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'Empire of Secrets' is now Released!
Posted 6 months agoMy VN is finally finished!
After a year and a half, it's finally ready! It was such a blast working on this, I've already started my second VN!
You can download it for free here:
https://sampsonwoof.itch.io/empire-of-secrets
After a year and a half, it's finally ready! It was such a blast working on this, I've already started my second VN!
You can download it for free here:
https://sampsonwoof.itch.io/empire-of-secrets
Working It Out
Posted 8 months agoHonestly. I don’t journal as much as I should.
I do want to provide an update on what’s going on with me. No, it’s not bad stuff. I mean, at least as far as my life is concerned. This world, as you know, has gone insane and I’ve been having a very difficult time processing it. I suppose that can be expected when your country gets threatened with getting invaded every day, but hey.
I’ve been working on Empire of Secrets for little over a year now. This VN ( https://sampsonwoof.itch.io/empire-of-secrets ) is just about complete (music and finishing touches are left) and I’ve started storyboarding for a second VN. I will finish the third Tale from Malaka - Unpopular Science, I promise. I won’t be working on anything else until it’s done and that means only a few more pieces of art to go.
While I’ve been enjoying the process of making a VN, I kept feeling… sad. I did some poking around in my brain and discovered what I was actually feeling was grief. Grief for the loss of normality. Grief for the loss of rational thinking. The characters in Empire of Secrets live in a rational world where things just work. Evil lurks in the shadows, but it doesn’t run the show (unlike this stupid timeline we’re on). I was hoping for a different election result last November and the VN would have tied in nicely because there’s a theme of democracy running through the storyline.
Well, now, in 2025, it just feels… lost.
Sometimes ideas come to me over time, but on rare occasions, they develop very quickly. ‘Laundry Day,’ which I will post here once I get up the nerve to, is one of the quickest and strongest ideas I’ve had in years. It deals with grief, loss and pain through characters that I hope you find interesting.
Also, I’m gonna be putting content warnings on it. The themes are pretty heavy (at least to me), but I really needed to work out this grief thing in my head.
You know what? It helped. It helped a lot, actually. I just finished the last of the artwork and I can say that I’m mentally better. Art as therapy. Who knew?
I do want to provide an update on what’s going on with me. No, it’s not bad stuff. I mean, at least as far as my life is concerned. This world, as you know, has gone insane and I’ve been having a very difficult time processing it. I suppose that can be expected when your country gets threatened with getting invaded every day, but hey.
I’ve been working on Empire of Secrets for little over a year now. This VN ( https://sampsonwoof.itch.io/empire-of-secrets ) is just about complete (music and finishing touches are left) and I’ve started storyboarding for a second VN. I will finish the third Tale from Malaka - Unpopular Science, I promise. I won’t be working on anything else until it’s done and that means only a few more pieces of art to go.
While I’ve been enjoying the process of making a VN, I kept feeling… sad. I did some poking around in my brain and discovered what I was actually feeling was grief. Grief for the loss of normality. Grief for the loss of rational thinking. The characters in Empire of Secrets live in a rational world where things just work. Evil lurks in the shadows, but it doesn’t run the show (unlike this stupid timeline we’re on). I was hoping for a different election result last November and the VN would have tied in nicely because there’s a theme of democracy running through the storyline.
Well, now, in 2025, it just feels… lost.
Sometimes ideas come to me over time, but on rare occasions, they develop very quickly. ‘Laundry Day,’ which I will post here once I get up the nerve to, is one of the quickest and strongest ideas I’ve had in years. It deals with grief, loss and pain through characters that I hope you find interesting.
Also, I’m gonna be putting content warnings on it. The themes are pretty heavy (at least to me), but I really needed to work out this grief thing in my head.
You know what? It helped. It helped a lot, actually. I just finished the last of the artwork and I can say that I’m mentally better. Art as therapy. Who knew?
2023 into 2024
Posted 2 years agoHope the end of one year and the beginning of another finds you well.
It was a ton of fun writing the first two 'Tales' volumes and a third one is about 75% written. Just started the art for this and am hoping to get the first chapter up early in the new year. It's going to be a bit lighter than the first two stories and (hopefully) a bit more humourous. You get to meet Sarah's parents and a new antagonist makes himself known. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am creating it.
The other big creative project in the pipeline is a visual novel. It will also be set in Malaka and feature Jacob, Sarah and Marcus. I spent a few hours on a plane yesterday writing down ideas and how it will be structured. Some of the principles I came up with are:
1. It will take place from the perspective of the guest (you or the 'user', if you will)
2. The guest's choices will both slightly and dramatically change the outcome of the story
3. Most of the scenes will take place in sites found in the 'Tales from Malaka' stories
4. Visual clues will be placed in the art to help guide the viewer towards the 'happy path' ending
5. There will be a LOT of art
Not gonna reveal too much more as it'll be more fun for folks to experience it without knowing too many of the 'secrets.' ;)
Totally open to suggestions and ideas. Let me know what your experiences have been with 'Ad Astra' and other furry VN's and what you would like to see.
