Build a Furry Artist: A Question
N.T.A
coloring. Now....
What makes a furry artist's art worthwhile?
What would you pay for? What are the basic and essential criteria (other
than involving furry characters of course).
Shading? Shadows? Detail in body? Color (if so... color pencil, ink,
computer, what?)? Setting? Portrait or a full body?
What are the basics of enjoying furry art, true furry art and not the
sketchings I do now.
-N.Tremhn Avifox.
Cypher
news:7m2sjg$3jg$1...@birch.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
I think that if you enjoy the person's art, then it is worthwhile for the
artist to continue producing it.
Also if YOU think it looks good enough then it is utimately you who buys the
art.
However what i think you are asking is "Can someone produce a price guide"
?, the short answer is no, because of the substantial amount of variables in
art, having named but a few, also the amazing amount of combinations...
Changing the saying a bit, "Art is in the eye of the beholder" (and the
artist =) )
Cypher
Jim Doolittle
<ka...@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
> Ok, I've played around making some furry sketches and even experemented with
> coloring. Now....
>
>
> What makes a furry artist's art worthwhile?
>
> What would you pay for? What are the basic and essential criteria (other
> than involving furry characters of course).
>
> Shading? Shadows? Detail in body? Color (if so... color pencil, ink,
> computer, what?)? Setting? Portrait or a full body?
Backgrounds. Characters interacting with other characters, and and their
environment (and no, I don't mean the standard furry spooge scene,
either). Attention to details. Proper anatomy. Something more than the
standard pinup poses. Something interesting. Something unique.
-Jim, with a few random thoughts.
--
--------------------------------------------------------------
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| dool...@tbcnet.com http://fuzzylogic.betterbox.net |
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N.T.A
Jim Doolittle <dool...@uiuc.edu> wrote in message
news:doolittl-080...@209.100.183.178...
> In article <7m2sjg$3jg$1...@birch.prod.itd.earthlink.net>, "N.T.A"
> <ka...@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
> > Shading? Shadows? Detail in body? Color (if so... color pencil, ink,
> > computer, what?)? Setting? Portrait or a full body?
>
> Backgrounds. Characters interacting with other characters, and and their
> environment (and no, I don't mean the standard furry spooge scene,
> either). Attention to details. Proper anatomy. Something more than the
> standard pinup poses. Something interesting. Something unique.
>
-N.Tremhn Avifox, with no practice in that area and no how-to guides.
N.T.A
Cypher <Cyp...@PsychosisNet.freeserve.co.uk.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:7m31ev$7pd$1...@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
> I think that if you enjoy the person's art, then it is worthwhile for the
> artist to continue producing it.
> Also if YOU think it looks good enough then it is utimately you who buys
the
> art.
competition, but what about us novices no tlooking for money but for praise?
Maybe I should start a How-to Furry guide based upon all the collections of
info from the "build a furry artist" threads.
> Cypher
-N.Tremhn Avifox, bowing to the great and powerful Cypher to take the time
and reply to one of my posts!
Paul R. Bennett
in general as well. The best answer I can come up with personally is something
about it touches me. I know, that is a wide open statement, but I really can
not think of a better one.
Paul
N.T.A wrote:
> Ok, I've played around making some furry sketches and even experemented with
> coloring. Now....
>
> What makes a furry artist's art worthwhile?
>
> What would you pay for? What are the basic and essential criteria (other
> than involving furry characters of course).
>
> Shading? Shadows? Detail in body? Color (if so... color pencil, ink,
> computer, what?)? Setting? Portrait or a full body?
>
Jim Doolittle
<ka...@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
> But what about color? is it a neccessity? and shadows/shading?
Certainly not a necessity. I love a well-done inked piece. And I've seen
some excellent pencil shading work.
-Jim, not an artist, just someone who enjoys looking at it. :)
N.T.A
Paul R. Bennett <rf...@alltel.net> wrote in message
news:378534C4...@alltel.net...
