When I started this page I was knee-deep in size-difference work. The feeling of being small in the presence of something large and (hopefully) peaceful. The main driver was this bear shaman, and I kept imagining her in conversation with Kalahari, who’s not especially small by most standards but ends up feeling dwarfed by comparison. And I love that dynamic with a creature who’s otherwise gentle but still impossible to ignore because of the space she occupies. Kalahari is always a gentleman even when hanging out naked with a spiritual guide, but in this case I imagined her offering something to drink that would erode some of the usual social guardrails. Nothing sinister, just something to empower his instincts. And I guess the result is a kind of flustered admiration that’s a little embarrassing, but equal parts validating.
Then there’s some experiments with hyena proportions that got a little silly in places, but all in service of feeling out their yeen-ness. There’s a special place in my heart for hyenas, probably because I saw so many of them in Kruger Park as a kid. At the time my understanding of them was shaded by their famous rivalry with lions, but as an adult I saw them more for what they actually are. Which is admittedly very cool and interesting. Later on I started appreciating them for what they actually are: social, intelligent, a little chaotic in structure. If foxes are “the dog that would be a cat”, hyenas are “the cat that would be a dog”.
Further down, there’s some skunk foot studies in 4- and 5-toed variants. I’m still not sure where I sit with toe count on skunks and mustelids, and right now it’s just on a case-by-case vibe check. Anyone opinions on this will be well received.
Oh yeah, and there’s a little self-portrait in the style of Bojack Horseman. That show really surprised me. I expected an irreverent adult comedy, but it ended up resonating in some profound ways. I mean, some of my favorite fiction does this, wrapping fragile observations about human sadness in a protective coating humor and irony. Sometimes that’s the only way those ideas can make it from one person to another. If it was less funny or more poignant I probably wouldn’t have cared as much as I did.
Anyway, I've got an otter boy in the works...