- FAQ -
Due to the loads and loads of neomail I get, I'm putting together this little FAQ page. Please read through this before neomailing me. If there's a question that's not here that you think should be, feel free to let me know!
Q. Who are you?
A. I am known as Asphydel, or sometimes Asphy for short. I played Neopets every day for a few years, though now I just stop by occassionally to feed my pets, play a few games and follow the current plots going on. My current gaming obsession is World of Warcraft and I play on Ghostlands (US) as an Undead Mage named Asphydel.
Q. Can I have one of your pets/Will you trade?
A. Absolutely not! I worked hard to get all my pets and their colors and their names. They each have a personality and story and I will never give them away or trade them for other pets. Please, please stop asking!
Q. You're a good artist.
A. Thank you! But that isn't a question... But to clear things up, I've been drawing since about the age of seven and have wanted to be an animator since then. After attending CCAD, I decided that illustration is much more my thing. I graduated college in May 2005 and am currently seeking employment in that field.
Q. Will you draw me _____?
A. Sorry, I just don't have time. If you have non-copyrighted characters and would like to commission me, then maybe.
Q. Will you make me a userlookup/pet lookup/pet page?
A. No. I only make lookups for myself, and just barely. In fact, since they changed the way the layouts look and the coding you can and can't use, I really wouldn't even know how to anymore.
Q. Why didn't you answer my neomail?
A. I usually won't respond if the answer is already here. I won't answer people who beg or ask for free things, who ask for my pets, who ask to trade pets, etc...
Q. What do you use to draw/create your images?
A. I actually get this one a lot, so I will write it here so I won't have to answer it again! I almost always draw my pictures on paper first, with a pencil. Once it's how I like it, I ink it with a Micron pen, .02 for small, detailed things, .05 for bigger things and thick outlines. Afterwards, I erase all the pencil marks, which leaves behind a nice, clean inked piece. I then scan it, then color, ink and effect it in Adobe Photoshop. Sometimes I experiment and play with other programs too, but Photoshop is my main one.
Q. Can you teach me how to draw/color like you do?
A. I also get asked this a lot, and the only advice I can really give is to keep practicing! I know it's probably the same answer everyone says, but really, drawing over and over and over again, you really start to get good after awhile. Try drawing from real life things, or photos of real life things, such as your friends, your pets, even toys.
Q. Do you RP?
A. I used to long ago, most of my older pets have some sort of story and personality, but I just don't have the time to dedicate to that anymore. My newer pets are just really for looks and because I think they are fun to draw.
Q. How in the world did you get a draik!?
A. Actually, five of them: Kedavre, Mellowosity, Asphydel, Aratisil and Araril. But I did what everyone else does and earn neopoints by playing games, entering the Neopets contests and restocking. Then I go find an egg or a trans potion for sale and purchase it. Any more questions regarding how I got my draiks and got neopoints for them will henceforth not be answered.
Q. How did you paint all your pets those colors?
A. Most of my neopoints come from Art Gallery wins, so I either use the paintbrushes I get from that or I sell them to get the ones I do want. Otherwise I play lots of games and try my hand at restocking every now and then.
