Today is my Birthday!

 Hi everybody!

So I'm 33 today... it feels kind of surreal.  This is my first actual "Covid birthday" - the pandemic really hit our neck of the woods about 3 weeks after my last birthday.... I was able to get my nails done and then meet my husband for lunch. 

This year it's different... but in lighter news, I have a day off work.  I can do anything I want today, from baking yummy cookies to enjoying a hot bubble bath and at-home spa day! 

I really enjoyed drawing the above image the other day, starting with awkward pencil ovals, and next thing I knew, it was already inked and I was doing the best part - coloring it in!  (Especially the candles!)

See the closeup artwork video on Instagram

And for a gift this year, the "animals" and I would really appreciate some new Patrons:

Thank you, and hope you are having a lovely day!  And here's to an awesome weekend!

xoxo,

Daryl J.

We Have a New Website!

 Hello lovely Zoo'd fans.... 

If you've been watching our Patreon page, then you may already be aware that the "animals" & I have had a goal of funding a real website, for the last couple of years now...

Well, with the support of a super-star Patron named Franz, we've been able to achieve that goal! 

What a fantastic way to bring in 2021! 🎉

Without further ado, let's watch this video which showcases the website:

My First Facebook Live

 Hi everyone  ┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘

So as you know, the Zoo'd "animals" have their own Patreon page, and for the very first time ever, I did a facebook live video about some items we have up for bid. 

To make it easier, I'll start by showing the items for you to have a look at them...

And now here is the video (from my facebook)

Thank you for your continuous support of the Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends - enjoy!

The New Theme Song!

Hi everyone (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

In early July, I announced on Patreon that the Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends were getting a theme song!

Now, after a few short weeks of creating on the keyboard, writing lyrics, practicing, recording and editing - I've gained a lot of respect for the efforts of music professionals. 

And with my audiophile husband Rob's help, I've released a home-made theme song! Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ


🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵  🎵


The above video (and song, of course!) was inspired by the cutesy 1980s themes, like The Never Ending Story, Care Bears, My Little Pony, and others that have captured hearts for generations!

April Fools with the Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends

Hi everyone!

If you happened to see our Patreon post on April 1st, then you've seen this image:

You know by looking, that something about them seems kind of... odd. But maybe it's hard to place.


So here is how they've been drawn differently:

• Unicat and Rabbird switched: now Unicat has wings and Rabbird has a horn.
• Parrofly has Zebat's stripes, and she has his colorful wings.
• Beever and Octomouse, who are the smallest, are now the hugest!
• In the same way, Dogosaur and Elefox, who are the biggest, are now tiny.
• Pandaroo is very small now... between Slowan and Rabbird.
• Penguana is red instead of green.
• Slowan is wearing Froogle's hair, leaving her nude, lol.

Thank you for being a fan, and for checking out our Patreon page (link at top of this post). Even if you don't pledge, you can always share. It's free, easy & fast. And much appreciated.  

Here's to, hopefully, a better April than the March that this world's had.

How To Pronounce Our Names

Recently, I had posted on Patreon, a promise of a video to make some of these weird names easier to say.  

Some of them, like "Beever" are easy as pie!  And others, like "Slowan" are a little more challenging...  so this video is for all of you:

Just have fun with it... enjoy!

Where to Find More

Hello sweet friends!

It recently occurred to me that you, the readers of this blog, might not know where all you can find the Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends online.  I just wanted to let you know that, aside from this blog, we've got about 4 social media sites (including a fun YouTube channel), a fundraising platform with Patreon, an actual site via Wix (hence the fundraising to get a real domain name) and 3 online stores where you can get everything from magnets and greeting cards to Tee shirts and leggings, coffee mugs, cell phone cases, coloring books... you get the idea!


So that's why I put together this handy reference chart for you:

You do not need to go & visit every single one of those sites right now - but if you ever decide to watch one of our YouTube videos, join our facebook group (which has free giveaways sometimes), buy yourself a Zoo'd coloring book, or even pledge support (in exchange for coloring pages) at our Patreon page, this is designed to show you where you can find us.  Thanks! 😊

🎃🧛👻🦇👾🌕 🎃🧛👻🦇👾🌕 🎃🧛👻🦇👾🌕

And if you're as excited about Halloween as I am, then you also may like to know about the Halloween wares I've made available to you, such as adult coloring (rated 14+ due to a more mature content), varying Tee shirts & apparel, and most recently: Halloween greeting cards, magnets and buttons! 

