you could magically morph into your fursona would you?
Only if I could turn back again at will.
Do you believe you have a spirit animal? If Yes, Is that spirit animal your fursona(if not what is it?)
If I do, it's probably deer, or raven. If I ever do develop a fursona it will be a deer.
What other fanbases/groups are you a part of?
I like anime, comics, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. but I'm not directly involved with fandom for any of them.
Anthro/Feral, Therian or Kemonomimi (Not a furry, just a human with animal ears and a tail)?
Sure. I love greek mythology and anime as well as cartoon animals.
Are you a fursuiter? If yes, How many do you own? If No, do you ever plan on being a suiter?
I am not. I do not plan on it. I do admire a good costume though.
How many of your friends are furry?
Maybe a half-dozen? Of the people I actually see in person.
How many pets do you own, if any?
None, my mouse died last year, I love cats but haven't owned one in years.
Aside from furry what other interests do you have?
Gaming, music, hiking, horseback riding, history, etc. etc.
Are you confident enough in yourself to say that you're a fur, no matter what the media says?
Probably not. I don't feel any solidarity with the fandom.
Meetups
Do you attend any cons? If no, would you attend any cons? If yes, which cons have you been to?
I've been to ConFurence twice, once almost 20 years ago because I was broke and needed to sell some art, and once a couple of years ago, to see a friend and promote my comic back when I thought I could produce it reliably.
Do you go to local meetups (bowling, public outings...etc)?
Nope
Have you ever attended a furry party? If no, would you attend one?
I have not. Don't really have any intention to but I might if circumstances were right.
Online
Have you ever met up with a fur you talked to online?
Yep.
What furry websites do you attend?
Used to browse Yerf, nowadays it's just here and Club Stripes.
What non furry websites do you frequent?
Oh geez... the Internet?
Has the fandom done anything for you that you're thankful for? Has it taught you anything or brought you anything you treasure greatly?
lintuAre you a furry?
By my own definition, I'd have to say yes. By 'lifestyle,' probably not.
If you have a Spouse/SO - Is he/she a furry too?
I'm single.
How long have you been in the community?
I've been on FA since 2007, if that counts as 'in the community.' I've been friends with furry artists for close to 20 years though. I have only been to two conventions in that time.
How did you find furry?
Steve Gallacci's Albedo and Eclipse Comics' Fusion by Gallacci, Lela Dowling and Ken Macklin were the first stories I read that portrayed anthropomorphics as sexual creatures in a mature fashion.
What's your reason for furry (what interested you to get into the community)?
I have always liked cartoon animals, I like sexy anthropomorphic girls, and let's face it, I've been single a long time.
What's Furry to you?
'Furry' is such a loaded term. As an adjective I think its essence is simply the fetishization of anthropomorphic animals. But the noun seems to have come to mean someone who likes anthropomorphics and also is an extreme sexual deviant (whether that is true or not). It's no wonder that many people are uncomfortable with the label.
If someone found out you're a furry and asked you about it how would you respond?
I'd ask them what they mean by 'a furry;' then I'd explain as above. This has happened.
What are your favorite aspects of our community?
I'm not really involved in 'the community.' I'm kind of uncomfortable with fandom as a lifestyle in itself. Of the friends I've made, though, I like that they are friendly and confident, they know what they like in life and they are not embarassed by it. There also are so many great, talented artists.
Do you use any furry terms? (i.e. yiff, paws, murr?)
Not really.
What do you wish furry was NOT associated with?
Sexual fetishes that have nothing to do with a furry fetish. There seems to be a prevailing opinion among people who are critical of furries that if you like anthropomorphic animals, you are automatically also into vore, scheiesse, pedophilia, bestiality, gigantism, herms, etc. etc.
How strongly do you feel about someone bashing the community as a whole?
Not very strongly. It is my opinion that the vast majority of the world doesn't give a damn about furry fandom or any kind of fandom. Of people that are critical of it, I think that most are outraged as an excuse to fuel a guilty fascination (like the anti-porn evangelicals who have huge porn collections as 'research'), and the rest are worked up into hysterics by them.
How strongly do you feel about anyone bashing you yourself for your interest based on the media's aspect of what furry is?
It hasn't really happened to me, but I will admit that I don't broadcast my interests because I don't want to have to deal with that sort of thing. It's no-one's business anyway.
We all know furries have a lot of sexual aspects in this fandom, What's your opinion on it?
In my opinion furry is inherently sexual, since fetishization is the basis of the fandom. While I do think some fetishes (eg. vore, transformation, etc.) pair naturally with furry fetish, I object to the automatic lumping together of various unrelated fetishes with furry.
Personal
What is/are your fursona(s)?
