sykntired

[sykntired]

You mentioned that your creations live in several separate worlds. Do any of those worlds have deities, ghosts, mythical creatures or other similar beings?

They exist in Saria’s world, though they’re still extremely rare! The Kitsune (scary fox monster from Jim’s comic) is a magical being who eats children and absorbs their energy to stay alive. Whim is the ghost of Bo’s best friend - his spirit can’t rest in peace until he’s certain Bo will be okay without him. Generally, spirits don’t linger unless they have unfinished business on earth.

Dragons and unusual animal hybrids exist in all my characters’ worlds. Dumberry is a dragryph, Murray is a catfish monster, Neverwell is part ring-tailed cat and part Japanese badger! Oh, and there’s Emaline, of course, who is half goat, half fish.

There are no ghosts in Jo’s world, but many people believe their deceased loved ones can visit them in dreams. Jo has communicated with Clem in this manner more than once!

[sykntired]

Does anyone know what happened to Neverwell?

Neverwell tends to come and go as he pleases. It isn’t uncommon for him to vanish for weeks (or occasionally even months) without warning.

Besides his parents, only a handful of people take notice of Elliott’s disappearances!: One of them, of course, is Jo. She worries herself sick when he doesn’t visit for long stretches of time, and begins to obsessively check the tree in her back yard for signs of activity (fresh cigarette butts, fur, apple cores, etc.). A plate of food is always left out for him just in case he returns!Another person affected by Neverwell’s mysterious vanishing acts is Maggie, though she’s... less concerned about his well-being and more frustrated by the fact that he never takes the time to say goodbye to her before leaving. She doesn’t understand his need for space and takes offense whenever he suddenly departs without a word.

The truth is, Neverwell never strays too far from home. He always keeps an eye on his loved ones, even if they don’t know it!

[sykntired]

What is Syk's backstory?

You know, I’m not completely sure :D There’s a lot about Syk I still haven’t learned! Here’s what I do know:

- Syk’s childhood was unremarkable; not the best, but far from the worst- She’s a lot like both of her parents - they weren’t bad people, but they did have very short fuses- She has at least one older sister she whom still visits once or twice a year- Syk was independent from a young age - she always wanted to live alone, so finally escaping the family burrow was a dream come true for her!- She doesn’t live too far from the place where she grew up; it takes about half a day of traveling on foot to get there. It’s nice to go back once in a while and see some familiar faces- Syk has a pretty good life! She really doesn’t want for anything. She leads a solitary life, but she’s never been a social person, so it’s ideal for her :) 

I’m sorry I don’t have more information yet, but I hope these little tidbits help!

[sykntired]

Which bits of your characters do you enjoy drawing the most? Are there any aspects of their appearance that you find particularly hard to draw?

Paws! Paws are always my favourite part to draw of any character. Most of ‘em have long, floppy feet ‘cos I like that kind the best, hahah. I don’t have a paw fetish or anything, just think they’re really cute! I also enjoy drawing Saria’s bangs, Syk’s tail fluffy tail, and Jeanie’s mouth. Ohh, and Dumberry’s barrel chest is fun too! In general, I struggle with ears, eyes, and bodies. I have a heck of a time drawing Syk’s face; she never looks the same twice and that bothers me a lot! I usually have to redraw eyes like 10 times before I’m ‘happy’ with them (they’re often crooked/not placed on the face correctly!). I have a similar problem with snouts, especially Syk’s since hers is a bit longer than my other characters’! Drawing chubby characters like Jeanie and Jo is tough for me too, so they don’t get as much attention as they deserve D: Something I’d like to get better at is using different shapes in my characters’ designs. I feel like my current characters are all way too similar (same hair, eyes, and mouths especially!). 

[sykntired]

Tell me more about your less known characters! (You can choose which ones - could be anyone you'd like to talk about, actually.) What are their interests and most prominent personality traits? What do they like or hate the most? Where do they live? What inspired you to create them or what made you adopt them? (That's a lot of questions again. Can't help it!)

