ISSUE 284
Hello everyone! Thanks for joining us for the last issue of Furry Weekly of 2023! We’ve had a great year overall and despite some challenges, we’re looking forward to 2024. Whether you’re a newer reader or you’ve been keeping up for a while, we want to thank you for checking out what we do! Our goal is to share all the great stuff the community gets up to, and we hope we can continue to do so for a long time!
We also want to apologize for the inconsistency in publishing issues over the past few months. We’ve gone without an issue some weeks because we’re simply in need of segment hosts, or writers, to help us put together the content we bring you each week. We wanted to acknowledge this and let you know we’re working to bring in new members to Furry Weekly who can help us have a higher segment count every week. If you happen to want to help out, check out the ‘Recruiting’ section below!
We have our usual announcements to get through real quick, so let’s have a look or feel free to skip ahead to the issue!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HOLIDAY BREAK
Furry Weekly will be on break as we observe Christmas and the New Year. This is one of two long breaks we take every year, which lasts three weeks. This time, you can expect our next issue to be released between January 12 and 14. So please look forward to that first issue of 2024!
RECRUITING
We are looking to fill lots of roles here at the magazine to help us keep bringing new content every week! We’re hoping to add new members over the holiday break, so if you’re looking for a way to get involved in the fandom as we get into the new year, this might be for you! Check out the roles we’ve got open below:
- Art Corner Host
- Furry of the Week Host
- Art 101 Host
- Species Spotlight Host
- Radical Raffles Host
- DIY Project of the Week Host
- Front End Website Developer
- Editor
- Cover Artist
- Content Migrator
If you’d like to help out or if you want more info, please contact Yeshua, or Carkas. If you want a description of the roles above, visit this document! If you have any suggestions for other roles or things we could bring into Furry Weekly, please reach out as well. We’d love to hear your ideas! We still need lots of help in general, so please do consider joining us or sharing with other friends in the fandom if you can! We’d really appreciate it!
READER SURVEY
In addition to recruiting, we want to listen to what you, our readers, have to say about Furry Weekly! Our goal is to showcase a little bit of everything in the fandom, especially giving a small spotlight to all kinds of creators and folks in the community. So we want to know what you think about what we’re doing now as well as what you might want to see from a furry magazine. So whether you’re an avid follower of Furry Weekly, or maybe you just found us, we want to hear what you like, what you don’t like, and what you would like us to do in the future! That’s why we have a short survey on this topic. We would seriously appreciate it if you took just a few minutes to take it and give us your feedback! You can do this multiple times as well! The link is below!
Click here to take our reader survey!
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That’s all we have for announcements, so let’s jump into today’s issue! As always, let us know on our social media what you liked the most or if you’d like to see something or someone in a future issue. We’re @FurryWeekly on both Twitter and Instagram!
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SEGMENT LINEUP
[✔] Furry of the Week
[✔] Animal of the Week
[❌] Art Corner
[❌] Writing Showcase
[❌] Art 101
[❌] Species Spotlight
[✔] Writing 101
[❌] Fursuit Focus
[✔] Photography 101
[❌] Fursuit Designing Tips
[✔] Radical Raffles
[✔] Available Artists
[❌] Character Interview
[✔] Convention Calendar
[✔] Furry Quote
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FURRY OF THE WEEK
Hello, everyone. This is Danielle once again, and welcome back to a new edition of Furry of the Week! We have another special feature for you this week.
Before we put the spotlight on this week’s feature, I wish to remind all of you that we’re still looking to recruit more hosts for this segment. If you like spreading positivity, then this might be for you! Feel free to message our boss, Yeshua, if you’re interested in hosting Furry of the Week.
The month of December emanates the spirit of giving, and that’s what this week’s feature is all about. Specifically, we’re here to talk about Midwest FurFest.
The Midwest FurFest logo (left) and Live Like Roo Foundation logo (right).
Midwest FurFest is—you guessed it—an annual Midwest-based furry convention that takes place in the west suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Since 2000, the convention has grown from 388 attendees to more than 13,000—the largest convention of its type in the world. It has raised over $800,000 for various social, wildlife, and animal related charities. That is incredible! 2023 is no different.
The beneficiary charity for MFF 2023 was the Live Like Roo Foundation (LLRF). LLRF is an organization that allows terminally ill animals that are experiencing cancer to live their remaining life in a home to their fullest. The foundation has provided support to families for seven years with over 20k families being assisted. That is amazing! Grants that LLRF receive go directly to vet services (75%), care packages (15%), events (5%), and other (5%). Care packages include a blanket, a tennis ball, toys, treats, and a McDonald’s gift card for a soft-serve cone of vanilla ice cream for them to enjoy. Yay, and yummy!
