You say, "Thanks. Now that we've all gotten a look at it, let's begin."
Morgana speaks softly, "Tail thickness is way off, but that is a common error in properly proportioned anthro art"
You say, "Today's lesson will be about the difference between children and adults."
Piccillo nods to Morgana, "Most likely, but it's the style I prefer. I try to make sure, however, that everyone knows that's my style and not 'how it's done'. Everyone is encouraged to draw their own quirks into their pics and be an individual artist."
You say, "Please remember, however, to raise your hand before commenting/asking a question so class can proceed as smoothly as possible."
You say, "Now as you all probably know, children different a lot anatomicly from the adults they will grow up into. Body proportions are different and such."
You say, "Now, something to consider (and what we will be learning about this lesson) is that there are two different 'types' of children you can draw in the anthro world."
Piccillo continues. "The two types depends on what style of child you are drawing - weather you want your furry to be more 'human' or 'animal' in it's makeup."
Sonya softly yips, "Does proportion really matter? I've seen many arts where things such as the hands, or paws, or on females, the breasts are all out of proportion, but depending on the viewer, it doesn't seem to be a factor?"
Morgana speaks softly, "proportion, like many things in art, is a matter of taste. Look at Winger's art...no wait, on second thought, *don't*. But anyway...what do you want to convey? Some don't give a toss about proportions, some emphasise different aspects due to style. Like, oh, on Digimon, they emphasise the big hands and feet to give the idea that they are young and will grow into them yet"
Maureen says, "I think that#s so the breasts and tails balance each other out. or other parts of the anatomy on males."
Morgana speaks softly, "Many draw the tails as thick as the upper thigh. Considering the tail is an extension of the backbone, that would throw MANY things offd"
You say, "Okay, now I will add a few thought of my own to that Maureen - if I may. Then we shall see what Sonya's next question is."
You say, "Now, the first point is realism. Now if I draw a human, we all basicly know what a human looks like. If I draw it stylized (like Samurai Jack say), we can all tell what is wrong with it - even though we accept it as part of the style of the art and the picture."
You say, "For furries however, the line is very blurred. Let's face it, I doubt anyone's player has a real-life cat-girl or boy hanging around their local town. There isn't anything in real life we can directly *reference* to say 'that is how it should look like'. Therefore, we get a *lot* of ideas on how and why things should be built and how they should look."
You say, "Let's take Morgana's comment on tails - is my tail too thick for the kitten I drew? Well let's look at it. Based on a cat, anatomicly it *is* too thick - even if it was really fluffy it would taper different."
Morgana speaks softly, "For an anthro it would be too, unless the backbone somehow would thicken up where the tail begins"
You say, "But for a hybrid cat-human now...can we really tell? It's hard to say 'this is right or wrong' based as it were on something we can't look at really. Would the tail really be thicker to balance out the fact that she walks on two paws now rather than four?"
Telegrand grabs a seat.
You say, "How would development affect such things? I could argue huge fluffy tails *would* be neccesary to counterbalance a two-legged morph, even in species that have naturally small tails. Tails could also dissapear entirely, being useless in some theories."
You say, "What it all comes down to is style. Nobody's style and ideas of how to make a anthr pic is *inherently* wrong or right. Each artist should come to the desicsion on how they want their picture to look, based on what they think and what they like."
Morgana speaks softly, "Fluffy tails are fine...but how would you explain the dichotomies in thickness of where the logical bone structure would be?"
You say, "Hrmm...good question. (and I haven't forgotten about you Sonya, dont' worry). Don, what is your suggestion while I chew on the last question."
DonQuixote suggests for tail thickness of anthros, perhaps one should look towards RL species which move, or can move, on 2 legs rather than using all four all the time. Not many out there, but a few. Roos. That one lizard that runs on it's hind legs. Etc. ..course countering this would be bears which aren't exactly known for large tails
Telegrand hmmms, "Bears aren't known for running around on their hind legs, just fighting that way...."
DonQuixote nods to Telegrand, "Bears can move a little on their hind legs tho, I think. Just not well
Muskie Squeaks, "Well.. if we're talking about Lizards, Birds have A Similar bone Structure, And can balance without the need for a tail at all.."
You say, "That would be the main point in it Morgana, 'logic'. Logic has *always* had a problem when it comes to nature even in Real Life (tm). Nature finds the oddest solutions to problems."
Morgana speaks softly, "Actually, there are very few illogical beings out there"
DonQuixote points out bumblebees which, if I'm remembering correctly, somehow ignore physics in flight capability given size, Picc :,
You say, "Platapus...an odd combination of creature. Everything *works*...but it *looks* like it doesn't."
DonQuixote says, "Platapus: A duck designed by committee (yes, I read Discworld :, )"
You say, "If I had seen a drawing of a platapus before seeing a photo of one in RL, I would have thought the artist would have been hopped up on goofballs. But there you go."
You say, "The point is - it's hard to say what is right or wrong based on things that could evolve in so many different ways to suit the world they would live in. And also, a lot depends on the artist drawing the pic. I know mine aren't atanomicly correct, but I *like* drawing them that way and that's they way I do them. Not becuase it's right, but because it's what I enjoy."
You say, "A teacher once said that 'if you enjoy doing things *exactly* as they are in real life, get into photography. It will be much more gratifying to you. Art is about interpreting what you see, into a form you might find more pleasing to yourself'."
Muskie Squeaks, "I agree With Shalom. It could also be Just something to Do with the INdividual itself. I'm a Case in Point, due to corcumstances, ym ail is 8 feet long, and made out of Liquid metal. there are many other circumstances that could decide it, not just basic Physics."
You say, "I tend to beleive this is a long issue that can be debated eternally, as it's due to people's opinions and beleifs on a subject that can't be concretely proved either way."
DonQuixote suggests also, given the backgrounds of some furs as genetically engineered lifeforms, that makes the whole question of natural selection or normal anatomy a moot point since it'd depend on the creator
You say, "Heck, as a race we can't even decide that something either tastes great or is less filling. :p"
You say, "But it's great to have your own opinions, and to discuss them. It opens our eyes to new ideas and ways of doing things. Thanks for bringing it up. :)"
Muskie Squeaks, "and also, taking some cyberneticists into account, it would depend on the character his or herself."
You say, "If people didn't argue and have different opinions, we'd all do everything the same way. And where would be the joy in that?"
You say, "Now Sonya, did you have a second question you wanted to ask?"
You say, "I hope you haven't forgotten it by now."
Sonya softly yips, "Almost. Would you agree that drawing hands is the most difficult thing to do?"
You say, "No. But let me elaborate on that..."
You say, "...every artist has a different style, way of drawing...and problems. Now, hands may be the most difficult for *some*...but others have different problems. Such as faces, now that it's mentioned."
You say, "What *you* find difficult isn't what others might find difficult. It's all a matter of the personal artist."
*end of lesson*