These are all excellent questions, I’m glad you asked! I’ll pick a few random characters, but feel free to let me know if there’s anyone in particular you’d like to know more about!!Radio: I created Radio back in 2009 and planned to use him in a series of comics that I never got around to making. He was the leader of a gang of outcast felines who called themselves ‘street mules’ (based on the sound one of my cats made - mewl!). I didn’t realise at the time how close it sounded to ‘drug mules’ haha. Whoops! Anyway, Radio’s appearance was loosely based on our cat Thom who passed away in 2002. We used to call the spots on his upper lip “beauty marks” and I made sure to incorporate those into Radio’s design! I named him Radio because 1) he wore the knob/dial from a busted old radio around his neck and 2) his ears were long like a radio antenna! I suppose you could say his ears are his most prominent physical feature, though he’s also a bit self-conscious about the tip of his tail - it’s bald for some reason!Personality-wise, he’s nothing like Thom. Radio is usually a grump, kind of bossy, and has zero tolerance for goofing off. The real Thom was patient and affectionate and loved playing!Originally, Radio was going to live in a junk-yard, but now I’m not so sure.. He and his friends were once house pets who were abandoned for one reason or another and fate happened to bring them together! I actually sold one of the members of his gang to someone on Furaffinity a couple years ago and I’ve been too sad to think about these guys ever since hahah. I would like to do more with them some day though!_________Puggsley:Created in 2008! I drew inspiration from Pugsley Addams both for his design and personality (and, uh, name). I’ve been obsessed with the Addams Family since I was very young and Pugsley was always my favourite! Creating a character based after him was bound to happen someday. What kind of animal is Puggsley? Nobody knows. He and his siblings look like a cross between a chinchilla and jerboa with a little bit of elemental magic sprinkled into the mix as well. Puggsley can create and control fire which is very unfortunate for the rest of the world. Luckily his twin sister Gretchen is there to keep him in check! She can create and control water & ice, so the two don’t get along very well.Puggsley is deathly afraid of water - it won’t hurt him, he just doesn’t like it (and he doesn’t know how to swim)! As a result, his sister has to find creative ways of tricking him into taking a bath. Most prominent physical features are his swirly ears and mane, and his stripes! Most prominent personality traits are his mischievous nature; love of playing practical jokes on others, his shrieking giggle, and his loyalty to his siblings (even though they don’t usually get along!). Family is important!_________Pudge:Also created in 2008! Pudge is sweet, though a bit dense. He means well, buuut he’s clumsy. He eats too much, buuuuuut he’d share his last morsel of food with a hungry mouse. Poor Pudge is a mess!!Pudge’s close friends are able to overlook his imperfections because deep down, they know a kinder, gentler soul doesn’t exist. He may have an unhealthy relationship with food, but he’s also incredibly generous - happy to share with anyone who asks. He’s sensitive, so his feelings are hurt easily. He doesn’t handle rejection well.Pudge’s design was definitely inspired by Jim’s characters (whom I had just met!), but I was also very much into Don Bluth at the time. His most prominent features are probably his big tummy, ear tufts, unique facial markings, and snaggletooth!Most prominent personality traits would be his innocent, almost childlike behaviour, his desire to help others (even though he usually just messes things up more!), and his sensitivity. _________Shaantu:Designed by @Quaggyart, adopted by me in February 2018. I haven’t talked about him much, but I like him a lot already! He’s Indian and his full name is ‘Shaanthava’ (the hindi words for ‘calm’ and ‘wind’ combined). Shaantu has dreamed of traveling the world since he was a child, but those dreams aren’t likely to come true anytime soon. There are several things holding him back, but the biggest one is his loyalty to the people in his village - all of whom he considers family. Shaantu is young and strong, so there are many people who depend on him daily! He’s afraid something bad might happen to his loved ones if he left. His most prominent features are his coat pattern and his big paws! He likes working outside, playing with the children in his village, and going to the nearest city with his neighbours to hawk their wares. He’s stayed in the city overnight once or twice to help them pan for gold in the sewers. It was disgusting work, but exciting for him all the same!Most prominent personality traits: Shaantu is loyal to a fault, tends to blame himself whenever things go wrong. He’s also very openminded and curious about the world around him!_________These are just a few of my lesser-known characters, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you! If you have questions about a specific character, I’d be happy to answer them! Hope this helps, and thank you for the ask :)

[sykntired]

Who was your first character ever?

