Category: Uncategorized

Why cats?

Cats are not my favorite animal. HOWEVER, they translate REALLY WELL into comic form because they are easy to draw, easily recognizable, and very easy to emote with because their entire body is made of a liquid-rubber substance. With fur.

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They are also very entertaining to watch and get to know… Cats can act as cool and calm as they want, but they are such slaves to instinct and they need people way more than they pretend to. Really, they’re a great analog for human life and relationships, which is perfect for a comic about my very human life portrayed by anthropomorphic animals. 

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Exaggerating expressions and reactions is helpful for cartoon art; it’s more believable than the very subtle expressions that real people generally use in normal situations. But since drawings are symbols, the opportunity to really sell the emotion is there. Cats alternate between the extremes naturally already, so why not?! 

Plus fuzzy things are great. 

Why cats?

Cats are not my favorite animal. HOWEVER, they translate REALLY WELL into comic form because they are easy to draw, easily recognizable, and very easy to emote with because their entire body is made of a liquid-rubber substance. With fur.

image

They are also very entertaining to watch and get to know… Cats can act as cool and calm as they want, but they are such slaves to instinct and they need people way more than they pretend to. Really, they’re a great analog for human life and relationships, which is perfect for a comic about my very human life portrayed by anthropomorphic animals. 

image

Exaggerating expressions and reactions is helpful for cartoon art; it’s more believable than the very subtle expressions that real people generally use in normal situations. But since drawings are symbols, the opportunity to really sell the emotion is there. Cats alternate between the extremes naturally already, so why not?! 

Plus fuzzy things are great. 

why the scar on gabkitty’s cheek?

THIS… is actually asked a lot. It’s not a scar, it’s just a marking that would not normally occur in actual animals. At least, not asymmetrically like that. 

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It IS a reference, though, as most of the designs in Dangerous Cute are… and no, it’s not the Nike swoosh, it’s actually the scar on Ashitaka’s cheek from Princess Mononoke. Ashitaka is one of my favorite characters of all time… I wish I was as badass and as good a person as he is. 

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This is also not the first time that I’ve used that scar as a symbol in character design, either… Back when I roleplayed on Pokemorph MUSH all the time, I had a character named Laura who was a reverse-morph Sandshrew, and had a similar scar. 

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She was fun to play and had, of course, a super angsty backstory… I’ve since recycled her for use (as her original human self) in other stories; notably as one of Bunny’s cabin mates in my current novel, The Champions of Summer. She also shows up as a minor character in the garbage aLDfM project. She does not, incidentally, reflect the ideals and personality of Ashitaka. Alas! 

So there you go! 

why the scar on gabkitty’s cheek?

THIS… is actually asked a lot. It’s not a scar, it’s just a marking that would not normally occur in actual animals. At least, not asymmetrically like that. 

image

It IS a reference, though, as most of the designs in Dangerous Cute are… and no, it’s not the Nike swoosh, it’s actually the scar on Ashitaka’s cheek from Princess Mononoke. Ashitaka is one of my favorite characters of all time… I wish I was as badass and as good a person as he is. 

image

This is also not the first time that I’ve used that scar as a symbol in character design, either… Back when I roleplayed on Pokemorph MUSH all the time, I had a character named Laura who was a reverse-morph Sandshrew, and had a similar scar. 

image

She was fun to play and had, of course, a super angsty backstory… I’ve since recycled her for use (as her original human self) in other stories; notably as one of Bunny’s cabin mates in my current novel, The Champions of Summer. She also shows up as a minor character in the garbage aLDfM project. She does not, incidentally, reflect the ideals and personality of Ashitaka. Alas! 

So there you go! 

But FIRST… a MEME

Tagged by @skyedream75 (thanks, btw!)

Name – Melissa, but call me Gab. It’s shorter.

Date and Location – November 25th in Salt Lake City, Utah

Sexual Orientation – Demi (and firmly attached to a v wonderful guy)

Place that makes me happy – SIMPLY SUSHI… AND MOVIE THEATERS. Also Barnes & Noble as long as I have starbucks and money. Okay p much I love going to movies and out for dinner and I like some shopping as long as it’s fun browsing in a quiet place.

Favourite movie – It’s a tie between Jurassic Park and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Lion King and Moulin Rouge are also up there. 

Wearing – Some kind of… green shirt blouse thing for work and jeans because I am not at work anymore. Also my reading glasses because I stupidly got a laptop with high res display even though I’m very far-sighted. 

Last book you read – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Not even sure why I read it, but I did. Before that it was Shiver. 

Tag ten people you want to get to know better!

@cloverkite, @mamodewberry, @artsyfartsywhatnot, @trypchangeling, @anyahatesbunnies, @pixel-spooky, @askashapeshifter, @lemurcat, @popcornfrommars, @podunkmouse + anyone else who wants to!

But FIRST… a MEME

Tagged by @skyedream75 (thanks, btw!)

Name – Melissa, but call me Gab. It’s shorter.

Date and Location – November 25th in Salt Lake City, Utah

Sexual Orientation – Demi (and firmly attached to a v wonderful guy)

Place that makes me happy – SIMPLY SUSHI… AND MOVIE THEATERS. Also Barnes & Noble as long as I have starbucks and money. Okay p much I love going to movies and out for dinner and I like some shopping as long as it’s fun browsing in a quiet place.

Favourite movie – It’s a tie between Jurassic Park and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Lion King and Moulin Rouge are also up there. 

Wearing – Some kind of… green shirt blouse thing for work and jeans because I am not at work anymore. Also my reading glasses because I stupidly got a laptop with high res display even though I’m very far-sighted. 

Last book you read – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Not even sure why I read it, but I did. Before that it was Shiver. 

Tag ten people you want to get to know better!

@cloverkite, @mamodewberry, @artsyfartsywhatnot, @trypchangeling, @anyahatesbunnies, @pixel-spooky, @askashapeshifter, @lemurcat, @popcornfrommars, @podunkmouse + anyone else who wants to!