The spirit of Christmas never fades because Midwest FurFest raised almost $186,000 for LLRF. What a great blessing to come through for those animals! It will truly help the families in need. If you’d like to learn more about LLRF or would like to donate, feel free to check out their website.
Thank you very much Midwest FurFest and Live Like Roo Foundation for your devotion towards helping all of those terminally ill animals! It will surely bring happiness to both the families and their pet(s).
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That is all for this edition of Furry of the Week.
We’re always on the lookout for candidates to feature for their amazing contributions to the community. If you have any questions about this segment or would like to send us a recommendation for a future candidate, feel free to contact me. Tune in next time for another mystery Furry of the Week! In the meantime, please enjoy the rest of this week’s Furry Weekly issue, and I’ll see you guys again. Bye for now!
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ANIMAL OF THE WEEK
Hello, everyone! Danielle here making a surprise appearance. Welcome to a Christmas themed Animal of the Week segment!
Animal of the Week is a segment where we highlight an animal that is really cool, cute, creepy, or just plain fascinating. Unfortunately, there won’t be a new coloring page illustration this time around, but there will still be an adoptable character inspired by this week’s animal of the week colored by me. All proceeds made by said adopt will be donated to the Animal of the Week’s host, Zed Shirogane, in order to contribute to a select conservation charity.
Whenever possible, we do symbolically adopt the animal, but only some animals have the privilege to have that as an option unfortunately; thus, we collect extra funds to donate to many different species conservation charities or by sending funds to scientists for research of underappreciated animal species so we can in turn learn more about the world around us. Join us on this fun adventure!
We’re bringing back an animal group that was featured in issue 246. This month’s Animal of the Week is reindeer, also commonly known as caribou!
The distinction between reindeer and caribou mostly depends on where they live. Typically, we refer to Eurasian populations as reindeer and most North American populations as caribou. However, we use the term “reindeer” to describe domesticated caribou, including those in North America. There are several species and subspecies of reindeer across the globe, but there are mainly two ecotypes: tundra reindeer and forest/woodland reindeer. Reindeer live in the far northern regions of Europe, North America, and Asia.
They enjoy colder climates like arctic tundras and subarctic (boreal) forest regions. We can find them in northern countries, which include Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and Alaska. Reindeer are drawn to regions with a harsh topography with long, cold winters. Currently, there is an estimate of 2,890,400 reindeer left on the planet. Ten less than what was previously mentioned in issue 246, sadly. This may seem like plenty, but 10-25 years ago, their population was estimated to be around 4,800,000.
Characteristics
Caribou express sexual dimorphism where males of some subspecies are twice as large as females. The coat of the caribou is an excellent, lightweight insulation against the extreme cold temperatures they face. The hairs are hollow and taper sharply, trapping heat close to their body and making them more buoyant. Color varies by subspecies, region, sex, and season from being very dark brown (woodland caribou bulls in summer) to nearly white in Greenland and high arctic caribou.
White areas are often present on the belly, neck, and above the hooves. The hooves are large and concave, which support them in snow and soft tundra from conditions that they often face. The broad hooves are also useful when swimming.
Caribou make an audible clicking noise while walking, which is produced from tendons rubbing across a bone in the foot. Rangifer tarandus is the only species of reindeer in which both sexes have antlers. Mature males can carry enormous and complex antlers, whereas females and calves generally have smaller and simpler ones. Mature males usually shed their antlers shortly after the rut, whereas females can keep theirs until spring.
Fun Facts
Caribou are known to travel distances greater than any other terrestrial mammal. They can traverse more than 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) in a year. They can reach speeds of almost 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers). Caribou are gregarious, meaning that they live in large herds, which can number in the tens of thousands. They are able to locate forage under snow by their ability to smell it. Females generally live longer life spans than males, some over 15 years, due to the males being susceptible after the rut. Through their foraging activities, caribou have a dramatic impact on communities of vegetation throughout their range.
Diet
Caribou are primarily grazing herbivores. Their preferred food is lichens and shrubs.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List classifies reindeer as vulnerable due to its population decline. According to IUCN, Rangifer tarandus as a species is not endangered because of its overall large population and its widespread range.
Adopt
All funds from this flying reindeer adopt will help go towards animal conservation of Zed’s choosing. It will be available for $10. Please private message me on any of my platforms linked here to claim this adopt.
