Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can you draw me a picture?
A: Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I am not currently taking on new clients. If you let me know several months in advance of your deadline, I may be persuaded to make an exception, but I can't guarantee anything.

Q: What about licensing of existing images? Can I use the art on this site for my book/CD/other product?
A: Most of the art on this site is available for commercial licensing, for a reasonable fee. Please use the contact form to inquire.

Q: What materials were used to make these drawings? Where can I get them?
A: I buy my art supplies from Curry's. Unfortunately, they no longer ship outside of Canada, but most major art shops should carry the materials I use. I like these nibs, especially the Drawing Nibs 100, 101, and 108, and just about any standard pen holder. I use Winsor & Newton watercolour inks, generally mixed with Speedball Super Black india ink, to make warm or cool blacks. Paper-wise, I use Canson Mi-Teintes paper in various colours (my favourite is Sand). All these materials are very cheap, so even a beginning artist can afford them. Make sure you buy plenty of nibs--they are very delicate, and tend to lose their point after a few thousand strokes. I go through 2-5 nibs per drawing.

Q: How long does it take to draw one of these pictures?
A: The smaller ones can be done in a few hours, but the larger ones can take anywhere from a couple of days to a week. It all depends on how long it takes me to get the sketch to look the way I want it. If there's one piece of advice I could pass on to younger artists, it would be this: no matter how many colours and lines and intricate squiggles you add, a bad drawing is still a bad drawing. Get it right from the get-go, or you won't get it right at all.

Q: What happened to all the digital art? Did you get tired of Photoshop?
A: Yes. Yes, I did. I got tired of Photoshop. Sometimes, after working on something for a very long time, you realize you're not getting what you wanted out of it. At that point, it's best to move on, even if other folks think it's weird. (Hey, this is my world of weird, right here. It says so at the top of the page. I'm entitled to my weirdness.) At any rate, I've got nothing against digital art--it's just that it wasn't ideally suited to the way I work, or the ideas I was hoping to convey. I also had trouble getting used to drawing on the tablet while looking at the screen. It wasn't a good match, no matter how hard I tried.

Q: We're having a rat convention/art show/charity auction--can you come?
A: I probably can't come in person. But if you let me know well in advance, I may be able to send you some art. Just use the contact form to get in touch, and I'll write back as soon as possible.

Q: I love this site, and I think I'd love a pet rat too. Any advice for a new rat owner?
A: Rats are brilliant pets, but they're also very susceptible to certain health problems, such as cancer and respiratory disease. Please read up on proper rat care at rmca.org and the Rat Fan Club site before picking up a rat of your own.

Q: What's the deal with copyright? Can I use these images for stuff?
A: You may use any image on this site for any non-commercial, non-political purpose, as long as it's unaltered. (Proportional resizing is OK, but I'd prefer you leave it at that.) Credit must also be given to me, as well as a link back to this site, where applicable. Please don't write and ask if you can use my work to make e-mail stationery, PSP tubes, or clipart--if you plan on altering the images in any way, the answer is no.

Q: How about if I'm a fellow artist, and I'd like to try my hand at colouring one of these pictures? Can I do that?
A: Yes--that's the one exception to the "no alterations" rule. Feel free to colour any of the lineart on this site, as long as it's for personal enjoyment only (no making a profit off my work, unless we've come to an agreement to that effect in advance). If you need bigger versions to work with, let me know and I'll see what I can do. My one request is that you always provide credit to me, as the original artist, whenever you display your colouring work. I'd rather you didn't try to pass it off as entirely your own.

Q: Who are your favourite artists?
A: I have a lot of favourites. My biggest influences, at this precise moment, are Michael Hague, Arthur Rackham, and Albrecht Durer, but I'm also very fond of James Browne, Stephanie Law, Linda Bergkvist, and many of the artists at Epilogue Fantasy Art.

Q: Can I link to this site?
A: Sure thing! You can either use the banner provided below, or just use a text link.

LINK TO GORBLIMEY.COM