An artist is best described as having transitional moods. We work better and more motivated when we receive tons of praise. Faves annd comments from my past works are what keeps me going. My opus seemed to be in 2005, when I was emerging from my shell and into my own both as a person and as an artist. I crafted a lot of works I'm REALLY proud of from then until now. Some more better then others. I'm reallyl greatful for all the kind words, faves and comments. :)

Which brings me to my point. Like I said, artists have transitional moods. And when submitting, it's almost like a popluarity contest. I know I may not have a lot of followers in this kind of genre compared to others. A sketch from someone well known here will get like 50 faves within an hour. Because that person's well known. I don't do cons, or badges (unless asked, hasn't happened yet) or any of the like. It makes me feel such a novice to post here when other artists are of a higher caliber and more experience in their software and trade. I'm a humble guy but it sucks that my work goes ignored at this site, just because I don't do no furry porn or fetish or meme art.

With that said, I think I'll only post here sparingly from now on. Just a useless whiny rant, but something I need to get off my chest. BUT! I will be faving and keeping an eye on a lot of artists here, some of whom I've talked with and known online for years. Artists like Ivybeth (whom I've got a lot to thank Photoshop wise), Teaselbone, Reginho, Cody Frost (aka Vince), Spunky and so so so much more (you know you are ^_^). Keep an eye out of me in DA instead. And not to seem ungreatful of course. To all the KIND, AWESOME PEOPLE here who still watch and fave me, thank you! I will be answering your comments and notes still! God Bless!

Well, I got my most recent tattoo touched up this month and it looks much better! Here's a link to a recent picture, lemme know what you think:

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/.....c/IMG_0148.jpg

Also this month saw me visit South Africa. My first trip to the continent of the Africa as well! You see, I was invited to a wedding out there from a ship friend, Marinell, who is from the country. I decided almost last minute to go. It was so worth it! After touching down in Johannesburg, my friend and her groom-to-be Stephan drove me to Pretoria where we settled briefly before we went out to Spur, a favorite steak restaurant prefered by a lot of South Africans. The next morning we left bright and early (and I mean early) for Pilanesburg National Park and Game Reserve in the Northwest Province. Man.....this was a great highlight of my trip. I got to see 3 of Africa's "Big 5" animals there, the rhino, elephant and the leopard. The other two, the lion and buffalo, I didn't see. But my friend Marinell informed me we were still lucky to see 3 out of the 5! We spent the rest of the day there before going back to Pretoria.

We left next day for the venue of the wedding at Kuthaba Bush Lodge in Limpopo Province. This is where we spent the next couple of days for the wedding. It was an emotional and beautiful event, surrounded by the scenie bushveld (bushland) atop a little cliff. We then had the dinner and then spent our last morning there before departing to a farm for a ride through the property in a "buckie" (a jeep-like ATV built for rugged terrain). After that, we went back to Pretoria for a wee bit for souvenir shopping before being driven back to the airport by Stephan and Marinell. It was sad to leave. I'd love to go back again one day!

South Africa was a unique and diverse country. It opened up my eyes a lot more. It's not as third world as a lot of people may think. It just gets bad press because of past events like apartheid and what not. A lot of neighborhoods in Pretoria and Modimolle (in Limpopo) reminded me of typical surburbia here. Little differences, though. Like barbed wire on the fences and spike-like fence poles that could probably hurt you bad. The scenery reminded me of a mix of home and South America.

In short, I had a great time. I miss Marinell and Stephan and all the other people I met while I was there that welcomed me. I feel so blessed. That makes two continents in a year I've traveled! Asia was first, followed by Africa. I see more travels in my future. I hate airports and all that, but in the end, the travel makes it worth it. I'll be uploading photos to my DA photo site soon, so be on the lookout! Peace out all! Time to upload pics and recover. Thank God I'm home safe and sound.

