About

Site | Artist

Site [top]

Owner/Creator: Theresa "Tessa" McGray

Site History:
I came up with the idea to start this place when my fan art started taking up too much space at a hosted archive. So, I said, why not start a site totally dedicated to my art? That's exactly what I did, and on February 16, 2000 Sketchy Details was born.

This site is entirely for my original art, which is either derived from my overly active imagination or a show/movie/book/comic/whatever I get inspired by. That's frequently changing, so if you see some dorky obsession from the past, don't assume I'm still a geek about it. I'm weird like that.

If you have any questions about using my art or other miscellaneous items, see the FAQ.

Artist [top]

You actually want to know about me? Well, I don't much like talking about myself to complete and utter strangers, but okay.

To start things off, I'd rather be called Tessa than Theresa, but I'll answer to both, so if you get an e-mail from me, I hope you don't get confused if one is used in the signature but I sign off with the other. Not all that complicated, I know, but the dual name-use has thrown a couple of people off -- and that's not even factoring in the fifty bazillion e-mail addresses I have. Actually, I only have six or so different addresses, but that's still more than enough.

Let's see... I'm 24 and I graduated from Texas A&M - Commerce in May 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Art. Yes, that's right, a Bachelor of SCIENCE in Art... but I took all the classes of a Fine Arts major, so no thumbing your nose at me, please.

What else? I'm an animal lover (especially cats, dogs, wolves, and rats), I like some fantasy but not science-fiction, and I'm somewhat of a quiet girl but not completely anti-social - I'm just not too hot with small talk if I have to commandeer a conversation. Unless I am in a chatty mood that is, and then, watch out or I'll talk your poor ears off.

What other piddly things can I tell you since I know these things bore people to tears? Hrm. My favorite color is blue, I have two cats (Elise: a brown mackerel tabby, and Gwen: a medium-hair tuxedo), wish I had a big dog, love hot chocolate with marshmallows, and I have too many ideas and not enough time/patience to fulfill them all.

As is obvious, I like to draw (on the computer or on paper), paint, and design, but I also have an affinity for writing, acting, attempting to sing, dialects/accents, reading, sewing, fashion design, travelling, baking, and babbling (which should be considered a form of art).

Things I love:

Beef jerky, tea, Twizzlers, Funyuns, Starbursts, Pringles, and virtually every other bad-for-you snack out there.

My muse who inspires me no matter what I'm doing. Too bad she's frequently on holiday.

Going to Renaissance festivals. Huzzah!

Listening and singing terribly to music while I do most everything. Here's a brief list of people/groups I listen to every day: Silverchair, Alice in Chains, A Perfect Circle, Enya, Stone Temple Pilots, Fuel, Loreena McKennitt, Riverdance/Lord of the Dance soundtracks, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Bush, Tonic, Moody Blues, Pearl Jam, Dixie Chicks, Vertical Horizon, Cold, and classical music

Sleeping!

Watching movies like: The Princess Bride, The Company of Wolves, X-Men, Finding Nemo, Young Frankenstein, Blade (the second, not so much), Saving Grace, The Blair Witch Project, Indiana Jones (the first and third), The Neverending Story, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Waking Ned Divine, The Matchmaker, Hook, Beauty and the Beast, Back to the Future (all three of them), Monty Python: The Holy Grail, both I and II of Toy Story, Labyrinth, Goonies, Father of the Bride (both I and II), and about a zillion other movies in a wide range of genres.

When the power goes out and I get to use candles! Fire!

Thunderstorms.

Things I don't like:

I hate it when you put a lot of work into something and someone goes and steals your drawing, layout, graphics, or what-have-you, completely without your permission, or they steal it and claim that they created it. That really makes me angry. Come on, people! Just ask the creator's permission first and give credit when credit's due! And if they say no, don't go "behind" their back and do it anyway. If you're one of those conniving individuals, I would advise your staying away from me and my sites.

When I do a commission, have it finished within three days, and then never get paid for it despite countless phone messages. And people wonder why I started to have clients pay me up front before the piece is even begun...

Those who insist that there is only one way to draw things, be that manga, Disney-esque, naturalistic, or whatever. I for one, haven't and don't want to draw anime (although I do watch a number of series; love Hellsing), don't do Disney (still watch, but again, don't draw), and don't draw ultra realistically. There are MANY styles out there, you know, even personal ones. I'm trying to develop my own and that is far more difficult than copying others.

People not reading guidelines, regardless of what they cover. Guidelines have a reason, guys, please read and follow them. If someone says they won't do freebies, don't ask for one.