> From a practical standpoint, that is really a hard question to answer, for
art
> in general as well. The best answer I can come up with personally is
something
> about it touches me. I know, that is a wide open statement, but I really
can
> not think of a better one.
>
> Paul
we know an ultimate or a minimal standard of art that passes? Either I wish
to see!
-N.Tremhn Avifox, florida fur who actully isn't in an east-coast heat wave.
Go figure.
Paul R. Bennett
matter of taste) Mr. Doolittle covered rather a lot of it. A well balanced and
composed piece of work. A background strong enough to support the central
figure(s) and appropriate to them, but not so powerful as to be overwhelming.
Charactor anatomy is also important. Drape of clothes on the body, proper use
of shading or coloring. Proper sizing and positioning of the image(is it too
large, too small, does it look like the artist did not properly position it to
begin with.)
One thing you might consider trying is looking at non furry art and photographs
of humans in similar activites and then look at the furry art. Ask yourself
then, does the furry art convey the same sense of scene as the human art? Are
the anthros and the scene positioned, executed, rendered as to give you the
feeling that you are looking, not at humans, but as actual beings going about
their daily affairs? Or, in classical art, do you get the same overall air
about the picture. Does the picture tell a story?
I know, not the best answer and so much relies on personal taste. Probably
still not the answer you are looking for, but the best I can manage. One
thought though. Develop your own style, practice it, polish it. If you can(and
aren't already)maybe look at an art class so you can get a really good grounding
in the basics and then lots of practice. Also, try to portray in your art, what
moves you as much as you can. As much as you can draw to satisfy yourself.
Admittedly, if you are looking at commerical furry art, you will be having to
deal with market forces as well, but never lose sight of what moves you and
always find time to satisfy your own artistic aims and desires.
Paul
(Isn't it surprising how hot Florida doesn't get? Grins... Of course, we DO
get the humidity)
N.T.A
<snipp>
Well, we all can see how good a regular art piece can be, but what about
intentionaly novice fan art. What are the standards of that ;)
> I know, not the best answer and so much relies on personal taste.
Probably
> still not the answer you are looking for, but the best I can manage. One
> thought though. Develop your own style, practice it, polish it.
I'm trying, I have a neat idea I haven't seen done with backgrounds but I'm
not that good at computer graphic programs to draw.
> If you can(and aren't already)maybe look at an art class so you can get a
really good grounding
> in the basics and then lots of practice.
4 full years and all I can do is draw undetailed form bubbles easily;) I
just start drawing part of what I want to practice, say eyes or a bowtie. I
then build the drawing from that. I've gotten some extremes ;)
but I still can't shade worth my life.
> Paul
> (Isn't it surprising how hot Florida doesn't get? Grins... Of course, we
DO
> get the humidity)
>
-N. Tremhn Avifox, who will put all his "Build a Furry Artist" art practice
archive on Furnation as soon as I get reply for space... still waiting...
and waiting... *3 weeks later* still waiting...
Farlo
>
> Ok, I've played around making some furry sketches and even experemented with
> coloring. Now....
>
> What makes a furry artist's art worthwhile?
Content, style, technique?
> What would you pay for? What are the basic and essential criteria (other
> than involving furry characters of course).
I would have to see it, but "cute" is a good start.
> Shading? Shadows? Detail in body? Color (if so... color pencil, ink,
> computer, what?)? Setting? Portrait or a full body?
Active poses, interesting backgrounds ...
> What are the basics of enjoying furry art, true furry art and not the
> sketchings I do now.
Draw what you like, like what you draw.
(Have fun)
Farlo
Cerulean
>Ok, I've played around making some furry sketches and even experemented with
>coloring. Now....
>
>What makes a furry artist's art worthwhile?
>
>What would you pay for? What are the basic and essential criteria (other
>than involving furry characters of course).
>
>Shading? Shadows? Detail in body? Color (if so... color pencil, ink,
>computer, what?)? Setting? Portrait or a full body?
