tashanimation

[tashanimation]

Final design and illustration drawing for the varanid dragon commission. This will be painted in watercolour soon! It's based on arboreal monitor lizard species, blue, black and emerald tree monitors.

Digital - Clip Studio

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Got an exciting commission by an anonymous client to design a dragon based on varanids (the group including komodo dragons and monitor lizards.)

These are some concept sketches to explore the design.

The first one is based more on the arboreal species, the blue, black and emerald tree monitors. I'd imagine it gliding through thick forests looking for insects and perhaps small mammals. It has those little parietal eyes to sense sudden changes in light to give it an early warning of a bigger predator above it. With long claws to clamber up trees and I just had to include that long spiraling tail the tree monitors have!

The second is based on water monitors, with more aquatic adaptations. This one doesn't really have wings, it's based on those kind of wing/fin like structures on medieval dragon art combined with exaggerated skin folds. It also has webbed toes and more webbing on its tail.

The third is a big apex predator, largely based on komodo dragons but with a spiny tail inspired by ackie monitors, and some spines on his neck to complete the look. It has the typical dragon body plan with four legs and a pair of wings, though depending on how fantastical this project is I don't think it would be able to fly. Instead it might use them to aid in sunning and intimidating rivals.

Pencil with digital edits

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I used my earlier guardian lion sketch as an experiment to try some grey and black watercolours. It was pretty fun and I like the result but I wasted the original a bit with poster paint. The white paint I use to highlight and make corrections dried as a light blue grey when mixed or smudged into the watercolour. It stands out badly, so lesson learned about leaving this paint be. A quick fix by de-saturating it digitally but still annoying. I might try black and white painting again but with pencil, or just some inking at the end.

A5 arches hot press paper, schmincke watercolours and microns.

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Creature design sketch based on guardian lion sculptures for my fantasy feline project. Pencil with digital edits

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Creature design based off the cat sìth, also taking inspiration from the "The King of the Cats" folk tail, they have a "crown" of spikes on their heads. They can also manipulate regular house cats. Like this one being coerced into giving up its mouse.

Digital - Clip Studio

[tashanimation]

Commissions Open, three slots available!

Info, prices and examples

Terms of service - read before ordering

Commission email - tashcrow.commissions@gmail.com

If you’ve been following my recent work, you’ll have noticed I’ve made the switch to clip studio paint and I’m no longer using photoshop, due to not wanting to support adobe products anymore. It was a little rough at the start but now I’m enjoying it! If you notice a slight change in my digital work, that’s why though.

For digital options I’m changing things a bit. I’ll be dropping digital sketches, it’s been tricky to get a consistent look for faster drawings (some look good, some look awful) especially now that I’ve changed programs. I think it’s better to just to spend a bit more time making them look nice, so I’m bringing back digital pencil commissions.

Digital vs Traditional

Digital is better if you’re looking for something more specific, really want to get a design figured out or your particular about your character’s details and colours.

Traditional options are harder for me to edit (though I do offer some digital adjustments.) So, if you aren’t too focused on the details and want a physical drawing or painting feel free to choose a traditional option.

Note that I’m not as confident drawing human characters traditionally and if your character has complex colours and markings, I’d recommend a digital option.

Thanks for reading, let me know if you have any questions!

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Still getting the hang of colouring on clip studio

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More creatures in clip studio

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Wip for the final illustration of the cat sith creature design. This'll be coloured and I might add some extra little drawings.

Also taking inspiration from the "The King of the Cats" folk tail, they have a "crown" of spikes on their heads. They can also manipulate regular house cats. Like this one being coerced into giving up its mouse.

Digital - Clip Studio

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Testing some clip studio brushes with my water warlock character and his undead tern familiar

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Finished my clip studio creature. I think I can replicate my usual colour style with clip studio pretty well

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Quit my subscription to photoshop. Kinda sad to let go of a program I've used for so long, but I just don't want to give adobe my money anymore.

I didn't really like it at first but I've been testing out and warming up to clip studio. Plus I love the time lapse feature, so here's wip of a creature I'm working on.

[tashanimation]

Still fussing with the cat sith design, but I think this will be my last concept before I do the final art work and move onto the other cats in the series. I thought the last one looked a bit too much like a big cat and I want these to be just a bit bigger than usual domestic cats.

Also trying to shift my reliance on photoshop by drawing on Krita. Found a brush I like for sketching!

[tashanimation]

Exploring my leafy faun character again. This was drawn in photoshop but I decided to try out Krita for the colours and texture.

Since adobe is becoming increasingly scummy I want to try other programs and eventually stop my subscription. I'm not keen on clip studio's brushes and I don't like the apple pencil (the felt tip wacom nib has spoiled me) so I think krita might be right for me!

[tashanimation]

Working on the cat sìth concepts. These ones are more lynx like with inspiration from domestic long haired cats.

Using the Boku-Undo E-Sumi Watercolor set for a change. I love the shadowy colours and it's a bit more opaque than regular watercolours. Also used some poster colour for highlights and coloured pencil for details. Arches hot press paper.

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Cat sith painting wip. Gonna be away for a bit, I'll finish this once I'm back.

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I'm on cara! tashmooreart