FAQ

For digital art I mainly use Photoshop CC, Paint Tool Sai and my beloved Wacom intuos 4 L tablet. I also experiment with Krita and Clip Studio every now and then.

For traditional art, I am basically able to use any kind of mediums and techniques, but mainly my favorites are:

> Random mechanical pencils: currently Pentel e-click 0.5. These are the pencils I do most of my traditional sketches with.
> Faber-Castell kneaded eraser
> Watercolors: I have two sets of watercolors, one of St.Petersburg watercolors that I mainly use (since they have such a nice pigment) and also a smaller set of Winston and Newton watercolors I mainly use for more light colored pictures.
> Derwent graphic pencils from 9B to 9H - so the whole scale
> Edding Drawliners and Pigma Micron liners - basically all sizes, my favorites for inking.
> Indian Ink and Winston and Newton inks
> Derwent colored pencils and watercolor pencils
> I also do acrylic paints, oils paints, gouache colors, oil pastels, pastel pencils, charcoals and very veeery rarely Promarkers.

> My sketchbooks are usually whatever random pads I get my hands on (Silvine Sketch pads currently) and for watercolors I use high quality watercolor paper or gravure paper - other than that, I simply pick the paper to match the tools I'm using.

2. Do you take requests?

No, I don't take request. I simply lack the time for that, for I know there would be tons of requests did I ever open them. The only exception are my livestreams where I might randomly draw requests for viewers present - yet those occasions will never be announced beforehand and the topic of the requests is mainly of my choice.

3. How many original/fan characters do you have?

At the moment my whole cast would be around 60-90 characters, I haven't yet counted the full amount. Yet currently only 38 has been listed, since the rest are either lacking pictures and/or names.
My main crew however consists of 8 lunatics, who adventure in my art in many various stories and forms.

4. What brushes do you use?

Normally I use only the very basic PS/SAI brushes - and when in need of special brushes I usually make them myself.

5. Do you roleplay?

Yes, rarely, but yes I do. But I only roleplay privately with close friends whose OCs I know well enough. I'd simply feel too awkward with roleplaying with a person I don't really know - I appreciate the ramdon people asking, but unfortunately public roleplays are no no for me. I tend to be rather protective over my characters and also consider roleplaying be more fun with trusted friends only. My roleplaying style is also very conversation based - I prefer just having a couple of characters changing thoughts via conversation, rather than extreme action and lots of storytelling.

6. When did you start drawing?

I've been drawing my whole life, literally. My parents have told me that I have been drawing since the moment I could hold a pencil. I only started with digital art at the end of the year 2012, yet I've been a member of DeviantArt since January 23, 2011.

7. Where do you get inspiration from?

Meh, I don't really know - everywhere I guess. Music inspires me, my friends inspire me with their craziness, I get inspiration from taking long strolls in a wintery forest or funny moments in my life. Naturally I also draw inspiration from animated movies (I love to bits), books (that I read tons every year), tv-series, cartoons and other artists in DA.

But most of the time my inspiration is totally unpredictable and shoots me with ideas that seems to come out of nowhere.

8. Where do you get ideas for your Transformers designs?

Usually I first have an overall idea of a character (personality, alt mode etc.) and a design or just a part of it (e.g interesting idea for a shoulder plating) just pops in my mind and I draw it - adjusting the rest of the design and character as I go. Sometimes I see an interesting car or vehicle and get inspired by it.

But most often I just doodle - random little doodles and trying out all kinds of things, that sometimes end up as designs. Yet almost always - I draw ideas based on my characters personalities.

9. Can I use your drawings/characters for ____? (Roleplaying, DeviantID, profile picture, Facebook, etc)

Simple - NO, you can't!

My art and characters are not available for free use and all the rights are reserved to me and me only! All the pictures in my gallery are done with hard work and all my characters are my loved babies so I reserve the all the rights to them - and also reserve the right to forbid their usage from other people.

The only exception really are commissions or pictures that feature other people's characters or that I've drawn as gifts - even then, the art is only for personal use of the commissioner or characters' owners and I still require the decent credits given to me as the original artist.  

So you are NOT allowed to edit, crop, repost, trace, sell, copy or anyway use my art! Neither are you allowed to use my characters, roleplay with them, alter their designs or borrow parts from them!  

10. Can I use your drawings for pose and/or design reference?

I'm happy if my art inspires people and I definitely don't mind people taking reference of my drawing tips or coloring for example. But with other kind of referencing - I want a permission to be asked first!
Because referencing is not tracing or copying - for reference is something you can't spot in your picture. There should never be a visible link in between the original reference picture and your final picture. Tracing the pose or copying parts of a design or a pose or a picture is not referencing - but stealing.  

