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Where I've been all this time?
Posted 12 years agoHello All,
For the past year I've been here: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/chromatophore/ doing a project called Dear Dewey Teagarden, which I am currently up to 32 entries. Should you feel so inclined, please check it out. I'd love to hear from you again! I'm also starting a brand new web comic called No Kissing about the life a retired porn star.
Even if those two things don't sound very interesting, the Chromatophore account is where I'm posting all my new art.
Thanks, and hope to hear from you!
For the past year I've been here: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/chromatophore/ doing a project called Dear Dewey Teagarden, which I am currently up to 32 entries. Should you feel so inclined, please check it out. I'd love to hear from you again! I'm also starting a brand new web comic called No Kissing about the life a retired porn star.
Even if those two things don't sound very interesting, the Chromatophore account is where I'm posting all my new art.
Thanks, and hope to hear from you!
Big Changes - Art is Free To Use
Posted 13 years agoFor more than a decade I've had the most severe case of art block I have ever known, but I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am breaking ties with my old body of work. I'm even changing my tools.
I will be redrawing a few of my most recent pieces, as they need some reworking, but I will not be reposting my archive material on my new account. I'm not doing this irritate you, but to help me look forward, instead of always looking behind.
And now, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has continued to watch my account over the years. As of today, I have removed all the pieces from my gallery that I do not own soul copyright too. Any art I've done for other people of their copyrighted characters has been removed. This is a good thing, bear with me here. Now that I have done this, I am giving what's left to you. If it's posted on this page, you are free to use it as you see fit, so long as you link back to this page. When I said I was breaking ties to my old work, I meant it.
I will be redrawing a few of my most recent pieces, as they need some reworking, but I will not be reposting my archive material on my new account. I'm not doing this irritate you, but to help me look forward, instead of always looking behind.
And now, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has continued to watch my account over the years. As of today, I have removed all the pieces from my gallery that I do not own soul copyright too. Any art I've done for other people of their copyrighted characters has been removed. This is a good thing, bear with me here. Now that I have done this, I am giving what's left to you. If it's posted on this page, you are free to use it as you see fit, so long as you link back to this page. When I said I was breaking ties to my old work, I meant it.
Rainfurrest 2012
Posted 14 years agoI just paid for my dealer table for Rainfurrest 2012. I had such a good time at the last one, I can't wait for the next.
Holy Shit!
Posted 14 years agoIt's nothing really. I just wanted to swear in my journal title.
I've been listening to the new Tom Waits album every chance I get. It was fantastic from the get-go, but the more I listen to it, the more I love it.
I've been having a great deal of fun drawing those confounded pony OCs. It's so far from my norm that I feel invigorated drawing in that style. I've been experimenting with incorporating things I've learned from drawing that way into my furry art. I'm warming to the notion of completely vector based, cartoony art. I consider my old work to be cartoony, I always have, so why not just embrace it full on.
Anyway, time to listen to Bad As Me again.
I've been listening to the new Tom Waits album every chance I get. It was fantastic from the get-go, but the more I listen to it, the more I love it.
I've been having a great deal of fun drawing those confounded pony OCs. It's so far from my norm that I feel invigorated drawing in that style. I've been experimenting with incorporating things I've learned from drawing that way into my furry art. I'm warming to the notion of completely vector based, cartoony art. I consider my old work to be cartoony, I always have, so why not just embrace it full on.
Anyway, time to listen to Bad As Me again.
National Novel Writing Month
Posted 14 years agoI'm going to be scarce for the upcoming month of November. In my yearly attempt to complete NaNoWriMo, I'll be devoting all my energy to to that goal.
This year I'll be writing an erotic furry novel. I thought it would be fun to try and write something where usual interest in erotica combines with actual story-telling.
Wish me luck, I'll need it. I've tried NaNoWriMo twice before and didn't finish. We'll see how it shakes out this year.
This year I'll be writing an erotic furry novel. I thought it would be fun to try and write something where usual interest in erotica combines with actual story-telling.
Wish me luck, I'll need it. I've tried NaNoWriMo twice before and didn't finish. We'll see how it shakes out this year.
Hepzibah redesign - any suggestions?
Posted 14 years agoI have the head cold from hell. I missed the last two days of work, and now into the weekend, I'm not feeling any better. Since my normal routine is out the window, I thought I would do a redesign of one of my few "established" characters, a zebra named Hepzibah. Is there anything you would like to see changed about her? I'm not promising to make those changes, but if I like them I will definitely incorporate them. Also, what are your feelings on digitigrade legs versions plantigrade?