Just my opinion, but good art is centered on an idea. It should make a
statement, or imply a story, or tell a joke... it should be _about_
something in some way. When you know what you are going to depict,
then you can decide how you want to do it. Some concepts require
colour, some don't need it but are helped by it, some don't need it at
all, and some cry out for a black and white treatment where colour
would ruin the mood. The same goes for all the other considerations.
A personal note: I use coloured pencil a lot, and it doesn't often
really look good compared to watercolour, which seems to be more of a
standard. Even when it's blended properly, coloured pencil looks a bit
rough. I wish I could convert, but I have extreme difficulty
controlling watercolour paint. I ought to do more black and white work
instead, since the pen is my friend. But, like I said, that requires
having black and white ideas. My mind seems to tend toward colour
ideas.
--
___vvz /( Absurd Notions is on! -> http://cerulean.st/absurdnotions/
<__,` Z / ( | Cerulean= | DC.D/? f s+ h++ Gm CB^P a $ d+++ l* g- e! i
`~~~) )Z) ( | Kevin Pease | FDDmp4adwsA+++$C+D+HM+P-RT+++WZSm#
/ (7 ( o6u!oq--c'aJay+ hpoqhue aJay+ s! `u!>s ay+ heme 7aad noh jI
Dr. Cat
: What makes a furry artist's art worthwhile?
You shouldn't worry so much about going by what other people think is the
"way" for furry art to be. You should concentrate of finding your own
inspiration, your own style, your own "voice". When you find that, you'll
know what to draw, just draw whatever you most desire to express.
My sister had strong technical skills at piano and at composing, but
didn't really have anything to "say". I think in her case, she just
needed more years of experiencing life, she's doing some fine work now.
I'd say just draw lots and lots of stuff, to keep polising your skills,
and try to look at lots of different art. Inside and outside the fandom,
both furry and non-furry things. With time you'll get more inspired
about what you want to say, and in what visual style you want to show it
to your audience.
*-------------------------------------------**-----------------------------*
Dr. Cat / Dragon's Eye Productions || Free alpha test:
*-------------------------------------------** http://www.bga.com/furcadia
Furcadia - a new graphic mud for PCs! || Let your imagination soar!
*-------------------------------------------**-----------------------------*
(Disclaimer: If your primary motive is to sell, then that can be somewhat
different. But I don't reccomend that as a number one goal in what's
essentially a small hobby market, where it's almost impossible to make
a living wage anyway. Keep it a "hobby that might make a little money",
and focus primarily on drawing what you like drawing and enjoying the hobby.)
(Disclaimer disclaimer: Unless it's kangaroos sticking bananas in their
ears, in which case you are ruining the fandom and will be chased out
momentarily. Have a nice day. :X)
Dale Farmer
>
> A personal note: I use coloured pencil a lot, and it doesn't often
> really look good compared to watercolour, which seems to be more of a
> standard. Even when it's blended properly, coloured pencil looks a bit
> rough. I wish I could convert, but I have extreme difficulty
> controlling watercolour paint. I ought to do more black and white work
> instead, since the pen is my friend. But, like I said, that requires
> having black and white ideas. My mind seems to tend toward colour
> ideas.
>
One thing you might try is there are colored pencils out there
that are made up from watercolor paints. Instead of using a blender,
you use water to blend and fix the pigments to the paper. I remember
seeing at least one piece in the AC art show that used them. I have
no idea about brands or sources, sorry.
--Dale
N.T.A
Dr. Cat <c...@bga.com> wrote in message news:3785a...@feed1.realtime.net...
> N.T.A (ka...@nospam.earthlink.net) wrote:
> : What makes a furry artist's art worthwhile?
>
> You shouldn't worry so much about going by what other people think is the
> "way" for furry art to be. You should concentrate of finding your own
> inspiration, your own style, your own "voice". When you find that, you'll
> know what to draw, just draw whatever you most desire to express.
