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The Best of 2014
11 years ago
(Here's a shout-out to watchers and friends, do one of these up!)
2014 was a bittersweet year for me on FurAffinity. I've watched a lot of treasured and talented people go frightfully quiet, while new talent has grown and developed. I think we're seeing a bit of a "genre flight" from the very best talent on FA, which is to be expected; making the leap from "furry artist" to "artist" is a worthy goal.
After reviewing all of my own personal +favorited items across 2014, here are the highlights!
Best Image of 2014:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13278504/ -- "Jade" by Coyox. This was a hard choice across five strong finalists, but it's the heart-stopping intensity of that direct eye contact with the viewer, coupled with the muted psychedelia of this piece, that won me over. At a time where digital art is trending towards devastatingly bright and eye-popping colour intensities, Coyox packs power with a muted palette verging on the monochrome. -- Sadly, Coyox's work has now moved on. :(
2nd place:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15205612/ -- "Wye" by Bubblewolf. I would write an entire novel just to have this image on its cover. This was a great year for Bubblewolf, with superbly executed paintings that immediately transported me back to the paintings for covers of Tor books back in the 90's and 00's. This image brings detail at every level, and best of all, puts the anthropomorphic characters in a visual context that fits the image well. The choice of clothing for them both speaks of people in their time and place, part of a larger whole.
3rd place:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15070599/ -- "Tiger Lily" by Hibbary. A fantastic year for Hibbary, with three of her pieces making it to my final consideration round. In the end, however, this picture's pairing of tiger and tiger lily, coupled with the gloriously warm colour palettes and coloured pencil(?) strokes all come together in the most eye-pleasing bust portrait of the year.
Runners-up:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14201758/ -- "Lady in Black" by Saf. Great use of shadow, specular outline, and silhouette all come together to render this dramatic portrait of a fossa femme fatale. Another picture begging to be a movie poster or book cover!
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13187387/ -- "Only Just Begun" by Kamui. It wouldn't be a "Best of" list without some Kamui. A portrait of the beginning of a hero's journey, architecture and composition coming together to frame the faceless protagonist, a young boy with sword in hand. Adventure's on the horizon.
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15095339/ -- "Night Physics: Cold Medicine, Part 1" by Dramamine. Dramamine has rocketed up my charts this year with his explosive and vibrant psychedelia series, "Night Physics", and everything about this piece speaks of why. Bright, vibrant, approachable illustrations speak on the topics of psychedelic experiences and interpersonal connections in a way that can vary between the unsettling, terrifying, comforting, and warm, without missing a beat. I contend that Night Physics may be the most important anthro art project happening right now, and a masterpiece of the genre in the making.
Honorable Mentions:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12472159/ -- "Burn for You" by Hibbary. I think a glance says it all. The dramatic exploration of ember and cat combined made quite an impression, unforgettable all year long.
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14059613/ -- "Blank Books" by Bubblewolf. This piece feels very much like the warm-up to "Wye". Once again, Bubblewolf proving that, this year, they're ready to paint book covers fit for any major publisher.
2014 was a bittersweet year for me on FurAffinity. I've watched a lot of treasured and talented people go frightfully quiet, while new talent has grown and developed. I think we're seeing a bit of a "genre flight" from the very best talent on FA, which is to be expected; making the leap from "furry artist" to "artist" is a worthy goal.
After reviewing all of my own personal +favorited items across 2014, here are the highlights!
Best Image of 2014:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13278504/ -- "Jade" by Coyox. This was a hard choice across five strong finalists, but it's the heart-stopping intensity of that direct eye contact with the viewer, coupled with the muted psychedelia of this piece, that won me over. At a time where digital art is trending towards devastatingly bright and eye-popping colour intensities, Coyox packs power with a muted palette verging on the monochrome. -- Sadly, Coyox's work has now moved on. :(
2nd place:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15205612/ -- "Wye" by Bubblewolf. I would write an entire novel just to have this image on its cover. This was a great year for Bubblewolf, with superbly executed paintings that immediately transported me back to the paintings for covers of Tor books back in the 90's and 00's. This image brings detail at every level, and best of all, puts the anthropomorphic characters in a visual context that fits the image well. The choice of clothing for them both speaks of people in their time and place, part of a larger whole.
3rd place:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15070599/ -- "Tiger Lily" by Hibbary. A fantastic year for Hibbary, with three of her pieces making it to my final consideration round. In the end, however, this picture's pairing of tiger and tiger lily, coupled with the gloriously warm colour palettes and coloured pencil(?) strokes all come together in the most eye-pleasing bust portrait of the year.
Runners-up:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14201758/ -- "Lady in Black" by Saf. Great use of shadow, specular outline, and silhouette all come together to render this dramatic portrait of a fossa femme fatale. Another picture begging to be a movie poster or book cover!
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13187387/ -- "Only Just Begun" by Kamui. It wouldn't be a "Best of" list without some Kamui. A portrait of the beginning of a hero's journey, architecture and composition coming together to frame the faceless protagonist, a young boy with sword in hand. Adventure's on the horizon.
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/15095339/ -- "Night Physics: Cold Medicine, Part 1" by Dramamine. Dramamine has rocketed up my charts this year with his explosive and vibrant psychedelia series, "Night Physics", and everything about this piece speaks of why. Bright, vibrant, approachable illustrations speak on the topics of psychedelic experiences and interpersonal connections in a way that can vary between the unsettling, terrifying, comforting, and warm, without missing a beat. I contend that Night Physics may be the most important anthro art project happening right now, and a masterpiece of the genre in the making.
Honorable Mentions:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12472159/ -- "Burn for You" by Hibbary. I think a glance says it all. The dramatic exploration of ember and cat combined made quite an impression, unforgettable all year long.
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/14059613/ -- "Blank Books" by Bubblewolf. This piece feels very much like the warm-up to "Wye". Once again, Bubblewolf proving that, this year, they're ready to paint book covers fit for any major publisher.