Animal Ambassadors
Thank you to our animal ambassadors and Animal of the Week supporters who have helped make the world a little bit better for animals!
If you wish to help support us, you can find Zed’s Patreon for this passion project here. You can also find Zed’s free and very affordable bases, as well as other reindeer adopts on their website.
References
Most of the information was derived from websites such as Animal Diversity Web, the IUCN Redlist, and bits from Zed’s information provided previously in issue 246.
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WRITING 101
“So it’s thirteen hundred for the pre-order slot, and then shipping is built into the final price? Is that right?”
Our beloved hawk, Tad, is hunched over his desk, phone in one hand and a pen in the other. A sheet of scrap paper with a long string of numbers signals some serious addition and subtraction work. Some of the figures are scratched out, but all of them stacked on top of each other like a toppling tower.
Tad looks over his shoulder. The Camera is recharging at the moment, so there’s no chance anyone would overhear him. Still, talking about dollars and cents like this always coaxes out his discomfort.
“Butter…? Uh… what does that mean…? Oh, a butter cabinet! I’ll—actually—give me a minute to think about that....”
He sets his cell phone down and his fingers fly over his computer keyboard, searching as quickly as possible for any info to aid his decision.
Looks amazing.... Really brings out the artwork.... Good if the machine is a centerpiece.... Don’t regret it at all.... So shiny, I love it....
“How much is—oh, wait, I wrote it down here.... So that’s another fourteen hundred for the butter cabinet upgrade.”
A pause.
“Oh… yeah, I can wait. No problem.”
Tad stares down at his sheet of numbers for a moment before lifting his gaze to the monitor. The Writing 101 document is half-finished and pushed to the side to make room for multiple browser windows—talks of pinball machines, photos, conversations with a machine distributor, forum posts....
He reads over his segment. With a sigh, he sets down his phone again and begins typing, trying to put his frazzled brain to work.
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Hello friends, and welcome to Furry Weekly’s Writing 101! I’m Bryce Griffin, here to get all you writers out there the inside scoop on literature tips and tricks. Let’s get started!
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Rapid Recaps - Refining the Draft
The Rapid Recaps series is a focused and direct discussion that aims to cover simple yet important writing topics. They may be shorter than normal Writing 101 discussions, but the information covered is still critical to building good writing practices.
Assuming you’re interested in getting a rough draft ready for presentation, you’ll need to sit down with your work at some point and put on your editing cap. Even if you don’t see yourself as an editor, getting into the habit of reviewing your own writing is crucial to developing better drafting skills. Nobody creates perfect prose on their first go; however, if you continuously pay your due diligence to improve rough drafts and ask how they can be better, then you’ll learn how to craft stronger writing in less time.
Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of improving all aspects of what you wrote! In fact, I highly encourage you to avoid trying to fix everything at once. It’s far too much to consider. Instead, zoom out and focus on the big picture. Examine what you’re trying to say and determine if you’re successfully showing what you want to share. Many issues in prose stem from failing to build a cohesive narrative. No amount of grammatical correction or sentence restructuring can alter a poor foundation. Lay a strong base for your story so that it doesn’t easily topple.
Once you have ensured a strong base, then you can move on to zooming in on specific issues. Again, don’t try to fix everything at once. This is where several passes, each focusing on a specific improvement, will gradually elevate your writing. One pass may focus specifically on properly depicting characters and their dialogue. Another may focus on removing dead verbs. A third may critically evaluate your writing’s flow. All of these focal areas, along with many more, are up for consideration when you refine your draft. Note, however, that it is easy to fall into the trap of fiddling your writing to death. At some point, you must lay down your proverbial pencil (or actual pencil, if you choose to work on hard copies) and move forward.
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Want me to take a look at your work? Got a general question for Writing 101? Just shoot me a message on Discord! I’ll be happy to answer any writing questions or even critique your work.
Thanks for joining me in Furry Weekly’s Writing 101. I hope you enjoy the rest of the magazine!
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A rustle through the phone speaker grabs Tad’s attention. He quickly recollects his phone.
“Hello? Yes, I’m still here.... Yeah, no problem.”
His attention returns to the sheet in front of him.
“So with all the prices added up....”
He scratches in some more numbers. Tad knew that the final price tag would be big, but seeing the final figure before him makes the deal truly sink in.
“Yeah… I got the same number.”
His feathery fingers drum the desk. His entire body visibly tenses.
“Yes… yes, that’s correct. I’d like to proceed. I can wire you that amount for the pre-order slot tomorrow.”
His fingers drum faster.