Enjoy!

Stranger Things x Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends

Hello!

  





Are you here because of this Instagram post? 


If you've been looking at our social media (including our Patreon page) and the post here on this blog, from August 14, then you've seen a little contest asking you to identify what 2 characters BFFs Unicat and Rabbird are dressed up as....

Are ya ready for the answer now? 




Rabbird is Nancy Wheeler, and Unicat is Max Mayfield - both from Stranger Things season 3.  Those who could guess correctly would win a free copy of Zoo'd's first-ever coloring book.  I'm sorry that you didn't win that, but here is a free coloring page of Eleven from season 3.  Just download/save & print, and you're ready to have fun!  I wouldn't mind seeing your finished work uploaded on our facebook group. 

Stay tuned to this blog to see the REST of the 12 characters as Stranger Things season 3 characters - I had so much fun doing this project! 

Can You Get This Riddle?

Hi everyone! 👋

How's it going?  

Have you read the last post about our Zoo'd Patreon page yet...?  😉

Hopefully you're back now from reading the last post here on this blog, about our Patreon page. Did you happen to see the guessing game there?


It goes like this.  You look at this image of BFFs Rabbird & Unicat, and try to figure out who they are in costume as. Yes they do look familiar... and if you're a super-fan of a certain, something....well, you may be able to guess immediately!

What's in it for you?

Great question, glad you asked!  If you correctly guess both the first & last names of both characters, and tell me where they're from, you'll win a free copy of the original Zoo'd Coloring & Activity Book (available on Etsy).  They will be revealed later on, so you want to get guessing now before you miss your chance to get free printable fun 😄 

Please email your answer to renstimpy1234@gmail.com

This might help you:

😊 😊 😊 😊 😊 😊 😊 😊 

Our Patreon Commercial

Hi everyone!

Many creative types - whether visual artists, musicians, dancers, authors, etc. - use Patreon as their fundraising platform to help keep up with their operating costs.  Sure, their loyal fans & followers happily pledge support, but what does this mean to everyone else?

For the general population, I made a video "commercial" in a familiar format to better understand how our specific Patreon page works:

Basically, the $1 tier gives you a monthly coloring page, access to exclusive posts, and a 40% discount code to my Etsy shop.

The $5 tier gives you all that, plus if you request a custom illustration of yourself or a loved one, I can draw you in any (cartoon) style - and you can now get funny behind-the-scenes voicing video bloopers!

The $15 tier is coming soon, and will grant you access to everything above, PLUS you can get featured in the upcoming Zoo'd web comic.

The $30 tier has EVERYTHING from the above tiers, and grants you Zoo'd merch as well 😊

This is our specific Patreon page, for helping the animals grow & flourish. You're getting rewarded for helping us:

• Pay for a yearly arts council membership
• Upgrade artistic skills with courses
• Afford supplies to make more illustrations
• Pay for the copyright (which was the best $50 I ever spent - thank you!)
• Be able to invest in a domain name to improve this website

Thank you! 😊

Officially Copyrighted - A Video

Hi everyone 😍

It's been an awesome past few weeks!  As you already know, the Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends recently got copyrighted, so now as their cartoonist (and "mother"), I'll be putting out a lot more projects soon 🎉


On Friday, June 21, my hubby Rob & I hosted a wine & cheese soiree to celebrate this professional success and career milestone!  It went rather well...

And as per their very own YouTube channel, I put up a celebration video, which helps explain a little more about these zany cartoon animals:

We love when you show your love for us on Patreon!

Are you brave enough to take their trivia challenge?  They've been online since 2017 - how much do you already know about the hybrid animals? 

Download your copy here

Exciting News

Wow, I just... wow.  

That was the feeling that washed over me the other evening when Rob brought in the mail and handed me a large envelope from the federal government.  It was official.... my application to have the Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends copyrighted under my name, was approved!

APPROVED!!  I felt like I was floating for a moment, and then when I snapped back to my unique form of reality, I jumped around & squealed for a few minutes. Maybe not the best choice, considering it was late evening and we live in a condo. Anyway...