11. How old are you?

I was born in 1991 - so currently I'm too old.

12. How can I contact you?

Best way to contact me is via DeviantArt note or ask a question in my Tumblr blog
Instagram is also a handy way since I hang out there quite often.

13. Have you thought of making an original story to go with your original characters?

Naturally I have. I have one Transformers storyline in TFP universe featuring all my own characters.

I also have 8 different storylines for my human OCs (who were originally based on my TF OCs - but who are currently totally different OCs with their own stories and personalities). My main storyline takes place in close future and mainly focuses on the life stories of my main crew of eight.
The rest are more of less fun stuff that originated from random ideas - I have AUs of high school, pirates, mermaids, fantasy, magic, postapocalyptic future...

14. What's your favorite music type?

My music taste is totally random - seriously, it makes no sense. Generally I love instrumental music, movie soundtrack and anything that is cheerful and happy, but I also do like rock and all the old classics and at times I do enjoy some heavy metal too (in small doses). I'm also a huge sucker for gospel, 80s music, kids songs and ballads. Best way to get to know my taste of music is to take a look at my playlists.

1. Curious Playlist
with all the randomness
Part 1 (A - L) sta.sh/01q0qy9kw3pw
Part 2 (M - Ö) sta.sh/028ukw33952k

2. Suomi Playlist
all the awesome Finnish songs
sta.sh/021fuc6copja

3. Instrumental Playlist
Instrumental music and all the soundtrack music added
sta.sh/01w3c83st21a

Yes and no. Naturally most of my skills I've gotten with constant practice, but when it comes to traditional art I have a life-long art education behind me. I was put to an art school when I was four and there I learned all kinds of material and techniques. I went there until I was 15 and then went to an art high school. And right after high school I was accepted in an art university where I graduated from as an art teacher. 
When it comes to digital art I'm totally self-taught.

16. Are you taking art lessons?

Currently, my work as an art teacher takes most of my time so I'm most often hosting the lessons rather than taking them myself. It would be awesome to go on figure drawing classes more often.

17. Do you prefer working digitally or traditionally?

I love both. Currently I've been mainly working on digital art for it's so new to me still, but I could never abandon traditional art - I still love sketching and watercolors to bits, so I simply can't choose.

18. How long did it take you to develop your drawing style?

I have a style? o.O
Let's say, it has taken me my life to get where I am now and will take the rest of my life to get where I want to be. Style is not something that will be fully developed one day - it's something unique that makes you you as an artist and that can only blossom with constant practice and hard work.
I consider style being more of your personal touch of flow in your art that you naturally have - and currently I'm very happy and content with mine.

19. Do you have any tutorials?

Yes I do - and they can be found here:
curiouscucumber.deviantart.com…

20. Can we be friends?

Generally I'm all open and I love to meet new people and getting to know them! I love making friends and being in contact with people online. Yes, I'm very friendly to all, so generally I'm friends with everyone and you are always free to come to talk to me.
BUT it takes a lot to get into my inner circle! Developing deep friendship takes time and trust and effort - and sometimes it just works and sometimes it won't. Few comments here and there are not enough, but to be my friend you need to be active.
I would love to be close friends with aaaall the people in the world, but please understand that I simply don't have energy to do that. So know that I always take my time with choosing who I let close and who I will simply keep as regular online friends.

21. May I draw your characters?

Yes, you are most allowed to draw my characters - IF you give me the proper credits and naturally link the picture to me so that I can admire it too!
Also the picture needs to friendly! I will never want to see my characters in pictures that are unfriendly or include stuff like porn, slash, yaoi/yuri, hate, killing, horror or anything like that! I also wish that you will respect my characters personalities and also the pairings I've put them into.

22. Can you help me with "x" drawing?

Of course ^^ I'm always open to help aspiring artists so never hesitate to come to me with questions or need for tips.
Also I highly recommend you to check out AuxiliaryArtists-group, where I'm one of the teachers. There you can find help and tips for your own art and sign up as a student if you wish to be taught privately.

23. Can I use your lineart/sketch works as templates/bases?

No. You can't use my art for templates or bases.

24. Can I color a lineart I commissioned from you?

With the commissioned piece of art you are allowed to do whatever you want (except for reselling it or claiming the art as your own) - so of course you are allowed to color the lineart you paid for. And naturally I'd love to see it too! 

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I will add more facts if some occurs