I just got a wild hair tonight and decided to get my third tattoo done! Remember that piece I uploaded earlier today of José Carioca?! Yep, I got that on my right arm! Naturally the color pigments look different on my skin. Plus it's brand new at this time so it's seeping into my pores and the colors will come out later on. Take a look at my "Ele E Carioca" piece.

I got it without the lettering and the background. For 106 bucks with tax! O_O That's a steal for color and the size I got it! We just opened up a new tattoo parlor where I work, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Albuquerque. Yep, we have a tattoo parlor now! I'm so stoked and what a good way to celebrate then to get me inked! I'm going for a touchup in two weeks. I hope you all are well! Peace!

Let's live this dream! Life ain't over yet, I wanna see where the future leads! Yep, b-day time. Time to enjoy it with loved ones! I feel blessed and fortunate. Thank you all for the faves, comments and shout outs! I apprecaite them!! God Bless you all and I hope you all are well.

Just while random browsing this evening, I've come across some meme's that are so damn annoying it's not even funny. It's so played out. What's one that you're tired of looking at?

What that strikes me as disturbing is the Carameldansen thing. It's quite overplayed out, especially in the furry community. I've seen it so much in a lot of fanarts lately. It just needs to die out already. Blah!

There's more, but I can't think of them off hand. What about you?

Hey there. :) Came back from China this past Sunday (left on their Monday lol). My time clock has been messed up since but it'll get back to normal lol.

I loved my time there. At first it was pretty overwhelming. China is a populated country and I knew to expect that, but when I actually set foot in the country and witnessed it first hand....WHOA!! Started in Shanghai and ended in Beijing. To have witnessed and set foot in some of the most historical places on Earth was unbelivable and I was in awe and wonder.

Our tour guides were great. I went with a tour group. During my time in Shanghai, our guide shared a story with us when the first Kentucky Fried Chicken opened in China years back. He and his brother begged his parents to go and they finally gave in. They went in their formal cloting (yes, FORMAL clothing) and went. After all was done, our guide told us that he went to the bathroom. This was the first Western toilet he had seen (Chinese toilets are holes in the ground, not like our where you can sit easily). His father, upon returning, asked him what was wrong? He says he couldn't go because someone left FOOTPRINTS on the toilet bowl!!!! Meaning someone actually stood on top of it to do their thing.....crazy these cultural differeneces eh?!

There was something to like about both cities. Shanghai offered more in the way New York City does, modern with history. While Beijing offered everything Old World and historical. My highlight? Climbing the Great Wall of China. We hit up the most popular spot where lots of tourists go, Badaling. Man, it was steep climbing, uneven. But a engineering feat and an example of human spirit. My tour guide referred to it as one of the biggest cemetries in the world, due to how many people died while constructing it, or trying to cross it.

I've been going through photos and fixing them up and changing hues for effect. I hope you all are well. :) Good to be back in the U.S.A. again!

Greetings everyone. I'm in Seoul, South Korea right now on my layover to Shanghai my final destination. I'm gonna shower and sleep when I get there. I'm assuming FA is allowed in China, seeing as how Facebook is banned over there. But no worries.

South Korean wireless be slow! O_O Gah!!!! Well, I'll be sure to update on my adventures, and hopefully I can find a power outlet adaptor so I can charge my stuff! x.x

Peace!

MUSIC ELECTRIC RECOMMENDS TO YOU ALL:
Alice in Chains-Don't Follow
No Doubt-Platinum Blonde Life
Gorillaz-Plastic Beach
G.Love-Thanks and Praise, Ride
Grateful Dead-I Know You Rider (Live in Paris)

O_O I'm getting pumped. Will be more pumped when I'm actually in the country. :D Hope to be inspired!

How do you delete artwork from your gallery? I can't seem to find an option for it. FA still needs fixing on the navigation front. Help! :D

Also how's everyone doing?!

