Why does your hand lettering suck?
Handwriting Sample for those that don't know it does...and it does because I have arthritis. Rheumatoid, the worst kind. Joy. It's also why I can't draw very straight sometimes and everything looks sketchy.
Is your husband really Zoro?
Yes.
Can I be a Moderator on your forums?
I'll pick the mods for my forums from those who post there often...if I decide to have them.
How do I sign up for the forums?! It won't let me in!
Click here for the forum thread that discusses this. Basically you choose a name, password and then click the little verification link that shows you the random code words to sign up with. You'll then be logged in but not activated; you have to send me an email to activate your account. If any of the steps don't work I'll manually enter your entire account and give you an easy password you can change later. Sorry but this makes sure we don't get swarmed by porn-bots like we did for a day before I took all these extra precautions.
What's with all the lobsters?!
I like lobsters. I mean really, it's as simple as that. I lived on the East Coast for 29 years and lobsters remind me of "home". I'm sort of looking at this time where I'm living in the flipping "Heartland of America" as a period of personally enforced exile. My heart will always be back there no matter what. I mean, there's no ocean here and it's driving me insane!
Oh, and I really miss good pizza.
Okay, but why "air lobster"?
I've been struggling for many years with multiple illnesses (and injuries due to those illnesses). Trying to earn a living by drawing isn't easy, either. I had this image one day of a lobster flopping around on the ground, struggling to fly because it wanted to so badly. Kind of like a 'never give up, your dream's not impossible' message.
And it's a lobster that thinks it can fly. That amused the crud out of me.
Where did you learn how to draw?
I grew up with the ability. Even when I went to college the instructors asked me what I was doing there. Back in kindergarten my teacher solemnly informed my mother that I'd never be an artist because I "didn't cut within the lines" when we did projects.
Artists never stay within the lines. That's why you hardly learn anything in school - it's too rigid.
Can you teach me how to draw?
No, I'm too busy trying to earn money doing it myself. (I do have some tutorials up on the FREE page though). If you want to learn more I'd suggest drawing things you hate! It sounds horrid but that's the best way to push yourself to get better. If you hate drawing something it's usually because you can't do it very well. If you're young and moderately talented in any other field you might want to try building those skills instead though. The old adage about a "starving artist" is usually true for many years after you're on your own. Only the lucky ones survive and it's more brutal than you might think.
Do you do cartoon portraits of people?
Yes. If it's anything cartoon I can do it. This picture, for example, is myself with my pets. In fact I am able to render almost any kind of art for you if you want, not just cartoons. Just ask.
What programs do you use?
Adobe and Macromedia products. I bought Adobe Illustrator 10, PhotoShop 7, Flash 5 and a few others when in college and I kept those for use. I use Flash 5 a lot, it's my favorite.
