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kiki-doodle β Foreboding
Published: 2013-09-12 08:23:36 +0000 UTC; Views: 5027; Favourites: 313; Downloads: 43
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Description
An Adventure story.I had to shelf this for two months before I finally figured out the atmosphere. A trial in style as well as depicting some characters of mine. The dragon is Spikka, a character from a story I started when I was 12 and would love to transform into a graphic novel one day.
Prints available in all sizes.
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Comments: 44
Do you have a book or story available somewhere based upon this picture? I find it intriguing and would like to read all about it!
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Not at the moment, but it's my planned large epic that will hopefully be an online comic in the next year or two.Β I'm doing a short story or two to warm up for it, first, though!
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I read your journal about commenting and I totally agree. I think it comment trading is a great idea
I don't have anything worthy of comment in my gallery at the moment, but I wanted to comment on something of yours anyway. And I hope you don't mind that I also included some constructive critique, even though I know I couldn't do even half as good a job as you do 
Great work! The picture really tells a story and every entity in it has a part. Your composition is full of swooping lines which gives a great sense of action and movement. I agree with Daroneasa that the mountains seem a little flat. Also, the canyon would have seemed more "there" with a darker deeper colour - I understand there is a lot of snow in the way, but this could also have benefitted from being cut into stripes like you did in the foreground by the humanoid characters feet. This way the snow would have more movement and the canyon could have it's depth conveyed.
All in all I really love this painting for the story it tells - I feel involved right away. It's amazing how much you tell about the story and the characters in the span of one look
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I am always SO thankful for critique!Β It always gives me so much food for thought for future pieces 
I definitely have a lot I could do better if I went back into this... I'll be applying that towards future iterations of this story, though, for sure!
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First of all, I really like the composition of this piece and the story it sweeps you into. Β All the characters have an appealing design that balances cute and dangerous very nicely. I especially love the dragon and the protective body language shown for the human character.Β
The only major critique I have is that the background feels somewhat flat. I feel like if you had the values fade out a bit as we go toward the mountains, and in contrast perhaps some gradual darkening in the sky or down in the canyon a bit, it would add a lot of depth to the image.
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Thank you so much for the critique!!Β I feel like I probably am lacking in atmosphere, which would push things even further back!Β This was a particular challenge for me when I made it as I had done most of the painting several months before I managed to finish, and had to re-work a ton
I appreciate all the feedback as it gives me more food for thought when I next work into this story
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Cool! Β Love the atmosphere here! Β And the cool colors, too.
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love the composition, that dragon is a handsome beast!
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Ack, you combines textures and patterns so very well. Love how this just gives off a very sorta 'fun' feeling though--even though everyone looks completely grumpy.
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Thank you!Β Hahaa, I love this comment, too.
Yeah, I love serious adventure stories but I don't think they need to lose their sense of wonderment.
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Really diggin' the colors! I thought that may be Talonosh without wings until I read the comments. Also, that atmosphere is amazing.Β
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It sort of represents a Talonosh without wings.Β The main reason for this piece was to capture the essence of a part of the story I would like to write, and since it's not necessarily a cannon piece, I could allow characters to change for whatever is best for the image.Β In this case, I don't know WHO the red-headed character even is, other than the fact I want someone to be in that spot.Β It was more fun to just allow things to flow.
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Ah, nifty! That is a good approach I shall have to keep in mind.Β
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Wow i love the body language of the characters and how it reflects their expression. great job with the color palette as well. It is obvious you put a lot of thought into this before just doing it
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a lot of my small pieces I just draw direct, but what makes the biggest differences in the larger works, really, is just taking the time to sit down and do several thumb nail studies of what you want while thinking about rules of composition and doing a color study before jumping into painting.Β It's pretty amazing how an extra hour of prep work can make an image THAT much stronger.
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Oh yes I know. Yeah prep work = amazing outcomes
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Looks cool, I really like the angle and the colors! Good luck making the comic!
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ONE DAY!Β I will make it happen!
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XD Can't wait!!! Do keep me updated, it looks really cool! Β
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I really love the style!Β The colors you used are very vibrant!Β Β
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Intriguing, I wouldn't mind reading the story
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I hope I get to share that sooner than later then!
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That's wonderful looking! Composition is very nice
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The positive reception is inspiring me to show more
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Ooooh, I was going to say that I recognized some of the characters! Β I couldn't place Spikka, but I remember white-haired-guy, but not his name.
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Spikka doesn't have as many super strong visual things to tell her apart, though in this case, I'm thinking if I go visual, I'll make her tattoos more prominent, though if I DO make this a graphic novel, I may hate myself by the end, hahaa
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Prominent tattoos aren't all that bad, I've gotten used to most of my elves and can slap on their tattoos pretty quick.Β Worst case scenario, I have to check an older piece to remember what certain ones look like, especially if they're ones that are usually covered, but they've become part of what the character IS to me, so easy to remember and render.Β Some of them I have the actual "detailed" versions and the "WTF ever no one's even looking" versions, though >.>
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Oh man. I haven't seen Islenteon in forever. Is that Nathaniel Spikka's holding back, too? And the tiger in front makes me think of Talonosh, without all the biddinal trappings though.
This is absolutely gorgeous and I'll need a copy to put up in my room sometime
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Possibly Nathaniel.Β If the story changes (which it likely will whenever I get to it) I don't want to trap myself, so I'm allowing things to smoothly change and flow.Β The addition of another human character is necessary, but who it will be isn't fully defined.
The tiger in front represents Talonosh, although it's not really necessarily accurate.Β I just wanted to concept out the feeling
And yay!Β I'll have prints made for this in all sizes before month's end.
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I'm a big fan of paintings that frame themselves
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Thanks!Β I can see how it looks kangaroo-like, though that wasn't the original intention.Β More or less, it's just my idea of how a dragon would use the weight of its haunches to rear up.Β That coupled with my ear design reads kangaroo
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not bad, actually, your kangaroo-dragon is unique
anyway, your dragon (kangaroo or not) is very cool. congrats
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I personally thought of Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon. x)
This is a very beautiful piece though! I love the softness of it and the magical feeling it gives.
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I'm liking hearing all the comparisons people are feeling x3Β Since it probably means that the piece is resonating with them, hahaa.
Thank you!
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Probably not going to be the first or last person to note this, but the guy with the sword and brown hair reminds me a lot of Shaggy. XD
This really is a gorgeous piece, though.
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HA!Β Shaggy's ancient ancestor.Β Investigating haunted castles and monsters with his pet dragon Droogy and friends.
Seriously, though, pretty amusing.Β This design is just a concept.Β I know there needs to be another character in this story, but I haven't worked out any of their details other than a few personality quirks.
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Cool! I love dragon's face and expression! And the colors... β₯
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