Woot! For those who don't know, I'm off to China in March on holiday. This will be my first time visiting Asia. I hope to see all the continents before I'm 30. Minus Antarctica, although I did ALMOST have a chance to go there when I was in South America. But too expensive lol. I leave from the US March 13, get to my layover in Korea on the 14th of March and settle in China that same day. I'll be there for 9 days visiting Beijing and Shanghai. I can't wait to see everything! I might even do some sketches while I'm there.

For anyone who has been, can you give me any tips or advice?

MUSIC ELECTRIC RECOMMENDS TO YOU ALL:
David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland-When Loves Takes Over
P!nk-Humble Neighborhoods
Grateful Dead-Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)
Slightly Stoopid-Somebody
The Band-Chest Fever

Thank you all who have faved my work, left me friendly comments and who have watched me. I appreciate it!

I wanted to wish my watchers and friends here on FA a Happy New Year! God Bless and here's to 2010, and a new decade!! This whole decade's been a learning experience for me, done things I never thought I'd do, made some changes for the better, and met lots of great people alone the way. Ups and downs, downs and ups have been had,and it's made me the man that I've been molded into with all my experiences. I'm blessed and grateful for friends and family. Thanks for admiring a decade's worth of art that I've created and posted and the kind words, watches and collaborations!My prayers for the new year and more ahead. Let's shape our destinies the best we can! Thanks for admiring my art from this decade about to pass and the kind words, watches and collaborations! If any of you are going out tonight, don't drink and drive, be safe and nurse that hangover! XD Peace and see you next year!

MUSIC ELECTRIC RECOMMENDS TO YOU ALL FROM THIS DECADE:
Girls Aloud-No Good Advice, The Show, Hoxton Heroes, Models and Miss You Bow Wow
Sugababes-Round and Round
Slightly Stoopid-Jimi, Round the World, Closer to the Sun & Know You Rider
Sleepthief-Afterthoughts, World Gone Crazy & Rainy World
Christina Aguilera-Without You
Ladyhawke-Morning Dreams & Danny and Jenny
Tyrese feat. Jewel-Make it Last
Pearl Jam-Amongst the Waves, Johnny Guitar and Get Some
Maaya Sakamoto-Gravity
Annie-Loco & My Love is Better
311-Beyond the Gray Sky, Hey You and Thank Your Lucky Stars
Norah Jones-Don't Know Why, Sunrise, Thinking About You, You've Ruined Me & Stuck
Sophie Ellis Bextor-You Get Yours, New York City Lights & Catch You
Robbie Williams-Rudebox
N.E.R.D.-Happy, Spaz & Drill Sergeant
Neil Young-Off the Road
Rachel Stevens-I Said Never Again (But Here We Are), Every Little Thing, So Good
Katie Melua-Halfway up the Hindu Kush, When You Tuaght Me How to Dance and Crawling up a Hill
Gorillaz-Dirty Harry, D.A.R.E., 19-2000 (Soulchild Remix) & Kids With Guns
Raphael Saadiq-100 Yard Dash, Staying In Love & Let's Take a Walk
Duffy-Mercy & Warwick Avenue
Joss Stone-Tell Me 'Bout It & Big Ol' Game
Van Hunt-The Night Is Young & Turn My TV On
Gabriella Cilmi-Sweet About Me, Sanctuary, Einstien & Cigarettes and Lies
Ne-Yo-Part of the List, Stop this World
Lily Allen-Chinese & The Fear
Jack Johnson-Monsoon
John Legend-Show Me & Green Light feat. Andre 3000
Aqualung-Brighter Than Sunshine
Goldfrapp-Some People, Slide In, Twist, Crystalline Green, Fly Away & You Never Know
William Orbit-Drift So Far (Website Version)
Timbaland-Throw It On Me feat. The Hives, Give It To Me feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake
Emma Bunton-Free Me, I'll Be There, Secrets (demo that was unreleased until this year), Crickets Sing for Anamaria
Nine Inch Nails-Meet Your Master (The Faint)
Gnarls Barkley-Gone Daddy Gone

MOVIE AND GAME SOUNDTRACKS ELECTRIC RECOMMENDS TO YOU FOR THIS DECADE:
Sherlock Holmes, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, Brother Bear, Coraline, Okami, The Sly Cooper OSTs, The Motorcycle Diaries, Street Fighter IV

God Bless you all and I hope you're spending it with loved ones, good times and food. :) For those who are less fortunate, my prayers are with you and I hope you find joy in this festive season. God Bless everyone, and thanks!

