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aah..I rarely draw snarly animals...and there is a reason for it. I tend to dislike the connotation associated with images of angry/aggravated animals. Put simply, I don't like the idea of animals looking bestial/ferocious because of what people tend to associate with it..ie 'bestalizing' an animal. IE animals are often shown as being ferocious beasts that tend to have a shallow range of emotions (ie anger). I think this thought contributes to the pedestal humanity has placed themselves on...ie we are above 'them' because we can experience a greater range of emotions..or 'look at the dangerous animal!". We instinctively hide from/kill what we fear....
I guess maybe it's silly to see a 'snarl' as showing all this..but if you look at popular media and the way animals, especially the larger predators, are depicted..I don't think my thoughts are half-baked. Tigers are shown snarling, attacking, etc. The imagery is far more attention grabbing than a docile animal sure..but it is also a one sided depiction of the animal.
Anyway enough banter, a quick 5-10 minute sketch in open canvas of Balaa looking a bit unhinged..Oh yah and I need practice at snarly faces o_o;
I guess maybe it's silly to see a 'snarl' as showing all this..but if you look at popular media and the way animals, especially the larger predators, are depicted..I don't think my thoughts are half-baked. Tigers are shown snarling, attacking, etc. The imagery is far more attention grabbing than a docile animal sure..but it is also a one sided depiction of the animal.
Anyway enough banter, a quick 5-10 minute sketch in open canvas of Balaa looking a bit unhinged..Oh yah and I need practice at snarly faces o_o;
Category Artwork (Digital) / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 800 x 500px
File Size 110.1 kB
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I completely agree 100% with your description Balaa. It makes me mad the way the media, whether it be the tv or printed press, will usually use the angry/snarling images of animals like the tiger, the lion or the bear as the one and only way to represent the animal their talking (often over sensationally) about. Heck even many of the documentaries on the dedicated nature programming networks are guilty of this too, not doing enough in their power to show ALL the emotions and reactions animals are able to reveal.
It's why the only nature documentaries I watch nowadays are the one done by the BBC, and even then, only the ones presented by the legendary Sir David Attenborough. His shows often reveal the complex lives of the animals he talks about in intimate detail, not just focusing on the most eye-catching/news worthy, the film crew do their level best to present nature as it is, not just some sideshow that we so-called superior humans can quickly gawk at for a few minutes then discard it afterwards, having learned only the most basic, ill-informed notions about animals and animal behavior.
Though this might be a quick sketch Balaa, you have presented a powerful and very emotive work that I related very strongly too. Thank you for putting it to paper so eloquently.
*ChaosCat*
It's why the only nature documentaries I watch nowadays are the one done by the BBC, and even then, only the ones presented by the legendary Sir David Attenborough. His shows often reveal the complex lives of the animals he talks about in intimate detail, not just focusing on the most eye-catching/news worthy, the film crew do their level best to present nature as it is, not just some sideshow that we so-called superior humans can quickly gawk at for a few minutes then discard it afterwards, having learned only the most basic, ill-informed notions about animals and animal behavior.
Though this might be a quick sketch Balaa, you have presented a powerful and very emotive work that I related very strongly too. Thank you for putting it to paper so eloquently.
*ChaosCat*
I completely agree with you, it seems ferocity and making them into "cruel beasts" sells. I personally prefer the more tranquil images, like tigers in water, with cubs, or grooming. ^_^ I think you did wonderfully here, a great sketch! Personally, I'm terrible at drawing tigers. T~T
I never thought of that! Good food for thought! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this!
As for me, I love to draw snarly creatures because I think they look beautiful; the curves of the muzzle, the teeth, the eyes - so gorgeous, and smooth and satifying to draw. I find that drawing snarly things is actually very satisfying, mentally and tactile-y. And I love drawing fangs... teeth are intricate and fascinating to me.
I know that big cats are powerful creatures and should be treated with respect; and I know that they have many sides to them (including tenderness) - I don't know an animal that doesn't have facets to it's personality, in one way or another. I don't think that I am higher than they are; people are capable of far more cruelty. I know they hunt and kill to survive, not out of mindless rage. I just think they are beautiful and awe-inspiring, in all facets of their lives.
I just happen to like drawing snarly things. :D They are one of my all-time favorite things to draw. :) AND I find your thoughts on them fascinating!!!! Thanks so much for sharing, Balaa! :D And I think your big cats are beautiful too, in all your depictions. :) *fangirls again*
As for me, I love to draw snarly creatures because I think they look beautiful; the curves of the muzzle, the teeth, the eyes - so gorgeous, and smooth and satifying to draw. I find that drawing snarly things is actually very satisfying, mentally and tactile-y. And I love drawing fangs... teeth are intricate and fascinating to me.
