Ry: Hello Pokecharms. It's me, your host Ry_Burst and It's time for another interview with some more notable Charmers. Today's guest is the artist behind the pictures of Bidoof, that warmed out hearts. So without further ado, come on out @Aura. Welcome to the show Aura!
Aura: Aw thanks for having me Ry. I've never been interviewed like this before so hopefully it will be kinda fun!
Ry: Anyways, glad you could make it. So let's talk about the most unloved Pokemon/ loved Pokemon, Bidoof. So what was your first impression of this little fuzzball? I was afraid of them and didn't catch them, mainly because of their giant teeth, which could probably rip me apart.
Aura: That's tough to recall since they were first revealed ten years ago or so, but I think I found them kinda derpy looking, but nothing overly special. I think the way the internet in general reacted to it was more interesting that the Pokemon itself by turning it into a inside joke of sorts. I think I like your first impression more though!
Ry: The Pokemon Special Manga only confirmed my fear of them. It makes more sense if one's has read the manga so i won't explain that one.
Anyways, so let's talk about the Bidoof in the drawing. So have you officially decided upon a gender and name. I've heard Muffin being tossed around, the name, not the actual Bidoof.
Aura: I never got around to the fourth gen stories so sadly I'm not aware of what you're talking about (I should probably work on changing that however).
I mean I personally wouldn't object to actual muffins being thrown around but maybe that's just me >> Yeah a few people suggested Muffin and I think it's a super cute name! I've started doing a new run of Pokemon X recently and caught a Bidoof there to take through the whole game - who is male for the record - and he's been dubbed Muffin. So I guess I'm getting somewhat attached to the little guy.
Ry: And from what I can tell, 'Charms loves him too.
So for artwork, what do you prefer for casual drawing, computer or handrawn? Like for just killing time, what do you prefer?
Aura: I definitely lean towards digital art these days simply due to convenience. With a computer, something that would have ruined the work, or needs to be fixed is as simple as pushing a few buttons compared to traditional art, and as someone who is very messy when drawing I really can't pass that up. It does have it's disadvantages though - it's much slower, there are certain techniques I struggle to replicate, you lose that lovely feeling of pen on paper, and being able to easily correct mistakes also allows me to be waaaay fussier about the picture than I would be otherwise. Having said that I still carry a sketchbook with me wherever I go and draw traditionally fairly frequently, it's just not my preferred medium.
Ry: Sweet! So let's talk about some of your other piece of art. What would you say you're favorite piece you've done is? Is there any pieces that stand out to you more than others.
Aura: I think the coloured version of Rainy Days is my favourite thing I've posted. I just love how the linework turned out, and how I've mixed cell shading and airbrushing in a manner I'd never done before, and just how whimsical the subject matter is. I really want to draw more things like it, but they're a huge time commitment and I often get bored of certain ideas if they take too long.
Other works that stand out are Guzma Drops His Mixtape and Monster Mash for the same reason - I think the cell shading turned out really well in them - I feel they're more detailed and interesting. I've really started to develop an appreciation for that style of shading lately so they stand out.
Ry: Interesting. Now, what piece is your favorite on this site? Is it a written work or artwork?
Aura: I really don't think written works and artworks are that comparable as I value very different things from them, so I'll just list my favourite of both if that's okay?
I'd say my favourite artwork is an old one of Stel's, Giratina: Between Worlds. I saw it years and years ago (It's dated 2009 so I guess I saw it first some time around then) and kept it as my wallpaper for quite some time. It's visually just so engaging - details everywhere! - and just the contrast in the nature of the worlds is captured so well and I love how the light bursts of Giratina as it raises it's head into the Distortion World and how Turnback Cave crumbles away and the change between forms and... Yeah there's a lot to like. The only thing that I think would make it better is if the light from the portal reflected off Giratina's scales, but otherwise it's amazing.
Favourite written work is Psycho Monkey's Rise Of Team Neos. It's the kind of story that draws you in on just how fun the main characters can be to read about, with only hints of some things being kinda off, before taking a sudden dip and going all the way down to hell. But it never loses that sense of fun and I think that's a very good thing - there's a nice blend of wacky and serious. Plus being as long as it is, it's kind of hard to not feel very attached to the characters after all of that. I've still got some issues with it, a few plot points aren't explored enough for my taste, and certain character's feel too powerful, but it's not finished so I can let those things slide. Overall it's just a fun read.
Ry: Now let's talk about nostalgia and origin stories. Everyone loves them, right? So how did you join the site? Any cool early stories you wanna share?
Aura: Oh boy do I have a story alright. You know when you get a dumb crazy idea that has like so small a chance of working that it's not worth it but you do it anyway and it pays off? Yeah. So when I first got into RPing on the internet when I was like, eleven or something, I started on these forums called Pokemon Journey. I got really attached to it, lots of fun people, lot's of fun RPs, that kind of stuff. And one day I went to log on annnd the site was gone. Completely nuked from the web with no explanation. I was pretty upset about it, so I came up with a plan. I remembered all these people having these cool looking trainer cards with a website name on them and figured that maybe, if I hung around on that site, someone would find me again. The odds of that happening are pretty small though - they'd have to deliberately venture into the forums (not the TCM), recognize my screen name, and somehow figure out it was the same person right? Well, it worked, a year later one of my friends contacted me on here, and had put up forum to replace the old one. But by that time I was pretty attached to 'Charms anyway, so I still hung around here (although I did have a long break for a while) and yeah, here we are almost ten years later.
