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Copyright © 2011
Traci "Ulario" Vermeesch-Vezina
Design By
JeremyD

FAQ

About My Art techniques

Q:  How long have you been drawing?
A:  I've been drawing as long as I can remember and I've been making comic books since I was seven.  I didn't start getting serious about drawing until I was 15.

Q:  How did you learn to draw?
A:  For the most part I am self taught.  I learned by reading comic books as a kid.

Q:  What programs do you use?
A.  I use Photoshop.  More specifically, I use Photoshop 6.   I know it's an ancient version, but I find it much more user friendly for shading.  I do a lot of my fine tuning with Photoshop CS5.

Q:  Your space art is amazing!  How do you do it?
A:  All of my space art is done in Photoshop.  If you are looking for a complete step by step walkthrough on how I do it, I'm afraid I can't help you there.  There are already tons of great space art tutorials out there that use the same techniques that I do, so if I were to make space art tutorials, they'd be pretty redundant.

Q:  Who are your favorite artists?
A:  A lot of them.  Off hand , a few names come to mind.  David Finch, David Engle, J Scott Campbell, James O'Barr, Neon Dragon, Beast of Oblivion.  If you don't know these artists, check them out!

Q:  Where do your ideas come from?
A:  Good question.  My biggest influence comes from the Firefly/Serenity universe but I find inspiration from all sorts of places.  The old school Star Wars movies, Mortal Kombat, and Grimms Fairy Tales comics just to name a few.

Q:  Why don't you draw yiff art?
A:  Many reasons.  I'm not a prude by any means, but I have no interest in porn,  I want my art to be at least a little classy rather then just "fap" material, and  I choose not to give in to the "all furries are sex perverts" stereotype.

Q:  Can you teach me how to draw?
A:  The short answer to that is "no".  I simply don't have the time or desire to give one on one lessons.  However, I do sometimes teach drawing classes at the Adult Community Education Center in Essexville, Michigan.  If you live in the Tri City are of Michigan, feel free to come out!




Requests, Trades and Commissions

Q:  Will you draw my character for me?
A:  I am always open for commissions!  My rates and such can be found on my webpages!

Q:  I have to pay you?! Why won't you work for free?!
A.  Sorry, but I rely on my art to pay the bills and put food on the table.  I cannot afford to work for free.

Q:  I'm short on cash.  Will you accept something else as payment?
A:  I used to accept other items that I wanted as payment in the past, but I don't do it much anymore.  If I'm looking for something I'll post about it in my journal.

Q:  What about an art trade?
A:  I'm sorry, but I don't accept those anymore.  I've been burned too many times by people who do a half assed job on their end or don't give me anything at all as an excuse to get free art from me.  I do participate in the Fantasy Xchange, a monthly secret santa style art trade on DeviantArt, but there's no guarantee that I'd be the one drawing your character.

Q:  Will you do a collab with me?
A:  Sorry, but I don't really have much interest in collabs.

Q:  Will you draw Harry Potter for me?
A:  Sorry, but I don't accept commissions of copyrighted characters.  I can get in big trouble with the companies that own them.

Q:  Will you illustrate my children's book that I'm working on?
A:  Sure!  I've illustrated kids books before!  Just a heads up, I do ask for a certain percentage of the sales in royaly fees.  If you don't have a lot of money to do so, talk to me and we'll work something out!



Copyrights and Such

Can I print your art to post in my bedroom?
My watermarked art if free for you to download, print and enjoy.  However, if you really like a picture, I'd suggest buying a print of it!  You'd be getting a high quality signed print without watermarks and you'd help support the artist!  

Q:  Can I use your picture on my website?
A:  As of right now I'm not allowing my art on other people's sites unless it's a piece that you commissioned.  A few people have kind of discouraged me from allowing this because they asked me to include my art on their website in a way that I didn't agree with then got bitch at me when I said now, so now I'm not allowing it at all for the time being.

Q:  Can I use your art in a YouTube video I'm making?
A:  Absolutely not!  I despise YouTube.  It's the world's greatest hive of scum and villainy!  Any YouTube videos with my work in it is using it without my consent!