Ohhh, great question! The first character I ever created was a tuxedo cat named Rocky! I was only 4 or 5 at the time, but I still remember exactly what he looked like. He had big pie eyes, scruffy cheeks, and wings that looked like leaves (I don’t think he could actually fly, I just thought they looked cool when I was little hahah)I wish I could share some of the original artwork of him, but I think it’s all been thrown away :( I might draw him again someday just for the heck of it though!

[sykntired]

Scents you asked...

Most of them don’t smell very good. Jolee:  - She spritzes her clothes with perfume to mask her skunk-y odour. Smells like green tea with a hint of musk. May also smell like baked goods after working in the kitchen. Syk:  - A combination of musk, wet leaves, curry powder, and fish. Off-putting at first, but you grow to love it over time. Shaantu:  - Warm sand, sweat, and lemongrass. Heavily spices his food, so his perspiration may smell of garlic, turmeric, cilantro, cumin depending on what he’s eaten. Dumberry: - Root beer and baby’s breath. Her friends say she smells like root beer flavoured hard candy, but with a strangely sour undertone. Murray: - Spearmint gum, stale cigarette smoke, and chili powder. Always carries gum and hard candies in his pockets to share with friends.

[sykntired]

Trope you don’t mind (Part 2)

Pirate Saria: - Big Eater: Habitual excess in eating, a.k.a. gluttony. - Fearless Fool: Not scared of anything, even if it's dangerous. - Commitment Issues: Doesn't wanna settle down in a relationship. - Hates Being Touched: Dislikes physical contact. - Leeroy Jenkins: Rushes into dangerous situations without thinking, often getting themselves or others hurt or worse. - Jabba Table Manners: Has no or poor table manners. - Mood-Swinger: Has unstable emotions and acts unpredictably. - No Social Skills: Ignorant of and confused by social customs. - The Prankster: Very fond of playing pranks on others. - Rebellious Spirit: Possesses a immense desire to resist authority, control, or convention. Neverwell: - Drowning My Sorrows: Deals with sorrow by getting drunk. - Brilliant, but Lazy: Has talent, but no drive to apply himself/herself. - Cannot Spit It Out: Unable to voice his or her true feelings. - The Paranoiac: Pathological cynicism and mistrust of people and situations. - The Eeyore: Perpetually depressed; perpetually depressing. - Forgets to Eat: Notorious for ignoring their body's need for nutrition and has to be reminded to eat. - Hates Small Talk: Dislikes making small talk with others. - Loser Protagonist: Whether it's because of circumstances within their control, or outside of it, they are considered a "loser" by the standards of the society and culture in which they live. - Socially-Awkward Hero: Is more afraid of social situations than of actual dangers to life and limb. - The Quiet One: A person who isn't very talkative.

[sykntired]

Trope you don’t mind (Part 1)

I’ve been reading TV Tropes a lot lately - specifically the character flaws section, and it got me wondering... Which of them apply to my own characters?

Jolene:

- Love Martyr: Willingly endures misery and abuse for love. - Maternally Challenged: Not very good with kids. - I Work Alone: Inclined to do things by themselves; dismissive of others' assistance. - Insecure Love Interest: Firmly believes they're not good enough as a Love Interest. - In Love with Love: In love with the idea of being in a romantic relationship. - Hates Small Talk: Dislikes making small talk with others. - Graceful in Their Element: Nimble in their field, awkward outside it. - Etiquette Nazi: Obsessed with enforcing manners on everyone. - Bystander Syndrome: Thinks that any given crisis isn't important and doesn't require their help because they're not personally involved and have no desire to get involved. - Workaholic: Compulsively works hard and long hours.