“Okay. Let me know when you get the money. I’ll keep an eye out for the final invoice. Sounds like it’ll be pretty soon, too.”
The hawk suddenly smiles—a small one that grows as he continues talking.
“All right. I appreciate your help. Thanks again.”
He hangs up. Tad sets down the phone, but he doesn’t cheer or leap into the air with joy. He props his elbows onto the desk and covers his face with his hands.
“Oh, Christ....” he groans, still smiling that broad smile.
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FURSUIT FOCUS
Hey you all! Yeshua here one more time this year to bring you the Fursuit Focus segment! I’ve got your dose of fursuiting with a holiday twist, so let’s not waste any time and check out who we’ve got to close out 2023!
Raine is here and ready for the holidays!
This adorable deer looks so festive, don’t you think? Raine’s design is predominantly purple which, for a species that’s not incredibly common but also not very rare, stands out quite well! My bias for purple aside, the purple and white combination along with the pink for the hooves, nose, and inside of the ears all looks great and makes for quite the memorable character! Something I think is amusing is Raine’s nickname, ‘laven-deer’ which is quite appropriate! Her choice to wear red for these holiday photos was great! Not only does Raine look great with the dress, but it complements the setting perfectly! Another small but cool detail, the muzzle harness with bells! Raine sewed the bells onto the harness and I gotta say, that was a really good idea! Now, let’s take a look at a few more photos while getting to know a bit more about Raine!
Raine’s favorite time to fursuit is for her local furmeet, Furrst Friday! That’s where she gets to talk to friends and interact with people around her town, and she especially enjoys the latter! Raine loves seeing people’s reactions to her and other fursuiters she may be hanging out with, her favorite probably being when kids get excited! If you take a look at her socials, you can tell Raine enjoys meets and conventions since a lot of the photos she posts are with other fursuiters!
Looks like Raine is also fond of just going out and fursuiting in public, though! Just in time for Christmas, she went to a local event where a park was wonderfully decorated for the holiday! Unfortunately it started raining on the afternoon she went but before it got too bad she managed to get all these lovely photos! As I mentioned before, I think her attire fits so well with all the decorations! It’s also kind of amusing that a big, fluffy deer wearing a muzzle harness with bells would appear at a Christmas attraction; Rudolph had a red nose but Raine is purple! Which one stands out more, hm?
It’s clear Raine has a lot of fun while fursuiting, and speaking of that, Christmas is likely to be a lot of fun for her this year! Her family is going to visit her from out of state and they haven’t seen her fursuit. She thinks it could be a fun surprise to show it to them since they already know she’s part of the furry fandom. Raine says she’s happy to have a supportive family which makes me think they’ll enjoy seeing her fursuit!
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That’s gonna do it for this last edition of Fursuit Focus! Until 2024, of course! It was real fun putting this segment together about Raine, and if you enjoy seeing her holiday shenanigans, I recommend you give her a follow for more of her adventures!
We may be going on break but I’m still looking out for fursuiters to feature! If you, your friend, or your favorite fursuiter comes to mind, please tell me! Just use the tags #furryweekly and #fursuitfocus when you post your fursuit photos and videos to social media, or you can reach out to me or our usual host, tahlmorra!
I’ve already got a couple of good treats for the next two segments once we return, so please look forward to that! Until then, I’m Yeshua, and I thank you very much for reading! Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Take care!
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PHOTOGRAPHY 101
Hello, friends and photografurs! Welcome back to this week's Photography 101! I'm your host, Jaden. With the holidays coming up many of you may be scrambling to figure out what to buy for that special photographer in your life. That's why I'm here to bring you Photography 101’s official holiday gift guide!
Sensor Cleaning Kit
Putting this as the number one best option may be a little bit biased since I just dealt with a dirty sensor crisis a month ago. My photos kept getting these horrible huge black dots caused by dust build up on the sensor which completely ruined dozens of photos! To make things worse I didn't have a cleaning kit at home which means I had to put a hold on photography until I got one! A lens cleaning kit is something that will fly over the heads of many photographers if they've never had to deal with a dirty sensor. So be the hero and get them a sensor cleaning kit!
SD Cards
Nothing sucks more than when you're out taking pictures and your card runs out of storage. Most digital photographers will always carry around a spare SD card with them but you can never have too many! SD cards are an easy to find and budget friendly gift for any photographer and can be found individually or in packs on nearly every shopping website and tech store.
Lens Pen
I've talked about the lens pen multiple times here on Photography 101 because it's simply so amazing. It’s dirt cheap, lasts a very long time and is by far the best product for cleaning any smudges or fingerprints on camera lenses. I'm speaking from experience when I say that once you buy them a lens pen they’ll never be able to go back.
