With the arrival of the Internet, the werewolves has found a new fame in art. Some artists draw them because they’re cool-looking, some because they like wolves and are sick of drawing the "usual" four-legged kind. Still others are drawn to the majestic beauty and mystery that surrounds these creatures. There is a high possibility that the "Furry" subculture was created based on the werewolf legend. Furries, to use their plural, are personified animals – bipedal animals. These "furries" tend to dress and act like humans, becoming an improved human to some and merely a new way of expression to others. The more feral and wild "furries" tend to be classified as "weres" like the werewolf. These "weres" aren’t "normal" like the werewolf. There are hybrids, strangely-colored animals and aliens that have become were-subspecies.
To learn more about an artist and why she draws furries and weres, I have asked Laura W. aka, "lilwerewolfgirl" for her insights. Her art gallery can be found here, which currently contains her versions of furries and a werewolf. This interview occured online on Monday, November 27th 2006 and will continue as soon as possible.
To start things off, let's look at your alias -- "lilwerewolfgirl." Why did you choose this screenname?
I chose it because I have always had a fascination with werewolves, since I was a little child. This was also the screename I based my original character (OC) after.
The image to the left is her original character, Lilwere, a wolf-snowleopard hybrid furry.
What is it about werewolves that drew you originally?
*laughs* I was four years old and I loved puppies! I’m dead serious, too.
Did your opinion changed after hearing that werewolves tended to eat humans -- thus making you potential prey?
Nope. Honestly they still intrigued me. I didn’t care if I fell prey to them. I was more afraid of vampires then I was werewolves. I always said to my friend if I could be any myth creature, it would be a werewolf.
Why is that?
Good question, haha. Maybe it could be my love for animals, and or wolves themselves. Or it could be the longing to get out there and be free, as wolves and werewolves are.
What is it about vampires that makes you dislike them over werewolves? Aside from the fact that many fiction writers have werewolves be slaves to them.
For some reason vampires strike me to be more of the "antagonist" parts of the story. They seem to have more reasons to kill to me. the word "vampire" strikes me as a word just for "killing."
Vampires tend to target humans, ne? Well werewolves don’t always have humans as their prey. I know werewolves are often portrayed as mindless killers too. But they seem to also be more in tune with there natural instincts to survive, unlike most vampires whom are portrayed to kill for pleasure.
( maybe I’m just biased. VAMPS SUCK! End of story. *snickergiggle*)
Let's focus back onto your OC for a bit. Is she a were, or a furry and why did you choose this way to personify her?
She started as a werewolf, and I changed her over to a furry without even realizing it. Back when I used to roleplay her as a werewolf she was a snow white werewolf and was the Lupa of her 'pack'... But then the roleplay died, and eventually she got her fur pattern changed and became a furry.
Is it easier to draw her as a furry than as a werewolf?
HA! Some would look at my style and say they see no difference. I never really drew Lil as a werewolf. Then again, this was back when I was... Teehee, beginning to draw anthro.
"Anthro" is the slang term used to describe both furries and were-creatures at the same time. It’s short for "Anthropomorphic." - Marci
You turned Lil into a hybrid. Any reason behind it?
It’s because I believe my soul is ripped into two animal species, the wolf and the snow leopard. Plus, my guardian is a white wolf. It’s kinda like... I feel like my guardian is a part of my soul – we used to be whole, and right now I’m the snow leopard half, so I made Lil whole again.
Do you believe that it's possible to turn into a werewolf via therianthropy/ spiritually? Physically and mentally?
Physically, no. I don’t think one can sprout fur and become a werewolf via therians and spiritual arousement (and this isn’t meant to be a sexual term folks in this context!). So do I believe there are real werewolves out there? Eh, Sure? Gotta believe in sommat. It’s like people believing in Nessy... you don’t see her, but you know she's there.
Mentally? Yes. I believe you can become a 'werewolf' there. people might view them as crazy but... I think you can do/become anything mentally if you open your mind enough.
Unfortunately, my wireless dropped at this point in the interview – please stay tuned for when I can next catch her to continue this interview!