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windfalcon — Blessed Flight
Published: 2010-08-10 00:13:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 14542; Favourites: 740; Downloads: 252
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Description
Brushing aside the crackled leaves and old dust, I saw a mark etched into the bronze. It was a gryphon, wings outspread. In its talons it held a bow, arched with living oak boughs at each end. In its beak it pulled back the blood-fletched arrow, ready to strike.I had seen this symbol before...somewhere in a dream. A vision? A great beast rose before me, a billowing length of red behind. A protector, guarding the forests below...
A few years back I had the image of a gryphon with a bow in my head, and actually made something like this (simplified, of course) in metal. The image has always stuck with me and finally came out in paint. It is the symbol of the Maichach, the gryphon riders.
Part of this was a way to practice with acrylic. While I like the way it came out, I'm still incredibly slow with acrylic D: Oh well, more practice, then!
Acrylic on illustration board, 11 X 14 inches
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Comments: 88
You are correct! As an archer myself, I placed the arrow where it would be if a human was drawing the bow at a regular vertical draw, but for a gryphon holding it like this, it would indeed have to be on 'top'.
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So the gryphon had a human archery teacher 
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I have a recurve also (mine is a takedown recurve, meaning I can remove the limbs from the riser for easier storage/portability).
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Yep, mine too. 66 inches, 34 lbs. But after the last competition it broke down. Both mountings for the limbs are slacky.
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This is incredible. I love the bow and how he uses it, the background, colors, the feathers... it is all just amazing.
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I got to see the original this last weekend and the picture just does not do this piece justice. I just wish I had had more of a budget this year for art because it would have come home with me. Fantastic work, as always.
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Thank you! That is the eternal struggle between artist and scanner, sadly!
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Cool 
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Yes, I have this available in an 11 X 14 inch limited edition print. If you're interested, I can note you with details.
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That would be nice. I really like this painting.
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I love your gryphons. Is this one based on a red-tailed hawk?
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It is indeed!
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Amazing! I love the feathers and the apparent control of the bow.
(Is mightily jealous because someone never had much skill with those things....*cough*)
Great work!~
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This is amazing. I love the detail on the feathers of the gryphon (especially the crest), and the sense of motion in the red cloth behind it is amazing.
I like how the gryphon is holding and pulling the bow as well.
AEH
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I love the spread wings with the floaty fabric behind.
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Wow, beautiful image! Pretty concept, and well executed.
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Magnificent. The feathers look so soft but the entire gryphon looks powerful, the red behind emphasizes the gryphon also instead of taking away the onlookers attention, very well done!!!
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This is quite possibly the best piece of yours I've seen. The depth and richness of color are incredible, as is the sense of movement. I can practically hear the wing beats and the snap of the bow!
On a separate note, of all the artists I watch, you seem to use illustration board the most. As a "Paper, canvas, or die!" sort of a girl, I've been curious to try it and but would like to hear some pros and cons first
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ZOMG, you amazer me even furthur!~<3 @_@ Its so beautiful, too much so for words. <3
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Beautiful, the colors go so well together and the wings look wonderful ^_^
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WOW! this is incredible! the feather detail... 
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Amazing piece - I adore the wings in particular, and the bow is a wonderful touch!
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Awesome work! There's a wonderful motion to it. ^^
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Woooow! That's wonderful! I loooove it! Keep up!
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