Q & A With The Artist

You know a fair bit now about the Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends... but what about their cartoonist? 

Today we'll have a little Q & A chat so you can get to know me better.  You're also encouraged to share info about yourself in the comments, as long as you're not spamming ;) 

1. What's the last dream (or nightmare) you had?  Most of my dreams are so weird that it's not always easy to recall specific details. I do often dream about being chased and trying to hide... 

2. What's your music right now?  I'm not prone to very narrow or limited music tastes, though I love classic 80s pop (like the Stranger Things soundtrack). I also love rockin' female artists. 

3. If you could have any super power, what would it be?  Well, after seeing SHAZAM! in theatres, I would want more than "just one" power :)

4. Guilty food pleasure?  Right now, it's waffles with Nutella on them. 

5. Most embarrassing moment?  A few times in elementary school, I had accidental body functions in front of classmates, and by junior high I'd developed severe performance anxiety and hated having do class presentations. I'm still blushing!

6. Where does your inspiration come from?  Well, this may sound old-fashioned in today's world of cartoons everywhere, but my main inspiration comes from a dreamer named Walt Disney. As a young man, he was considered odd and was even stolen from, but he didn't let adversity stop him from working hard and achieving his goals. Walt was admirable.

 

7. Do you have any weird habits?  Who doesn't? LOL. I sometimes talk to the TV... 

8. Where's your favorite place in the world?  I used to say Jamaica, since I got to go there once in 2015 during a nice family trip with Rob & his mum. These days, after being here 3 times, I'm going to say Las Vegas! 

9. Who is your favorite musician?  There's too many to count.

10. When's the last time you cried?  To be honest, with my social anxiety and self esteem issues, I'm brought to tears way more than I'd like to be.  It's not uncommon for me to cry sometimes after work, and at night in bed while falling asleep. 

11. Do you have any pets?  Well, the closest animals I have to a "pet" right now, is my collection of Hello Kitties... they don't need a litterbox, they don't meow for food at 3 in the morning, they don't bring up hairballs and they don't scratch the furniture :)

12. Why did you choose to be an artist for a living?  Well, much to the chagrin of most people in my personal life (I've been told to "get an actual paying job"), it's something inside that has to come out.  It's probably like asking Stephen King why he chose to write horror novels.... his mind was expanded with lots of things he was compelled to share!  And when I was a kid, my mother was very encouraging of my blossoming talent which was nice. 

13. Do you have a dream car?  While my anxiety and ADHD symptoms keep me from being able to legally drive, since my teen years I've admired Mitsubishi Lancers. I used to have a poster of a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer in a silver-blue color and I wanted to save for it.

14. How do you typically start your day?  I'm kind of lazy, so I like to sleep in, usually until around 8am or just after. Then I run our Keurig coffee maker and have a Nutella waffle, and begin working from home unless I'm scheduled at my part-time retail job. If I'm home for the day, then Rob & I usually go out on an afternoon date when he's home from work :)

15. Which was your favorite birthday?  I'm going to have to say the one where I turned 30, because Rob took us on a romantic weekend to a fancy hotel in Calgary (The Palliser). He told the gold lounge concierge about my birthday so they set up a surprise in the room by decorating it and leaving me some cake. It was so thoughtful!  Pretty well any birthday that Rob's been a part of, since he's so romantic :)

16. What are your favorite hobbies?  I enjoy sleeping, LOL. I also enjoy listening to music, dancing, playing our keyboard, hot bubble baths, and watching Frasier, ALF and Stranger Things. I also like reading "self help" books and journalling (always room for improvement), as well as drawing. And I really should get back into yoga. 

17. Do you have any catch phrases?  Well, when I do, I'm usually the last to know. For example, I used to say "that's true" in response to everything my nephew said when he was 5 or 6, because I didn't want to blurt something inappropriate and cause awkward situations for his parents. I didn't know how much I was saying it until other relatives started mocking me over it. 

18. What's one thing you'd really love to do?  I would love to go horse-back riding in a beautiful Canadian place such as Banff. 

19. Where did you grow up?  I was born & raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It's known for events like the Calgary Stampede, which has been celebrated for over a century already! Now I reside in Red Deer with my amazing husband. 

20. Daryl, what's with your unusual name?  When my mum was expecting me in the late 80s, she'd watched a movie called "Splash" which featured a woman named Daryl Hannah. So this intrigued my mum and she named me after her. I've been called "Darlene" and "Carol" and all kinds of things since people don't expect a woman to have a man's name :)

21. What's something about you that might surprise us?  Well, I used to sell Avon for 6 years and was widely known in Calgary as "Daryl the Avon lady". Prior to that, for money I used to be a model and a burlesque dancer, until about 2010. This shocks people because I still seem so innocent!

22. Do you have a favorite dog breed?  Yes - Puggos! Though all dogs are great in their own way, pugs have stolen my heart with their potato-shaped bodies & wrinkled faces :)

The Patreon page in the above video was to read Patreon.com/helpakawaiiartist  And the screaming skull sticker is no longer available as it went to a Patron. Thank you! 





Thank you for sitting with me today - I'd love to get to know you, too!  Share your favorite personal facts in the comments below!