Hello friends!

First I'd like to start that the storm has calmed and I am fine. Things have been pretty good, other than...well, getting hurt on the job yesterday. My job called me back for another temp month (still hoping they decide to keep me) so I've been busy working my butt off. But what happened was, long story short, I went to have lunch, sat in a broken chair, it collapsed under me, I fell backwards and hit my back and head. I went to urgent care (because I was hurting), got numerous X-Rays, and I seem to be fine. A little sore but that should go away in a few days or weeks. I go back in a few hours to be re-evaluated to see if I can return to work. I hope I can return on Tuesday. So that's why I haven't been working on the last few items I still owe, including trades. I do hope to finish it all up before January's end, because I have big plans for this year. But with new plans also comes changes, so please read carefully, especially for those of you who want to buy certain fetish works.

After some time of reflection, I have come to realize that I'm not really...reaching my potential as an artist. Why? Because I'm mostly drawing themes I'm not enthused about. Not even necessarily the character designs, just...simply put, certain fetish themes and ideas, it's not what I imaged myself doing with my talents. Now, I'm not saying I hate anyone or have any prejudice against anyone who likes these things. I respect that each individual has their own likes, and they are entitled to enjoy them. This is mostly about me finally being in a place where I can focus more on doing the things I really love, and working with subjects I can enjoy more to produce better works of art. Certain themes I have worked with, some frequently, have been a staple for my customers and I don't want to just be known for certain specialized fetish works. I still want to do certain adult themed images, but only the ones I enjoy and feel I can do well enough to give you something worth your money. I feel like most of my gallery does not reflect, in any way, my full potential as an artist. And I'm sure you all know that the things you enjoy working with tend to come out better than the ones you just do for income (and also because I love making people happy).

As most of you know, I has to take on an absurdly large stack of commissions in 2013/2014 to help keep myself floating, fed, and taken care of. 2015 was my year of self-realization, taking time to re-find and re-center myself to enlighten my life in a more positive way. With 2016 here, and finally becoming settled, gaining myself back, my confidence and all else, I can finally focus more on my future and what I want to become in my lifetime. **I realize that the cycling of taking on these commissions that I am not passionate about has been draining me, slowly, and making my lose self-confidence about my talent and feeling unworthy to call myself a good artist. The issue lies with my discomfort of fulfilling these items. As much as I do love making people happy, I can't keep doing this at the expense of my own mental health. ** It's mentally draining, psychically exhausting (from having to force myself to finish these items), and there's many other wonderful artists out there who I know would gladly create these things that I no longer wish to do for you.

I can't thank any of you enough for putting faith into me during my time of crisis. To trust a stranger to complete a service, when you have no idea when, or if, it ever would be finished. All of you are wonderful, kindhearted people who kept me going when things were really dark. I hope none of you feel guilty for asking these things of me, as I promised you I would hold my end of the bargain. Now that money is less of a concern (always a concern, but no where near as dire), I feel I can finally chose what kinds of commissions and items I will draw, so I can become the best artist I can be.

As of 2016, these will be my new changes, once all previous commissions are done:

1 - No more super fatty character art
UNLESS it's part of the character's design and not just for fetish. Like Jabba the Hutt. Although I would prefer to stay away from these characters, as they have been central to a majority of my commissioned art in the past. Basically just no erotic/sensually themed fat fur art.

2 - No more Vore art
Not something I did a lot of, but it's not something I want to continue doing for various reasons. The only time you will ever see vore is if it is part of a sequence, generally logical, but will more so reflect animals eating animals in nature, and no internal shots - no more fantasy "I'm somehow alive in your belly" sort of things.

3 - No more art depicting intercourse as commissions.
Also not something I did a lot of, but pornographic items that depicted 2+ characters having sex were incredibly hard to draw, and I don't want to become just a smut artist. Lewd, sure, but not straight up porn. If I ever do another adult piece containing sex, it will likely be part of a story or comic and now just for fap materials (lol). It may be something I do here and there but no longer as a commission-able thing. I don't want to just be a fetish artist.

4 - No diapered characters that are not age appropriate to wear it.*
I have gotten several requests for this and ever only once did it. Was really, really uncomfortable the whole time.

5 - No more inflation or weight gain art.

6 - No more images depicting non-humanoid genitalia, if applicable.
(unless it's part of a joke or satire, but this would be incredibly rare)

7 - Pretty much no more unmentioned fetish artworks.

I may add to this list but right now these are major ones I can think of that are hindering my art progress.

Things I would like to focus on:

• Anatomy practice
• Humans
• Actual animals
• Creating full images with background that are more adjusted to my likes
• NSFW pin ups
• Fan Art
• Creating tangible items you can buy
• more regular, cool, cute, and badass clean art!
• Much more!

As a final note, if you haven't already, please -- SAVE YOUR IMAGES FROM MY GALLERY. I WILL BE NUKING MOST OF IT FEB. 1ST.

I hope this year, you guys who have been such avid watchers/supporters will still continue to support me in my work, doing new things that I feel more comfortable doing. Fan arts, prints, plushes, maybe starting a comic, creating more character designs and all the fun things that aren't strictly 18+. Of course, for those of you who enjoy nude pin ups or the like, like I do, these will also be a part of my gallery. I don't want to be central to just furry porn and fetish works. Furry art, anime art, and all that will still be in my gallery. I hope also this to be my first year to sell at a con! :)

I really look forward to overhauling my gallery, and I hope this year I can improve much, much more. Thank you to all of you who supported me then and now, who have been there for me through everything, and who will continue to support me as I pave my way to a more profession career path.

Thank you to all of you, you are all amazing people. I look forward to whatever this year may bring.

Sincerely,
Lucina W.
a.k.a
Serge Akiyama, your loveable sharkess.[/center]