>
eyes, muzzles, feet and paws) and am starting to experement with different
styles of poses and animals without a reference or example.
> My sister had strong technical skills at piano and at composing, but
> didn't really have anything to "say". I think in her case, she just
> needed more years of experiencing life, she's doing some fine work now.
>
Heh. I played Trumpet for 5 years and the only techinal skills I developed
were the skills of blending in.
> I'd say just draw lots and lots of stuff, to keep polising your skills,
> and try to look at lots of different art. Inside and outside the fandom,
> both furry and non-furry things. With time you'll get more inspired
> about what you want to say, and in what visual style you want to show it
> to your audience.
>
Ok, Mainly my problem is comming up with an idea or pose. Here's a request.
What would you like me to try to draw and I'll do my best. Whomever
requests it I will do my best to draw it my best, but I will draw every
_plausable_ one. This is for an educational use only ;)
> (Disclaimer: If your primary motive is to sell, then that can be somewhat
> different. But I don't reccomend that as a number one goal in what's
> essentially a small hobby market, where it's almost impossible to make
> a living wage anyway. Keep it a "hobby that might make a little money",
> and focus primarily on drawing what you like drawing and enjoying the
hobby.)
>
Oh, I'm well off in money, I don't need it. I just like praise and
enjoyment, even if it may be sugar-coated and false, just don't tell me that
;)
> (Disclaimer disclaimer: Unless it's kangaroos sticking bananas in their
> ears, in which case you are ruining the fandom and will be chased out
> momentarily. Have a nice day. :X)
Give me a screwdriver, a glazed donut, and a year. I'll try my best at
fulfilling your prophecy ;)
-N. Tremhn Avifox.
DannyCat
Dale Farmer <da...@cybercom.net> wrote in message
news:378600C3...@cybercom.net...
haven't tried em but their polycolor type is rather good. Think Prismacolor
may also have a new line of them too.. the name escapes me. I actually like
to mix media when I do 'real' non digital art - I'm having to relearn big
time. I like the mix of colored pencils and watercolors together, not stuck
on any one thing really. India ink and watercolor is nice too, use it for
cartoony things. So far tho.. the greatest media for the indecisive..
Photoshop. ;) For the real media in digital.. Painter5 is great too. Use the
oil paint mode for many backgrounds..
Shelley >^;;^<
http://www.teleport.com/~tpleger/CDD/
nek...@my-deja.com
"N.T.A" <ka...@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
experemented with
> coloring. Now....
>
>
(other
> than involving furry characters of course).
>
> Shading? Shadows? Detail in body? Color (if so... color pencil,
ink,
> computer, what?)? Setting? Portrait or a full body?
>
> sketchings I do now.
>
>
>ok, here it goes. i stll consider myself to be a newbie, in fact this
the first time i've replied to anything. for the last 4-5 years i've
been drawing furries, i've asked my self all of the above plus quite a
few more. more then i care to admit to, even to myself. but after
reading some of the other replies i have to admit i agree with them. if
YOU dont enjoy it, what's the point? i'll be honest and say that i am
my own toughest critic. i never seem satisfied with my work, no matter
what others say. but i'm not about to throw in the pencil just cause
i'm not satisfied. the point is i'm happy doing it. and if doing it
makes you happy, well it like they say... there are no rules to being
happy.
i think thats enough rambling from me
thanks for the ear
nekobp
ps don't mind the newbie
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Cerulean
> One thing you might try is there are colored pencils out there
>that are made up from watercolor paints. Instead of using a blender,
>you use water to blend and fix the pigments to the paper. I remember
>seeing at least one piece in the AC art show that used them. I have
>no idea about brands or sources, sorry.
I've got some of those somewhere. When I tried them, it seemed the
darkness gain that occurred when water was introduced was too extreme
to reliably estimate in the pencil stage. Perhaps I'll dig them up and
try them again sometime.
