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Foxofwonders β€” The fifth element

Published: 2013-08-08 15:00:17 +0000 UTC; Views: 1763; Favourites: 110; Downloads: 4
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Description This is a submission to the contest from the group .
Theme: Oriental Dragon

Everyone knows the four elements of earth, water, fire and wind, but few know about the fifth element. Void. The element that fills the universe, the element of the spirit, creativity and pure energy. This is the dragon that collected the orbs of all the elements, and carries them with him wherever he goes. In his four hands he carries the four that form the earth, the final, however, is carried in an entirely different way.

As always, I used my trusty coloured pencils. I also used a black copic marker for the thicker black lines and a black fineliner for the thinner black lines (I even used the black fineliner to shade, hoping to give it, just a tiny little bit, the effect of sumi-e). For the mountain, I used a bit of charcoal and I made the majority of the light effects using an eraser (I used a tiny bit of white gel pen, but it's nearly nothing, really. I'd be surprised if anyone noticed).

It was really hard to decide how I would make this. My own, semi-realistic style or the typical asian style? It ended up becoming a bit of a mix, with the majority being semi-realistic.

Β©*The-fox-of-wonders
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Comments: 54

Foxofwonders In reply to ??? [2019-04-16 21:23:52 +0000 UTC]

It's great that you got to know them by heart so quickly! ^^
And thank you! I've wanted to try out 'real' Asian styles once, just to feel how that goes. Maybe I'll try that someday!
And yeah, you're right! Especially once you start going past our own planet, stuff gets hard to explain without a fifth element. I also like that the Chinese included wood (and metal as well, but I'm far fonder of wood).

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TheStarlightPrincess In reply to Foxofwonders [2019-04-17 10:51:54 +0000 UTC]

Yes, they're amongst the earliest ones Japanese children learn too. And η©Ί also means sky (read as 'sora'), which is why I like it even more it has sky on the background here. I like these Asian style take-ons you've done, so yes, it would be nice if you decide to do it again.

Hahaha, even astronomy speaks of the 'unidentified' 'dark matter' that's most of what our universe is made of and the explanation why galaxes, and stuff just suddenly distance from each other. X'D Yes, wood is wonderful! Β 


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Foxofwonders In reply to TheStarlightPrincess [2019-04-17 13:14:59 +0000 UTC]

I didn't know about that! Pure coincidence, but very cool regardless. xD

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Revan005 [2018-04-13 07:27:58 +0000 UTC]

Awesome!

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RavenAzuNoctuli [2015-10-12 08:41:49 +0000 UTC]

Welle the four elements, fire, water, earth and air are very ancient notions known, for exemple for the ancient greeks. The four elements are represent by the star of Salomon who was the basics of Middle Age alchemy...for the fifth element, there are effectively some text who speak about. they name it quintessence, or the elements of aether, the elements of the cosmos, also called void...bul all of that is western knowledges. Asian think the fives elements are : fire, water, earth, metal and wood, eache of them can destroy another one and each of them can reinforce another one,...Β 

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Foxofwonders In reply to RavenAzuNoctuli [2015-10-12 12:25:31 +0000 UTC]

There were some things in there which I didn't know, such as the star of Salomon. It looks like the internet calls it the 'seal of Solomon', but I can assume those are the same things.

That's right, according to the Chinese vision, at least. What I used were the Japanese five elements, according to the Wikipedia page linked below. I didn't check the sources, but I assumed the information there was correct.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_ele…

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Reithya [2013-12-10 04:34:43 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful, emotive, and full of wonder! I love all the details and all the lighting you were able to pull off- your mix of asian style and your own semi realistic style worked wonderfully. The dragon pulls your eye through the piece and I love all the wisps around the orbs of the elements. Great job! Thank you for sharing!

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KentaroFlamepaw [2013-10-10 20:12:36 +0000 UTC]

The dragon looks very gorgeous.
I also love the highlights and the gradient effect in the sky.
You're so good at drawing Kanji characters btw. It looks like a cross between Ming and Kaisho typeface. Especially since my seven years of studying Japanese, I try it a lot as well.
Brilliant job

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Foxofwonders In reply to KentaroFlamepaw [2013-10-11 14:11:17 +0000 UTC]

Oh, I'm very glad they look good, it was quite hard to find out how to make them.

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Yankovictim [2013-09-10 04:25:03 +0000 UTC]

Boron?

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Foxofwonders In reply to Yankovictim [2013-09-10 15:10:42 +0000 UTC]

Boron? What does that mean?

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Yankovictim In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-09-11 00:51:35 +0000 UTC]

On the periodic table boron is the fifth element.

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Foxofwonders In reply to Yankovictim [2013-09-11 06:30:40 +0000 UTC]

Oh, you're talking about chemical elements. xD

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falzelo [2013-08-29 16:13:35 +0000 UTC]

Judge's Comment:
I really love your coloring; The atmosphere you made was very oriental, too (I can’t really explain, just my feeling ). Light emitted from orbs are really reasonable, too. I also love how you searched about the elements in Japanese culture (which in the first place confused me a little bit…). But your dragon’s body looks not really oriental (It’s a little bit too fat ) and the anatomy is not very reasonable, too (I can’t really tell the position of chest, tummy, etc… You know, I’m a difficult person on dragon anatomy).

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Foxofwonders In reply to falzelo [2013-08-29 16:19:39 +0000 UTC]

Heheh, yes, I tried something very risky when drawing my dragon. I gave it four arms (as stated in my story that he carries the orbs in his four hands) and no hind legs, so actually the dragon has one big chest and no visible tummy, indeed making it a bit strange. xD

While drawing, I knew it would be very hard to convince the viewer of the dragon's four hands, but I tried by making the fingers long and flexible and by drawing a thumb and stating it in the story, but it was still very difficult.


