Red Star Rising

What can I say...I've been away from painting dragons for FAR too long. I've missed it terribly, but just haven't had the energy and motivation to get my teeth into a dragon. Dragons are a LOT harder than horses because there aren't really any references (if there are, please pinch me and then point me in the direction of any dragon that's slipped through a crack in the universe - and remind me to pack something fireproof )

A long time ago (and I do mean long - WAY before DA and people easily posting things online) I once saw a painting of a red dragon against a fiery sky. In some ways, it captured 100 % of what I thought was the essence of dragons and it's stayed with me ever since - even though I couldn't describe the image any more and have no idea who the artist was. This doesn't even come close - but it still manages to make me feel the same *beams*

As for the muscles and the shading...well...I did my best, that's all that can be said about it, keeping in mind that when I have painted dragons in the past, I ALWAYS try to cover the hind section with the wing, because I've always failed to properly connect the hing leg and tail with the rest of the body without it looking wonky. The claws could have come out less bright - they do sting your eyes a bit but still, I think some progress has been made in my absence of painting them




Thanks to who supplied the scales brush and saving me from having to do one myself
and also to the cloud that gave me the start for the manipulated background.
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