Paul R. Bennett
(and still do some) use charcoals a lot. Several months ago got started
with acrylic paint, which I think I like, if I can ever find the time to
work with it.
Paul
Dale Farmer wrote:
> Cerulean wrote:
> >
> > A personal note: I use coloured pencil a lot, and it doesn't often
> > really look good compared to watercolour, which seems to be more of a
> > standard. Even when it's blended properly, coloured pencil looks a bit
> > rough. I wish I could convert, but I have extreme difficulty
> > controlling watercolour paint. I ought to do more black and white work
> > instead, since the pen is my friend. But, like I said, that requires
> > having black and white ideas. My mind seems to tend toward colour
> > ideas.
> >
>
> One thing you might try is there are colored pencils out there
> that are made up from watercolor paints. Instead of using a blender,
> you use water to blend and fix the pigments to the paper. I remember
> seeing at least one piece in the AC art show that used them. I have
> no idea about brands or sources, sorry.
>
> --Dale
Paul R. Bennett
N.T.A wrote:
Snippage
Okay... Truly... Be yourself.... I do not know of "standards" per se in furry
art for beginner or pro. You have had the background, so just cut loose and see
what comes out.
N.T.A.
Creativity is important. Let yourself go and create your goals, and enjoy your
interest in turning out art. The present furry artists were all beginners too
at one time.
Paul
N.T.A
<nek...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:7m5bl7$fl8$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <7m2sjg$3jg$1...@birch.prod.itd.earthlink.net>,
<snipp>
>if
> YOU dont enjoy it, what's the point? i'll be honest and say that i am
> my own toughest critic. i never seem satisfied with my work, no matter
> what others say. but i'm not about to throw in the pencil just cause
> i'm not satisfied. the point is i'm happy doing it. and if doing it
> makes you happy, well it like they say... there are no rules to being
> happy.
>
I flip through some of my sketches and i'm very pleased with them and get
good reviews for my experience from friends, furry and non alike. But I
would love to entertain the notion o going to a con and doing some
sketchbooks and not get repulsive looks back. That's my ultimate goal ;)
-N.Tremhn Avifox, still has yet to go to a con.
N.T.A
>
>
> N.T.A wrote:
>
> Snippage
>
> Okay... Truly... Be yourself.... I do not know of "standards" per se in
furry
> art for beginner or pro. You have had the background, so just cut loose
and see
> what comes out.
>
cats, to foxes (plenty), to skunks, to bunnies, to nose/eye studies.....
I just need a new idea from this group, feel free to submit them and I'll do
them right away!
> N.T.A.
> Creativity is important. Let yourself go and create your goals, and enjoy
your
> interest in turning out art. The present furry artists were all beginners
too
> at one time.
>
> Paul
>
Florida fur Paul?
-N.T.A.
>
Paul R. Bennett
N.T.A wrote:
>
> > N.T.A.
> > Creativity is important. Let yourself go and create your goals, and enjoy
> your
> > interest in turning out art. The present furry artists were all beginners
> too
> > at one time.
> >
> > Paul
> >
> Florida fur Paul?
>
> -N.T.A.
> >
Yup. Gainesville. "Computer Tech" (heheheh) at the University. On the mailing
list.
Paul
N.T.A
>
> > Florida fur Paul?
>
> Yup. Gainesville. "Computer Tech" (heheheh) at the University. On the
mailing
> list.
>
> Paul
>
I was going to try to get jacksonville area furs together for a something
one day but I can't communicate with everyone easy ;P
-N.T.A.
Paul R. Bennett
Paul
Mel. White
inking) humor and storytelling. I've had people buy art
simply because they felt the piece was telling them a story.
And a lot of folks buy pieces because they're lighthearted
and silly.
Consistancy helps; being known for one thing helps. It
doesn't help me at all that I can do silly cartoons as well
as straight art (and tesselation design and sculpture and
dolls and jewelry). Become known for one thing; not many.
