Scalerandi: An Anthro Master

Alessio Scalerandi, who goes by the professional name, Scale, is a familiar figure in the international anthro and furry community.  Active since the mid-1990s, he brings both the techniques and the legacy of the Old Masters to the realm of "furry" art.  As such, he consciously works to make such art a part of the larger tradition of Western art history.  

At the same time, however, Scale's work possesses a certain joy or lightheartedness that is quite at odds with the moody and serious aura of much Old Master painting.  He cites Frank Frazetta (himself an admirer of the Old Masters) as an early influence, yet Scale is very aware as to what Frazetta offers and what is better left alone.  Let Scale tell us in his own words:

Scale, Talk to Her, 2015

"One of my biggest influences as I was learning the basics of painting was Frank Frazetta. His work kickstarted what we now think of as "fantasy art", even though mainstream fantasy art is rather tame and child-friendly compared to his seminal vision and to the literary sources it was inspired by, such as the works of R. E. Howard and Edgar Rice Borroughs. Frazetta's works depicted worlds dominated by primal urges: violence, lust, tribal hatred, struggle for survival. His immense artistic talent allowed him to depict such themes with a strenght that is still unmatched."

"While I learned a lot from studying his painting technique, my subject matter and the feelings I try to communicate with my art are very far from his, so at one point I felt like painting a sort of counterpoint to one of his most famous paintings which is also a favourite of mine."

Frank Frazetta, Cat Girl, 1984

"That painting is all about darkness, tension and aggressive sexuality.  It reads like a challenge to the viewer:  here's this seducing but unattainable and dangerous goddess of the wild, would you dare to take a step towards her?  So I wanted to quote the composition of the painting to paint a character that felt like the polar opposite of that "cat girl:"  a character who feels like a real girl who undressed just to pose for this portrait, and that you wouldn't mind chatting with over a cup of tea.  The setting is bright with primary colors, not a savage jungle but a corner of a zoo enclosure of some kind where the feral cats are fed well and used to foreigners.  The title itself is an invitation to relax and talk.  Plus my character is a _literal_ cat girl of course."

"In a nutshell the painting I made shows the main differences I perceive between fantasy art and furry art.  The latter is generally brighter, friendlier, more naive, and portrays imaginary creatures in a more optimistic way.  I appreciate fantasy stuff as much as anybody, and especially visceral fantasy like Frazetta and Howard's, but you don't always need conflict and danger to make things worthwhile."

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As one who emphasizes the brighter and friendlier side of fantasy (as it is expressed in anthro and furry art), Scale also indulges in the whimsical at times.  He is intrigued by contrasts and the unexpected, as can be seen in his paintings of macro and micro subjects. Yet Scale is quick to note that his interest in these subjects does not follow the principal narrative of much macro / micro art.  Again, in the artist's words:

Scale, Fruit Bath, 2016

"The odd entry in my "won't draw" list is destructive micro/macro stuff. I accepted a commission of that kind once, suffered every bit through it and then sworn I'd never do it again. Now it's one of the very few furry subgenres I actively avoid and close/delete on sight, along with scatological fetishes and extreme cub porn." 

"Not expressing a value judgement here - I understand the cathartic and cartoony appeal of destructive fun, it just rubs me the wrong way in the case of furry art because I feel other media like videogame and anime are much better suited for that kind of entertainment. I find micro/macro to be a wonderful theme that lends itself to more interesting ideas. My all time favourite macro pictures for instance show simple but (for me) intriguing situations that stimulate a lot of fun guessing about how things work in the depicted world:"

KaputOtter, School of Podiatry, 2010

Myenia, Explorers, 2011

 The anthro and furry community, like many others, is frequently dominated by fads and trends.  Scale is the rare artist who is aware of such trends (in style, in medium, in subject matter) and yet he chooses to subvert them or operate outside of them altogether.  There is no question that Scale adheres to the general spirit of "furry" in his positive and joyful outlook.  But his thoughtful consideration of every aspect ensures that his art remains both original and authentic.

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https://www.deviantart.com/scalerandiart