Syk:

- No Social Skills: Ignorant of and confused by social customs. - Hair-Trigger Temper: This character will get extremely angry for many particular provocations — or has never learned how to control his/her temper. - Control Freak: Obsessed with control over themselves, other people and their environment. - Determinator: Excessive persistence in a course of action, even when it would be better to give up. - Don't Look at Me!: Extreme dislike of being looked at. - Forgetful Jones: Incredibly forgetful. - Hates Being Touched: Dislikes physical contact. - Sleepyhead: Chronically drowsy. - Jabba Table Manners: Has no or poor table manners. - Nervous Wreck: Panics over the slightest thing. - No Object Permanence: Inability to recognize that an object continues to exist even when you can't see, hear, or touch it.

[sykntired]

Hello again! I was still checking this blog from time to time, hoping to see it revived - I'm glad it finally happened, your characters are like friends to me! Could you say something about their affiliations? Who knows who? Do they get along or not? How many separate worlds are there? (Sorry for the avalanche of questions, I got excited!)

Oh wow, I’m surprised (and very flattered!) to hear that :D I had almost given up hope on ever getting back into this blog, but I was finally able to reset the password this morning! Thank you for sticking around!! Absolutely no need to be sorry!This is a question I love to ponder, so thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk about it! I’m gonna begin by sorting my characters into groups to make things a little easier:A)- Jolee- Clement- Maggie- Neverwell (?)- Scotch- MurrayB)- Saria- Jay- EmalineC)- Dumberry- Unnamed aardwolf character- ArdonD)- Harass- MidgeflyE)- SykF)- Sofia/”classic” Saria- VioletG)- Jeanie- Lee- KitsuneThose are most of my characters. The ones I’m currently focusing on, at least! I may occasionally draw (or allude) to characters from different groups interacting, but it’s not canon! Group “A” is set in a parallel universe populated by anthropomorphic animals - not unlike Zootopia. There are no humans in this reality, just walking, talking animal-people. They go to school, drive cars, get jobs, raise families, etc. Their world is very similar to ours in many ways! I should also point out that Jo’s story takes place in the present! They have access to the same types of technology as us, so it wouldn’t be unusual to see a weasel using a smart phone, or a cat on their tablet.Group “B” is set in a completely different universe from group “A”. One that combines elements of both the past and present. For example, Jay and Saria might dress in modern-looking clothes and live in modern-looking homes, but nobody drives cars or talks on cell phones. If you need to travel long distances, you take a boat. Just watch out for pirates! They very much still exist in this universe. I’m still working on group “C”, so I can’t share much about these guys yet! Sorry! They may end up being merged with another group at some point, but right now there’s too much I’m uncertain about.Harass and Midge (group “D”) are special; the planet they live on is inhabited solely by elephants. There are many unique elephant ‘races’, and they’re as culturally diverse as humans! Different races may have their own languages, religions, customs, social struggles, etc. Group “E” is kind of complicated... Syk lives in a world populated by all sorts of unusual creatures. Some have developed the ability to walk on two feet and use tools like humans. Others are just regular animals! However, unlike group “A”, none of them are smart enough to talk or use advanced technology. They may construct crude dwellings made of rock/mud/sticks, cook with fire, and cover themselves to keep warm, but they’re far from civilised! They still mostly rely on their instincts and react like animals when threatened.

Pretty much anything goes in group “F”. Humans, animals, and humanoids co-exist in this universe. Beyond that, I don’t really know! These characters could probably appear in other universes just for the heck of it. There really are no rules.The world Lee and Jeanie (Group “G”) live in is heavily based on my own reality, in that humans are the dominant species and most animals lack self-awareness. Kitsune is an exception! Humans don’t believe in magical/supernatural beings even when they have strange experiences they can’t quite explain. It’s possible there are ghosts/demons/mythical creatures in this universe, but proving they exist would be difficult!SO, to answer your question, there are at least 6 different universes set in various time periods. Outside of their own groups, nobody knows each other (Sofia and Violet miiiight be an exception, not sure!). I don’t think they all even exist at the same time, haha. Oh, and there’s a question mark next to Neverwell’s name because I’m not sure he exists at all anymore :X Just in case you were wondering!Hopefully that clears some things up for you! Thank you for your question :D

[sykntired]

One of your latest drawings got me wondering! Do Jolee and Syk get along or not? Do they know each other well? Do they live in the same neighbourhood?

