Specifically in my post, I was talking about it being a thing in furrydom to have it in a way that's more detailed than the example from my original quote on their references to the point of getting into junk-related specifics.
Oh, okey. I can explain that too or at least give a theoris. I’m not furry but I have had some art friends that are and what I have observed it’s probably one of few explanations.
But before that, it’s good to remember that furry artists tend to be on younger side. Most furries are teen to early twenties, it’s something that most but not all grow out off. Because of their age many furry artists’ main art influences are from children’s media with has great deal of animals as humans characters and many people get more serious about drawing by doing fan art. Plus drawing styled animals allows avoid hard to draw things like hands. Many furry artists even the ones that are pretty darn good, aren’t very experienced and are looking for tools to improve and/or impress. So this leads to junk refrences becouse...
a) They think that’s how professional/real artists do refrence sheets.
Most artists don’t show their reference sheets because they are more often than not kind of ugly mess. Bearly above sketches and sometimes even uncomprehensible to others. Generally you don’t want to waiste more time or details than you need, after all they are picture version of remainder notes. Refrence sheets are ment be functional tool to make art, not art themselves. So the furry kids end up seeing mostly the overly nice done and very detail rich “reference” sheets that are actually are portfolio pieces, promotion materials or porn.
b) They really want do good refence sheets
So this group gets that reference sheets are a tool but are very unsure how much detail they should have and decide to play it safe. These tend be good girl type. Every detail is always drawn and as nicely as possible. Unlike the above group they don’t think the junk is sign of master artists but are nervous that if they leave private parts out, it will come bite them in the arse. These people eather burn out from doing reference sheets or have to learn that less is often more.
c) They just want draw naughty bits
Nothing too complicated here, some people get kicks from drawing dicks. They might or not be that interested doing actual porn but they like taking advantage of reasonable excuse of reference sheet to do camel toes, mellons, goose eggs and bananas. Rebellion, breaking taboos, humor, turn on, social media attention... Reference sheets are opportunity for that.
