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Ellygator β Enter the Dragon 8
Published: 2008-12-20 22:39:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 4463; Favourites: 126; Downloads: 104
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(2008) 9" x 12", pencil on paper.After what's been quite a break I decided to continue my "Enter the Dragon" series of lizard portraits. This one is showing the rare and beautiful blue iguana (cyclura lewisi) that can only been found on the island of Grand Cayman. I was able to see them up close when my husband and I visited the island last year in summer. They are amazing creatures and have the most beautiful turquoise blue skin and striking red eyes.
Unfortunately they've been hit hard recently, first in spring of this year by a spree of stabbing attacks that killed 7 of what is already a dwindling population threatened by complete extinction. Don't click the link if this kind of thing is really upsetting to you. It's tough stuff... [link]
And then the park and sanctuary were flooded by recent hurrican Paloma - fortunately this time all iguanas were safe. [link]
If you get the chance to visit the islands don't miss seeing the sanctuary. If you love reptiles and want to help a species that's truly on the brink The Blue Iguana Recovery Program would truly be a deserving charity.
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Comments: 85
Thanks so much! Lizards all have so much character - I love to draw them!
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You're making me want to get a pet lizard of my own.
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Ohh, that would be cool!
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Thank you! It was nice to go back to that series.
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Not bad. A few of his fingers are slightly rounded, but other than that it's a terrific piece.
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Thank you! He was kind of standing awkwardly on all the rubble and little rocks on the road where we photographed him with his claws all bending odd ways...
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Lizards tend to do that. Am hoping to adopt one of my own in the future, so I'll have a nice model for photos & illos also.
However, I prefer monitors or tegus. Most iguanids definitely look more impressive, but they can be mean as hell & their tails are like bullwhips! I used to know one guy who had a friend who had to get rid of his iguana. Once it grew large enough, it kept chasing him around his house. Seriously.
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The dangers of being a dragon-keeper! But yeah, I heard that iguanas can get cranky, especially large males. It even seems that they are interested in what gender their human is, chasing off guys and trying to mate with the gals...
Monitors somehow seem to have incrediby intelligent expressions, like they really have things worked out for themselves. Hope you can get one as a companion.
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Wonderful job on the detail, and it sounds like a great trip! It's nice to be inspired by things you actually come in contact with. They are gorgeous. I miss my iguana although he wasn't rare at all...I paid $20 for him haha
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Thanks so much! I've never kept an iguana but I've been around those of friends, and I am always amazed how diverse they are in character. They have wonderful personalities. After all it's what a companion a pet makes, not how much it costs that counts in my book, and iggies are awesome!
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That is very true in my book! Even though I paid $20 I spent $300 3 weeks after I bought him so he could have "life saving surgery" (which it turned out not to be but I still had to pay them 
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Thank you! It was fun doing a lizard again after that long break.
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great to see you back at it- excellent work!
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Thank you! I'd been meaning to draw him for my husband's birthday - which was last April... He really got delayed finishing.
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incredible, and probably one of my favourite iguanas.
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Thanks so much! I really enjoyed drawing him.
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Humans' senseless acts continue to astound me.
Naturally, the question comes up, echoing with lack of an answer: Why?!
I'm glad that you got to see them, though. They really are beautiful in their own way, and I'm so happy to read that so much effort and money has gone into their preservation.
Just think: if every person on earth donated the equivalent of at least $1US toward each individual cause, how much better off they all would be in the end.
But we all do what we can, right?
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I agree with you so much! I wish less money was spent on wars and conflicts and more on green energy, saving the earth and alleviating poverty, sickness and lack of education, but I guess we have quite a bit of gowing up to do before that truly happens.
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My time on dA is somewhat sporadic, so I've missed out on this fun series of yours.
Lovely, lovely texturing; I especially like the shading on the topmost spikes and the pebbling around the skin folds.
Truly, a modern-day dragon in miniature.
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Thanks so much! I really love reptiles and all of them have been such a joy to draw!
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Absolutely love this series
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Thank you, and yes, I agree!
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I Guana say that this is just another example of you putting your heart into every piece you do. I so much appreciate the degree of detail and texture you insist on before you feel the work is done. I know where that comes from. I will draw again soon and would love to share my stuff with you and others. Mean time, I'll just be writing my silly words. Thanks for being.
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That sounds wonderful, I really hope you can get back to drawing!
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Thanx for the encouragement. It all comes down to a time issue. I can knock out a crazy story in a few hours but a detailed drawing takes many times that. I work like 12-14 hours a day so I usually take the easy way out and just work with words. But I WILL do it. I promise. Your pieces just pave me over!
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That sounds really tough. I hope you can get more of your own time back in the new year and carve out some space for yourself to be creative. One should not have to work that much on a regular basis; I've been there, but it's no fun and one can really burn out doing it.
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WOW GREAT
Your skills are truly so amazing, 
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I really enjoyed drawing him. Thanks so much!
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YEAH IT SEEMS, 
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YAY for Dragons!
Can't see why people don't like them ^^
Luvly work on the details, as always
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Thank you! And I agree, why anyone would want to injure or kill such wonderful creatures is beyond me...
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The detail is amazing! Beautiful work!
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Thank you! So happy you like him.
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This is wonderful! I love iguanas (Had one for years) and you have made me miss him. Awesome details.
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That's wonderful! I am so glad you had one of these amazing creatures as a companion!
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His name was Godzilla and he was beautiful, sweet, lovable and very smart.
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Thank you, very happy you like it!
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awesome picture. I love the detail you have on this fellow - Amazing!
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Thank you! We took some wonderful photos at the sanctuary. The iguanas were not shy at all, and if you moved slowly and didn't startle them they'd approach you themselves to check you out. One of them was very interested in my naked toes peeking out of my sandals, but I didn't want to find out if it thought they were some yummy pink fruit or something... In any case, made for great, close-up photos and video.
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