Photography Books
Photography books are an amazing way to re spark some creativity and get someone out of a photographer's block. Photography books always showcase such amazing work from talented photographers that usually use a unique style, technique, theme or medium. Whenever I’m in a photography rut I hit up my local book store and buy a new photography book to inspire me with new ways to take amazing photos. If your special photographer has been struggling to get enough creativity to do photography then photography books are sure to be their saving grace. If this sounds like the best gift for them I would recommend “The Polaroid Book 40th Edition” and “Dior: New looks” as these books showcase the works of multiple talented photographers that all have their different styles and techniques.
You may have noticed that on this list I didn't mention any lenses or filters. This was for a very good reason, Not all lenses are compatible with all cameras and not all filters are compatible with all lenses. So without knowing specifically the model of their camera and/or the diameter of their lens it's very easy to buy a product that they might not be able to use. While you can use a camera mount to lens mount adapter and a step up ring respectively if this does happen, I would recommend avoiding lenses and filters all together.
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That concludes this week's segment! If you have any questions or would like to share your photos, don't be afraid to shoot me a message!
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RADICAL RAFFLES
Ho, ho, ho! Hello, everyone. This is Danielle once again to bring you a variety of fun raffles to consider. More great opportunities await this month for Christmas themed raffles!
Before we get into the raffles, I wish to remind all of you that we’re looking to recruit a more permanent host for this segment. If you enjoy coming across raffles, then this might be for you! Feel free to message our boss, Yeshua, if you’re interested in hosting Radical Raffles.
Feel free to stick around because we have six raffles for you this week! Let’s take a closer look.
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Celebrate with a 500 followers raffle by Sphynx!
How to Enter:
-Follow and repost the first slide to your story. New followers are welcome!
-Comment your favorite emoji.
Prizes:
-1st winner: traditional badge + a sketch page
-2nd winner: rendered full body
More prizes may be unlocked if Sphynx reaches a certain number of followers before the end of the raffle, but Sphynx will be keeping those a secret.
Deadline:
-This raffle ends on Christmas Day (December 25th). There’s some time left to enter!
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Get into the spirit of Christmas with a Christmas art raffle by Anne!
How to Enter:
-Follow and repost.
-Optional: Reply with your character(s) or tag a friend.
Prize:
-Character artwork with a background
Deadline:
-This raffle ends on Christmas Day (December 25th). There’s some time left to enter!
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Have a chance at a new character with an adoptable character raffle by KevLiWolf!
How to Enter:
-Follow, like, and repost.
-Comment on the raffle post.
Prize:
-Adoptable character
Deadline:
-This raffle ends on January 10th. There’s plenty of time left to enter!
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Celebrate with a New Year art raffle by Aishin!
How to Enter:
-Follow, like, and repost.
-Optional: Comment your character.
Prize:
-Half body for two winners
Deadline:
-This raffle ends on December 30th. There’s some time left to enter!
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Get creative with an art raffle by Skye!
How to Enter:
-Follow, like, and repost.
-Post a reference of your character.
Prize:
-Clean sketch bust for two winners
Deadline:
-This raffle will end on Christmas Eve (December 24th). There’s some time left to enter!
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Last but certainly not least, we have a wiggle icon raffle by Tealijn!
How to Enter:
-Follow and repost. New followers are welcome!
-Post a safe for work (SFW) reference.
Prize:
-Wiggle icon
Deadline:
-This raffle ends on January 5th. There’s lots of time left to enter!
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Those are all the raffles I have for you this week. There's always more out there, and we'll make sure to find them and bring them to you every week!
Feel free to use the tags #RadicalRaffles and #FurryWeekly so we can find your raffle more easily. If you’d like to recommend any raffles for future issues, please don’t hesitate to message me on any of my platforms found on my Carrd.
Thank you for taking a look at this week’s raffles. Stay tuned because more radical raffles are coming your way! I hope all of you have a safe and wonderful Christmas and happy holidays!
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AVAILABLE ARTISTS
Hey, all! It's Rave, your local plug to all things furry art! We’re back with another group of amazing artists, so if you’re looking to get yourself or your friends some art, we have a lot of awesome options for you! Let’s check them out!
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First up, we have foofin_seri0us. Khoi is a talented 17-year-old artist with bright and expressive art that pops off the page.
They use both bright and pastel colors to create a harmony of cute and bold art. They have affordable prices to complement their wonderful art style. You can ask them further questions or inquire about commission on their Instagram.