(to prove the point, take a look at my latest art -- romance
book covers for an e-book company:
http://members.xoom.com/adragon/cover2.htm)
========= Mel. White's Token Sigfile =============
Da Weekly Wildscaping Article
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/wildscaping
Sam Siam Gaming Guides (moved from Geocities)
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/melwhite
**** Posted from RemarQ - http://www.remarq.com - Discussions Start Here (tm) ****
N.T.A
Mel. White <m...@netcom.com> wrote in message
news:9317966...@www.remarq.com...
> Things that my artwork gets high marks for are (no, not the
> inking) humor and storytelling. I've had people buy art
> simply because they felt the piece was telling them a story.
> And a lot of folks buy pieces because they're lighthearted
> and silly.
Hmm... I've got a question. Many people suggest using watercolor and
computer paint/photoshop programs to color a piece, but what medium do most
use? Sketchpads and typing paper can only go so far...
-N. Tremhn Avifox.
Bev Clark/Steve Gallacci
>Hmm... I've got a question. Many people suggest using watercolor and
>computer paint/photoshop programs to color a piece, but what medium do most
>use? Sketchpads and typing paper can only go so far...
Personal preference in whatever technique works best for you. I've done
colored pens(in several chemical bases), color pencil, watercolor, gouach,
acrylic, and oil on any variety of surfaces, including sketchpad or
typeing paper. Not all materials go well on all surfaces, but a little
investment in trial and error couldn't hurt, and you may find some
combination that isn't obvious but very effective for you. Don't let
anyone tell you there is only one way to do most of this stuff.
Cerulean
>Consistancy helps; being known for one thing helps. It
>doesn't help me at all that I can do silly cartoons as well
>as straight art (and tesselation design and sculpture and
>dolls and jewelry). Become known for one thing; not many.
I've been told that before. It's basically true, but you know what?
I don't like it. And I'm not willing to accept it.
People take "develop your own style" too far. They think it means
evrrything has to look alike. I look at a furry character and say,
"Well, it's obvious whose work that is, but is it supposed to be a
wolf or a deer?"
It stifles variety. It makes the best artists become lazy. People need
to challenge themselves, or they forget how to draw anything but what
they've trained themselves to do.
I watched Phil Foglio stand in front of an audience with an easel and
claim he would draw whatever the audience called out. He ignored
anything that wasn't a pair of characters he'd drawn a million times
before. He drew Phil and Dixie, he drew Skeeve and Aahz, etc. They
looked like signatures. Requests such as Tip O'Neill in a tutu were
refused, yet he himself complained about the monotony of drawing the
same characters again and again.
Charles Schulz was able to draw whole rooms in perspective at the
beginning of his career, did you notice that?
Leonardo da Vinci is still a hero to me. Keep doing all the different
things you do, Mel., it's what keeps your "silly cartoons" at their
best.
Mel. White
comfortable with". Some tools will just "feel" right to you
while others will produce poor results no matter what you
do. I use pastel chalks, pencils, and markers as well as
inks and watercolor (and colored ink). I don't use acryllic
since I'm working rapidly and don't want to go to the
trouble and expense to prepare boards (this would change if
I was doing book cover illustration).
I also do Photoshop/computer illustration.
I don't use oils (allergic to them) or goache or some of the
other tools.
Truth is, there's no one magic "this is how you become a
really good artist" solution. All the advice in the world
is just... advice.
What makes you good is:
+ a memorable style (can they tell your artwork from
everyone else's at 50 paces... and yes, mine's distinctive).
+ A consistant style (you can be scribbly or tight -- what
matters is that it's consistant.)
+ good design
+ good use of color balance (if black and white, the blacks
and whites should balance)
+ unambiguous design (no trees growing out of people's heads
and mistakes in perspective).
Everything else is advice. Advice is useful but it doesn't
begin to compare to the experience generated by doing 200
drawings.
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Finished assignment: Romance E-book cover
http://members.xoom.com/adragon/cover2.htm