Furry art is a term used to describe artwork depicting anthropomorphic (humanoid or feral) animal characters, fursonas, avatars, or personas. Usually created with the furry fandom as the main audience, some works are intended for a larger, more mainstream audience. A person who creates furry art is called a furry artist.
Furry art is a diverse and creative genre that has many fans and practitioners around the world. In this blog post, we will explore what furry art is, how it originated, what are its defining traits, and where to find and create furry art.
What Is Furry Art?
Furry art is a form of art that is inspired by or features anthropomorphic animals. Anthropomorphic animals are animals that have human-like characteristics, such as intelligence, speech, emotions, clothing, etc. Furry art can range from realistic to cartoonish, from cute to erotic, from simple to complex.
Furry art can be created using various media and techniques, such as drawing, painting, digital art, sculpture, photography, animation, etc. Furry art can also be expressed in various forms and formats, such as comics, novels, games, movies, music, etc.
Furry art can have various themes and purposes, such as fantasy, science fiction, horror, romance, comedy, etc. Furry art can also convey various messages and meanings, such as personal expression, social commentary, cultural identity, etc.
How Did Furry Art Originate?
The origins of furry art can be traced back to the underground comix movement of the 1970s, a genre of comic books that depicted explicit content. One of the pioneers of this movement was Robert Crumb, who created the seminal Fritz the Cat comics, which featured an anthropomorphic feline con artist who had various sexual adventures. The comic was later adapted into a film by Ralph Bakshi in 1972.
The term furry fandom was coined in 1983 by fans of anthropomorphic animal characters in science fiction and fantasy literature and media. The fandom grew and developed through fanzines, conventions, online forums, and virtual environments. The term furry art was used to describe the artwork produced by or for the fandom.
The furry fandom and furry art have been influenced by various sources and genres over the years, such as Disney’s Robin Hood (1973), Watership Down (1978), The Lion King (1994), Zootopia (2016), etc. The furry fandom and furry art have also influenced various other subcultures and genres over the years, such as anime , manga , kemono , bronies , scalies , etc.
What Are the Defining Traits of Furry Art?
The most basic and common trait of furry art is the depiction of humanoid or feral animals with human-like features or behaviors. However, this is not always the case. Furry art can also include completely non-humanoid animals whose only anthropomorphic traits might be their facial expressions or dialogue. Furry art can also include completely human characters with animal ears or tails attached to them.
Another popular trait of furry art is the transformation of people into animals or vice versa. This can be done through various means or reasons, such as magic , science , mythology , etc. For example, werewolves are a common example of transformation in furry art.
Another common trait of furry art is the creation of original characters or fursonas that represent the artist or the viewer. Fursonas are usually based on the personality , preferences , or identity of the creator or the viewer. Fursonas can also be used for role-playing , storytelling , or socializing .
Where to Find and Create Furry Art?
Furry art can be found in various places and platforms online and offline. Some of the most popular places to find furry art online are:
- DeviantArt: This is one of the largest online communities for artists and art enthusiasts. DeviantArt has a dedicated section for furry art, where users can browse , upload , download , comment , or favorite various artworks.
- FurAffinity: This is one of the largest online communities for furries and furry artists. FurAffinity has a dedicated section for furry art, where users can browse , upload , download , comment , or favorite various artworks.
- e621: This is one of the largest online databases for furry art. e621 has a dedicated section for furry art, where users can browse , upload , download , comment , or favorite various artworks.
Furry art can also be created using various tools and resources online and offline. Some of the most popular tools and resources to create furry art are:
- Photoshop: This is one of the most widely used software for digital art . Photoshop allows users to create , edit , manipulate , or enhance various images using various tools and features.
- Clip Studio Paint: This is one of the most popular software for manga and comic art . Clip Studio Paint allows users to create , edit , or enhance various images using various tools and features.
- Krita: This is one of the most popular software for painting and illustration . Krita allows users to create , edit , or enhance various images using various tools and features.
- Blender: This is one of the most popular software for 3D modeling and animation . Blender allows users to create , edit , or animate various 3D models using various tools and features.
- Furry Maker: This is one of the most popular online tools for creating furry characters or fursonas. Furry Maker allows users to customize various aspects of their characters, such as species , gender , color , clothing , accessories , etc.
Conclusion
Furry art is a term used to describe artwork depicting anthropomorphic animal characters, fursonas, avatars, or personas. Furry art is a diverse and creative genre that has many fans and practitioners around the world. Furry art originated from the underground comix movement of the 1970s and developed through the furry fandom of the 1980s. Furry art has various defining traits, such as humanoid or feral animals, transformation, or original characters. Furry art can be found and created in various places and platforms, such as DeviantArt, FurAffinity, e621, Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Blender, or Furry Maker. Furry art is a form of art that expresses the imagination and identity of its creators and viewers.