Thanks, as always <3
It was a ton of fun writing the first two 'Tales' volumes and a third one is about 75% written. Just started the art for this and am hoping to get the first chapter up early in the new year. It's going to be a bit lighter than the first two stories and (hopefully) a bit more humourous. You get to meet Sarah's parents and a new antagonist makes himself known. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am creating it.
The other big creative project in the pipeline is a visual novel. It will also be set in Malaka and feature Jacob, Sarah and Marcus. I spent a few hours on a plane yesterday writing down ideas and how it will be structured. Some of the principles I came up with are:
1. It will take place from the perspective of the guest (you or the 'user', if you will)
2. The guest's choices will both slightly and dramatically change the outcome of the story
3. Most of the scenes will take place in sites found in the 'Tales from Malaka' stories
4. Visual clues will be placed in the art to help guide the viewer towards the 'happy path' ending
5. There will be a LOT of art
Not gonna reveal too much more as it'll be more fun for folks to experience it without knowing too many of the 'secrets.' ;)
Totally open to suggestions and ideas. Let me know what your experiences have been with 'Ad Astra' and other furry VN's and what you would like to see.
Thanks, as always <3
Tales from Malaka
Posted 2 years agoI've been really enjoying 2023, mostly because of this Tales from Malaka project I've been working on most of the year. I hope you're enjoying it, too!
It all started because of a screwed-up trip to Greece that didn't happen back in February. I was looking forward to finally returning to Europe after eight years but an Evil German Airline that I won't name messed up the trip and I ended up going home without ever getting to Athens.
I'd been seriously needing a chance to fill my imagination with ancient sculptures and architecture. Frustrated, I wondered if I could somehow draw on whatever previous adventures I'd had over the years and Jacob's world of Malaka started to form in my brain. I'd always loved creating flash fiction and felt the serial novel format might be a good stepping stone to longer-style fiction writing. Serial novels used to be popular back when there were physical newspapers. The most famous example would be Armistead Maupin's 'Tales of the City' that was published in the SF Chronicle back in the 1970s. It's no accident that I've titled these stories as a small homage. Armistead introduced his readers to wonderful and endearing characters that had a multitude of sexualities and experiences. If you've never read his books, I highly recommend them. He's a master storyteller.
Malaka is an ancient city that still is tied to its Empire past and I want it to be somewhat of a character unto itself. It reveals itself in bits and pieces, as complicated as its twisty, narrow streets and as majestic as its wide boulevards and beaches. The citizens of this city are still a part of this ancient Empire way of life, even though they now have cell phones and electric cars. Jacob, Sarah and Marcus are uncovering just how strong these ties are with the past as they have their adventures and it's been a great deal of fun to craft the art and words of their world.
Anyway, thank you for reading and hope your year is going just as well! I appreciate you and appreciate all of your interest in what I create. It means a lot to me.
It all started because of a screwed-up trip to Greece that didn't happen back in February. I was looking forward to finally returning to Europe after eight years but an Evil German Airline that I won't name messed up the trip and I ended up going home without ever getting to Athens.
I'd been seriously needing a chance to fill my imagination with ancient sculptures and architecture. Frustrated, I wondered if I could somehow draw on whatever previous adventures I'd had over the years and Jacob's world of Malaka started to form in my brain. I'd always loved creating flash fiction and felt the serial novel format might be a good stepping stone to longer-style fiction writing. Serial novels used to be popular back when there were physical newspapers. The most famous example would be Armistead Maupin's 'Tales of the City' that was published in the SF Chronicle back in the 1970s. It's no accident that I've titled these stories as a small homage. Armistead introduced his readers to wonderful and endearing characters that had a multitude of sexualities and experiences. If you've never read his books, I highly recommend them. He's a master storyteller.
Malaka is an ancient city that still is tied to its Empire past and I want it to be somewhat of a character unto itself. It reveals itself in bits and pieces, as complicated as its twisty, narrow streets and as majestic as its wide boulevards and beaches. The citizens of this city are still a part of this ancient Empire way of life, even though they now have cell phones and electric cars. Jacob, Sarah and Marcus are uncovering just how strong these ties are with the past as they have their adventures and it's been a great deal of fun to craft the art and words of their world.
Anyway, thank you for reading and hope your year is going just as well! I appreciate you and appreciate all of your interest in what I create. It means a lot to me.
Jacob's Story
Posted 2 years agoHey! Just letting you know I'm having a blast writing Jacob's tale and that there's a lot of material in the pipeline. I seem to be three to four chapters ahead of the art, so it give me time to consider what to paint and where to take the story next. Hope you're enjoying it and thank you for stopping by :)
Moving from Twitter to Mastodon
Posted 3 years agoSo yeah, lots bad happening with the bird site.