I know our lives are chaotic more then ever. But for those who I collaborated with on that lineart I sent, let me know how you're doing :). I just remembered this now and I'd love to know the status. Thanks!

Daaamn! Some people are going crazy with their journals here. It's like one entry every 15 hours or even more lol. I'm all for updating on current events in your personal life and all, but some take it a little too excessive....too each his own....

Starting to get back to the art front. It's non-furry stuff for now but I'm gonna work on a couple things here and there.

For those who I wanted to collaborate with on that lineart I had please lemme know how the progress is. I haven't heard from anyone yet. I'm curious to see. :)

I'm looking for someone with good skills in Photoshop who can color a lineart I've just completed. It's been ages since I've done a collaboration and I'd love to see what someone can do with my art. Send me a note if you're interested. If you can send me a link to your coloring work, that'd be great too.

Things have been going good lately. Gonna start a new job soon and just celebrated a b-day. However, for some reason, today, I'm feeling ugh, blah and meh......everyone has those days. It's not depression at all. It's just feeling uninspired, unmotivated and hermitized.

Hopefully I'm not sounding whiny. But lately I've noticed my work here doesn't seem to get mad respect like some others work here I know. Obviously not a big fanbase in this community at least. Today I was thinking of even just deleting or not posting here anymore. Sad but true. I know other's works who get way more hits and stuff then mine does. I guess because I'm not down for drawing naked furs like some people like on here. But I prefer not to anyways. It sucks when your stuff is overlooked.

And yes, more meh. But I'll be over it in a day or two. :)

...so commission me! My discount rates are going til tomorrow!

Man, I'm disappointed with the lack of customers lately. What happened to the old days?! lol

Ha, I had myself a little birthday bash this past Saturday with family and friends and now today is my actual b-day. :) Wow, another milestone. I look forward to the future. There's so much in life I've accomplished so far and I'm truly blessed.

In honor of my b-day, from today until Sunday, Electric's gonna give discounts on his commissions prices, 5 dollar discount off. Act now! :)

No alcohol for me today. Gah, my system can't handle it any more XD. Thanks in advance everyone!

I'm surprised I woke up as early as I did today. Had a little pre-birthday bash with family and friends here at the house and it rocked. :) Been ages since I had a true birthday party and it was spent in good company. Only a couple of people couldn't come but I kept them here in spirit. I love the good times.

Ugh....I should be sleeping but I can't just yet. Upchucked all over the front yard too lol.

Take a look at my price guide here for the prices. :) Help a starving artist. :) Just remember my rules for pieces. You can find them here:

http://talbaineric.deviantart.com/j.....rnal/14399674/

I hope to hear from ya!

It's been a good month so far. I've gotten to chillax with family and friends during this rather long shore leave (I go back to work on my next assignment the 15th). I'm truly a blessed guy. It's always good to embrace the good times while you can. :)

The only thing to gripe about is that I'm broke now, my bills have zapped me. Being at home is expensive. And since NCL don't pay me when I'm on shore leave I don't earn nada. That's frustrated me, especially because it'll be an expensive year. I have the honor of being the best man to my good friend Adriano's wedding coming up in April and I need to save for that (it's in Florida). And also I'm leaving to China for a holiday at the end of the year! I'm excited and things look on the upswing.

I've also been back at work doing some new arts. It's been a hassle because I have Illustrator on my old PC (i have a shiny new PC now) and I switch back and forth lol.