However, I see this as a point to improve. You were very critical in your judging, but if anyone would feel discouraged by that, don't! Learn from your mistakes and improve. Nobody is perfect.

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falzelo [2013-08-24 11:52:08 +0000 UTC]

Your colors are marvelous as always But I want to share with you some knowledge about oriental elements: To us (oriental people), the 5 elements are Wood, Water, Fire, Earth and Metal. Because this is for an "oriental dragon" contest so I think this could be found useful somehow

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Foxofwonders In reply to falzelo [2013-08-24 17:16:00 +0000 UTC]

Yes, I found out about that when looking on Wikipedia for the Chinese elements, however, these are the 5 elements according to Japanese buddhism... if I can trust Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_ele…

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falzelo In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-08-25 05:02:31 +0000 UTC]

Oh I've never read about Japanese elements Yeah this source is trust-worthy, just because when say about "oriental dragon" people usually think about "Chinese dragons" and stuffs

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Foxofwonders In reply to falzelo [2013-08-25 08:38:15 +0000 UTC]

Yes, I understand your way of thinking.

I didn't know about Japanese elements either before I suddenly came across it while looking for information about elements, and I thought it would be cool to use, especially since the four typical elements (who got quite famous by the Avatar series) are in there, too.

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FigoFox [2013-08-09 17:42:07 +0000 UTC]

Beautifull as always

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Foxofwonders In reply to FigoFox [2013-08-09 21:12:35 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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MysticalFG [2013-08-09 15:02:37 +0000 UTC]

Oh my GOD that is AMAZING

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Foxofwonders In reply to MysticalFG [2013-08-09 21:12:21 +0000 UTC]

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MysticalFG In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-08-09 23:03:54 +0000 UTC]

>w<

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Ziirux [2013-08-09 08:37:11 +0000 UTC]

Holy...alright I'm speechless. Just amazing and beautiful, that's all I can say

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Foxofwonders In reply to Ziirux [2013-08-09 08:56:00 +0000 UTC]

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Ziirux In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-08-09 09:45:37 +0000 UTC]

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kaviaq [2013-08-09 07:21:52 +0000 UTC]

AAAH PRETTY.

I really like the details : D
The coloring is gorgeous and I love the concept c:

and those colors are pretty!

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Foxofwonders In reply to kaviaq [2013-08-09 08:00:37 +0000 UTC]

Yay

Glad you like those colours.

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ThePrimordialPlanet [2013-08-08 21:27:41 +0000 UTC]

Fantastisk ^^

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Foxofwonders In reply to ThePrimordialPlanet [2013-08-08 21:32:33 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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ThePrimordialPlanet In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-08-08 21:40:23 +0000 UTC]

no problems ^^,i love those kindof long dragons i love those :3

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kittyocean [2013-08-08 17:35:31 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful....

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Foxofwonders In reply to kittyocean [2013-08-08 21:17:33 +0000 UTC]

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ShinranRanger [2013-08-08 17:19:10 +0000 UTC]

O.o so good, nice work

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Foxofwonders In reply to ShinranRanger [2013-08-08 21:17:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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ShinranRanger In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-08-08 22:25:58 +0000 UTC]

Wellcome

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Emisferosinistro [2013-08-08 15:46:42 +0000 UTC]

Oh... well... ok, goodbye first price XD really, great job

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Foxofwonders In reply to Emisferosinistro [2013-08-08 21:21:14 +0000 UTC]

Hey, not so fast, I know your art is amazing, so make sure to try your best! You're serious competition!


(and thank you, too xD)

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Emisferosinistro In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-08-08 21:41:49 +0000 UTC]

Hehe, I'm already doing my best Β but your art is so amazing, and you're so fast! D: I didn't even finish the lineart...

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Foxofwonders In reply to Emisferosinistro [2013-08-08 21:47:55 +0000 UTC]

Without doubt. ^^


I guess I am a bit fast... I do have a lot of free time these days (holiday season ), though, so that might just make the difference. I have time to draw nearly all day.

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Emisferosinistro In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-08-08 21:59:01 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, it's probably me the one who is slow XD I may learn from you

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Foxofwonders In reply to Emisferosinistro [2013-08-08 22:05:47 +0000 UTC]

Heheh, maybe. As long as you don't rush it. xD

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Emisferosinistro In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-08-08 22:49:49 +0000 UTC]

I would never do it, I'm too obsessed by details XD

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Foxofwonders In reply to Emisferosinistro [2013-08-09 08:12:01 +0000 UTC]

Heehee, I think I can join you there. xD (even though they're not always visible... this dragon is entirely covered in round scales except the head (yeah, and the belly, obviously. o3o)

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Emisferosinistro In reply to Foxofwonders [2013-08-09 09:08:17 +0000 UTC]

I know what you mean XD (I can see them by the way )

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falzelo [2013-08-08 15:35:26 +0000 UTC]

First of the contest. If my memory works correctly, in the last contest you submitted your deviation first too, right?

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Foxofwonders In reply to falzelo [2013-08-08 16:14:11 +0000 UTC]

Yes, I did indeed.

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silver-lati [2013-08-08 15:19:14 +0000 UTC]

Well, every doubt you could've had about the fine liner was unnecesairy, it looks amazing ^^

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Foxofwonders In reply to silver-lati [2013-08-08 21:23:32 +0000 UTC]

Aww, thank you.

I really wasn't sure about it at first, but I'm glad it turned out well. Perhaps I should just stop unnecessarily doubting myself. ^^

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