They would like to tell our readers or any new artist, “Be creative and don’t be afraid to try new things, It worked for me.” With this advice in mind, you can truly see across their platform how their art has grown and changed across time and how those little changes have led to fantastic improvements. They are currently in school, so they will notify clients if the commission is going to take longer. They have great communication and promise frequent updates on all commissions they provide.
You can find their terms of service and commission prices on a post pinned at the top of their Instagram. Currently they have art trades closed and commissions open. They use PayPal as their only payment method as of now and require an email to send finished products to. They currently take all payments in Australian currency, so there may be some conversion fees on PayPal. They require 50% of payment up front and 50% of payment upon completion.
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Next on the list is sunset_soda_. Sunset is a 20 year-old up-and-coming fandom and OC artist. They have a vibrant art style in which they use very bright colors and hard cell shading to create unique visual effects and some cinematic scenes. They accept all payment through PayPal in Great British Pounds as well as USD, and they require commissions to be paid 100% in advance before starting. Their turnaround time is between one and four weeks, give or take. They provide frequent updates and ask that all commissioners communicate any constructive criticisms they may have. They allow commissions to be used however the commissioner may like as long as they are being credited as the artist. They accept all commissions through direct messages on Instagram..
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Following up on the list we have sleepyspadezz. Ender is a 20 year-old digital artist with a fluffy, cute art style. They often combine their cute art style with creepy and dark colored OCs to make the perfect harmony of adorable and scary. They have commissions open via direct message, all of which are pay-what-you-want above $5. They have standard terms of service– i.e. no graphic or hateful imagery.
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Last up on the list but certainly not least is k0moji. Cloud is a commission-based artist located in the United Kingdom. They have a wide variety of styles they tend to work with and they often use brightly colored backgrounds that make the art pop right off the page. Every character they draw has a unique facial expression, different perspective, and unique rendering style, making each commission even more personalized. They take commissions via DMs, and they are very communicative and provide frequent updates. Their current turnaround times are between one and four weeks. Questions about their commissions are welcome via DM.
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This week I had the amazing opportunity to interview one of the featured artists to give us insight into the commission-based art world. I interviewed k0moji and they had plenty of insight into what art means to them.
Rave: What are your biggest inspirations in art?
Cloud: I have some Japanese art books that always keep me trying something new. The poses and rendering never fail to amaze me, I have them above my desk to flick through whenever I’m feeling a little lost creatively.
Rave: What's something you'd like people to know about your art style and process?
Cloud: It takes a lot of time to develop an art style, an art style becomes like an artist's finger print and it’s how they make their place in this fandom. Behind the scenes, I think process is just as important, it’s healthy to have a pipeline of tasks to complete a piece, but shaking it up every now and then to experiment can sometimes make all the difference.
Rave: What impact do you want your art to have on the world?
Cloud: I don’t think I necessarily want my art to impact the world, but within this fandom, I’d love to find a living in bringing people's characters to life. Producing art they want to use as their lock screens, maybe make [something]people will want to display– being an artist isn’t very out there, but it’s nice for my work to be a part of someone’s daily routine.
Rave: What's your favorite part of your process?
Cloud: Personally, for me it’s rendering. When all the sketching and flat coloring is done I can use all the references I have and watch all my work slowly come together.
Rave: Do you have a favorite medium or a favorite subject to draw?
Cloud: As a digital artist I don’t necessarily have a medium, I do however draw on procreate! I also enjoy drawing original characters whether they be people or furries, bringing something to life that means so much to another person feels like magic.
Rave: Why is Procreate your favorite?
Cloud: There is a saying with drawing software that you will use 20% of the tools 80% of the time. Procreate cuts out all the unnecessary stuff and leaves you with the tools you need.
Rave: What do you think is the best place to start as a commision-based artist?
Cloud: As of now. I’m not actually sure. [In] an ever-changing world, the algorithm is always different; I can never tell. Etsy is always a good place to start if you don’t mind some tax being taken out by the site. With Twitter, you’re only likely to get commissions if you already have loads of followers, but this is just from personal experience, go out there and test the waters!
Rave: And finally, Do you have any messages for new artists or frequent commissioners?
Cloud: To all new artists, please, please, please use references. You’re drawing a wolf fursona? Get a picture of a wolf up to show you where the muzzle needs to go, then ignore all the realistic bits but use the very basic shapes to start your drawing. Also don’t be scared to join art Discords and ask for advice, if another artist says something looks a little out of place, change it, and experiment. There is sometimes nothing more valuable than another artist's opinion. You got this, don’t worry!
