The top one was done with wax paper. The second was made with flower petals. I just put down a fairly wet wash, put the objects on top, and smashed them down with a book until it had dried.
I hear plastic wrap makes some marvelous textures, but we don't keep it around the house so I haven't had the chance to try it out.
I don't know, I think there is definitely a difference between your dragons, and the ones that artists like Jennadelle popularized. Like you said, your dragons are very beautiful and speak a lot to me of positive energy and flow, especially the blue and purple one of the dragons intertwined. The dragons that used to be popular on DA had a different feeling to them... a lot of dark or unsaturated colors, a lot of sharp edges and generally unsettling or negative feelings. A lot of people see dragons as something powerful or frightening, probably because of the Biblical association, but I think they can also be a very positive symbol. *ramble* Anyway, these are beautiful paintings
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O yes, you are very right--they are very different. And even back then I think what I was doing wasn't altogether too similar. Regardless, I felt like it was something I wanted to steer clear from.
I think at the time I was making the transition, quit, and when I came back my own idea of 'dragon' had become radically different.
The problem with dragons is that that's all it's going to be-a dragon. A fantasy cliche. I don't know if people not in our little nerdy community bubble could approach it as anything more. It's a similar thing with furry art. You, the artist, are so used to just looking through the animal person aspect, but to anyone else approaching the work all they see is a wolfman. A gallery full of wolf men? That's bloody weird. XD It caters to a specific audience. Granted, dragons have a much wider audience than wolfmen. But they still have this palpable reek of dark basement, mountain dew, and cheetos surrounding them that's hard to shake.
Thankyou for the links :3 I will definitely check him out.
My dad used to paint in a similar style in the 70s, so he had an art book that I used to look at when I was a kid. :) One time I saw Roger Dean at Comic-Con, recognized his art and got a print for my dad, no idea where that is now...
The problem isn't their being used as an icon in art historically and culturally. That, I think, is a boon if anything--that they would be a universal symbol of All Animal, or savagery, or wisdom, or what have you.
The problem is that modern culture has trivialized their image. You can't see a dragon without thinking primarily, if not solely, about things like Dungeons and Dragons, Tolkien, kitchy fantasy, etc. Their cultural impact has been overgrown with modernization so much so that I'm not even sure how to begin reclaiming it.
So! Whatever :) Lemme jump ship with you here. I have been postponing creating an account here for like, forever - I don't have time to write, but to be able to chat with you, its worth it
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Ingrish is fine with me. X3 What is your native language? Undoubtedly I do not know it, but I'm curious all the same.
I'm glad to hear that you like my art. Furries can be pretty schlocky sometimes, but that isn't to say the fandom is devoid of talent. I've met some of the most pleasant and talented artists working with anthro themed artwork.
Ghibli is amazing. I take that as the highest compliment!
I actually do have some Joseph Campbell! It's fascinating stuff. I admit that I don't like The Power of Myth as much as Myths to Live By, which is my favorite of his books. I actually did a project in one of my drawing classes mapping the stages of a scizophrenic journey.
I'm kind of an LJ dummy but if you're ever really stuck, I'll see if I can help >:F
Simply gorgeous, all of them. I like how each representation is different in some way! The dragon, to me, has always been more than one singular ideal...it's one of the reasons in college that for one class, I did aproject illustrating diff. types of dragons, ones that could live all over the world, in different shapes, size, environments, etc. So many people hear the word "dragon" and think inside the box rather than outside of it. S'one of the reasons why I love your depictions...they all vary, and are unique...each one saying something different or representing an aspect.
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I hear plastic wrap makes some marvelous textures, but we don't keep it around the house so I haven't had the chance to try it out.
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I think at the time I was making the transition, quit, and when I came back my own idea of 'dragon' had become radically different.
The problem with dragons is that that's all it's going to be-a dragon. A fantasy cliche. I don't know if people not in our little nerdy community bubble could approach it as anything more. It's a similar thing with furry art. You, the artist, are so used to just looking through the animal person aspect, but to anyone else approaching the work all they see is a wolfman. A gallery full of wolf men? That's bloody weird. XD It caters to a specific audience. Granted, dragons have a much wider audience than wolfmen. But they still have this palpable reek of dark basement, mountain dew, and cheetos surrounding them that's hard to shake.
Thankyou for the links :3 I will definitely check him out.
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The problem is that modern culture has trivialized their image. You can't see a dragon without thinking primarily, if not solely, about things like Dungeons and Dragons, Tolkien, kitchy fantasy, etc. Their cultural impact has been overgrown with modernization so much so that I'm not even sure how to begin reclaiming it.
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I'm glad to hear that you like my art. Furries can be pretty schlocky sometimes, but that isn't to say the fandom is devoid of talent. I've met some of the most pleasant and talented artists working with anthro themed artwork.
Ghibli is amazing. I take that as the highest compliment!
I actually do have some Joseph Campbell! It's fascinating stuff. I admit that I don't like The Power of Myth as much as Myths to Live By, which is my favorite of his books. I actually did a project in one of my drawing classes mapping the stages of a scizophrenic journey.
I'm kind of an LJ dummy but if you're ever really stuck, I'll see if I can help >:F
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Ooh, let me write that book title down, I am in need of good read!
Oh, yay, usericon! \o/
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How do you find Brazil? I've heard a lot of really incredibly wacky stories about the place.
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