MayFurr's Art - Inspiration, Information

Updated July 2000

What I draw

I draw mainly anthropomorphic characters, or "furries". Why? They're fun!

The picture to the right is an example. This pencil sketch of mine was inspired by the film "My Fair Lady".

Style and influences

My artwork is pretty much cartoony in nature. Although I do try to work in a lot of fine detail from time to time, most of my drawings are fairly simple. I've only been seriously drawing since 1995, so I feel I've got a lot still to learn.

Artistic styles have been influenced by Terrie Smith, Richard Bartrop (his furry cyberpunk series "Zaibatsu Tears" was what really got me into doing vulpines!), the film "Balto", some Disney and Warner Brothers, and Saturday morning shows like "Dog City" (Loved those baaad puns!). Plus of course all the other fellow traveller amateurs for sheer encouragement and inspiration!

Have your pictures been published?

Yes! My artwork has been published in the following fanzines:

"South Fur Lands" - the first Australasian furry fanzine, produced by Jason Gaffney. My art has appeared in Issue #1 to #13 , Issue #15 onwards, and the first two Sex and Violence specials. Others who've been published here are Grant Freckelton, Paul Kidd, Gerard Ashworth, Amy Pronovost, Marco Morales, Grant Preston (a fellow Kiwi! :) ) and Bernard Doove.
"Anthropomorphine" is a British furry-themed fanzine produced by Foxy. Issues 4 and 7 of "Anthropomorphine" and issue 2 of the associated publication "Foxes Are Neat" have had pictures of mine in them. Fur Scene issue #10. Published by United Publications in England, this is another British-based furry fanzine.
"YARF! The Journal of Applied Anthropomorphics" issue #45 and #50. Issue 45 seemed to have a rather high level of Down Under contributors!
Some of my artwork has been published in the Canadian APA 'zine Furthest North Crew, through the generousity of my British friend, furry artist and writer Simon Barber. Thanks mate!
"Flan and Fur", a food-themed furry fanzine.
"Fur Visions" issues 10, 11, and 15, edited by Karl Maurer.
"Fur Plus" issue 5, a "furs with a difference" 'zine edited by Karl Maurer.
"Dainties", a furry lingerie-themed publication edited by Ian Stradling.

Pencil sketch of furry from My Fair Lady

What are 'furries', anyway?

The short explanation... :) Furries are basically what is also known as 'anthropomorphics', which in a strict sense means any non-human object endowed with human characteristics. For furries, it is generally taken to mean animals and creatures that have human attributes - for example speech, intelligence, the ability to walk upright, and so forth - but which still retain animal characteristics like fur or scales, tails, and usually some sort of behavioral trait associated with the original animal the character is based on.

There's also a long explanation :)

Characters like Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote, Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles, characters from 'The Lion King' and 'Animaniacs' etc can be considered 'furry' characters. They can also include such mythical beasts as dragons, gryphons, and centaurs... though, for the latter, the 'taur form is not necessarily limited to the traditional human upper body and equine lower half... like this.

Isn't this talking animals thing just for kids, though?

Not at all... in fact using anthropomorphic characters for story-telling and so forth dates back to mediaeval times and to the ancient Egyptians, where many of the ancient gods of that culture were represented by human-like lions, jackals and birds.

In more modern times, the classic Warner Brothers cartoons including Porky Pig and company were created for general entertainment for adults and children alike - in fact, you can find many references to adult humour in these early cartoon classics. However, with the rising popularity of television in the 1960s, the cartoon was used as an economical filler for children's programming, which in my opinion helped to stigmatise the animated cartoon in general, and talking animals in particular, as being strictly for children.

A lot of the furry artwork and stories available on the Net were drawn and written by adults for the enjoyment of adults, and are close in general flavour to many popular adult themes of drama and action, with a hint of science fiction or fantasy thrown in for good measure.

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