I just want to say a thank you to every single one of you. This is a thank you to the people who have been there since the very beginning, to the people who just hopped on this train, to the lurkers who just like my art and pop away. Every single one of you supporting the species, and supporting me. Making art, designing adoptables, working on my species, it's all been amazing. My species have gotten me through so many tough times, and you guys too. Every view, every comment, every 'favorite' on my work; I hold it all very close and dear to me. I'll be the first to admit I don't have a very great real life situation. From 2016 when I first started Cherub Cats, I've had to move three times, twice because of eviction. I don't think I could have done it if I didn't have a little community to turn to. Because of you guys, I've been able to conquer a lot of my demons, and keep greeting each day with a smile.
A love letter to Cherub Cats; you guys were the first, an experiment based off of curiosity. A love letter to everything I like in design; angel wings, complex shapes and colors, and above all else, high levels of effort. You guys were the first, and the supportive community that sprung up from it just...simply amazes me to this day. The fact I was able to handmake 30 unique Cherub Cats every day in December, even with a lot of things going on, astounds me. You guys saw me through an eviction and another move; I used to upload you guys on a crummy little wifi hotspot that I had limited data on a month. But I did it anyway. I made so many good friends and met so many good people through Cherub Cats and the fans are still here today. You guys were the first, and you will always have a very special place in my heart. Without Cherub Cats, I don't think I'd have a presence here on the Oekaki or on Chickensmoothie today.
In the summer of 2017, a little pop up species named Starshines popped up. I still regard that base as one of the singular best bases I've /ever/ drawn, and the concept is something I adore. With Starshines, I actually started cultivating the foundation of what would become the community I know today; the Discord we all hang out in? That used to just be a Starshine Discord. When I first founded it, it was just myself, a handful of artists, the archivist, and a few fans. That July....it was an AMAZING month. I had so much fun designing Starshines, making friends, and seeing my little fanbase grow. It was a shame that at the end of July, I would be hit with the worst news of my life; I was being kicked out again, but this time, by someone who I had called my best friend for 8 years. I think that hit was what made Starshines go on hiatus for so long. But you survived, and so did I, and I'm so happy I reopened the species. A special thanks to KrazyKitty00, whose passion for the species months after I thought I had closed it for good ultimately made me decide to reopen it. You've been an amazing friend and helper.
And then there was Dulcets; originally just a love letter itself to my fiance. It all started from a silly little character design I did while we were on vacation, and I needed to calm down. I wanted a candy-themed species, and so, in October of 2017, I started Dulcets, my first ARPG. I had no idea what I was doing and I'm still figuring out the kinks; but once again, the species was shown such amazing love and support. Even when it was down and hardly touched for close to 6, 7, 8 months, there were still dedicated fans, loving their Dulcets. It means so much to me knowing that my silly little fawn creatures are good enough to be loved for that long. The Dulcet base is another one I consider to be one of the best bases I've made; it's versatility and high editability are something I've saught for so long in a base. I know Dulcets holds a bright, bright future.
And the youngest guys on the scene, my precious Poncho Pals. Little doodles made for fun, turned into a challenge by my fiance to make 100 of them (and we are so, so close guys). You guys LOVED them, and with Poncho Pals came such an explosion of love, support, and a rampant fanbase. It still astounds me to this day how much support you guys gave, and still give, the species. Seriously, these guys were just little doodles turned into a dare, and you guys absolutely came out and supported the hell out of them. Who knew that we'd make so many in the Halloween Gacha alone? Technically speaking, I have made over 100 of them...however, I'm saving the celebration for #100 of the main adopts
Poncho Pals has such a diverse, supportive community, and they are probably the species I have the softest spot for. Out of most of my adoptable species, they are the ones that have managed to be active the longest, and with them, I've found the strength and trust in myself to continue more species. It would be a shame not to include my other species; the little guys who are either just starting up, or don't have enough support/staff behind them for me to keep up; Kibala, Candy Raptors, Kotopips, Snowfenn, Burboofs, and so many others that haven't even left the concept stage. Don't worry. They'll get their time in the limelight, just you wait <3
And another big thank you to every single one of you. Without you guys, I wouldn't be here today. You guys have made my life infinitely better by simply liking my art. Hanging out in the discord, dropping a favorite, entering a raffle or a contest, buying that adopt, commenting kind words, participating in events, popping in to say hi, and supporting the species. I mean this...truly from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you so, so much, for everything you have done for me and given me.
