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Foxofwonders — The Collector

Published: 2013-06-29 13:31:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 1679; Favourites: 95; Downloads: 8
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Description It was a common sight. The dragon was walking along the beach, her eyes fixed on the sand below her. It was a warm summer evening, and right now it wasn't very busy along the coast. Most visitors had already left, and those who were watching the sunset were standing on the dunes, leaving the dragon on her own. She didn't have to leave yet to get home before darkness would cover the world for the night. She didn't, because during the summer, she lived on the beach, the shore was her home.

She slept in a hut she had built and decorated all by herself, all other things she had to do, she could do outside. She ate fish, seaweed, the berries that grew in the bushes atop the dunes and sometimes seagulls or their eggs if she was lucky. All time she had left she spent wandering along the coastline, looking for anything the waves washed ashore. She would take anything the could find: seaweed, shells, driftwood, feathers from seagulls in the sand, even items beachgoers had left behind. She stored everything in her hut and put them to use when, and where she could. She used the prettiest items to decorate her hut with, she could use driftwood to repair her hut whenever the wind or the sea harmed it and she stored seaweed to eat later. Her habit of collecting things from the beach had earned the dragon her nickname: the collector.

Currently, she was strolling along the seaside, looking for anything she could put to use. Suddenly she saw something shiny peeking from the sand, near her hut. It surprised her she hadn't found it any earlier. Eagerly, she started digging it up, and discovered it was a lovely, huge shell she had never found before. She admired the shell a little longer, then put it away safely in her hut, to continue her search. The dragon was walking along the beach again, her eyes still fixed on the sand below her.

This is a submission to the contest on the group Dragon Traditional Art. Topic: Summer.

I mainly used my coloured pencils to draw this, as well as a black fineliner to outline most things on the foreground. Using my mechanical pencil, I drew all of the Collector's scales, and I did some minor shading with it too. For most of the shading, especially the larger areas, I used some charcoal.

It was quite hard for me to come up with a concept I liked surrounding the summer theme. My mind almost immediately wandered to the beach and the sea, but then... I first thought about maybe some dragons playing in the water, and I had almost started on that when the Collector walked into my mind, and I immediately loved her somehow. I think I know what inspired me for the Collector. When I was still a young child, I collected feathers with my grandmother, as the geese in the pond near my grandmother's house often dropped lovely big white feathers. That stopped once I grew a bit older, and for a long time I had stopped collecting feathers, until I recently started collecting them again. Some days ago, we had a 'klassenavond' (literally 'class evening', more like 'group evening') along a lough of the North Sea. At some point in time, my mentor told me she collected sea shells, and since I collected feathers again, I thought that was kind of funny. The beach is really a great place for collecting, there's lots of stuff you can find and collect around there.
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Comments: 78

dragonsponies [2013-11-12 18:45:10 +0000 UTC]

it's really amazing, the clors are so different and blend in so well, nice sea effects as well. by the way is the shading done with charcoal? it looks like it ^^

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Foxofwonders In reply to dragonsponies [2013-11-12 19:08:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

Indeed, most of the shading is done with charcoal. It's in the description, but it's quite a lot of text, so I can imagine if you didn't feel like reading it.

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dragonsponies In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-11-12 20:28:30 +0000 UTC]

well yeah, i just looked over it quikly, i really like it though. did you learn it at a school or did you learn it yourself?

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Foxofwonders In reply to dragonsponies [2013-11-12 20:33:53 +0000 UTC]

I learned it myself. c:

I did look up some pictures though, to get a good sense of the colours of the evening sky and the way sand looks.

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dragonsponies In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-11-13 18:49:48 +0000 UTC]

makes sense. it's hard not to look at any examples and make shure realism stays in the painting

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Foxofwonders In reply to dragonsponies [2013-11-13 19:07:06 +0000 UTC]

It's also a great source of inspiration. Looking up pictures, I mean. Sometimes when I don't have a lot of inspiration I look through the 'stunning scenery' section of my favourites, then I usually get some. ^^

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woodywoodwood [2013-11-12 17:14:03 +0000 UTC]

"Oh, I'm not a trainer, young lady. I am merely...a Collector." pokemon the movie 2000

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Foxofwonders In reply to woodywoodwood [2013-11-12 18:23:45 +0000 UTC]

I watched that movie. However, I watched the Dutch version.

