I'm trying to make a Lakota (wolf) tail in time for Califur, and I could really use some help/critique with the overall shape. :}
Basically, I'll go into more detail under the cut, but the summary is: I tried to match my art style to a tail, and it really isn't what I wanted, but I'm not sure how to change it - or if I even can. XD I don't want to just make a "generic canine"-shaped tail, but since I'm not happy with the stylistic one I made, I'm wondering if I should just go with generic canine. :{
I know I'm stressing a lot over the tail, but tails are weirdly super-important to me (I love them!) XD So, thank you in advance for bearing with me!
This is long with a lot of pictures, be forewarned XD
I really wanted to try making a tail that followed the visual style that I use to draw Lakota's tail. I tend to draw her tail larger and fluffier than a real wolf's, with a very defined/sharp point on the end, and with a bit of a flip/curve to the overall shape that real wolves don't have XD
Here's a quick sketch set I put together to show the positioning her tail is usually in:
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I wanted to try and make a tail that matched hers, in terms of appearance/style/shape/etc. Basically, something different than the usual canine tail... it seems to me that most "canine" tails follow one of three major styles. I LIKE all of these styles and have no intrinsic problems with any of them, but none of them really felt like Lakota to me. Here's examples of what I mean:
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There is also the style that is basically just the tail hanging straight down with no sewn-in shape to it at all:
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I tried planning out a tail that kind of matched my art style:
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It looked great on paper, and it looked great when I cut out one set of pattern pieces and laid it on the ground:
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But my boyfriend suggested I make a quick "test tail" out of some crappier fur before I got too far along, and I'm glad that I did. Because the test tail... was not at all what I was hoping for. :/
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oh god my posture is so bad XD DON'T LOOK
Even letting it sit lower/closer to my butt doesn't really help:
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messy room ftw
It looks like a cloud or lightning bolt coming out of my butt XD And, I kind of wanted it to have some movement/wag to it as well, but the sticking-straight-out tail just looks lifeless :/
Has anyone ever gone with a "non-standard" shape for a canine tail? Have you been happy with the results? Is there anything I can do to make this kind of shape less static and less pillow-strapped-to-the-heiny in appearance? Should I give up and go with something more typical? XD
Any advice is appreciated :} Thank you!
Basically, I'll go into more detail under the cut, but the summary is: I tried to match my art style to a tail, and it really isn't what I wanted, but I'm not sure how to change it - or if I even can. XD I don't want to just make a "generic canine"-shaped tail, but since I'm not happy with the stylistic one I made, I'm wondering if I should just go with generic canine. :{
I know I'm stressing a lot over the tail, but tails are weirdly super-important to me (I love them!) XD So, thank you in advance for bearing with me!
This is long with a lot of pictures, be forewarned XD
I really wanted to try making a tail that followed the visual style that I use to draw Lakota's tail. I tend to draw her tail larger and fluffier than a real wolf's, with a very defined/sharp point on the end, and with a bit of a flip/curve to the overall shape that real wolves don't have XD
Here's a quick sketch set I put together to show the positioning her tail is usually in:
I wanted to try and make a tail that matched hers, in terms of appearance/style/shape/etc. Basically, something different than the usual canine tail... it seems to me that most "canine" tails follow one of three major styles. I LIKE all of these styles and have no intrinsic problems with any of them, but none of them really felt like Lakota to me. Here's examples of what I mean:
There is also the style that is basically just the tail hanging straight down with no sewn-in shape to it at all:
I tried planning out a tail that kind of matched my art style:
It looked great on paper, and it looked great when I cut out one set of pattern pieces and laid it on the ground:
But my boyfriend suggested I make a quick "test tail" out of some crappier fur before I got too far along, and I'm glad that I did. Because the test tail... was not at all what I was hoping for. :/
oh god my posture is so bad XD DON'T LOOK
Even letting it sit lower/closer to my butt doesn't really help:
messy room ftw
It looks like a cloud or lightning bolt coming out of my butt XD And, I kind of wanted it to have some movement/wag to it as well, but the sticking-straight-out tail just looks lifeless :/
Has anyone ever gone with a "non-standard" shape for a canine tail? Have you been happy with the results? Is there anything I can do to make this kind of shape less static and less pillow-strapped-to-the-heiny in appearance? Should I give up and go with something more typical? XD
Any advice is appreciated :} Thank you!