I first hopped on Tw*tter ten years ago when I was new in the fandom. It was a great place to meet other furs, many of whom grew to be incredible friends that I’m still close to today. I loved being able to see other artists’ work, visit cons I couldn’t travel to and connect with some very interesting and creative creatures. It meant a lot to me to stay connected with other furs and there have been some incredible moments over the years. A truly wonderful space.
But it stopped being that at a certain point. Too much of the non-fur world seemed to leak into it at times. The countless algorithm changes meant I wasn’t seeing the same lovely artists very much. Now, that horrible man-child who bought it is turning it into an even more toxic place to be in.
I just can’t abide any longer. I’m jumping ship to Mastodon.
One of the best things I used to look forward to was completing a piece of art and getting a chance to tweet it to others. I loved the interactions and the conversations that happened with every art post. Over the last while, the interactions became fewer and fewer. The joy more or less slipped away.
So, I’ve decided to more or less wind down my Tw*tter presence and will be sharing on Mastodon. I’ve only been there a day and I can already tell you it’s like a breath of fresh air.
Sign up if you haven’t already (and if the servers aren’t too busy) and let’s continue the conversation there. I’d be happy to see you there!
https://meow.social/@SampsonWoof
I first hopped on Tw*tter ten years ago when I was new in the fandom. It was a great place to meet other furs, many of whom grew to be incredible friends that I’m still close to today. I loved being able to see other artists’ work, visit cons I couldn’t travel to and connect with some very interesting and creative creatures. It meant a lot to me to stay connected with other furs and there have been some incredible moments over the years. A truly wonderful space.
But it stopped being that at a certain point. Too much of the non-fur world seemed to leak into it at times. The countless algorithm changes meant I wasn’t seeing the same lovely artists very much. Now, that horrible man-child who bought it is turning it into an even more toxic place to be in.
I just can’t abide any longer. I’m jumping ship to Mastodon.
One of the best things I used to look forward to was completing a piece of art and getting a chance to tweet it to others. I loved the interactions and the conversations that happened with every art post. Over the last while, the interactions became fewer and fewer. The joy more or less slipped away.
So, I’ve decided to more or less wind down my Tw*tter presence and will be sharing on Mastodon. I’ve only been there a day and I can already tell you it’s like a breath of fresh air.
Sign up if you haven’t already (and if the servers aren’t too busy) and let’s continue the conversation there. I’d be happy to see you there!
https://meow.social/@SampsonWoof
FurEh 2022!
Posted 3 years agoOh wow... can't believe it's next weekend already. It's been three years since I've been to a con and it will be excellent to see everyone again in Edmonton. I find I've forgotten how to pack for a con but at least my badges are already in my carry-on. It will be a week of 'oh yeah... I should bring that.'
This weird pause in everyone's lives really makes itself evident as life slowly morphs into a strange version of 'normal.' I've been busy with going back to school and now I'm starting out on my new career as a software developer. Been at my new job for four months now and I'm finally feeling like I'm 'getting it.' So much of my job is figuring out how to get something to work and my brain is happy being put into constant puzzle-solving mode. While there were lots of awful things about the last two and a bit years, there was a lot of good for me, personally. It's fun being part of that 'Furries make the internet run' haha
Thanks for reading and looking at my art and hope your summer is going well.
This weird pause in everyone's lives really makes itself evident as life slowly morphs into a strange version of 'normal.' I've been busy with going back to school and now I'm starting out on my new career as a software developer. Been at my new job for four months now and I'm finally feeling like I'm 'getting it.' So much of my job is figuring out how to get something to work and my brain is happy being put into constant puzzle-solving mode. While there were lots of awful things about the last two and a bit years, there was a lot of good for me, personally. It's fun being part of that 'Furries make the internet run' haha
Thanks for reading and looking at my art and hope your summer is going well.
Keep At It
Posted 5 years agoFor those of you who make things, whether it's art or handicrafts or music or well, whatever can be described as creative, you put a lot into each piece you put out.
The thing is, it's not about the time you spent theorizing about what you were making. It's about the end result.
And sometime, it's kinda crap.
That's okay.
Keep making mistakes. You will only learn from them. I recently picked up a book called 'Art & Fear' (recommended by the amazing
karlos ) that seems to have been written by occupants of my brain.
I encourage the creative folks who follow me to read this. I'm only two chapters in and I feel a lot better about the process of creating art. For starters, I'm wedded to the PROCESS of making art, but the audience IS NOT. Realizing this has helped tremendously. I spend weeks on a single piece, thinking it will get lots of views, but in reality, NO ONE CARES how much time I spent on it.
So, keep soldiering on. I shall do the same.
The thing is, it's not about the time you spent theorizing about what you were making. It's about the end result.
And sometime, it's kinda crap.
That's okay.