Ry: Ten Years huh? So in a sense, you're a site veteran. So here's a question. Have you broken any rules here and if so, about how many.
Aura: Kinda - my account has existed for ten years, but I've probably only been active for... maybe six of them? And ahahaha yeah you caught me >> I broke the "No legendaries without mod permission" rule years and years ago. I'd either forgotten about the rule in my excitement with the RP idea, or was being naive and thinking "if you've read one forum's rules, you've read them all" (spoiler: no), and posted a RP involving legendaries as plot devices without asking for permission. Twice >> While the second one was active I promptly realized my mistake and deleted the thread in a panic. I never got in trouble for it though, although I really have no idea how I managed that. I really should have taken an armblade to the face at some point.
Ry: Well let's not tell Stellar. Unless he reads this interview.........
Anyways, lets move on to things that won't cause us to lose limbs.
So, with being alive on the site for six years, who are the biggest insipirations for you. People you admire, or respect overall.
Aura: If he does read it... well I accept my fate.
Wow this is really hard. I don't seem to find inspiration for myself in other people. I've never really found anybody that I'd call a role model or that I want to be like... I guess I figure out what I aspire for in other ways. As for who I respect... well I think it's important to respect everybody. Having no respect for someone feels like the first step towards dehumanizing them, which doesn't have good results... Yeah sorry for abstract responses, I really don't know how to answer this...
Ry: Well then. At least, it's an honest answer. Moving back around to Bidoof Chronicles. So did you expect the responses you got to, Moon uppercutting the poor Bidoof. It seems like the comments around it exploded.
Aura: I kinda expected it to do a little better than usual, because from my observations easily accessible humor tends to do rather well here, but not to the extent it did. I guess people either really like slapstick, or Bidoof.
Ry: Both is also a strong possibility. So Aura, what's next on your agenda. Do you even know or are you just kinda following the flow of stuff?
Aura: I really just do whatever I feel like at the time, there's no structure to it. I have some ideas at the moment which could be fun, but whether or not I finish them is a completely different story.
Ry: Well Aura, it was great for you to join me today. And that's all for today's episode of 'Charms Insider. And I would recommend you check out some of Aura's artwork, like the ones of Muffin. Ry_Burst, signing out.
Aura: Aw thanks for having me Ry. I've never been interviewed like this before so hopefully it will be kinda fun!
Ry: Anyways, glad you could make it. So let's talk about the most unloved Pokemon/ loved Pokemon, Bidoof. So what was your first impression of this little fuzzball? I was afraid of them and didn't catch them, mainly because of their giant teeth, which could probably rip me apart.
Aura: That's tough to recall since they were first revealed ten years ago or so, but I think I found them kinda derpy looking, but nothing overly special. I think the way the internet in general reacted to it was more interesting that the Pokemon itself by turning it into a inside joke of sorts. I think I like your first impression more though!
Ry: The Pokemon Special Manga only confirmed my fear of them. It makes more sense if one's has read the manga so i won't explain that one.
Anyways, so let's talk about the Bidoof in the drawing. So have you officially decided upon a gender and name. I've heard Muffin being tossed around, the name, not the actual Bidoof.
Aura: I never got around to the fourth gen stories so sadly I'm not aware of what you're talking about (I should probably work on changing that however).
I mean I personally wouldn't object to actual muffins being thrown around but maybe that's just me >> Yeah a few people suggested Muffin and I think it's a super cute name! I've started doing a new run of Pokemon X recently and caught a Bidoof there to take through the whole game - who is male for the record - and he's been dubbed Muffin. So I guess I'm getting somewhat attached to the little guy.
Ry: And from what I can tell, 'Charms loves him too.
So for artwork, what do you prefer for casual drawing, computer or handrawn? Like for just killing time, what do you prefer?
Aura: I definitely lean towards digital art these days simply due to convenience. With a computer, something that would have ruined the work, or needs to be fixed is as simple as pushing a few buttons compared to traditional art, and as someone who is very messy when drawing I really can't pass that up. It does have it's disadvantages though - it's much slower, there are certain techniques I struggle to replicate, you lose that lovely feeling of pen on paper, and being able to easily correct mistakes also allows me to be waaaay fussier about the picture than I would be otherwise. Having said that I still carry a sketchbook with me wherever I go and draw traditionally fairly frequently, it's just not my preferred medium.
Ry: Sweet! So let's talk about some of your other piece of art. What would you say you're favorite piece you've done is? Is there any pieces that stand out to you more than others.
