Fursona Issue

[Fahn† 0]

I changed my avatar because people tend to like my older version of Fahn more (even though he's not drawn or painted as well). I totally give up on my newer one and I'm probably gonna scrap it. I wanna start from scratch AGAIN, using traits from both old and new to not only get positive reactions from more people in the art community, but to please myself as well... I wanna have my cake and eat it, too!

 

So, if you wanna good comparison, and trust me, your feedback is GREATLY appreciated, look at my art gallery on DA:

 

http://fahn777.deviantart.com/gallery/

 

PS - yeah, I know my gallery is disorganized and that I seem to have a pretty broad range of work... this is only because I submit anything I can to fill it in because it is so pitifully small ^__^*

[Flechmen 0]

Don't take this the wrong way, but it still looks pretty feminine. I thought you were a woman for the longest time...

 

Something in the face...

 

Anyway, hmm. Don't let what people think get in your way of enjoying yourself. That's kinda what a fursona is about, expressing yourself in a different way. If people don't like it, they don't have to.

[koshi† 0]

  'flechmen said:

Anyway' date=' hmm. Don't let what people think get in your way of enjoying yourself. That's kinda what a fursona is about, expressing yourself in a different way. If people don't like it, they don't have to.

[/quote']

 

 

I agree with that. Also, I personally wouldn't want to scrap any of my artwork, even if nobody liked it but me. I made this drawing a few days ago that wasn't anywhere close to what I wanted it to be, but I just couldn't bring myself to throw it away because it was turned out rather nicely and I spent so much time on it. I even posted up some of my early artwork (even though it looks pretty awful) just to kind of show people and remind myself where I started from.

[Carson Coyote† 0]

The new one has a sorta, I dunno, like ultra-clean-everything-has-to-be-perfect kinda look to it, while the older one looks more relaxed, more natural. That's probably why people like the older one.

[Fahn† 0]

According to you guys and DA the decision is unanimous... scrap the newer version rework the older one using improved skills and maybe, for once, decide on a final draft for my fursona/OC.

 

to Flech - yeah, I know he looks rather effiminate. I prefer my characters to look rather androgenous, kinda like the Final Fantasy main characters. And... I AM a woman, Flech O__O... NAH, JUST KIDDING!! XD

[JuliaWolf† 0]

Out of all honesty,I think whatever you do is beautiful,and that it's all up to you. There's never anything wrong with your style because it's very beautiful. It reflects your soul,which is gentle and very loving,and not all fusonas have to look manly just because they're a guy. Having one that looks beautiful sets it apart from the rest because it's itself. I think you look awesome!

[Carson Coyote† 0]

  'Fahn said:

According to you guys and DA the decision is unanimous... scrap the newer version rework the older one using improved skills and maybe' date=' for once, decide on a final draft for my fursona/OC.

[/quote']

 

There's no need to scrap the newer version, because I like that one a lot.

 

There's nothing wrong with either one of them. They just use slightly different styles, which makes them unique.

 

Honestly, I think you should stop being so hard on yourself.

[Flechmen 0]

  'Fahn said:

to Flech - yeah' date=' I know he looks rather effiminate. I prefer my characters to look rather androgenous, kinda like the Final Fantasy main characters. And... I AM a woman, Flech O__O... NAH, JUST KIDDING!! XD

[/quote']

 

Confused fox is not good thing!

[Fahn† 0]

To Carson - I suppose your worst critic is yourself, but I always feel like I "settle" for how my art turns out rather than actually making what I originally intend to. As for "scrapping" the piece I won't literally throw it away, I'll just hang on to it for reference if need be. I've put several hours into it and tossing it would be stupid! It's not just about people's reactions to my art... I just REALLY want my fursona to look nice

 

To Flech - LOL!! In all seriousness, I'm a guy! I have self portraits on my DA if ya wanna look!

[Fahn† 0]

I know that this is superficial, but seeing as how my fursona is mostly based on cervid (deer) features, should he have antlers/horns of any sort? I can't decide...

[Voltomere 0]

Antlers could be a cool touch. I would have to see it but it might allow your character to look more masculine while keeping the same look that you have going on right now.