Now that the Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends have been declared mine by Intellectual Property law, I have some pretty big plans for them.  There were some things I was holding back on, since I didn't want a run-in with someone stealing my work, or accusing me of stealing theirs.  Now that these characters are legally in my name, watch for things like children's books and even plushies! 




They will all still be available as coloring books and a trivia quiz on Etsy, as well as Tshirt designs, stickers and more on RedBubble! 

And of course, nothing has changed for Patrons - you'll still get your monthly thank you rewards.

Stay tuned to our YouTube channel for more voiced videos coming soon! 

Anyway, it just really blows my mind that now these cute and goofy animals I've been creating now for a couple of years, are legal. Wow. Thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with me 🧡

New Trivia Game

Guess what, guys?  After some time Planning questions, Writing & editing, Coming up with a layout, and Editing all that....

The animals have their own Trivia Game, available exclusively on Etsy! 

• It has 52 questions - many of which can be answered just by browsing this blog 😎
• It's a printable PDF file, downloadable exclusively from Etsy for only $5.99 CAD 
• After printing and cutting out your score sheets and player's cards, it's played by 2-6 people, taking turns choosing one of the questions (in any order, just look at the number for the answer key later).
• There is no time limit to answer a question - if a player is struggling, they can quickly check this blog or anything else they can find online about Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends. Please keep the Answer Key for when it's really needed 😊

• Each question is worth one point and if they player answers correctly, they can put a tally mark on the line next to their name. 
• The game ends when all 52 of the player's cards have been read out loud & answered; the player with the highest tally of correct answers next to their name, wins - YAY 🎉

See the Patreon post here

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! 

Cute New Tee Shirts on RedBubble

Hi everyone!  


It's a rainy evening, and we've got the window open to enjoy the sound of water falling... maybe something about that is inspiring?

Today there are 12 more options for super kawaii tee shirts on RedBubble, as [with the advice of my friend Cahlyn] I drew each of the Zoo'd characters with water color pencils, and then digitally added a description for each one with their name 😸



Here they are...



Loosely based on the goofy and outgoing nature of my husband Rob, Dogosaur is loud and drools a lot, but he's friendly and loves a good time.  He is voiced by Rob.

He is sort of "down" sometimes, and as a person who suffers from anxiety & depression IRL, I created him as a nod to people who suffer from these feelings too.  He's very smart and is a deep thinker. He's also voiced by Rob. 

He's silly too, but more verbally than physically. If you like 'dad jokes', then you'll like Parrofly. He's also voiced by Rob. 

If you enjoy the skater dudes in cartoons, with their chill voice and sleepy eyes, along with their easy-going nature, then you've already "met" Slowan. He's the self-proclaimed hippie of the group, and also voiced by Rob.

Elefox is so relatable because like most of us, he LOVES eating. Like me personally, he's got a sweet tooth, but is not adverse to salty & crunchy snacks! He's also very friendly, and voiced by Rob.

He's extremely gentle, sweet & nurturing - which is why he loves to grow flowers. He even decorates his dam with them. He's voiced by me (Daryl Januszewski). 

Rabbird is a gentle bunny (who flies!) who loves writing heartfelt poetry - sometimes words are hard to say out loud, and her shyness can make her socially awkward.  She's voiced by me.

Froogle quietly observes others, and keeps her judgements *mostly silent, but if someone is doing something harmful, she will speak up for their own good! An assertive friend is a true friend! She's voiced by me. 

She's not a bitch and certainly loves her friends, but you better believe that she lives for attention and sulks when it's not given to her. Sometimes she says something hurtful, but is quick to apologize. She's voiced by me. 

He's friendly, considerate, polite and always willing to listen. He wouldn't mind having an advice column someday... and he's voiced by me.

She is sweet, "sexy", and free-spirited! Zebat loves to laugh and have fun, but she can be serious and helpful when a friend needs support.  She's voiced by me. 

Awww... that's what I always end up saying when I see her, with her big eyes, big ears and pointy wittle nose!  Good thing she's not bad, because with those looks, she'd get away with it.  She's voiced by me. 

So... which one is your favorite character? 

In other news...

Our Patreon page is now offering a $30 tier for those who want to be rewarded with Zoo'd merch! That means, even if you pledge for a couple of months, you'll get any Zoo'd tee shirt or tote bag you like, just to say thanks 😍

Thank you so much!