Here are links to my posted pics of her in case you don't know who I'm talking about:
Design from 2000:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1225016/
Original design from 1993:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2269749/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2269752/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2269756/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2327248/
Here are links to my posted pics of her in case you don't know who I'm talking about:
Design from 2000:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1225016/
Original design from 1993:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2269749/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2269752/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2269756/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2327248/
I'm always late to the party
Posted 14 years agoSo, apparently Septic Flesh came out with a new album last year. I just bought it today. At least through the weekend I will be caught up with awesome.
Another (apparently unusual) fact about me.
Posted 14 years agoAbout once every year a fur will chat with me online. I have a tendency to not respond to people who just say "hi," and then expect me to initiate conversation. But I got a chance to actually chat with someone and it was pretty cool. And the subject stuck with me so I decided to make this post.
One of the things we talked about was how a lot of furs have strange prerequisites for becoming friends, or even acquaintances. This isn't in the least bit restricted to furry fandom, but I was taken aback that they would actually feel the need to say how cool it was that I was willing to talk to him even though he wasn't an artist. The very thought of that was alien to me.
So I feel this strong urge to let anyone know who reads my journals this simple fact about me. Being an artist, good, bad, or otherwise has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not I'll talk to you, or befriend you. It's about as unimportant to me as your job, or how much money you make a year. I could really care less. A lot of furs think of being an artist as some kind of status thing. It's not to me. We either have something in common or we don't.
Back to my opening paragraph — I know that it's common for folks to say Hi as way of asking if someone really is online or not, and I'm perfectly cool with that. I don't expect anyone to have the perfect opening line for conversation, but at least respond if I say hello back. That would be nice.
One of the things we talked about was how a lot of furs have strange prerequisites for becoming friends, or even acquaintances. This isn't in the least bit restricted to furry fandom, but I was taken aback that they would actually feel the need to say how cool it was that I was willing to talk to him even though he wasn't an artist. The very thought of that was alien to me.
So I feel this strong urge to let anyone know who reads my journals this simple fact about me. Being an artist, good, bad, or otherwise has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not I'll talk to you, or befriend you. It's about as unimportant to me as your job, or how much money you make a year. I could really care less. A lot of furs think of being an artist as some kind of status thing. It's not to me. We either have something in common or we don't.
Back to my opening paragraph — I know that it's common for folks to say Hi as way of asking if someone really is online or not, and I'm perfectly cool with that. I don't expect anyone to have the perfect opening line for conversation, but at least respond if I say hello back. That would be nice.
Some things I learned at Rainfurrest 2011.
Posted 14 years agoA con report would be pretty boring. I didn’t really know anyone going in, and I didn’t meet anyone while there which makes my con pretty self explanatory.
The first thing I learned is that I need a cohort to attend cons with. Someone who would be willing to watch my table so I can go panels, and wander the dealer’s den. I sort of had that, but I felt like I was putting upon him seeing as how he was selling items of his own. He did really well at the con too!
So that’s the only negative thing I have to say about the con, which has nothing to do with Rainfurrest staff or convention. Next year I will talk my wife into attending too. She’s far more gregarious than I. I’m painfully shy. Not a good combo for selling and making friends. I sat across the walkway from Gideon, who had a sign up for his My Little Brony portfolio and it took me until Sunday to actually get up and go buy it.
That aside, I did well at the con. I brought roughly forty sketchbooks in 9x12 and 6x9 sizes, in two different paper weights, and I was completely sold out by mid-day Saturday. I also did seven commissions. That part was pretty scary. If you watch me, you know I don’t post much, but I post just about everything I draw. I drew more this weekend than I normally do all year long. I learned some valuable insights concerning myself.
The first, and most important to me, is that I am neither fast or well practiced. Every single drawing was like pulling teeth to make them look as lackluster as they came out. Both technically and stylistically speaking, I am very unhappy with everything I did.
I want to take a short paragraph to say that I’m not pulling the “Oh, my art sucks,” emo shtick. This is not a self-loathing episode. It’s fact. I felt like I was constructing instead of drawing and it was an unpleasant experience. Consider it growing pain.
I want to rectify that. By Rainfurrest 2012 I plan to be a lot better off artistically. I’m going to practice a lot more than I have been. I’m going to relearn how to draw comfortably and start being more mindful about what I’m doing when I draw. I’m also going to start really working on my anatomy and composition. I tend to not plan my drawings. I just start sketching and what comes out comes out. While that’s all well and good, it predisposes you to draw what you’ve always drawn. I really want to move forward and get to the point where I’m not intimidated by drawing. I’m not going to try to please everyone, or have the perfect line work. I want to focus on conveyance and imagery. I want to invoke the idea of a scene, and not just draft it.
