kristinawood.com ~ View topic - Furry thoughts on furry characters ........ with fur

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

This is just a weird thought that's been running through my head lately. But I find it to my liking that many furry artists don't actually make their characters look particularly furry or hairy. In fact they often look pretty smooth, aside from their tails. Sure there are visible tufts of fur, but it doesn't change the fact that they overall look pretty smooth. And I like that. I've seen some artists who make their characters look far too furry or hairy, and to me, that makes them look either too animal or too savage or something. I like the smooth cartoon style of Vanessa, work. So that's just some random musing on furry artwork, and another thumbs up to Vanessa. Very Happy

Another thing I've been thinking about is pubic hair on furry characters. I've never really given much thought to it until lately, but it seems that most of the artists I like either make their characters look completely smooth in that area, or to give the look of pubic hair, but in the same color as the main fur of the character. I've noticed that the latter is what Vanessa does. I thought of it because I wondered if I should specify details regarding pubic hair in my own avatar description, but now I don't really know it it'll look weird to me, since I'm used to seeing characters who don't have pubic hair in the same color as the hair on their heads.
I do remember seeing the description of Mystic, where it was stated that she has a certain pattern and color of pubic hair. At least as far as I remember.

And a silly thing I've been wondering, is how do furry characters shave? Laughing

I mean, how would a character like Simon shave off his mustache, without ending up with either a bald spot in his face or just a trimmed down mustache? Okay, I'm not really serious about that, as it's just another thing that one shouldn't really think about. But it is kind of funny anyway. Tongue

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 2311

At the moment, I'm reminded of the work of Jay Naylor, who for the most part depicts his furry chacters as having "tufts" of longer fur, often on their chests, but also around their pubic regions. He seems to alternate between depicting this "pubic fur" as being the same coloration as the surrounding fur or differently colored (usually the same color as the hair on the character's head). Still, I suppose that's not all the options out there... I've even seen furry characters who are decidedly "bald" in that area (whether that's an artistic interpretation of how that particular species grows their fur or if those characters happen to be friendly with the Lady Bic, I don't know).

I personally prefer furry characters that actually look like they have fur, and don't just look like they've got stripes or spots painted on their bodies. Seriously, I've seen some artists make their characters all shiny and smooth, as if they're made of rubber or something! Unless all you're doing is drawing dolphins, frogs, naked mole-rats, or certain hairless breeds of domestic cats, it just looks... odd! (By the way, among the various atrocities of furry fandom that I've encountered, body-painting is probably the most creepy, even more than fursuits, though that's just personal opinion)

Also, furry characters shaving (like Mr. Blue's perferctly manicured mustache) just boggles my mind... I can't even wrap my brain around that enigma... Laughing

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

Yes, I've seen some overly shiny characters too. I also see the point of furry characters actually looking like they have fur. At least when you see a closer view. I like the way Vanessa does it.

I don't really look at that much furry artwork anymore. I just have a couple of favorite artists, as I'm rather picky when it comes to quality and style, and it seems that they all do pubic hair in pretty much the same way. So now I can't really make up my mind about whether I'd find it weird to see a furry character with a small dark patch of hair in that region, since I'm so used to not seeing it. Confused

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 2568

Its quite alright Symphony. Actually, I'm a bit for both, mostly depending on the level of skill on the artist. The smoother "cartoon" variations are still my more prefered type. such as the kind you see that Vanessa or Dr. Comet does with furry details all the way to the coloring and styles of Sonic and Bucky O'Hare.

Jeremy Bernal's (sp?) work is a good example of actual fur that I'd say I enjoy.

As far as shaving, Max Blackrabbit has had a few pictures where the furry characters have shaved their pubic regions. Instead of fur, you see sleek flesh the same color or a slight variation of the color of the fur.

Either way, I think it truly comes down to whether the artist has put time into making the fur details beautiful, or just mottled and swirled the lines around to make it seem like fur.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 2568

Well, sadly I couldn't find the colored version on Max's page, but here's a link to the inked version: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/93387/#cid:9984819

That'll give you "somewhat" an idea.

Did you ever finish coming up with whether or not you were doing anything special for your character's fur?

