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Nuki News #18 - Why Bellies?
🕑 Added 2020-06-24 16:41:30 +0000 UTCIf you know me, I have a very strong interest in bellies. I think since this interest has played a large part in my time in the fur community, I feel it’s good to dedicate at least 1 post to why I focus on them so much!
The fur community is what allowed me to explore this part of myself that has always been there. It took some time, I didn’t start deliberately including belly-focus in my art until 2015. Honestly I had a great deal of embarrassment and shame for liking bellies so much, especially the thought of bellies touching each other. Typing this now, 5 years later, it’s absolutely silly to think the majority of my life I used to be afraid of even saying the word ‘belly’. I didn’t want anyone to know I liked them. For years I had only talked about it with a close circle of friends(whom I’m living with now actually). But you might ask, “Why bellies, Artie?” And a fair number of yall have an answer to it yourself, as I don’t doubt a number of you also enjoy them, otherwise you wouldn’t have found my work!
I think there are a few things I like about them, and if you’re into bellies too, then this probably seems token. Bellies are a softer tender part of us, and to some 4 legged animals(dogs and cats especially) exposing your belly is a sign of trust. I felt if you could have bellies touching, it’s like expressing you can trust each other, and it means a lot to me to get to touch bellies with someone else. It is also obviously a pretty intimate area! Intimacy is something I hungered for and lacked a lot of years past. It’s innocuous enough that there isn’t any inherent sexualness in it, though it definitely can go that direction if both folks involved care to. I do enjoy how bigger bellies wobble, and can be squished and molded a fair bit, depending on the amount of fat. They feel smooth and warm, and I could certainly find myself spacing out rubbing a tummy!
It seems to me a fairly large amount of furries who are into fat/bellies, they’re more into how someone gets fat or fatter, be it eating a lot, or inflation of some sort, magical potions or what not. I want bellies to be celebrated, but to me it's what you do with your belly that matters, big or small. And I want my art to encourage folks to feel more comfortable using their bellies, or at least open folks to the idea of having some tummy ain’t so bad. I’ve gotten a fair handful of folks reaching out to me to say I have helped them in this way, and it really is honoring and fulfilling to know. It makes me more confident that I am going in the right direction and through me expressing myself through depicting these tubby middles, I’m able to encourage others to be more comfortable with themselves.
I felt alone in my keen interest in bellies a decade ago- no one around me talked about it, it was just a sign of lack of exercise, and to me it just seemed a crime or shame that people didn’t bump bellies with each other or see the value in them. But I was much too ashamed to do anything about it back then. Now that I can, I’ll endeavor to do so in most pictures I make. Maybe when I’m a few decades older I’ll be able to articulate this better, but for now that’ll have to do. But if you have questions about tummies or also have your own way of describing your interest in bellies, lemme hear it!!
Comments
Artie
Yeah!! It's wild how similar in timing we are with changes in our lives Macxi, haha. I am just as glad you've gotten more comfortable too! For a majority of our lives we were deprived of these things, so I think it's going to be much nicer as we get to be more free to express these interests!
Artie
Danuki, thanks so much!! I'm happy that we can relate on this aspect and it sucks to hear you were bullied for it. :( But I am glad the furry community has helped you be more comfortable with it and I'm grateful I can take part in that!
Artie
Thanks Day!
Artie
Exactly, I agree- as long as you're having fun with it and not hurting anyone! :)
I still remember when we were both getting into furry and we both... shared that we had a “thing” for a specific body part haha and I still think back fondly on that convo because we were both in a position where we felt awkward to share initially - but it felt really good to do it! I think we also talked about how the idea of physical touch and affection really plays into these things. The closeness of someone near~. I think I get that same good feeling just with the idea of generally snuggling others. And whenever someone gives me an ear massage, I just melt right into them. :P I’m so glad you feel comfortable expressing all of this so much more openly now! I think I’ve become a lot more comfortable with physical affection too. <3
Danuki
Thank you for sharing Artie. I totally understand the feeling of being sheepish or ashamed about it and I was for a very long time. Joining the fandom and talking to people about it and sharing it in has helped a lot. I've been big my whole life and bullied for it. It has just been nice to have a comfortable place where I can be myself and be around other people with big bellies.
Very well said Artie!
Sarah Fozze
This is a very good breakdown of why they matter, especially on affection, and I'm very glad you're doing it! It is still challenging at times for me to decide if i am doubtful of my appreciation for my own belly be it because of self doubt or true taste difference. But, I think that as long as you're having fun with it, that's what matters. being surrounded by wonderful people like you who opened my world has been immensely good <3