Aura: I think the coloured version of Rainy Days is my favourite thing I've posted. I just love how the linework turned out, and how I've mixed cell shading and airbrushing in a manner I'd never done before, and just how whimsical the subject matter is. I really want to draw more things like it, but they're a huge time commitment and I often get bored of certain ideas if they take too long.
Other works that stand out are Guzma Drops His Mixtape and Monster Mash for the same reason - I think the cell shading turned out really well in them - I feel they're more detailed and interesting. I've really started to develop an appreciation for that style of shading lately so they stand out.
Ry: Interesting. Now, what piece is your favorite on this site? Is it a written work or artwork?
Aura: I really don't think written works and artworks are that comparable as I value very different things from them, so I'll just list my favourite of both if that's okay?
I'd say my favourite artwork is an old one of Stel's, Giratina: Between Worlds. I saw it years and years ago (It's dated 2009 so I guess I saw it first some time around then) and kept it as my wallpaper for quite some time. It's visually just so engaging - details everywhere! - and just the contrast in the nature of the worlds is captured so well and I love how the light bursts of Giratina as it raises it's head into the Distortion World and how Turnback Cave crumbles away and the change between forms and... Yeah there's a lot to like. The only thing that I think would make it better is if the light from the portal reflected off Giratina's scales, but otherwise it's amazing.
Favourite written work is Psycho Monkey's Rise Of Team Neos. It's the kind of story that draws you in on just how fun the main characters can be to read about, with only hints of some things being kinda off, before taking a sudden dip and going all the way down to hell. But it never loses that sense of fun and I think that's a very good thing - there's a nice blend of wacky and serious. Plus being as long as it is, it's kind of hard to not feel very attached to the characters after all of that. I've still got some issues with it, a few plot points aren't explored enough for my taste, and certain character's feel too powerful, but it's not finished so I can let those things slide. Overall it's just a fun read.
Ry: Now let's talk about nostalgia and origin stories. Everyone loves them, right? So how did you join the site? Any cool early stories you wanna share?
Aura: Oh boy do I have a story alright. You know when you get a dumb crazy idea that has like so small a chance of working that it's not worth it but you do it anyway and it pays off? Yeah. So when I first got into RPing on the internet when I was like, eleven or something, I started on these forums called Pokemon Journey. I got really attached to it, lots of fun people, lot's of fun RPs, that kind of stuff. And one day I went to log on annnd the site was gone. Completely nuked from the web with no explanation. I was pretty upset about it, so I came up with a plan. I remembered all these people having these cool looking trainer cards with a website name on them and figured that maybe, if I hung around on that site, someone would find me again. The odds of that happening are pretty small though - they'd have to deliberately venture into the forums (not the TCM), recognize my screen name, and somehow figure out it was the same person right? Well, it worked, a year later one of my friends contacted me on here, and had put up forum to replace the old one. But by that time I was pretty attached to 'Charms anyway, so I still hung around here (although I did have a long break for a while) and yeah, here we are almost ten years later.
Ry: Ten Years huh? So in a sense, you're a site veteran. So here's a question. Have you broken any rules here and if so, about how many.
Aura: Kinda - my account has existed for ten years, but I've probably only been active for... maybe six of them? And ahahaha yeah you caught me >> I broke the "No legendaries without mod permission" rule years and years ago. I'd either forgotten about the rule in my excitement with the RP idea, or was being naive and thinking "if you've read one forum's rules, you've read them all" (spoiler: no), and posted a RP involving legendaries as plot devices without asking for permission. Twice >> While the second one was active I promptly realized my mistake and deleted the thread in a panic. I never got in trouble for it though, although I really have no idea how I managed that. I really should have taken an armblade to the face at some point.
Ry: Well let's not tell Stellar. Unless he reads this interview.........
Anyways, lets move on to things that won't cause us to lose limbs.
So, with being alive on the site for six years, who are the biggest insipirations for you. People you admire, or respect overall.
Aura: If he does read it... well I accept my fate.
Wow this is really hard. I don't seem to find inspiration for myself in other people. I've never really found anybody that I'd call a role model or that I want to be like... I guess I figure out what I aspire for in other ways. As for who I respect... well I think it's important to respect everybody. Having no respect for someone feels like the first step towards dehumanizing them, which doesn't have good results... Yeah sorry for abstract responses, I really don't know how to answer this...
Ry: Well then. At least, it's an honest answer. Moving back around to Bidoof Chronicles. So did you expect the responses you got to, Moon uppercutting the poor Bidoof. It seems like the comments around it exploded.
Aura: I kinda expected it to do a little better than usual, because from my observations easily accessible humor tends to do rather well here, but not to the extent it did. I guess people either really like slapstick, or Bidoof.
Ry: Both is also a strong possibility. So Aura, what's next on your agenda. Do you even know or are you just kinda following the flow of stuff?
Aura: I really just do whatever I feel like at the time, there's no structure to it. I have some ideas at the moment which could be fun, but whether or not I finish them is a completely different story.
Ry: Well Aura, it was great for you to join me today. And that's all for today's episode of 'Charms Insider. And I would recommend you check out some of Aura's artwork, like the ones of Muffin. Ry_Burst, signing out.