Lastly, to any frequent commissioners, I wanna say a huge thank you. On behalf of me and loads of other artists, we couldn’t keep doing what we love so much if we didn’t have your support so again thank you. Communication with your artist is key no matter how long you blabber to tell them every detail about your character (looks-wise as I think some of you have some deep lore) so the artist can draw with all the information they have. Also just respect your artist, you’re not just buying a picture, but a product of a skill that took absolutely years to create.
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A special thanks to those reading and those who worked with me on this week's segment! As always, if you want to see yourself in the next Available Artists segment, please use #FurryWeekly and #AvailableArtists when you post on social media, or DM me on Instagram.
I’m excited to see you all next time for even more incredible artists!
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CONVENTION CALENDAR
Hello again, readers! I’m Shetani, your Convention Calendar host. In this issue, you’ll get the scoop on all the furry conventions and events happening online, around the world, and in your neck of the woods! There’s only one month left in the year, and plenty of furry cons are here to help you wrap up 2023 with a bang. Let’s learn about them now!
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The party’s about to start at Midwest FurFest! It all kicks off Thursday November 30 and will end Sunday December 3, once again at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, USA. This year’s theme, Snow Days, fully embraces the winter wonderland which often envelops MFF. Anyone who’s attended previously, or even browsed through con pictures from past years, can attest to the captured memories of fursuiters and non-suiters alike making snow angels, having snowball fights, and posing in a winter wonderland! Their schedule is packed to the gills with exciting activities, so check it out on MFF’s website to begin planning your fun-filled weekend. 2023’s Guests of Honor include fursuit maker Wild Acai and author/artist Jackaloo. The charity this time around is the Live Like Roo Foundation, an organization providing emotional and financial support to families whose pet faces a cancer diagnosis. In addition to a Dealer’s Den, MFF offers a unique Artist Menagerie - subdivided into the Artist Alley and Marketplace - where attendees can browse wares for sale and watch the making of art unfold live.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook | Instagram
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Futrołajki will take place Wednesday December 6 - Sunday December 10. Their venue is Hotel Conrad & Hotel Conrad Comfort in Kraków, Poland, an expansion from last year’s con to accommodate even more attendees! This year’s theme is Steampunk and Revolution, so grab your goggles and get ready for a riveting good time! Guest of Honor Przemysław Szczepańczyk will host a talk about the styles and history of beer and lead a workshop on home brewing. Registered attendees may sign into the portal on Futrołajki’s website to view the schedule, though this reporter has it on good word that programming will include a Blahaj and plushie party, game shows, a boxing workshop, and DJs, among others. A charity auction will be held to benefit Children's Oncology in Kielce and people in extreme poverty, homeless shelters, and children's homes. Attendees to Futrołajki must be at least 18 years old.
Website | Twitter | Discord | Telegram | Mastodon
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Otterdance 4 is on the horizon! This twice-yearly furry club event hits the scene at Akhnaton in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Saturday, December 9. DJs Arkifel, AlphaRacc, and Lynn Drumm will be spinning tunes, as well as a very mysterious special event! For the first time ever, Otterdance will have a six-contestant dance battle. As usual, you must be 18 years of age to party at Otterdance.
Website | Telegram | Blue Sky | Mastodon
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Furs Upon Malaysia, or FURUM, welcomes furries old and new to its 2023 convention over the weekend of Saturday December 9 - Sunday December 10 at the Armada Hotel in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Check in with Mission Control before you blast off at this space-themed furry convention. FURUM’s honored guest is the talented animator and artist Kekeflipnote. Don’t miss Keke’s panel on how to make art using their trademark and slightly unorthodox medium: the Nintendo 3DS! There’s a lot planned for the weekend, including fursuit events, art tutorials, karaoke, and meet & greets. FURUM’s charity partner is Katzen Cat Sanctuary, established by two cat-loving sisters to channel their passion and hard work into finding homes for cats. Attendees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and show certification in order to purchase registration online. On-site reg will not be offered this year, sorry! FURUM is a 13+ convention and you’ll need to show a photo ID in order to pick up your badge.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook
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We’re now entering that special time of year where you can ring in 2024 at a convention surrounded by all your furry friends! The first of these cons we’ll cover is Furvester, held at the Hotel Fortuna in Reutlingen, Germany. Four full days of fantasy await you from Wednesday December 28 - Sunday January 1. Don’t get blinded by science with their Mad Science theme, you want to be able to see all the pretty New Year fireworks! Furvester’s Guest of Honor this year is Pudge, a dancer, artist, and fursuiter from Ireland. Do you think you can guess how many fursuiters will be at Furvester 2023? How about Americans? On their website, you can find an informative “Nose Count” page, which breaks down current registrant demographics by country of origin, age, fursuit ownership, and even T-shirt size using fun bar graphs. Furvester proudly partners with the Vaihingen/Enz Animal Shelter, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact with them over the course of the con, whether at their Meet the Charity panel, participating in the charity auction, or donating to the fursuiter bucket brigade as they march around the hotel. Attendees must be 18 years of age or older to register for Furvester.