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woodywoodwood In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-11-12 22:32:39 +0000 UTC]

the quota from the English version whas the first thing in my head when i saw the title of your piece 

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DreamDrifter91 [2013-11-11 22:39:46 +0000 UTC]

so cute! I really love the way the sun reflects on the ocean

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Foxofwonders In reply to DreamDrifter91 [2013-11-12 16:27:38 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I'm very glad you like it.

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Winged-wolf-fan [2013-10-26 15:08:54 +0000 UTC]

AAAH CUTE!!!

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Foxofwonders In reply to Winged-wolf-fan [2013-10-26 20:48:49 +0000 UTC]

^^

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eva-tiger-lover [2013-07-07 15:05:36 +0000 UTC]

it's amezing also the sun in the water

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Foxofwonders In reply to eva-tiger-lover [2013-07-07 22:18:39 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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pinl101 [2013-07-02 12:31:08 +0000 UTC]

If a big cradled out of it?

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Foxofwonders In reply to pinl101 [2013-07-02 18:23:14 +0000 UTC]

I think she'd be suprised, but she would laugh. I don't think there would be one in though. xD

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GillygillyGillygill [2013-07-01 22:49:47 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful shell you have there friend

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Foxofwonders In reply to GillygillyGillygill [2013-07-02 08:59:33 +0000 UTC]

^^

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kaviaq [2013-07-01 21:33:09 +0000 UTC]

AAAAAH this is beautiful!!
I really like the coloring and all that detail! The scales are erally cool!
And the story is really good to!
I really like the background too!
That sunset is really pretty c:

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Foxofwonders In reply to kaviaq [2013-07-01 22:16:16 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad you like it so much ^^
I like drawing sunsets and sunrises, especially since I think the sky is prettiest that time of the day

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kaviaq In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-07-02 02:50:00 +0000 UTC]

Sun sets and sun rises are really pretty : D
Too bad we don't see them around here that often at this time of year :'D

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Foxofwonders In reply to kaviaq [2013-07-02 08:58:34 +0000 UTC]

Ah, yeah, of course, you live pretty far to the north xD

I can see the sunset more or less (there are buildings in the way) around 10:30 p.m.
I don't often bother to get up early to see the sunrise though

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kaviaq In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-07-02 18:12:39 +0000 UTC]

Every once in a while during the summer, (Not very often thought)
we will get sunsets. but its usually between 11:00 and 12:00 pm.

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Foxofwonders In reply to kaviaq [2013-07-02 18:24:07 +0000 UTC]

Holy meep, that's late xD

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kaviaq In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-07-02 19:26:37 +0000 UTC]

I have a major love-hate feeling about summer up here.
like theres fishing, warmness(sometimes. definitely not this week.), camping, and better chances of getting akutaq.
but theres mosquitoes every where and it never feels like night because I live in the land of the midnight sun state.

Oh Speaking of akutaq, I forgot to ask this ages ago.
How did your classmates like the akutaq??

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Foxofwonders In reply to kaviaq [2013-07-03 07:30:55 +0000 UTC]

Argh, mosquitoes, I hate those D:
Sometimes they invade my room... and then at 3 a.m. they all start attacking me and getting me out of my sleep, which leaves me awake until I've killed them all... which can be around 13 per night. (It must be really weird to have sunshine during the night. Do you get used to it?)

It really depended on the person. Most of them were pleasantly surprised by the taste (since... well... our home-made akutaq didn't look that good xD), some even wanted a second bowl. There were also some people who didn't finish their bowl somehow. Because we had some left at the end of the presentation, we went to feed the teachers but some of them didn't trust it, whereas others were really eager to try. xD

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kaviaq In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-07-03 07:42:28 +0000 UTC]

Mosquitoes can get really bad up here D:
for some reason there is more this year than there is last year.
I also get bigger reactions to them too, so that sucks,
(well its a little harder to sleep. especially if a room is curtain-less :'D )

ahaha xD I only eat akutaq when its made by someone I know and trust.
when its someone I barely know I would refuse because some people put raw eggs in it D:
I've tried some with mashed potatoes too, as weird as it sounded, it actually tasted pretty good.
I think they add it mainly to change the texture of it.