Keep making mistakes. You will only learn from them. I recently picked up a book called 'Art & Fear' (recommended by the amazing
karlos ) that seems to have been written by occupants of my brain. I encourage the creative folks who follow me to read this. I'm only two chapters in and I feel a lot better about the process of creating art. For starters, I'm wedded to the PROCESS of making art, but the audience IS NOT. Realizing this has helped tremendously. I spend weeks on a single piece, thinking it will get lots of views, but in reality, NO ONE CARES how much time I spent on it.
So, keep soldiering on. I shall do the same.
So....?
Posted 5 years agoI've been watching my fave/like counts drop a LOT both here and Twitter. I'm seriously thinking of never posting on Twitter again. I love making art, but if nobody likes it, what's the point of sharing? I've been working very hard on improving my skills.
I'm considering making art for myself and just keeping it that way. An audience of one who loves what was made. I'll just keep improving and no one to judge it. It's obvious so few folks like what I've made recently, so why bother? I get absolutely NO encouragement and it hurts.
So yeah... if I truly suck at this, let me know. I didn't intend on being popular, but this is highly discouraging. I feel like I shouldn't even be doing art at this point.
Thoughts?
I'm considering making art for myself and just keeping it that way. An audience of one who loves what was made. I'll just keep improving and no one to judge it. It's obvious so few folks like what I've made recently, so why bother? I get absolutely NO encouragement and it hurts.
So yeah... if I truly suck at this, let me know. I didn't intend on being popular, but this is highly discouraging. I feel like I shouldn't even be doing art at this point.
Thoughts?
Ugh
Posted 5 years agoI've been really missing cons and somehow I missed out on a big online con this weekend, so I'm rather pissed off.
I guess what I mean to say is that most of the time I'm fine but every once in a while I really miss being social.
This pandemic will end. I just have to hang in there.
I guess what I mean to say is that most of the time I'm fine but every once in a while I really miss being social.
This pandemic will end. I just have to hang in there.
2020
Posted 5 years agoStay safe everyone. Stay home if you can.
2020!
Posted 6 years agoThe new year is but hours away now and I couldn't be happier to see this 'click of the odometer.'
2019 was a shit year. The death of a friend and getting laid off unexpectedly were the big events. The fact they happened on the same day last January really didn't help.
They say that things like that happen to make us stronger. Whatever. I think they happen because they happen. There is no reason for them. It's just up to all of us to deal with it.
How we deal with shit reveals our resiliency. It also highlights the fact that worrying about shit doesn't do anything. Somehow life will toss you in a different direction when you aren't expecting it every time.
It also means letting the past control me isn't doing me any favours.
That's the key takeaway for me this year. Live in the present. Don't worry about the future. It will all work out somehow.
And that's why I like New Year's Day: letting the past be in the past.
May your 2020 be amazing and may you be resilient to any crap that comes your way.
2019 was a shit year. The death of a friend and getting laid off unexpectedly were the big events. The fact they happened on the same day last January really didn't help.
They say that things like that happen to make us stronger. Whatever. I think they happen because they happen. There is no reason for them. It's just up to all of us to deal with it.
How we deal with shit reveals our resiliency. It also highlights the fact that worrying about shit doesn't do anything. Somehow life will toss you in a different direction when you aren't expecting it every time.
It also means letting the past control me isn't doing me any favours.
That's the key takeaway for me this year. Live in the present. Don't worry about the future. It will all work out somehow.
And that's why I like New Year's Day: letting the past be in the past.
May your 2020 be amazing and may you be resilient to any crap that comes your way.
Death and Art
Posted 6 years agoI'm not sure if I've ever articulated this before, but let's begin.
About fifteen years ago, my gramma passed away. She'd been rapidly falling apart from dementia and Alzheimer's for the last seven years or so beforehand.
I suspect most of you are not here to learn about my gramma. What happened next might intrigue you.
After her slow, confusing death, I thought a lot about what I could do to prevent that terribly deteriorating series of events for myself.
Art seemed to be the best solution. It had no real end goal. Learning and curiosity fueled my interest in pursuing an artistic bent to my life.
But how?
I'd been surfing FA for years, right before bedtime. I'd been a fur back in the mid-nineties on FurryMuck and Tapestries, RP-ing with furs from who knows where. A news segment on VancouFur in 2012 provided the spark.
I would make furry art.
Immediately, I dug into making both art and a fursuit. The fursuit never turned out right, but I kept on making art. So much of it was terrible in hindsight, but I quickly learned that it's just part of being an artist. The old stuff sucks, no matter what.
I've never been much of a media consumerist. TV and film kinda bores me. I love reading and am inspired by photography. An avid traveler, I love new and exotic experiences.
Yes, looking back, I seem to return to creating beach scenes exploring the male form, but that is what inspires me. A hot bod on the beach is what I enjoy.
So, what does this have to do with my gramma?
I want to keep improving. I want to keep learning art techniques. I devour art tutorials. I learn from my friends.
This keeps my brain active.