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Bewhiskered 2023 takes place from Friday December 29 - Sunday December 31 at the Hilton Hotel Near Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, USA. Avast and set sail for treasure and adventure with their Furries on the High Seas con theme! Attendees will have the pleasure of being among Guests of Honor JD Puppy and Kaptain. Start planning your weekend of fun by perusing the schedule on the Bewhiskered website, and enjoy events such as a BIPOC furs meetup, disc golf panel, intro to puzzles, pin trading, meet and greets of all kinds, and dances each night of the convention. A charity auction will be held to benefit SAFE Haven for Cats, a no-kill organization which provides sterilization, medical treatment, and adoption services.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook | Instagram
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New Year’s Furry Ball, as the name suggests, takes place on December 31 at the Embassy Suites Newark Wilmington in Newark, Delaware, USA. With a Dealer’s Den, fursuit parade and group photo, game room, charity raffle, dances, and of course a ball drop ceremony, it’s amazing how much excitement they can pack into just a few short hours! No need to worry about dinner either, as a fully catered complimentary buffet dinner is included with your registration. This time around, the theme is Unwrap a Sweet New Year, which everyone in attendance almost certainly will. NYFB has invited Delaware local fursuit maker Kimmi Cocoa as their Guest of Honor this year. The charity is I Am Me Inc., an organization offering safe social spaces with programs that uplift and unify the LGBTQ community, which attendees can support through donations collected over the evening as well as the charity raffle. NYFB is requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test.
Website | Twitter | Discord | Telegram
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As you may recall from last month’s issues, our cover artist Shiina will be at MFF in December! It sure is a big con, so please stop and say hi to her if you happen to cross paths! Remember to get vaxxed and wear your face mask when meeting up with any furs in person, and as another year comes to a close, take some time to reflect upon all you’ve experienced and accomplished in 2023.
Got questions or suggestions for Convention Calendar? Feel free to drop me a line on Twitter and the Fediverse, or hit me up at any of the other platforms linked on my website. If there’s an upcoming con you want to ensure we cover here on Furry Weekly, don’t hesitate to let me know. Have fun and stay safe out there!
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FURRY QUOTE
‘Tis the season to be jolly! Danielle here making another surprise appearance, and welcome back to a cheerful segment of Furry Quote! Christmas is right around the corner, and what a great way to dive into a Christmas themed quote. Let’s take a look.
“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.”
What did you think of when you first read this quote? Love? Joy? Happiness? These might be the first things that come to mind, but there is a deeper meaning behind it. In order for Christmas to fill the air, something has to come out of it, and that is from the heart. The true meaning of Christmas reveals itself once you feel it from the heart.
One of Dr. Seuss’s characters, the Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is a great example of this happening. For the longest time, the Grinch wasn’t fond of Christmas until he discovered what it truly meant. After seeing all the Whos down in Whoville coming together hand-in-hand around the huge Christmas tree, he realized that Christmas meant more than just presents, feasts, and holiday cheer from music. This allowed the Grinch’s heart to literally and metaphorically grow three sizes that day.
Another great and well-known example is Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. Mr. Scrooge wasn’t the friendliest towards people, but all of that changed once he was visited by the past, present, and future spirits. They showed him versions of Christmases that eventually altered his perspective of Christmas. Mr. Scrooge became a changed man and gave generously.
The magic Christmas brings is truly amazing! It’s my favorite holiday, and I’m sure many of you feel the same as well. Please do not let situations that we cannot control spoil your Christmas or holiday celebration. Never lose touch of what Christmas really means to you personally, spiritually, and/or culturally, and let your heart be filled with that light.
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This concludes this week’s Furry Quote and the last Furry Weekly issue of this year. I hope it brought you a positive vibe to lean into this holiday season.
If you have a topic you’d like to have covered or a quote you’d like to have shared, feel free to reach out to the main host of Furry Quote: Multifurse.
Thank you for reading this far, and we’ll see you all again next year! In the meantime, please enjoy the holidays with your loved ones.
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