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Foxofwonders In reply to kaviaq [2013-07-03 08:19:29 +0000 UTC]

Yuck, there are less of 'em over here, compared to last year.
Aw, yes, that sucks indeed. :c
(Teheh, then you better have some. xD Also, do the sunrises/sunsets last longer over there too when there are such 'long days' and 'long nights'?)

Lol, mashed potatoes xD

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kaviaq In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-07-03 08:30:04 +0000 UTC]

omg I must move there now.
the less mosquitoes the better
( I do for sure >: D honestly I have no idea :'D )

Hahaha. I think someone uses bananas too....

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Foxofwonders In reply to kaviaq [2013-07-03 16:21:49 +0000 UTC]

The less mosquitoes the better is one of the most true statements I ever heard. xD

OMG yay, bananas xD

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kaviaq In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-07-04 23:43:06 +0000 UTC]

Ahaha yes, very true xD Right now the mosquitoes have been away because its cold and rainy.

Bananas are cool

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Foxofwonders In reply to kaviaq [2013-07-05 09:09:45 +0000 UTC]

Mwahaha, die mosquitoes, die!

They are.

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kaviaq In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-07-06 00:38:17 +0000 UTC]

*kills all mosquitoes.*

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kittyocean [2013-06-30 20:31:50 +0000 UTC]

So detailed!!

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Foxofwonders In reply to kittyocean [2013-06-30 20:34:15 +0000 UTC]

I love doing all kinds of little details, I can just draw and forget about everything else.

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Saraais [2013-06-30 20:16:37 +0000 UTC]

wonderful atmosphere and details, you did a fine job! (:

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Foxofwonders In reply to Saraais [2013-06-30 20:33:28 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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Gewalgon [2013-06-30 17:18:48 +0000 UTC]

It looks wonderful!
I love the atmosphere and all these little details!
Can't wait to see more art from you!
Good luck for the contest!

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Foxofwonders In reply to Gewalgon [2013-06-30 17:55:03 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad, thank you for your great comment. They keep me motivated.

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fallowsingerwolf [2013-06-30 00:29:05 +0000 UTC]

Very beautiful, and so detailed! Makes me want to go back to the beach again

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Foxofwonders In reply to fallowsingerwolf [2013-06-30 13:26:53 +0000 UTC]

Ah, that's cool ^^

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Wvasco-Eciese [2013-06-29 19:04:02 +0000 UTC]

It's the little details here that really make this hit home.

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falzelo [2013-06-29 15:42:13 +0000 UTC]

Looking at this gorgeous deviation, I can only think "this contest will be hard work to our judges..."

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Foxofwonders In reply to falzelo [2013-06-29 15:51:02 +0000 UTC]

Aw, I'm glad. ^^
I wonder what the other participants will come up with.

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MysticalFG [2013-06-29 15:26:03 +0000 UTC]

I admire it how your backgrounds are always so pretty ^^ This is, once again, an amazing piece ^w^ As always, awesome how you put a little story with it ^^
Also, what a coincidence, we recently had our klassenavond as well ^w^

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Foxofwonders In reply to MysticalFG [2013-06-29 15:29:32 +0000 UTC]

I'm so glad with the way the background turned out this time, I'm glad you like it as well. ^^
Heehee, that's cool.
What did you do during your klassenavond? (so much fun throwing around that word in an English text xD)

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MysticalFG In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-06-29 16:18:42 +0000 UTC]

It really did turn out good! >w<

Oh it wasn't nearly as fun as yours, I presume xD We just had a barbeque x3 But it was still fun ^w^

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Foxofwonders In reply to MysticalFG [2013-06-29 17:44:00 +0000 UTC]

Ours wasn't that exciting actually. From half past 3 until 6 we had nothing to do, after that we got some fries with a snack and ice cream, followed by 'levend stratego', which was fun (and our team won, yay xD).

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MysticalFG In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-06-29 18:46:07 +0000 UTC]

Ahh I see XD But ohmygod I LOVE levend stratego SOO much XD Sadly we never do it anymore because our class feels they are ''too old'' for it, of course XD It's so much fun though ;u;

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