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 2568

Well, after you've registered, since the image was rated mature, you'll have to turn the ability to view adult images on your account info... though the site is down right now, so I guess theres nothing to be done at the moment. ^^;

Now, did I see it right. Your character is going to be a mare? I guess the only impression you threw me off of then was that I figured you'd be a vixen/wolf based on picking Lily for your avatar...but I guess thats just because you like her, right?

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 2568

Well, just don't turn out to be the old gray mare. ;P

Your not the only equestrian here though. Less you forget Drake. I know he doesn't show up as much as he used to, but he's still around. Though, I don't know if a youthful and athletic mare will shake his obsession of Violet.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

I actually thought that horses would be more popular, but I haven't seen many who have picked them as fursonas on the any of the furry communities I've visited. I also think that Vanessa's style is perfect for my vision of how I'd like to see a mare drawn.

I've been thinking about fur and hair color as well. I've edited my own avatar desription several times, and I'm going to edit it many more before it's final, I'm sure. At one point I even gave her purple hair. I just found it somewhat difficult to match with colors of her dress and such, so I ultimately went with a more natural combination of light brown fur and dark brown hair.
But several characters in Bon Bon have unusual colors, and I have no problem with that. Like Violet's and Mary's fur colors. Or Daphne's hair color. I think they all look good. But for some reason I find such colors difficult to picture on my own avatar, but that's probably also because I'm spending too much time thinking up color combinations and how it'll look.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1462

The only time horses are popular characters is if its going to be a parade of man meat. *chuckles*

As I've seen on FA and similar places, most choose an equestrian for there great "size" if you catch my meaning.

Otherwise, as it will most always be, feline and canine rule the furry world.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 4668

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 167

Chessy's always assumed in PBB, that they for the most part have very short, sleek fur, except on extremities like tails, heads, and such. Chessy, for example has a big fuzzy tail and lovely little tufts on her cheeks, but the rest of her body-fur is short and smooth. nwn

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

That's pretty much how I also tend to think of anthro characters. With short and smooth fur, and very very soft. And warm. I tend to associate furry characters with softness and warmth.

Horses though, I probably think of a bit differently, at least regarding their fur. I guess that's because of how horses typically have very short fur, so anthro horses shouldn't look particularly furry or hairy, I think.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 648

I have to admit that I like all the varying degrees of 'furryness' on a furry character... for me it's more in the shape of the body and the body language. Smile

As for how they'd shave without shaving to the skin, that's easy! Electric razors with trim guards would certainly be in every furry home. Wink

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 4668

I was thinking more along the lines of a pair of trim scissors.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 09 Jan 2004 Posts: 552

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 2568

I'm not familiar with that artist's work Martin. Do you by chance have a link available for us to view these marvels?

That is true, she forgot about bunnies and how all furry members who have one seem to focus on the sexual side of the critters. . .

As a matter of fact, we don't have a single member here who is a bunny, do we?

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 09 Jan 2004 Posts: 552

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 4668

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 2311

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 2112

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1462

Rank: Mr. Fabulous Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 367

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

I'm bumping this very old thread, because I'm interested in reading what people might have to say about the things mentioned here.

I also have another question to ask. Does the fur of the real world species make a difference when viewing anthro characters? I hadn't ever really thought about, until Mystic once mentioned that my fursona is a short-furred character.

Is this something anyone else has thought about? Anyone who give thought to just how thick and furry Stella's fur might be, or how it compares to that of someone like Betty?

I also do wonder how it might influence an artist like Vanessa's work. Curious

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 12351

i can't be assed reading the whole two pages of this thread so i'm just going to post my thoughts based on the original post... which is all i actually did read.

Regarding furries looking furry:
although i admit it does look a bit odd when i see furry art depicting furries with... flat fur; but it doesn't really bother me. it's more along the lines of very short, very fine fur that clings to the body. and in some cases can even pass for colored skin which i honestly don't entirely mind either. but yes, i do prefer my furries to actually look like they have fur on their bodies.

Regarding pubic hair on furries:
i can't say it really looks odd to me. whether it be colored the color of the hair on their head or the same color as their fur, it all still seems to fit to me. shaving said hair is really not that hard to do without ending up with a bald spot. electric clippers. remember, these come with special heads that can trim hair to a specific length without going all the way to the skin.

Regarding shine on furries:
shine on a furry can actually be quite legitimate. how many of you have a dog or cat? take note of their fur some time, especially if it's well groomed. regardless of the color, fur can pick up a shine from light even if it's dry.