I want to live to be 95. I want to train my brain to keep forming new neural pathways. I want a sense of purpose.
This keeps me going.
This is why I make art.
About fifteen years ago, my gramma passed away. She'd been rapidly falling apart from dementia and Alzheimer's for the last seven years or so beforehand.
I suspect most of you are not here to learn about my gramma. What happened next might intrigue you.
After her slow, confusing death, I thought a lot about what I could do to prevent that terribly deteriorating series of events for myself.
Art seemed to be the best solution. It had no real end goal. Learning and curiosity fueled my interest in pursuing an artistic bent to my life.
But how?
I'd been surfing FA for years, right before bedtime. I'd been a fur back in the mid-nineties on FurryMuck and Tapestries, RP-ing with furs from who knows where. A news segment on VancouFur in 2012 provided the spark.
I would make furry art.
Immediately, I dug into making both art and a fursuit. The fursuit never turned out right, but I kept on making art. So much of it was terrible in hindsight, but I quickly learned that it's just part of being an artist. The old stuff sucks, no matter what.
I've never been much of a media consumerist. TV and film kinda bores me. I love reading and am inspired by photography. An avid traveler, I love new and exotic experiences.
Yes, looking back, I seem to return to creating beach scenes exploring the male form, but that is what inspires me. A hot bod on the beach is what I enjoy.
So, what does this have to do with my gramma?
I want to keep improving. I want to keep learning art techniques. I devour art tutorials. I learn from my friends.
This keeps my brain active.
I want to live to be 95. I want to train my brain to keep forming new neural pathways. I want a sense of purpose.
This keeps me going.
This is why I make art.
Whoops!
Posted 6 years agoOh my... I was in a terrible headspace a couple months ago. To summarize:
- I have an awesome job now
- I'm really enjoying the people I work with
- I think I might have my 'art groove' back
Thanks to all of you who have supported me and sent me good vibes and advice. I really appreciate your love. It made a huge difference for me and here's to an amazing second half of 2019!
- I have an awesome job now
- I'm really enjoying the people I work with
- I think I might have my 'art groove' back
Thanks to all of you who have supported me and sent me good vibes and advice. I really appreciate your love. It made a huge difference for me and here's to an amazing second half of 2019!
Ugh
Posted 6 years agoEverything sucks. I can't figure out what I want to make, so I've taken a hiatus and stopped drawing.
I've also been unemployed for four months and I think I'm going crazy.
Weird health problems have also cropped up, so I'm kinda freaking out.
TLDR: I want to make more dynamic art, but life is nutso right now.
I've also been unemployed for four months and I think I'm going crazy.
Weird health problems have also cropped up, so I'm kinda freaking out.
TLDR: I want to make more dynamic art, but life is nutso right now.
Three Words
Posted 8 years agoOkay. I need to fill my tickle trunk with ideas.
Respond to this journal with three words (you can respond with as many three word combos as you wish).
The three words must be <species> <action> <object>
Examples:
bison dance hamburger
boar cycle lampshade
lizard wrestle lasagna
Can't promise I'll draw 'em all, but if you make me laugh or pique my interest, you may just see it at some point.
You can also respond with more than three words, but my attention span is short this week.
Respond to this journal with three words (you can respond with as many three word combos as you wish).
The three words must be <species> <action> <object>
Examples:
bison dance hamburger
boar cycle lampshade
lizard wrestle lasagna
Can't promise I'll draw 'em all, but if you make me laugh or pique my interest, you may just see it at some point.
You can also respond with more than three words, but my attention span is short this week.
See ya at Further Confusion 2018!
Posted 8 years agoDays staying:
Thursday - Monday
Staying at:
Marriott
How are you traveling?
737 and CRJ-700
Who are you rooming with?
No one!
Who will you be with?
Dunno! Let's see what happens!
Where will you be? How is the best way to find you?
I'll head to SF for the day on Friday, but I'll be about. Best way to reach me is via Twitter: sampsonwoof
What do you look like?
Bearded and suspicious.
What is your gender?
Fluffy.
How old are you?
Older than you.
How tall are you?
Five foot nine
Can I talk to you?
Of course!
Can I hug and/or snuggle you?
Definitely!
Are you nice?
Mostly. Especially after coffee.
Are you cliquey?
Are we still in high school? No. :P
Are you fursuiting?
Nope!
Which suit(s) will you be bringing?
None!
Can I try on your suit?
Uh...
If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Wave and say hello!
Do you take commissions?
Not at the moment.
Dealers' den?
I'll be shopping there for sure!
Can I draw in your sketchbook?
Definitely!
Can I ask ya to dance with me during the dances?
Yes :)
Can I buy you drinks?
Only if I can buy you one!
Do you attend parties?
Yup!
Can I take your picture?
Not really.
What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
Not try to do everything - just relax and enjoy!
Thursday - Monday
Staying at:
Marriott
How are you traveling?
737 and CRJ-700
Who are you rooming with?