I’m still going to draw tits, so don’t worry.
Something else that I ended up explaining to more passer-bys than I would have expected is my “furry name”, Fat Panda. I was surprised at how many people thought my furry name should have meaning. Fat Panda literally has no meaning. It was just that by the time I got into the whole online gallery thing, there were so many artists named Sky (somethingorother), that just about every Sky combination that fit me was taken. In my frustration, I just started putting in stereotype names until one was accepted. I even tried Dark Wolf Bark Paw, and it was taken. It doesn’t get more cliche than that, right? I think it started on FAP, but I can’t remember for sure, it may have been as early as Sheezy. Anyway, the name Fat Panda means nothing to me. It’s just a convenient account name for FA. I actually prefer to be called Sky. I’m considering posting my new art to my Shifting Sky account on FA. I would still leave all my Fat Panda art here. But I would want it to mean something other than just another artist changing their name. Doesn’t mean I’m going to do it, mind you. Just thinking about it. I’ve never felt more like reinventing myself like I do now, on all levels. I believe that change is never a bad thing, and I haven’t made a change in myself in decades.
The first thing I learned is that I need a cohort to attend cons with. Someone who would be willing to watch my table so I can go panels, and wander the dealer’s den. I sort of had that, but I felt like I was putting upon him seeing as how he was selling items of his own. He did really well at the con too!
So that’s the only negative thing I have to say about the con, which has nothing to do with Rainfurrest staff or convention. Next year I will talk my wife into attending too. She’s far more gregarious than I. I’m painfully shy. Not a good combo for selling and making friends. I sat across the walkway from Gideon, who had a sign up for his My Little Brony portfolio and it took me until Sunday to actually get up and go buy it.
That aside, I did well at the con. I brought roughly forty sketchbooks in 9x12 and 6x9 sizes, in two different paper weights, and I was completely sold out by mid-day Saturday. I also did seven commissions. That part was pretty scary. If you watch me, you know I don’t post much, but I post just about everything I draw. I drew more this weekend than I normally do all year long. I learned some valuable insights concerning myself.
The first, and most important to me, is that I am neither fast or well practiced. Every single drawing was like pulling teeth to make them look as lackluster as they came out. Both technically and stylistically speaking, I am very unhappy with everything I did.
I want to take a short paragraph to say that I’m not pulling the “Oh, my art sucks,” emo shtick. This is not a self-loathing episode. It’s fact. I felt like I was constructing instead of drawing and it was an unpleasant experience. Consider it growing pain.
I want to rectify that. By Rainfurrest 2012 I plan to be a lot better off artistically. I’m going to practice a lot more than I have been. I’m going to relearn how to draw comfortably and start being more mindful about what I’m doing when I draw. I’m also going to start really working on my anatomy and composition. I tend to not plan my drawings. I just start sketching and what comes out comes out. While that’s all well and good, it predisposes you to draw what you’ve always drawn. I really want to move forward and get to the point where I’m not intimidated by drawing. I’m not going to try to please everyone, or have the perfect line work. I want to focus on conveyance and imagery. I want to invoke the idea of a scene, and not just draft it.
I’m still going to draw tits, so don’t worry.
Something else that I ended up explaining to more passer-bys than I would have expected is my “furry name”, Fat Panda. I was surprised at how many people thought my furry name should have meaning. Fat Panda literally has no meaning. It was just that by the time I got into the whole online gallery thing, there were so many artists named Sky (somethingorother), that just about every Sky combination that fit me was taken. In my frustration, I just started putting in stereotype names until one was accepted. I even tried Dark Wolf Bark Paw, and it was taken. It doesn’t get more cliche than that, right? I think it started on FAP, but I can’t remember for sure, it may have been as early as Sheezy. Anyway, the name Fat Panda means nothing to me. It’s just a convenient account name for FA. I actually prefer to be called Sky. I’m considering posting my new art to my Shifting Sky account on FA. I would still leave all my Fat Panda art here. But I would want it to mean something other than just another artist changing their name. Doesn’t mean I’m going to do it, mind you. Just thinking about it. I’ve never felt more like reinventing myself like I do now, on all levels. I believe that change is never a bad thing, and I haven’t made a change in myself in decades.
Rainfurrest day three
Posted 14 years agoI have sold out of sketchbooks! What to do tomorrow?
Rainfurrest day two
Posted 14 years agoThe good news is that as of last night (Friday) my sketchbooks are halfway to sold out. Point of interest to me, the 6x9's are not as popular as the 9x12's. Next year I will bring more sizes and options.