I don't really have one. Rohan, a faerie dragon, has been my mascot for years and is probably the closest to my own personality, but although I sometimes use him to represent me, I don't really 'play' him.
Do you have any fetishes that pertain to the fandom?
I suppose transformation would qualify.
If you could magically morph into your fursona would you?
Only if I could turn back again at will.
Do you believe you have a spirit animal? If Yes, Is that spirit animal your fursona(if not what is it?)
If I do, it's probably deer, or raven. If I ever do develop a fursona it will be a deer.
What other fanbases/groups are you a part of?
I like anime, comics, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. but I'm not directly involved with fandom for any of them.
Anthro/Feral, Therian or Kemonomimi (Not a furry, just a human with animal ears and a tail)?
Sure. I love greek mythology and anime as well as cartoon animals.
Are you a fursuiter? If yes, How many do you own? If No, do you ever plan on being a suiter?
I am not. I do not plan on it. I do admire a good costume though.
How many of your friends are furry?
Maybe a half-dozen? Of the people I actually see in person.
How many pets do you own, if any?
None, my mouse died last year, I love cats but haven't owned one in years.
Aside from furry what other interests do you have?
Gaming, music, hiking, horseback riding, history, etc. etc.
Are you confident enough in yourself to say that you're a fur, no matter what the media says?
Probably not. I don't feel any solidarity with the fandom.
Meetups
Do you attend any cons? If no, would you attend any cons? If yes, which cons have you been to?
I've been to ConFurence twice, once almost 20 years ago because I was broke and needed to sell some art, and once a couple of years ago, to see a friend and promote my comic back when I thought I could produce it reliably.
Do you go to local meetups (bowling, public outings...etc)?
Nope
Have you ever attended a furry party? If no, would you attend one?
I have not. Don't really have any intention to but I might if circumstances were right.
Online
Have you ever met up with a fur you talked to online?
Yep.
What furry websites do you attend?
Used to browse Yerf, nowadays it's just here and Club Stripes.
What non furry websites do you frequent?
Oh geez... the Internet?
Has the fandom done anything for you that you're thankful for? Has it taught you anything or brought you anything you treasure greatly?
Art Meme
Posted 16 years agoMeme from lintu who got it from 
mukichan
When did you start drawing?
Elementary school is the earliest I can remember.
Which hand do you use for drawing?
I am right-handed.
Which is easier to draw - male or female?
Females. But only because I've given them the most practice. =)
Which is easier to draw - long hair or short hair?
What an odd question. Neither.
Is it easier to draw the head facing towards the right or the left?
I try to change it up, but my default is facing left (subject's right).
Is it easier to draw the side view of the face or the front view?
I can do either for anthropomorphics. Humans are harder to draw in profile for me.
What do you have problems in drawing?
Backgrounds, especially vehicles. Knees. Shoulders. Feet in dynamic positions.
What do you like to draw?
Girls of all types. I love personality, emotion, and expression, and though I don't consider myself very adept at drawing those things they are what I strive for.
Are you a traditional artist or a digital artist?
Both. I prefer sketching in pencil. I ink either manually or digitally. I usually do color digitally, but I like to paint as well.
Where do you start drawing from?
Usually the head. Finally learning to draw the body first when the gesture demands it.
What is your drawing habit that you are aware of?
I fall into patterns of construction. For example I tend to construct all heads basically the same, from a circle, instead of trying different shapes or methods, which I think really limits my range.
Any tips for coloring/shading?
Warm colors (usually the light) against cool colors (usually the shadow). Colors in the light tend to be less saturated; the color is most vibrant just before it turns into shadow. Shadowed areas can catch reflected light. Nearby colors will influence the colors of the subject. Color can be unified by adding a bit of a single color to everything in the scene. Looking at reference is not cheating. But rules of color are only there for you to fall back on when you're stuck. If it looks good, it is good.
How long does it take to finish a piece of art?
I am ridiculously sloooww. A sketch larger than my thumb is anywhere from a half hour to the whole evening. Inking is the same. Color is from a whole evening to a week of evenings. I tend to over-work things.
What music do you listen to while you draw?
Anything will do, or nothing. I usually choose music based on my mood rather than the intended mood of the work.
How long does it take you to come up with an idea?
FOREVER. The few ideas I have are like precious pearls in a tiny box. I literally feel retarded in this area.
Your favorite drawing utensils?
Prismacolor ColErase pencil, blue
Your favorite color/the color that you use a lot?
I like earth tones and greens.
Your favorite style(s)?
If we're talking about personal styles, I like cartoon line drawings. I live in a spectrum between anime and western animation styles. Painting is fun, but I tend to think in terms of line.