No one!
Who will you be with?
Dunno! Let's see what happens!
Where will you be? How is the best way to find you?
I'll head to SF for the day on Friday, but I'll be about. Best way to reach me is via Twitter: sampsonwoof
What do you look like?
Bearded and suspicious.
What is your gender?
Fluffy.
How old are you?
Older than you.
How tall are you?
Five foot nine
Can I talk to you?
Of course!
Can I hug and/or snuggle you?
Definitely!
Are you nice?
Mostly. Especially after coffee.
Are you cliquey?
Are we still in high school? No. :P
Are you fursuiting?
Nope!
Which suit(s) will you be bringing?
None!
Can I try on your suit?
Uh...
If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Wave and say hello!
Do you take commissions?
Not at the moment.
Dealers' den?
I'll be shopping there for sure!
Can I draw in your sketchbook?
Definitely!
Can I ask ya to dance with me during the dances?
Yes :)
Can I buy you drinks?
Only if I can buy you one!
Do you attend parties?
Yup!
Can I take your picture?
Not really.
What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
Not try to do everything - just relax and enjoy!
Update
Posted 8 years agoIt's been a while.
I guess I write that a lot.
Work's going great and pretty much has been my focus lately. There's art on the way, but it's taking time. I'm experimenting again, hence the slowness of posting anything new.
I do draw every day - just not as much as before. Now that it's getting colder out, there will be more art time, I'm thinking.
Made an impromptu decision to attend Further Confusion in San Jose in January. I always enjoyed past FC's and really missed going to the last one. Will I see you there?
I guess I write that a lot.
Work's going great and pretty much has been my focus lately. There's art on the way, but it's taking time. I'm experimenting again, hence the slowness of posting anything new.
I do draw every day - just not as much as before. Now that it's getting colder out, there will be more art time, I'm thinking.
Made an impromptu decision to attend Further Confusion in San Jose in January. I always enjoyed past FC's and really missed going to the last one. Will I see you there?
FurEh Made Me Feel Amazing All Over Again
Posted 8 years agoSo, yeah. That was a kinda gloomy journal last week. I really appreciate all the amazing response and it helped a lot!
I had been planning on going to FurEh for quite some time now. My best friend
davecko was the GOH and I was really looking forward to seeing him. What I wasn't prepared for was how incredible the few days became for me, personally.
Any feeling of being disconnected from other furs evaporated after arriving. I got to spend time with so many amazing folks that I love dearly :) There was much gaming and much eating and much fun. It was exactly what I needed.
I am loved and I love the wonderful folks I am so fortunate to have in my life.
There is nothing better than knowing this.
I had been planning on going to FurEh for quite some time now. My best friend
davecko was the GOH and I was really looking forward to seeing him. What I wasn't prepared for was how incredible the few days became for me, personally.Any feeling of being disconnected from other furs evaporated after arriving. I got to spend time with so many amazing folks that I love dearly :) There was much gaming and much eating and much fun. It was exactly what I needed.
I am loved and I love the wonderful folks I am so fortunate to have in my life.
There is nothing better than knowing this.
What Happened to Sampson?
Posted 8 years agoI'm not sure how I'm feeling, to be honest.
Whatever it is, it's too long for Twitter, so I'll put it here.
I started an awesome career with an incredible law firm a couple weeks ago and my art time has shrunk to practically zero. This has prompted a lot of thinking time to and from work about what it is I want to create and how to create it.
This has also coincided with a few other feelings, but I'll get to that in a moment. More importantly, it's happening at a time when my perception skills have outpaced my art skills. I can see what I like in others' works and want to improve, but I can't seem to figure out how to get there with what I'm doing now. This is a familiar feeling. It's part of the whole art/perception horse race where there are times my art skills outpace my perception skills and vice versa. This is usually followed by a period of experimentation and/or simply doing things differently.
The problem I face is that I don't really have the time to 'do things differently.' Oh, I played around with different brushes last night and experimented with all sorts of things. Nothing too impressive came of it, but that just means I need to do some more experimentation. It's the equivalent of knowing where you need to go, but feeling clueless as to how to get there. There are no maps in art.
I dug around in my old art technique books, looking for ideas. This always seems to help. I love re-reading old chapters and learning something new. Browsing art from other artists can be inspiring. I always see new things as I learn.
What's most confusing right now is that I'm also feeling a bit...detached.
Several months ago, someone revealed to me that others perceived me as not being a 'real fur' - whatever that is. At first, I'm like 'well, whatever.' This fandom has always seemed so flexible and inclusive and it always made me happy. Unfortunately, this weird bit of feedback stuck with me and grew like a creeping rot on my brain. Mix this in with the fact I've not really forged many fur connections in my new city and a healthy dose of unemployment and I started to feel even more adrift. Lately I've had very terrible thoughts that I should just up and vanish from here and everywhere I post art. What's the point if I'm not even considered part of the fandom?