The bad news is that I am now sick. I have a head-splitting headache that will not go away. It was so bad last night that I though I was going to vomit. It's related to my allergies, and it happens to me about this same time every year. Hopefully I can keep together enough finish up my last two commissions, but I will definitely have to stop taking them for the rest of the con.
That aside, i'm having a good time. I haven't even walked the dealer's den yet. I should do that today after I finish up my commissions.
The bad news is that I am now sick. I have a head-splitting headache that will not go away. It was so bad last night that I though I was going to vomit. It's related to my allergies, and it happens to me about this same time every year. Hopefully I can keep together enough finish up my last two commissions, but I will definitely have to stop taking them for the rest of the con.
That aside, i'm having a good time. I haven't even walked the dealer's den yet. I should do that today after I finish up my commissions.
It's in the eyes
Posted 14 years agoI love the dealers table dynamic where people walk by your table and pause to look, then get all flustered and leave when you make eye contact.
Rainfurrest day one
Posted 14 years agoToday was so awesome! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who bought sketch books and commissions. If I pull off all the art I need to finish to night I'll have drawn more than I normally would all year long.
To Rainfurrest
Posted 14 years agoI'll be working until around noon, and then I will pack up and head down. If you stop by the dealer's den tonight, say hi!
Rainfurrest meme
Posted 14 years ago[RF'2011 MEME]
1. Will you be attending?
Yes.
2. Staying at:
The main hotel.
3. Arrival and Departure:
Thursday afternoon. Departing Sunday night.
4. Mode of transportation:
Car. Not exactly a short drive, but one I make often.
5. Rooming with:
People who don't have FA accounts.
6. Con Plans:
Working the dealer's den.
7. How can I find you?
I'm at the Tombstone Jig table, number 16 on the map.
8. Do you do free art?
No, but I'm happy to barter. Let's haggle!
9. Do you have prints/CDs?
I'll be selling sketches and the like, plus sketchbooks.
10. Will you be fursuiting? If so, what suit(s)?
No offense, but I'm not into that.
11. Will you be going to parties?
Only if someone invites me, and even then doubtful.
12. Will you be performing?
No.
13. Smoke?
Allergic.
14. Drink
No much, but yes.
15. Gender
Male.
16. Can I hug you?
Sure, but don't be sneaky about it.
17. Can I talk to you?
Of course! I'm very easy going lack the stereotypical artist ego.
18. Will you be at any panels?
No.
19. Can I touch you?
That sounds so creepy...
20. Can I buy you drinks?
I would love it!
21. How old are you?
37.
22. Can I snuggle with you?
No.
23. If you're pissed off, should I approach you?
I rarely get "pissed." But I'm very good at compartmentalizing, so if I'm mad at someone else, it won't bleed into my interactions with you.
24. Are you nice?
I am.
25. Cliquey?
Junior high has been over for sooooo many years...
26. How tall?
5'7"
27. Can I take pictures of you?
If you want.
28. Will you get anything commissioned?
I prefer to commission artists away from convention environments. Too, I can never think of anything I want on short notice.
29. How can I get your attention?
Introduce yourself.
30. Can I ask you to dance at the raves?
I do not do the Rave.
1. Will you be attending?
Yes.
2. Staying at:
The main hotel.
3. Arrival and Departure:
Thursday afternoon. Departing Sunday night.
4. Mode of transportation:
Car. Not exactly a short drive, but one I make often.
5. Rooming with:
People who don't have FA accounts.
6. Con Plans:
Working the dealer's den.
7. How can I find you?
I'm at the Tombstone Jig table, number 16 on the map.
8. Do you do free art?
No, but I'm happy to barter. Let's haggle!
9. Do you have prints/CDs?
I'll be selling sketches and the like, plus sketchbooks.
10. Will you be fursuiting? If so, what suit(s)?
No offense, but I'm not into that.
11. Will you be going to parties?
Only if someone invites me, and even then doubtful.
12. Will you be performing?
No.
13. Smoke?
Allergic.
14. Drink
No much, but yes.
15. Gender
Male.
16. Can I hug you?
Sure, but don't be sneaky about it.
17. Can I talk to you?
Of course! I'm very easy going lack the stereotypical artist ego.
18. Will you be at any panels?
No.
19. Can I touch you?
That sounds so creepy...
20. Can I buy you drinks?
I would love it!
21. How old are you?
37.
22. Can I snuggle with you?
No.
23. If you're pissed off, should I approach you?
I rarely get "pissed." But I'm very good at compartmentalizing, so if I'm mad at someone else, it won't bleed into my interactions with you.