Q  Can I use your work as a painting in SecondLife?
A:  Once again, no.   I don't play second life so therefore I cannot see how my work is being used there.  Any of my art being used in Second Life is being done without my consent!

Q:  Can I trace one of your pictures?
A:  I don't care if you do this to learn… but I REALLY don't recommend it as you'd be learning all my mistakes!  If you do it anyways, you are forbidden to upload your traced work online!



Random Art Related Questions:

Q:  The characters you draw make me so horny!
A:  I don't really care about your sexual needs or desires and I don't just draw for you to fap to, so please have a little respect and keep comments like this to yourself!

Q:  Do you do conventions?
A:  I do deal at a few furry conventions every now and then.  I attend Motor City Comic Con and the Michigan Ren Fest every year, but not as a dealer.

Q:  I've sent you some of my drawings!  Critique them!
A:  I don't have time to give one on one lessons.  I'm sorry.



Random Questions about me

Q:  Do you have Yaoo Instant Messanger or AIM?
A:  No.  I used to use them, but found that people would try to chat with me about random things when I wanted to work.  I can't get anything done that way now can I?

Q:  ZOMG!  You're a furry?!  Does that mean you're one of those freaks who dress up in mascot suits and have sex?!
A:  First of all, I am not much of a "furry".  I draw them, but I'm not into the social aspect of it anymore so I don't even know if I could be considered one or not.  Second, that is a sterotype.  Not all furries are into the sexual aspect of it.  I am a straight, happily married human female with no interest in the sexual part of the fandom at all!

Q:  Are you single?
A:  I'm married.  And very happy in my marriage.

Q:  Will you be my friend?
A:  I know this sounds kinda weird from someone who met her husband online, but I'm really not interested in having online friends.  I just don't feel emotionally attached to people I meet online.  Don't get me wrong, I will still be friendly when I talk to people online and I do have a few clients that I really like and consider "friends".  Just think of me as a passing acquaintance.  Also, keep in mind that commissions are a business transaction.  Just because you but a commission from me doesn't mean we are friends.

Q:  ZOMG!  Furries are teh ghey! (Take this comment, change it around and add a few curse words and anti furry slurs)
A:  I am too old to argue with troll so you won't be getting any attention from me I'm afraid so you can just take those comments and shove them up your ass.  Also, if you hate furries so much then why did you look them up?

Q:  Zeichnen sie einh abbildung Ulario fur mich?
A:  I'm sorry, but I don't speak other languages so English only, plz!  However, If you speak only French and really can't do business in English I can have my husband, who was born and raised in Quebec, act as a translator.



Questions about my characters and world!

Q:  What is your story about?
A:  LOL!  If I were to explain that I'd be here for a while!  My story takes place over a 10,000 year period of time and centers around an entire galaxy!  It is a series of tales that take place in said galaxy.  I'm planning on illustrating a graphic novel about it when I can find the time, so all will be explained then.

Q:  Can I use your characters in a story I'm writing?
A:  I'd most likely say no to that only because my characters would not be represented properly in other stories.

Q:  Can I create a character out of one of your alien species?
A:  Most of my species are "closed" species and I only allow close, personal friends to make characters out of them.  It's sort of a gift that I give to friends.  However, I do have a few open species, such as the Nikomi, Ight'tia'ak and Vrias that are free for you to play with!

Q:  Can I draw fan art of one of your characters?
A:  I love fan art!  You don't even have to ask!  All I ask is that you keep everything with my characters at a PG13 rating and that they're not having relationships with your own characters.  Also, let me see the finished work!  If you're posting it on DeviantArt, let me know so I can add it to my Azure Wheel group!

Q:  Who is Ulario?
A:  Ulario the gryphon is my online avatar/mascot.  She is basically myself with wings and a beak!

Q:  You should give <name of character> blonde hair!  You should make <name of character> more girly!
A:  Last time I checked, these were MY characters!  Not yours!  I am willing to brush off a lot of things, but I will not stand for people telling me how my own characters should look!

Q:  Can you draw your character having a relationship with mine?
A:  Sorry, but no.  I just don't feel comfortable doing so, plus that doesn't usually represent my character properly.



If something isn't answered here, I do have a Formspring account for you to ask me anything.
Rude or overly personal questions asked will be ignored and unanswered!