Let me state this: I'm very, very happy with my life. I have a loving husband and a loving boyfriend (yes, I'm proudly poly). I have an incredible job with some really smart, devoted folks. Calgary is an amazing, dynamic city and I am so fortunate to live here. My family, both chosen and biological, makes me proud beyond words. My days are filled with love, friendship, laughter and curiosity.
But I miss the fandom.
I miss going to FC. I miss Rainfurrest. I miss VancouFur. I miss cycling, drinking beer, gaming and sketching with Davecko. I wanna hug Trace, Heartless, Hornet, Fibre, Mooglepower and a whole ton of you that I've been so fortunate to share the same air with.
This has been a tough year for me, financially. I can only hope that it was a temporary blip and I'm more confident each day that it was.
I'm not even sure if anyone reads these, but I had to put my thoughts down somewhere. Hopefully I can find my art groove again soon. Hopefully I can manage to get away to a couple cons next year. Hopefully I'll feel more relevant or connected to furry - if I even am furry according to some.
At any rate, if you check in on this account and it's been a while since I have posted anything, I hope this provides some perspective.
Whatever it is, it's too long for Twitter, so I'll put it here.
I started an awesome career with an incredible law firm a couple weeks ago and my art time has shrunk to practically zero. This has prompted a lot of thinking time to and from work about what it is I want to create and how to create it.
This has also coincided with a few other feelings, but I'll get to that in a moment. More importantly, it's happening at a time when my perception skills have outpaced my art skills. I can see what I like in others' works and want to improve, but I can't seem to figure out how to get there with what I'm doing now. This is a familiar feeling. It's part of the whole art/perception horse race where there are times my art skills outpace my perception skills and vice versa. This is usually followed by a period of experimentation and/or simply doing things differently.
The problem I face is that I don't really have the time to 'do things differently.' Oh, I played around with different brushes last night and experimented with all sorts of things. Nothing too impressive came of it, but that just means I need to do some more experimentation. It's the equivalent of knowing where you need to go, but feeling clueless as to how to get there. There are no maps in art.
I dug around in my old art technique books, looking for ideas. This always seems to help. I love re-reading old chapters and learning something new. Browsing art from other artists can be inspiring. I always see new things as I learn.
What's most confusing right now is that I'm also feeling a bit...detached.
Several months ago, someone revealed to me that others perceived me as not being a 'real fur' - whatever that is. At first, I'm like 'well, whatever.' This fandom has always seemed so flexible and inclusive and it always made me happy. Unfortunately, this weird bit of feedback stuck with me and grew like a creeping rot on my brain. Mix this in with the fact I've not really forged many fur connections in my new city and a healthy dose of unemployment and I started to feel even more adrift. Lately I've had very terrible thoughts that I should just up and vanish from here and everywhere I post art. What's the point if I'm not even considered part of the fandom?
Let me state this: I'm very, very happy with my life. I have a loving husband and a loving boyfriend (yes, I'm proudly poly). I have an incredible job with some really smart, devoted folks. Calgary is an amazing, dynamic city and I am so fortunate to live here. My family, both chosen and biological, makes me proud beyond words. My days are filled with love, friendship, laughter and curiosity.
But I miss the fandom.
I miss going to FC. I miss Rainfurrest. I miss VancouFur. I miss cycling, drinking beer, gaming and sketching with Davecko. I wanna hug Trace, Heartless, Hornet, Fibre, Mooglepower and a whole ton of you that I've been so fortunate to share the same air with.
This has been a tough year for me, financially. I can only hope that it was a temporary blip and I'm more confident each day that it was.
I'm not even sure if anyone reads these, but I had to put my thoughts down somewhere. Hopefully I can find my art groove again soon. Hopefully I can manage to get away to a couple cons next year. Hopefully I'll feel more relevant or connected to furry - if I even am furry according to some.
At any rate, if you check in on this account and it's been a while since I have posted anything, I hope this provides some perspective.
On Writing
Posted 9 years agoSo, I'm back in the world of employment and am wrapping up the last two commissions. This gives me a chance to get back into my normal groove of semi-infrequent personal art and, of course, short-story writing.
I've forgotten how much I enjoy writing these 'odd stories' - as a comment on another site put it. It's true. These can be a tad odd at times. I sometimes find it strange I'm sharing them here on a free site and not in a book or something. The truth is, I can't stand sitting on them. They need to come out and stay out there. I recently saw a quote that if you are good at something, you shouldn't do it for free. I think I'm pretty okay at writing these 'odd stories,' but I have no interest in making money on them at this time. Maybe someday.
If there's one thing I've learned about writing, as opposed to drawing, is that it's deeply personal. Almost every single thing I've written is a part of who I am in some strange way. I write about my fears and make it a sweet love story. I harbor some very core beliefs and they wind up being translated into a transformation piece. Sometimes I want to take a fantasy out for a test drive. It's oddly liberating.