Are you satisfied with your current art?
Nope.
What kind of artist are you aiming for?
I'm a frustrated traditional animator/concept artist. I never had enough training for the former, and I don't seem to have enough imagination for the latter. I want my drawings to have the life and emotion of hand-drawn feature animation, with some of the graphic design elements of anime. My storytelling style is a similar mix; I use a lot of anime conventions in my comic layouts.
lintu who got it from 
mukichanWhen did you start drawing?
Elementary school is the earliest I can remember.
Which hand do you use for drawing?
I am right-handed.
Which is easier to draw - male or female?
Females. But only because I've given them the most practice. =)
Which is easier to draw - long hair or short hair?
What an odd question. Neither.
Is it easier to draw the head facing towards the right or the left?
I try to change it up, but my default is facing left (subject's right).
Is it easier to draw the side view of the face or the front view?
I can do either for anthropomorphics. Humans are harder to draw in profile for me.
What do you have problems in drawing?
Backgrounds, especially vehicles. Knees. Shoulders. Feet in dynamic positions.
What do you like to draw?
Girls of all types. I love personality, emotion, and expression, and though I don't consider myself very adept at drawing those things they are what I strive for.
Are you a traditional artist or a digital artist?
Both. I prefer sketching in pencil. I ink either manually or digitally. I usually do color digitally, but I like to paint as well.
Where do you start drawing from?
Usually the head. Finally learning to draw the body first when the gesture demands it.
What is your drawing habit that you are aware of?
I fall into patterns of construction. For example I tend to construct all heads basically the same, from a circle, instead of trying different shapes or methods, which I think really limits my range.
Any tips for coloring/shading?
Warm colors (usually the light) against cool colors (usually the shadow). Colors in the light tend to be less saturated; the color is most vibrant just before it turns into shadow. Shadowed areas can catch reflected light. Nearby colors will influence the colors of the subject. Color can be unified by adding a bit of a single color to everything in the scene. Looking at reference is not cheating. But rules of color are only there for you to fall back on when you're stuck. If it looks good, it is good.
How long does it take to finish a piece of art?
I am ridiculously sloooww. A sketch larger than my thumb is anywhere from a half hour to the whole evening. Inking is the same. Color is from a whole evening to a week of evenings. I tend to over-work things.
What music do you listen to while you draw?
Anything will do, or nothing. I usually choose music based on my mood rather than the intended mood of the work.
How long does it take you to come up with an idea?
FOREVER. The few ideas I have are like precious pearls in a tiny box. I literally feel retarded in this area.
Your favorite drawing utensils?
Prismacolor ColErase pencil, blue
Your favorite color/the color that you use a lot?
I like earth tones and greens.
Your favorite style(s)?
If we're talking about personal styles, I like cartoon line drawings. I live in a spectrum between anime and western animation styles. Painting is fun, but I tend to think in terms of line.
Are you satisfied with your current art?
Nope.
What kind of artist are you aiming for?
I'm a frustrated traditional animator/concept artist. I never had enough training for the former, and I don't seem to have enough imagination for the latter. I want my drawings to have the life and emotion of hand-drawn feature animation, with some of the graphic design elements of anime. My storytelling style is a similar mix; I use a lot of anime conventions in my comic layouts.
Whoa Jeez
Posted 16 years ago47 watches in the last 24 hours-- coincidence or did someone send you all my way? Welcome, in any case. =)
New Persona Animus
Posted 16 years agoNew page is here.
This may be the last page I draw on actual paper. I picked up Manga Studio EX a couple of weeks ago, and though I've only scratched the surface of the package I really like it. Sketching is less frustrating, inking is less frustrating, in fact. except for color, everything I have tried doing with it is less frustrating than the equivalent process either in traditional media or in photoshop.
This may be the last page I draw on actual paper. I picked up Manga Studio EX a couple of weeks ago, and though I've only scratched the surface of the package I really like it. Sketching is less frustrating, inking is less frustrating, in fact. except for color, everything I have tried doing with it is less frustrating than the equivalent process either in traditional media or in photoshop.
A to Z Meme
Posted 16 years agoSwiped from 
cubi, who got it who knows where. =)
A - Age: 42
B - Bed size: Twin.
C - Chore you hate: All of them.
D - Dog's name: No dogs, please.
E - Essential "Start Your Day" item: I'll have to go with water too. Shower is neccessito.
F - Favorite color(s): Earth tones and greens.
G - Gold or Silver: Silver. Gold is pretty, but too ostentatious for me.
H - Height: 6'1"
I - Instruments you play: Used to play piano and accordion (honest!). Now I play drums Rock Band style.