I know that big cats are powerful creatures and should be treated with respect; and I know that they have many sides to them (including tenderness) - I don't know an animal that doesn't have facets to it's personality, in one way or another. I don't think that I am higher than they are; people are capable of far more cruelty. I know they hunt and kill to survive, not out of mindless rage. I just think they are beautiful and awe-inspiring, in all facets of their lives.
I just happen to like drawing snarly things. :D They are one of my all-time favorite things to draw. :) AND I find your thoughts on them fascinating!!!! Thanks so much for sharing, Balaa! :D And I think your big cats are beautiful too, in all your depictions. :) *fangirls again*
well I think on the one side I forgot to touch on why I did go ahead and draw her this way. I watched a show on Animal Planet about a man trying to teach domestic born tigers how to survive in the Wild. He was extremely close to the tigers and so a lot of the film showed him nose to nose with them. And as they learned to hunt, in an attempt to keep dominance established over the tigers..and not become their food, he would take away their kills after some point. Their first kill turned out to be an African porcupine..and needless to say the male got stuck deeply with a ton of quills..so our dear 'teacher' had to pluck them. This enormous full grown tiger snarled and hissed at him, he was still obviously hyped up from his kill..but the look on his face did not say 'I will attack you'..the emotion looked a bit confused..For one the man was hurting him by pulling the quills..but he trusted him all his life as he had taken care of him..so what was he to do? So he just made all sorts of grotesque faces and lay there...didn't swat at the man..didn't try to bite him ..though his face was not more than a foot away from the man's..and he could easily overpower him. Anyway I think it was in that moment that I saw the beauty too. And as Bagheera said 'it is an unfair depiction without showing all their sides'...tis true.
I'd like to see the popular media portray large predators as more than just killers/beasts...but perhaps in time that will happen or perhaps artists like ourselves are the ones that must emphasize that we draw them this way or that way for a reason and in explaining our reasons perhaps we can slowly change people's thinking. Haha a bit grandeous thinking there.. But no I certainly didn't mean anything I said against artists like yourself. I hardly think you would be one to disrespect your subjects...and there is certainly enough 'docile animals' in your body of work to balance the snarly faces (which btw.. I do adore like a rabid fangirl). Haha kept trying to think of how to include you in my description..but well I ended up not because it would sound extremely fangirly...
I'd like to see the popular media portray large predators as more than just killers/beasts...but perhaps in time that will happen or perhaps artists like ourselves are the ones that must emphasize that we draw them this way or that way for a reason and in explaining our reasons perhaps we can slowly change people's thinking. Haha a bit grandeous thinking there.. But no I certainly didn't mean anything I said against artists like yourself. I hardly think you would be one to disrespect your subjects...and there is certainly enough 'docile animals' in your body of work to balance the snarly faces (which btw.. I do adore like a rabid fangirl). Haha kept trying to think of how to include you in my description..but well I ended up not because it would sound extremely fangirly...
LOL! We have reciprocal fangirliness! *fangirls at Bagheera too* XD
That sounds like a fantastic program! I love Animal Planet; I'll have to keep an eye out for that show!
I knew you didn't mean me, Balaa! And I really loved your post, both the art AND the meanings behind it - it made me think about things differently, and that's always good! I totally agree with you, that The Media tends to portray powerful animals as mindlessly fierce and savagely brutal (the way wolves were portrayed a hundred years ago is a perfect example - little more than monstrous killing machines). I love discussions like this! :) Mostly I was just rambling why I like drawing them is all, and explaining myself so that people who _don't_ know me that well might know why I love to draw them - I always have, ever since I was little... sorry for rambling!
That sounds like a fantastic program! I love Animal Planet; I'll have to keep an eye out for that show!
I knew you didn't mean me, Balaa! And I really loved your post, both the art AND the meanings behind it - it made me think about things differently, and that's always good! I totally agree with you, that The Media tends to portray powerful animals as mindlessly fierce and savagely brutal (the way wolves were portrayed a hundred years ago is a perfect example - little more than monstrous killing machines). I love discussions like this! :) Mostly I was just rambling why I like drawing them is all, and explaining myself so that people who _don't_ know me that well might know why I love to draw them - I always have, ever since I was little... sorry for rambling!
Wow, this is absolutely amazing. I think that the linework and negative linework (the whiskers) are just jaw dropping. Awesomely done. I hear what you're saying about the negative connotations with an aggressive expression. Still, on the flip side of the coin too many people take exotics WAY to lightly in the US. Very few are the folks that know how to walk the line between and see the animal for what it truely is.
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