So, if you've been kinda disappointed at the lack of stories, I can totally understand and I'm regretful, too. I do not in any way regret doing commissions these last three months - they helped me connect with some awesome people and the money kept me afloat while I wasn't working. I just didn't have the time to write and that sucks. There's a piece coming up soon with a longer narrative and I hope you enjoy it.
I sure did.
As always, I love thoughtful feedback. I hope you feel the same.
Thank you,
Sampson
I've forgotten how much I enjoy writing these 'odd stories' - as a comment on another site put it. It's true. These can be a tad odd at times. I sometimes find it strange I'm sharing them here on a free site and not in a book or something. The truth is, I can't stand sitting on them. They need to come out and stay out there. I recently saw a quote that if you are good at something, you shouldn't do it for free. I think I'm pretty okay at writing these 'odd stories,' but I have no interest in making money on them at this time. Maybe someday.
If there's one thing I've learned about writing, as opposed to drawing, is that it's deeply personal. Almost every single thing I've written is a part of who I am in some strange way. I write about my fears and make it a sweet love story. I harbor some very core beliefs and they wind up being translated into a transformation piece. Sometimes I want to take a fantasy out for a test drive. It's oddly liberating.
So, if you've been kinda disappointed at the lack of stories, I can totally understand and I'm regretful, too. I do not in any way regret doing commissions these last three months - they helped me connect with some awesome people and the money kept me afloat while I wasn't working. I just didn't have the time to write and that sucks. There's a piece coming up soon with a longer narrative and I hope you enjoy it.
I sure did.
As always, I love thoughtful feedback. I hope you feel the same.
Thank you,
Sampson
Commissions Closed.... I Have a New Job!
Posted 9 years agoWhile it's been a lot of fun making art for money, I'm getting tired of eating instant soup and crackers. I'm pleased to announce that I'll be working for an architecture firm starting soon!
If you've already paid me, rest assured I'll complete your commission.
If you were considering commissioning me, send me a note or DM me on Twitter and perhaps I can work something out (but I'll be slow to complete since I'm going to be working full time).
If you've already paid me, rest assured I'll complete your commission.
If you were considering commissioning me, send me a note or DM me on Twitter and perhaps I can work something out (but I'll be slow to complete since I'm going to be working full time).
Commissions Open - New Option
Posted 9 years agoI've got two slots available for starting later this week for:
- full body
- full colour/rendering/shading
- pinups in undies/nude/swimwear/jockstrap/gear (hint - I'd REALLY love to do a wetsuit, wrestling singlet or cycling gear)
Single character $80
Two characters $130
No background/simple background.
I've also got two slots available for starting later this week for:
- square social media icon busts
- full colour/rendering/shading
$35
Just 'Note' me if you would like a slot and please don't hesitate to ask for more details! I will be able to start them Wed/Thurs and I have a pretty quick turnaround.
- full body
- full colour/rendering/shading
- pinups in undies/nude/swimwear/jockstrap/gear (hint - I'd REALLY love to do a wetsuit, wrestling singlet or cycling gear)
Single character $80
Two characters $130
No background/simple background.
I've also got two slots available for starting later this week for:
- square social media icon busts
- full colour/rendering/shading
$35
Just 'Note' me if you would like a slot and please don't hesitate to ask for more details! I will be able to start them Wed/Thurs and I have a pretty quick turnaround.
Commissions Open!
Posted 9 years agoI've got four slots available right now for:
- full body
- full colour/rendering/shading
- pinups in undies/nude/swimwear/jockstrap/gear (hint - I'd love to do a wetsuit or cycling gear)
Single character $80
Two characters $130
No background/simple background.
Just 'Note' me if you would like a slot and please don't hesitate to ask for more details!
- full body
- full colour/rendering/shading
- pinups in undies/nude/swimwear/jockstrap/gear (hint - I'd love to do a wetsuit or cycling gear)
Single character $80
Two characters $130
No background/simple background.
Just 'Note' me if you would like a slot and please don't hesitate to ask for more details!
Commissions Opening Very Soon
Posted 9 years agoWhoa - I guess it's been a while since I posted one of these.
So, to get everyone caught up, I've finally left the career in advertising I've focused on for the last 14 years and am looking for a new career direction in my new home in Calgary.
In the meanwhile, I'm now officially a full-time furry artist and am doing pinup commissions. I currently have a full queue, but hope to re-open around the 7th January.
I will make an official announcement when I re-open on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SampsonWoof
Thank you all for your support! Hope 2017 is an awesome year for you!
So, to get everyone caught up, I've finally left the career in advertising I've focused on for the last 14 years and am looking for a new career direction in my new home in Calgary.
In the meanwhile, I'm now officially a full-time furry artist and am doing pinup commissions. I currently have a full queue, but hope to re-open around the 7th January.
I will make an official announcement when I re-open on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SampsonWoof
Thank you all for your support! Hope 2017 is an awesome year for you!