[Wolvy† 0]

I saw no effeminate traits in either portrait, FWIW. I thought it looks nice, though in the last version, the scale of the torso versus head was maybe a titch bit off - a slightly larger head would've made it work just fine.

[Fahn† 0]

[to Orpheus] - -sigh-... does he REALLY look THAT girly? :/ If adding antlers solves that problem then I second that motion.

 

[to Wolvy] - You're the first person to say that you DON'T see any femm features in my fursona! *applauds and shakes head in disbelief* O__O -coughs- erm... anyway, I know the head on the pic I am currently using is too small, and the arms are too long, but it is an old version and I've improved since then. I'm sick of remaking my character over and over so I'm trying to create a FINAL final version ^__^*

[DizzyCats 0]

  'Fahn said:

I prefer my characters to look rather androgenous' date=' kinda like the Final Fantasy main characters. And... I AM a woman, Flech . . .

[/quote']

 

I like the way you think :3

 

Incidentally, suggestion of gender in art is accomplished as much by preconceptions as it is by technical physical features. Elements such as earrings, long hair, softer colours and presence/qualities of eyelashes can serve as female criteria purely as a result of cultural understanding of gender. In implying sex physically, artists tend to emphasize certain key facial features to differentiate conclusively between genders. Female characters are notably depicted to have thinner and more curved eyebrows (and often larger eyes), more prominent lips but more subtle chin/jawline, bold eyelashes and prominent cheekbones. That is to say; it is understandable that people have confused the sex of your 'sona. If you want your character to appear more masculine without sacrificing the softness of his facial features, work on the shoulders. Males tend to have broader shoulders and are typically depicted as being mostly perpendicular to the neck whereas females' are angled downward slightly with a noticeably more gentle curve. I think the most noncharacteristic male feature of your most recent fursona style is the eyes but if that's something you even remotely want to keep, do it.

 

Personally I like androgynous characters because their gender/traits become quantified by their personalities . . . kind of. One of my characters is an effeminate ronin-archetype with whom I've relied heavily on the eyes/eyelashes for which to imply gender. It's otherwise (intentionally) somewhat difficult to tell.

[Fahn† 0]

Hehehe ^__^

 

Anyway, I just have a small request:

 

I usually don't make HUGE anatomical changes to my characters, but these have been floatingaround in my head for the past few days. As far as my fursona is concerned, tell me what you think about these features... if you don't think they retain the "essence" of my character, then let me know ^__^

 

Two thumbs per hand... after studying cervid anatomy I noticed they have a dew-claw on each side of their hooves, meaning that if one were to stay true to anatomy, an anthro deer would have two fingers in the middle and an apposable thumb on each side of the hand.

 

A THREE toed hoof with a single dew-claw... this seems to contradict the previous statement but I jst wanted an honest opinion

 

No hair... he already has fur so whats the point?

 

All white fur.

 

I'd appreciate feedback on all four ideas if you don't mind. Thanks!!

[Fahn† 0]

Alright, I'm getting no feedback here guys! Its no biggy, but your opinions are appreciated! ^__^

[Fahn† 0]

  'Kepler said:

This may weaken his grip on a sword' date=' since a normal human hand has a thumb curled around one side and four fingers curled around the other side. However the hand you described would have a thumb curled around the handle and just two fingers and a thumb around the other side, making the grip have less surface area on the handle than a human-style grip would, and less surface area would allow the blade to be knocked out of the hand easier.[/i']

 

Think more along the lines of an elite's hand form the Halo series...

 

http://www.starstore.com/acatalog/halo-3-arbiter-mini-bust.jpg

 

A hand with an apposable thumb on both sides and two fingers in the middle. ^__^

[Var† 0]

Dude, I had to scrap my old clydesdale fursona because of how much trouble it gave me. It wasn't till last week, and after realizing I have tough times with decisions because I'm a perfectionist, that I was able to force myself to stick with a decision. If I had a nickle....(you've all heard that plenty of times).....I wouldn't be living in Cali, or, at least, in North Cali.

[Fahn† 0]

I've decided... I'm implementing more animal anatomy into my 'sona and basing his design more on my favorite cervid... the Thompson's Gazelle. I have a (simple and poorly made) prototype made and quickly painted in watercolors, so I might tweak it a bit and redo it digitally over Christmas break