I apologise if I’m late answering this question! I haven’t had access to this blog in almost a year and none of the questions in my inbox are dated, so I’m not sure when they were sent! This is a great question, though, and something I’ve been meaning to touch on for a while now!I originally planned for Syk and Jolee to exist in the same universe, and they would not have gotten along very well at all. Syk’s insatiable sweet tooth would lead her to hang around outside Jo’s house all the time, begging for sweets like some sort of creepy sugar addict. She’d pester real, paying customers, sometimes even threaten them if they didn’t share their purchases with her. Jo would chase her off with a rolling pin or giant wooden spoon, but before long, Syk would come back. I later decided I didn’t like that idea for a number of reasons, so it’s been scrapped!Jo and Syk no longer live in the same universe. Here’s why!: The world in world Jolee resides is populated by animals that can talk, walk on two feet, wear clothes, drive cars, etc. Think Zootopia! You’ll never see Jo walk on all fours or or spray someone like a real skunk. She’s basically a furry person!Syk is a bit more complicated. She can do many of the same things as Jo: walk on two feet, eat with her hands, shower, etc. But she’d never be able to drive a car or get a job or communicate with others using spoken language! It felt weird to keep Syk, who has more in common with a real polecat, in the same universe as Jo, who is more similar to a human than skunk!Hopefully that makes sense, and sorry again for taking so long to reply!

[sykntired]

Weather you wanted to know or not

My characters’ favourite seasons/types of weather!: JOLEE Season: Autumn Type of weather: Stormy Preferred temperature: Between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit  CLEM Season: Summer Type of weather: Sunny Preferred temperature: 70 degrees and up JAY Season: Spring Type of weather: Foggy Preferred temperature: 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit SARIA Season: Summer Type of weather: Dry Preferred temperature: 70 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit  SYK Season: Winter Type of weather: Overcast Preferred temperature: Between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit

[sykntired]

What’s on the menu?

Ever wondered what each of my characters typically eats in a day? Let’s find out! SYK Breakfast: Maple-flavoured oatmeal with banana and peanut butter Lunch: Blackened tilapia Snack: Reese’s peanut butter cups or seafood salad Dinner: Crab cakes and a side of potato salad Dessert: Molten lava cake JOLEE Breakfast: Chocolate chip waffles topped with whipped cream Lunch: Reuben sandwich and kettle-cooked jalapeño chips Snack: Ham, pickle, and cream cheese pinwheels Dinner: Hearty beef and mushroom stroganoff served over rice Dessert: Hot banana pudding CLEM Breakfast: Honey-cinnamon applesauce  Lunch: Chicken noodle soup Snack: Chips or cinnamon powdered donuts Dinner: Cheese pizza Dessert: Ice cream bars JAY Breakfast: Sugar-y cereal, or cold pizza Lunch: Canned peaches Snack: A cigarette and a glass of chocolate milk Dinner: Double cheeseburger with fries Dessert: Chocolate moonpie SARIA Breakfast: Bacon and sausage with a tall glass of orange juice Lunch: A turkey drumstick she filched from a street vendor’s cart Snack: Fresh garbage  Dinner: Glazed ham and candied sweet potatoes  Dessert: The cake from an unlucky child’s birthday party

[sykntired]

Could you describe each of your characters' homes? Or - for those who don't own any form of a "house" - the location they usually hang around? I know it's an odd question and you don't have to answer it at all, but I'd love to know!!

This isn’t an odd question at all! It’s a GREAT question, and one I was overjoyed to find in my inbox. I tried not to include too many details in my answers because I like leaving things open to others’ interpretations, but hopefully this gives you somewhat of an idea :D

Syk: She lives in a series of underground burrows connected by tunnels. The entrance is in the knothole of an old hollowed-out tree. From there, a ladder leads you down to the main area of the house. The floors are dirt (with a few dusty, mismatched rugs here and there).The furniture is mostly wooden; some pieces have been cobbled together using stolen materials. Think Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers, just on a larger scale.

