FeedKenzie LaMar And His Fantastic Furry Illustrations
Written by NetBear on October 16, 2008 – 5:50 am -It’s been a while since we surfaced a new and “beary” talented artist on Bearotic. I think you’ll agree it was worth the wait to find Kenzie LaMar (NSFW), also known as Hedrus online.
From the above image alone you can tell that Kenzie is quite a talented guy. He brings out a sexy yet lighthearted magnetism in his illustrations of hairy men. But you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. There’s a lot more to Kenzie’s hot furry world.
Kenzie doesn’t shy away from drawing his subjects in full form. But he was kind enough to put together a gallery of his work for Bearotic with a few tactfully placed paw prints over some of the naughty bits. What we might lose in instant gratification we gain in anticipation for later. 
At what age did you start drawing?
Well, I started sculpting with clay before I could walk. I would make animals like birds and I loved dinosaurs. I started drawing not to long after that. I would guess 3 or 4. But I was more of a sculptor for years. I didn’t really get serious about drawing until I was about 12 or 13.
Have you gone to school to learn your art?
I went to Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). I majored in illustration and graduated with a BFA on the deans list and received best in senior show. I learned so much from college. I don’t think I would be where I am today without having gone.
Where do you get your inspiration for your artwork?
Well, I work in the video game industry as a character artist so obviously video games are a huge influence, especially Capcom. I have always loved their artwork. Even earlier than that I loved Greek sculpture and that led me to study anatomy. The human form became my obsession from that point on. Dinos and monsters went the wayside. I also read lots of comic books and later Manga and Anime. I had lots of art history and have many favorites from around the turn of the century (1900). I think the single largest influence has been Manga and Anime however. I just love the stuff. Mix bears with it and there you have what I am most influenced by. I just love Japanese gay artists.
What medium do you work in?
I was trained in Oil Paint, but have since dropped it as a medium of choice. Actually I don’t do traditional artwork at all anymore. I do all digital. Photoshop is my most beloved tool. At my job I also use 3D software and that has been a great way to get back to my sculpting roots. I draw on a Wacom Cintiq. LOVE it. Any artist wanting to go digital needs to have one.
Where do you want to take your art? Or… where is your art taking you?
Well, bear art hasn’t really taken me anywhere. When I graduated college I really wanted to make a presence in the Bear community and the greater Gay community as a whole, but I have had little success with that. I tried to get illustration jobs in magazines but that didn’t pan out so well. The pay for most things like that is very poor and not really worth it. Video game art has been a staple. The Bear artwork is a hobby. My style is moving in a more anime/manga influenced direction. For years anime and manga have been the driving force for me to do artwork so now I am finally allowing it to bleed into my style. I am also trying to draw manga now. It’s new to me and I have never been great at sequential artwork. But I am trying hard.
What are you working on now?
The various forums and online communities is what is driving me now. I post artwork on several sites and love being part of a greater community of artists and art admirers. I am also working on a non-gay themed or erotic manga now. I am writing a story and am going to try and get it published. We’ll see where it goes!
What’s next for you?
I think as far as bear art goes, I will always draw it for fun. But whether or not I take it more seriously depends on the demand for it. If I can’t make any kind of living off it I will have to keep it just a side diversion. One thing I have yet to do is really do 3D CG bear artwork. Mainly because rendering hair has been so hard. I gave up a few years ago but I think I am going to give it another try. I have many 3D models of men I have made over the years. I want to make bears and give them nice thick beards and hairy bodies. But for now they are all smooth CG. That’s why I haven’t posted any of them anywhere. I think that is coming. I am also toying around with simple animations (2D and 3D). So I guess it’s all leading to story telling. Even in my bear artwork. Doing pinups is getting old.
No matter what format, medium or topic Kenzie pursues in his artwork, we’re sure he will bring a particularly Bearotic spark to every character he renders.
You can find more of Kenzie LaMar’s artwork all over the net. Here are a few links to get you started. At the NSFW links you’ll get to see some of the uncensored original versions of his illustrations.
Hairy Men Art Blog NSFW
Kenzie On Flickr NSFW
1 Trackback(s)