Well, being at home this whole time's been good, like I said above. Although I have gotten restless. And me being restless isn't good. It makes me question things, life, etc etc. So much! I'm the type of guy who likes to be on the go doing stuff and then chillaxing. Blame it on ADHD the adult version ha! It also must be a product of growing older it seems.

This will be my last year working for the cruise industry. It's time to get back to boring old real-life eventually. I need to settle down eventually as well, I think it'll ground me out. But it's been a good 3 years for me. So many memories. It's almost time to begin the next chapter in my life.

Also, thanks to all who have watched me and faved the arts I've done. I appreciate and look forward to all the favs and comments.

Hope you all are having a good 2009 so far!

Well hey there everyone! Happy Holidays! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and that you spent it in the time of loved ones, family, friends, acquaintances or whoever is close to you. Because that's what this time of year is for, right? Without them, life truly is lonely. I know I had a great Christmas! My parents got me a wicked new Dell XPS system with Windows Vista! In the process right now of transfering the files from my REALLY REALLY OLD PC (Gateway I've had since summer 2002 O_O ).

Which brings me to the topic. I can't get a hold of anyone who has Photoshop. A family friend of ours can't find his copy. So now I'm stuck with no way of working on my art until I can get a copy. Because I AM NOT SPENDING OVER 500 BUCKS FOR IT! That's extremely expensive and I need to keep my priorities in order. Shit, I haven't even bought an XBox 360 yet and gone next-gen (well I'm not at home much anyway).

I shall have to figure this out. But I am accepting commissions. No art trades at the moment because this lad's gotta make some money to pay bills!

Well, the New Year is only days away! I'll be spending it with a couple friends at an OJay's concert so I'm excited for that!

Hey there everybody. I hope you all are doing well, and if not, just remember, you could be doing a whole lot worse! Eric here.

I'm feeling fairly good and relaxed at the moment. As you all know I went to Europe this summer as part of my job for Norwegian Cruise Lines and I had a blast. Good times. Good times. I also did a two-week contract this past September for 2 weeks doing Canada/New England. I loved the ports. We hit up, Halifax, St. John N.B., Bar Harbor, Boston and Newport. It's a good run to do and not that many passengers compared to doing Europe or the Caribbean. If you're interested in seeing some pics, go to my sub-site here on DA for my travel photo portfolio:

>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.the-e-is-4-electric.deviantart.com <<<<<<<<<

Yeps, that's me in the icon, I'll update that soon, though. I'm trying to improve my photographic skills.

I'm also taking commissions until the 23rd of this month. Since I will be leaving yet again for my next contract to the Mexican Riveria and South America on the 24th of this month. Please refer to my price guide located at the bottom of this page. Prices will be updated after the New Year so request when you can.

If you request while I'm away, I will be back the 21st of December so do not worry. You might have to wait a bit, though.

I hope you all have a great month! Brush your teeth after you're done trick-or-treating or partying and drink one for Electric! God Bless!

Alright all, peace out! This is Electric signing off!
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO'VE FAVED AND WATCHED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I APPRECIATE YOUR KIND WORDS...ALL OF YOU!!!

PRICES FOR MY COMMISSIONS:
>>>>>>>>> http://talbaineric.deviantart.com/j.....rnal/14399674/

Well I don't update my journal that much but here's the scoop on what's been going down.

Well I finished working in Europe this summer and I just came back a couple of days ago from doing Canada/New England for a couple of weeks. And now.....I'm off to work the Mexican Riveria and then South America! We repo down to South America in November. I'll be on the ship from October to December. Just about 2 months!

As far art, I did a couple of sketches I might do the lineart soon. A Over the Hedge fanart and then a crossover pic! I also wanna reveal to the world my next series of original characters (non-furry sorry). But I need to get these registered and copyrighted. Along with some other creations.

Anyways, I hope you all are well. Thanks for the watches and comments.