J - Job title: Junior Animator
K - Kids: Oh, no. No. No. No. Hah, no, no. No, no, no. Uh-uh. No.
L - Liquor, Beer or Wine: Single-malt scotch. Beer if it doesn't suck, I'm kind of a snob about that.
M - Mom's name: Rita
N - Nicknames: They don't really stick to me.
O - Outie or Innie: Innie!
P - Pet Peeve: Not being able to remember my pet peeves on demand.
Q - Quote from a movie:
"You want to talk to God? Let's go see him together. I got nothin' better to do."
R - Right or left handed: Right.
S - Sibling(s): 2 half-brothers, 3 stepsisters, 1 stepbrother. I'd have to draw a chart.
T- Time to get up: Usually between 7 and 7:30 AM.
U - Underwear: briefs, sometimes boxers.
V - Vegetable you dislike: Okra. Oh gods, okra.
W - What makes you run late: Misjudging travel time.
X - X-rays you've had: Most recently, my right shoulder. (Bursitis, it turns out.)
Y - Yummy food you make: Super Special hamburger patties.
Z - Zoo favorite: Red Pandas. <3
cubi, who got it who knows where. =)A - Age: 42
B - Bed size: Twin.
C - Chore you hate: All of them.
D - Dog's name: No dogs, please.
E - Essential "Start Your Day" item: I'll have to go with water too. Shower is neccessito.
F - Favorite color(s): Earth tones and greens.
G - Gold or Silver: Silver. Gold is pretty, but too ostentatious for me.
H - Height: 6'1"
I - Instruments you play: Used to play piano and accordion (honest!). Now I play drums Rock Band style.
J - Job title: Junior Animator
K - Kids: Oh, no. No. No. No. Hah, no, no. No, no, no. Uh-uh. No.
L - Liquor, Beer or Wine: Single-malt scotch. Beer if it doesn't suck, I'm kind of a snob about that.
M - Mom's name: Rita
N - Nicknames: They don't really stick to me.
O - Outie or Innie: Innie!
P - Pet Peeve: Not being able to remember my pet peeves on demand.
Q - Quote from a movie:
"You want to talk to God? Let's go see him together. I got nothin' better to do."
R - Right or left handed: Right.
S - Sibling(s): 2 half-brothers, 3 stepsisters, 1 stepbrother. I'd have to draw a chart.
T- Time to get up: Usually between 7 and 7:30 AM.
U - Underwear: briefs, sometimes boxers.
V - Vegetable you dislike: Okra. Oh gods, okra.
W - What makes you run late: Misjudging travel time.
X - X-rays you've had: Most recently, my right shoulder. (Bursitis, it turns out.)
Y - Yummy food you make: Super Special hamburger patties.
Z - Zoo favorite: Red Pandas. <3
Back from San Diego
Posted 16 years agoI'm back from the San Diego Comic Con, where I had a great time spending too much money.
Among many other wonderful things into which I will not delve here, I got to meet super-cool
themadcatter whom I look forward to seeing again; and super-cool Tracy Butler, artist of Lackadaisy, which if you have not seen it, run do not walk to http://www.lackadaisycats.com
Both of them graced me with wonderful sketches, which I will post here just as soon as I have scanned them and received permission. I pass out now.
Among many other wonderful things into which I will not delve here, I got to meet super-cool
themadcatter whom I look forward to seeing again; and super-cool Tracy Butler, artist of Lackadaisy, which if you have not seen it, run do not walk to http://www.lackadaisycats.comBoth of them graced me with wonderful sketches, which I will post here just as soon as I have scanned them and received permission. I pass out now.
Since Someone Asked
Posted 16 years agoA user very considerately asked me if he could use one of my characters in a yiffy picture, engendering a strange mix of pride and horror, so I thought I would make my position on the matter public.
I love fanart! So by all means feel free to draw it and post it. All I ask is that you credit me for the character, and please keep it clean. It can be sexy if you want, but it should fall in the G to PG-13 range.
You are, of course, free to draw whatever you'd like for your own personal amusement, if it does not find its way to a public venue. ^^;
[edit] Since the possibility had not occurred to me, I failed to mention-- please do not place my characters in intimate situations with your characters. Friendship situations? Great. Sex? That's being too presumptuous.
I love fanart! So by all means feel free to draw it and post it. All I ask is that you credit me for the character, and please keep it clean. It can be sexy if you want, but it should fall in the G to PG-13 range.
You are, of course, free to draw whatever you'd like for your own personal amusement, if it does not find its way to a public venue. ^^;
[edit] Since the possibility had not occurred to me, I failed to mention-- please do not place my characters in intimate situations with your characters. Friendship situations? Great. Sex? That's being too presumptuous.
