Some of my best friends are skinners....

For those old enough to remember that joke, I don't need to actually say the punchline.

It is close to two years now that I have been hanging around the skinning scene. I am fortunate enough that I get to hang out with skinners pretty much all day long. Millions of people come here each month for the art, but never get the opportunity to meet the artists as I have. So let me say "thanks" and tell the folks a little of what they are missing:

BoXXi never has a harsh word or an unkind thought. Bryan, you are the "salt of the earth" and a Queen fan besides. Thanks!

Alexandrie and Treetog. I can't begin to count the number of times Johanne and Renato have helped me out of trouble. ! Truly great artists and great people.

PJPowell and GreenReaper. Phil and Laurence are among the nicest people anyone could hope to meet. I look forward to seeing them every day, even if they are on the other side of the Atlantic!

Mike Bryant is always willing to lend a helping hand. Mike is often the first person to answer a question on IRC.

Mormegil. How did Paul respond to the success of his wonderful Orion icons? He posted on WinCustomize asking what else people wanted that he could make for free.

MadIce. Always there to help. We recently compared the skinning world to the best parts of the '60s. Peace, my friend!

DavidK is one of the nicest people that I have ever met. I wish you all the best in the New Year.

David Adams is a remarkable guy. A priveledge to know you and boy! did Notre Dame give us some thrills or what!

Adni. How many people has Nikos helped on the boards? How many times has Adni been the first to say something nice about someone's skin?

Carlitus. We are all richer for your work and for just having you around.

Jafo. I respect you for who you are, and not just for your spelling. Does everyone realize how hard Paul works?

Paxx. One of the most steady folks I know. A great skinner, a great moderator.

Jeff Schader (The Skins Factory). I am not going to embarass you by saying all the nice things that you do (when no one is looking!)

Starone. As nice a lady as one could hope to meet! Thank you, ma'am!

Voodoo_Freak. Ian, you are one of the finest young men out there. Not just for your skins or your walls, but for the beauty of your soul!

AlexG. Images, beauty and a heck of a basketball playa!

AJCrowley. Knowing you enriched my life, mate.

There are so many more! What great people live in this part of cyberspace!

Powered by SkinBrowser!
7,566 views 28 replies
Reply #1 Top
skinners are like that ya they are
Reply #2 Top
word!
Reply #5 Top
And I have a friend called 'Larry'...

Actually, there's a lot that goes on in the skinning world...some of it not good, but most of it great.

Over the years there's been squillions of people...many have come and gone...some we miss, others we'd sooner not see sooner...and it'd be difficult to list 'em all...but some I'd particularly like to see around again [or more] would be D'mer, Doodle, Grimspoon, Chinacat, and Fathom, names a lot of you will know...

But...things change...the 'scene' evolves...

Ah, nostalgia just ain't what it used to be...
Reply #6 Top
Actually, nostalgia is EXACTLY what it used to be. We just remember it differently.

Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #7 Top
Thank you, Larry, it is allways a pleasure to talk to you and exchange experiences, you are a hell of a guy.
Reply #8 Top
I was just thinking tonight that it had been too long since I've talked to you Larry. Thank you for the kind words. Hopefully you know that you mean a great deal to all of us.

When did Jeff start doing nice things? Sorry Jeff, I couldn't help myself.
Reply #9 Top
"BoXXi never has a harsh word or an unkind thought."

Larry, if you could see me at work you would change your mind!! I spend my working life arguing with scumbags, and after 25 years of it, I can hold my corner in a fight. When I come here, it's to have fun and relax, and that's why you rarely see me entering the argumentative threads, unless it's to try and inject some humour.
And how could I not enjoy my conversations with you, always so patient when I'm rambling on about my latest project, (even though you are probably busy as hell!)
Always so generous, both with your praise and your material help.

I'm proud to be associated with you, and you will always be welcome at chez BoXXi should you ever make it to these shores. (But please, leave the short skirts at home!)

And remember......"I'm just an artist, dammit!"
Reply #10 Top
*sigh* yet another damn arteest

Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #11 Top
Paint your "Love's Dying Embers" and you might just make yourself a few franklins though

Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #12 Top
Thank you Larry.
But you forgot one line:

Koops: the most sensible, sensitive, intelligent and kind man I have met. You're one of a kind, koops! Cheers!
Reply #13 Top
Blush. Actually, I think you are the nice one Mr. Kuperman. I believe paxx stated it aptly in his description of you. Thank you for being my friend. You were the first person I had conversed with 1 1/2 years ago and you made me feel very welcomed on this site. I hope your holidays are very merry. Thanks for your kind words.

Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #14 Top
even great organizations evolve, lose group focus, and deinvigorate unless there is an underlying core of people with special attributes. The energy of this site still amazes me.
Reply #15 Top
Larry Kuperman - Sends out nice mails when really needed. Thanks so much again for that. You will never know, how I apreciated that mail.

Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #16 Top
Threads like yours Larry and people like you, are making the level of skinning community higher and as it should be!

I have always admired all the comments and the threads that you have write, all this time, which I am taking part in WinCustomize.

Thank you for being among us.

As the earth needs water, we need your presence and your kind words

Reply #18 Top
'melts' man i dont know u guys from a bar of soap
but when i read this ! "Feels the LOVE ! *
Its refreshing to see friendships respected
Good for u Larry and ur friends


Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #19 Top
Sincerely thanks, Larry.
Maybe our skins are bad or good, but any skinner you mentioned (and others not mentioned) spends a lot of time making their own skins.
Cooments as yours make me thing 'i'm not spending time when i make my skins, i'm just sharing them with my friends'
Nice regards
Reply #20 Top
/me wipes a tear from his cheek...

Gee, Larry, thank you. You were one of the first people to encourage me when I first started skinning, and you continue to be a great friend. I truly appreciate it.
Reply #21 Top
You lot are gonna do the group hug thing now, aren't y'a?
Reply #22 Top
Speaking of nostalgy. There are a lot of people not just skinners who have contributed to the scene. Besides those you have mentioned (of which many i know personally and value the highest) Larry I'd really like to thank the Fate for allowing me to meet a few great people not always remembered now for what they have done, but since we are talking theese things i'd like to tribute them:
- D the humble and always helpfull Derek Charboneau. He is the one who actually cuased the SkinStudio to materialize. He have supported me in many ways and he have beed a great skinner and a wonderfull friend.
- Styles who always had kind words when it was hard in the beginning.
- Bat for his great skins that actually made me start the project.
- Einstein47 (Dave Hayward) for his efforst in making skinning more popular and all the help for the people to become skinners.
- all the great guys at Stardock, you're beeing hell of a team and great friends.
- All of you guys for your patience for all the bugs I introduce in SkinStudio and your kind help in eliminating them. And actually for using the project.

As Einstein47 used to say:
Those who can - do,
those who can't - teach

Can you belive I have never created one skin, though helping you guys let me feel (a little bit) the contributor to each of them.

Thank you all for your beautifull minds and kindness of sharing it with us.
Reply #23 Top
We appreciate a lot your work SkinStudio, which giving us a very powerful tool!
Thank you

Oh, what a wonderful and full of kindness thread! I think I am dreaming
Reply #24 Top
SkinStudio, you are very special. I am so glad I met you.
Reply #25 Top
wow, jafo mentioned d'mer. has -anybody- seen him around -anywhere-? i miss that guy.