Jasen Tamiia. What is there I can say about you that others haven't said before? What can I possibly say to let you know how much your art influenced ideas inside me? I suppose I should start with one of my favorite memories of you. Back when you were working as a volunteer EMR, we used to call each other. And one of the ideas we talked about was a war between the Devious Tangents team and Neo Robia. We would brainstorm about it, laugh at some of the ideas we came up with, and even sketched things for each other. Sadly, we never got a chance to pursue it, but it was still fun. Then, there was the day you got a new tablet, and asked me if I wanted to buy your old one. I leapt at the chance, having always wanted a Cintiq. So, you shipped me your old one. I remember staying up all night and day, fighting off the need for sleep just so I could get it hooked up and drawing. I used that tablet ever since, until just a month ago when I got a newer Cintiq. Yours is packed away in a box, a keepsake that I will always treasure. I know we drifted apart, and only talked on a few occasions. You wanted to turn your art into a career, and I went off to do other things. But I want you to know, even though we never spoke, I still watched your art, saved some of your more inspirational ideas, and always thought of you with utter respect. I suppose I was still in shock when I learned you passed away earlier this year. I still am, in a way. But, when I learned that today would have been your birthday, I knew I had to do something. Anything. Just to show you how much I will miss you. This picture is the least I can do. And so, I leave you with a fistbump, as another good friend, scotskunk proudly wears one of the bondage outfits you shoved him into in one of your pictures. I type this with tears streaming down my cheeks, and a lump in my throat. Until we meet again, my friend, keep doing whatever it is you're doing, wherever you are.