24. Are you nice?
I am.
25. Cliquey?
Junior high has been over for sooooo many years...
26. How tall?
5'7"
27. Can I take pictures of you?
If you want.
28. Will you get anything commissioned?
I prefer to commission artists away from convention environments. Too, I can never think of anything I want on short notice.
29. How can I get your attention?
Introduce yourself.
30. Can I ask you to dance at the raves?
I do not do the Rave.
Rainfurrest dealer location
Posted 14 years agoYou can find me at table 16 - Tombstone Jig. Come by and say hi!
https://www.rainfurrest.org/2011/dealersden.php
I'll be selling my Tombstone Jig sketchbooks in 9x12 and 6x9, available in two different paper weights. I'll also be offering pencil and ink sketches, but sadly no color work. Too many of my markers have dried up and I just don't want to spend that kind of money before the con. Though I may bring what's left anyway and offer limited color palette art.
https://www.rainfurrest.org/2011/dealersden.php
I'll be selling my Tombstone Jig sketchbooks in 9x12 and 6x9, available in two different paper weights. I'll also be offering pencil and ink sketches, but sadly no color work. Too many of my markers have dried up and I just don't want to spend that kind of money before the con. Though I may bring what's left anyway and offer limited color palette art.
I wish you would draw more of...
Posted 14 years agoI know, another MEME. But this one would provide some actual information about the tastes of people who watch me actively. I know there are at least a handful of you, and I would love to hear what you think.
PROS
01. I like when you draw: ___.
02. I wish you drew more: ___.
03. I wish you drew more fanart of: ___.
04. I wish you drew more original art of: ___.
05. I wish you drew a comic of/about: ___.
06. I wish you made a tutorial about: ___.
07. My favorite part of your work is: ___.
CONS
08. I dislike when you draw: ___.
09. I wish you drew less: ___.
10. My least favorite part of your work is: ___.
OTHER
11. If I had to describe your work I’d say: ___.
12. If I had a question to ask about your work it’d be: ___?
13. The main strength & weakness of your work is: ___ & ___
PROS
01. I like when you draw: ___.
02. I wish you drew more: ___.
03. I wish you drew more fanart of: ___.
04. I wish you drew more original art of: ___.
05. I wish you drew a comic of/about: ___.
06. I wish you made a tutorial about: ___.
07. My favorite part of your work is: ___.
CONS
08. I dislike when you draw: ___.
09. I wish you drew less: ___.
10. My least favorite part of your work is: ___.
OTHER
11. If I had to describe your work I’d say: ___.
12. If I had a question to ask about your work it’d be: ___?
13. The main strength & weakness of your work is: ___ & ___
Going ghost hunting tonight
Posted 14 years agoAt the Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, with a local research team. I'm a skeptic, mind you, but it should still be fun, if for no other reason than to run around in a old-timey cemetery in the middle of the night. They even have permission.
Twitter update
Posted 14 years agoI made a furry twitter account, but I've discovered that I hardly ever post to it, instead choosing to post only to my regular account. I think it's because I'm not active in furry fandom other than my meager postings here, and so I don't "get it", as it were. I do however post quite often to my original twitter account. If you'd like to see more posts from me, you can find me as: skyoxford
I'm all Google+ified
Posted 14 years agoIn case you're interested, you can find me as skyoxford[at]gmail.com
More archive pieces
Posted 14 years agoThis morning I found a lost archive from 2001. Eventually I'll end up with a complete archive of my old furry art. Maybe.
Rainfurrest Dealer
Posted 14 years agoIt's official. I have a dealer table at Rainfurrest. Is anyone else who watches me going to be there? Is there anything you would like to see me selling?
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! (Janet)
Posted 14 years agoSo I finally gave in and watched episode one and two of MLP: Friendship is Magic.
I'm hooked.
I'm hooked.
Five days of freedom!
Posted 14 years agoI took the next three business days off. I really needed a break from the soul-crushing deadlines at work. And so, I'm spending this extended weekend making art, writing, and enjoying my new laptop.
Question about Watchtail
Posted 14 years agoWhen I go watch streams, it appears to show a small portion of the artist's file window. I tried playing around with Watchtail a little while ago, and it only wants to use my laptop's facetime camera. How do I get it to display my file window? Do I need some kind of plug in? The video input tab in the Flash options only give me Google camera adapter 0 and 1, and then my facetime camera. The two Google options don't appear to do anything.
I know I'm doing something wrong, I just don't know what it is...
I know I'm doing something wrong, I just don't know what it is...
