As I am not sure that many folks read the forums, I am cross posting this here to generate some buzz, and gather feedback from others.

Therefor, would folks be open to the idea of making Fursuits a proper genre for submitting art? My goal is to continue educating customers, creators, and fans alike as to what a Fursuit is, what all is involved in their creation. Giving us a proper classification will help with that.

I have built costumes for 16+ years now for our fandom, and having seen costumes grow to become such a huge part of how we might express ourselves in our community. Up until now, on any art site, I have only ever been able to list my works as 'photography', or 'sewing' which sort of belittles the 100hours+ that costumers put into their creations/commissions.

As much as poetry, music, and drawn art gets their genres, I am trying to push Fursuiting as the unique art form that it has become. It would give us costume designers and creators the nod we muchly deserve. I don't make photographs of costumes, I build costumes, and then take a photo of them so I can show folks.


Cheers,

WhiteyFawks
Arend Studios

I am still posting to FA, no panic :)

I also post to these other fine places, basically the same content. I don't play games:

www.arendstudios.com ~Our main website, as always has been. Translated into several languages now.

www.weasyl.com/~whiteyfawks ~costumes/art (new!)

www.twitter.com/ArendStudios ~costumes/art

www.arendstudios.tumblr.com/ ~costumes/art

www.twitter.com/WhiteyFawks ~personal

www.facebook.com/arendstudios ~pay least attention to this one, cause...FACEFRIENDFINDERGAMES!! Too bloody spammy


I has livejournal, but really....it's been dead a long while :>

Geocities: also defunct! :C No more counters or flame gifs

Secret treefort (some girls allowed): t tpn, in, :flop


Now you know!

OK bai

Sooooooooon

Anyhow. I will be there! This year I am Fursuit Track 2nd with Brokken taking over as lead role this year, and will be assisting with the parade and fursuit games again.

I have 3 panels: Two Friday (Advanced Construction, Followed by Exotic Materials), one Sunday (Beginner Construction), so come and participate!

I'm also the Secretary for AA&E Board. Come visit at the Annual Public Meeting and see what it is that the Ring Wraiths do! (Sunday noonish I believe) We'll be inducting some new members this year again. Woots.

Other than, few suits to finish up, and I think we're on track. Staying at the Fairmont, but I'll spend most of my time in and around the Marriot doing the staff thing and being social :)


Oh ye gads, so soon.. See you lot there! *wag*

Reno was a blast, nice to have cons within driving distance! Great to see folks old n new again. Thanks to all who came to the two panels, sorry about the rescheduling! Hard to attend your own panel when you're a few hundred miles away still. If it happens again, I'll try a livestream presentation from the back of the car. ;)

Reno was a blast, nice to have cons within driving distance! Thanks to all who came to the two panels, sorry about the rescheduling! Hard to attend your own panel when you're a few hundred miles away still. If it happens again, I'll try a livestream presentation from the back of the car. ;)

Clearly, April is the best month. ;) Tauruses! Airies'es! How can that be so bad?

Yes, am going, I live 2 light-rail stops away!

Should be swinging by Thursday on n off, delivering costumes and doing the staff type things. I am once again on the costume track, with GroggyFox as my lead this year (woo foxes!) I'm also one of the members of the AA&E, so will happily field admin related questions.

You can find me at most any fursuit related event, or in panels. May even get out in suit myself if I can find a moment :D

Critterlympics should be a blast this year ^.^ Many foam rocks Syllfor is carving and painting as his lil art project today.

Check out the sexy new street banners this year once you arrive, and all the Lounge Lizard furniture! We're all really proud of the maximum effort everyone has put into our con this year. Its gonna be tits!

See you creatures there! *helmet on*

SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!

Woot, Califur/Fanime both off without a hitch or costume missed!

Winding down for a few days to recover / build up some mojo. Up next we're gonna sort out AC and whatever suits are up after that. :)

Returned from a 20mile pedalbike to find my car got broken into. Console completely taken apart and a lot of the cabin wiring clipped. Now having to rewire my dash a few hours before I head to my immigration meeting. Thankfully, the hacked parts of the 12V mains did not short the hell out of everything. 2ga would sizzle a while.

Happy May Long! :D

On the plus side, guess I get to save up n build myself something new. Sylffor had an old deck to rewire for now once I can decrypt the mess.

Attempting to keep motivated, continue making con deadlines happen. Coffee helps. Skeet shooting may help more.

All in all, foxy wants a vacation some day, or at least a week without panic.

Discovering you aren't, in fact 2, weeks behind the master schedule is a kickass way to start the day :D Hell, I think I deserve a celebratory coffee :D

TLDR for sure, but I know some folks out there are looking for help with immigration. Perhaps my story can help.

I'm a Canadian, living in California on an O1-b visa for excellence in arts/science (costume and theater in my case) .

Three years ago I applied for the initial visa (3 year). Proof was based on work done, awards and commendations, plus hosted a big sale of costume. Paid about $4500 for the first visa, and moved (Beware shadey importers of vehicles! different story) Closed Arend Studios LTD Canada, open Arend Studios LLC, USA. Work, sleep, pay taxes, etc.

Note: You do not keep your original visa. When it runs out, you apply for a new one, from scratch. So, new and current proof of work / excellence is needed to reapply. Held a second costume sale, which goes as proof of income.

Last summer, I applied for the extension visa (1 year ~$2700), and began work towards the final stage, the actual Greencard. More paperwork, more lawyers, more proof of income/awards/community involvement.

So, right now I am talking with my Lawyer. filling out yet more paperwork, and preparing to hold a final costume sale to use as proof of income. This will also likely book me up again for a year or two, which has its perks and drawbacks :D

Sometimes they make a 'request for evidence', which means the feds are looking for more proof of what you are claiming. So, putting as much stuff into the box you send them is a definite plus. Atm, I have a bankers box full of stuff that we send off. May even throw a pair of paws and cast items in there for the heck of it. Every bit helps :D

And then you wait. Who know how long, it's the magic black box.

You can pay ~$1200 for processing by a premium department. (Smaller pool, dedicated person handles your copy, start to finish, RFE included) But sometimes that department gets underfunded and closed, and 'express' just becomes top-copy to the general labor pool. Not a good value there. I paid premium my first year, but did not last year, as the department didn't exist at the time. Apparently the department exists in 2012, so I am going to pay again for the premium service.

So, to those wishing to move about, it is possible. Just be ready for a lot of commitment, and a process that takes a few years. :)


And now, time to make some sort of advert for our third and final immigration sale extravaganza :D

24hr Immigration Sale is now closed, many thanks to everyone who submitted their letters on time.

This is to provide an extra stack of paper when renewing my visa here in the US.

Same as last time, first 50 replies lock in a cheaper rate : $2400 for a costume. It's just a letter of intent as proof for the feds I am legit in applying for another artist visa, by making yet more fursuits :D

Not asking for committal or money, just a 'hey, I plan to buy a suit in the next three years from this guy'

Stage 3 coming soon, my greencard application :D. So much paperwork. My folio gets mailed off in a great big box this year :D

Syl and I are in Vegas atm for a much deserved break. While bear goes to play, I have been relaxing n catching up on reading n programming. Saw Penn and Teller, which was something awesome, and tonigt we see "blue men banging on plastic" :D

Tomorrow we fly home, get work done on Beshon and Pup. Sat we work on carnival games, Burn camp prep, then ride to Frolic. See folks there :)

Trial run on the EVO, seein if this pans out or not. Lazy Friday afternoon, finishing foamies, :)

On as "WhiteyFawks"

Makes me realize how badly I need a haircut :D