In the summer, she prefers to stay in her burrow where it’s nice and cool. She’ll venture out close to dusk, but she’s back home before the sun rises. She’s less elusive during the colder months.She doesn’t have running water, but she does live near a creek, so finding water for bathing/cooking isn’t an issue. The creek is also a decent source of food for her: fish, mushrooms, frogs, etc. Jolee: Unlike Syk, Jolee lives in an actual house - a cute two-story bungalow in a quiet neighbourhood. The exterior is painted a light shade of yellow - bright and cheery, but not obnoxious.

Inside, the house is compact and cozy. The kitchen and living room have been merged together to save space, but this fusion also serves another purpose: it gives customers a comfortable place to wait while Jo puts their orders together in the bakery. She can keep on eye on them from the kitchen as she’s working! Her kitchen is modeled after my mom’s kitchen, actually. I can’t take a photo right now, but I will soon, and when I do I’ll edit this post since I know this is probably difficult to visualise.

The interior of the house is decorated with lots of cheap trinkets and unusual-looking knick-knacks, carefully arranged on shelves of all shapes and sizes. The walls are probably a neutral colour... Possibly beige, or cream, or maybe even olive green. Something that’s easy on the eyes.

Her bedroom is small, but not cramped. Enough room for a big bed and a dresser! I like to imagine the decor is mostly food-themed. She probably has pizza and donut shaped pillows all over the bed. Also Clem's jacket! She sleeps with it every single night.

Pirate Saria:

She knows she's always welcome to stay with her brother and his friends, but Saria prefers to be on her own. She doesn't have her own house, so I'll talk about some of her favourite hang-outs instead.

The beach: Saria found a small, secluded beach on one of her adventures and has regularly returned to it since. There are several massive rocks here she likes to climb on and an empty cave in which she stashes her 'treasures'.  She also met Emaline on this beach!

The marketplace: Even though she doesn't like socialising, she still occasionally likes to be among other people. She finds them entertaining. There are probably tall palm trees surrounding the marketplace, and I imagine she perches atop them and watches folks come and go. Sometimes a merchant will spot her and chase her off because she has a reputation for being a thief.

Jay's house: Saria and Jay share an unusual relationship. He's laid-back, smug, and considers himself to be God's gift to women everywhere. Saria is more like a wild animal. She hisses, scratches, bites, and really isn't interested in dating anybody. Yet somewhow they're together! Ideal? No. Hilarious? Yes.

Jay's house is already in a hideous state of disrepair thanks to his slovenly lifestyle. His neighbours wish he'd die, but when they see him bring Saria around, they want to die instead. She has a knack for taking a bad situation and making it a thousand times worse. At least Jay isn't loud for the most part! When Saria comes to visit, she can be heard yowling, hissing, and spitting at the most ungodly hours. Once a vase went through the window at 3 in the morning. Another time a neighbour spotted her running around on the roof like a maniac. Where was Jay? WHY DOES HE ALLOW THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN.

Jay:

Jay doesn't work, but he never seems to be short on cash due to his stupidly good luck. Too bad he doesn't recognise the value of a dollar! His money is frittered away on useless things that end up broken in a week anyway. The house he lives in, at one time, had the potential to make a nice home for somebody. Instead, Jay moved in and destroyed it.

He lives in an affluent neighbourhood, but isn't well liked by his neighbours. They've done everything in their power to make sure he knows he's not wanted there. Unfortunately for them, Jay is totally oblivious. His lawn is overgrown and full of trash. The front porch is littered with cigarette butts and fruit roll-up wrappers. The inside of the house is decorated with broken appliances. His fridge doesn't work (and smells awful!). His diet pretty much consists of unheated poptarts, snack crackers, and Chef Boyardee straight from the can.

Don't feel sorry for him, though. He thinks he lives like a king.

These are my 'main' characters, but I may edit this post later to include others once I've had some time to think about it! Thank you for the question!