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skyefeather — Shade
Published: 2010-10-24 20:40:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 1618; Favourites: 73; Downloads: 21
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Description
*i'm starting to post stuff, finally, but very slowly, bear with me @.@---
this was started and finished late this summer, as a request from of a character of his.
Shade
crocodilian, amphibian dragon
lives in a land of giants like himself, outcast from his species because of his unnatural black stripes.
loves to thrash around in the water, munching on jellyfish and nomming whales.
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Comments: 40
Color and shading astound in this piece. With only colored pencil used, the amount of sheer amazement skyrockets as the viewer observes this work.
Attention to proportion and size are also excellently executed; the grandeur of the character Shade is obvious as we watch it try to snap up a whale...
While the splash is very nicely drawn, my only real qualms are the sort of simplistic water... Though it is obviously made up for with the attention to detail and precision in the crocodilian dragon's entire anatomy. I especially like the teeth and the eye.
Woundrous work, of course, but what else could we expect from this magnificent artist, I suppose.
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I don't have a premium membership to critique in a fancy format. So I'll write it in a comment.
I'm going to ignore the fact that this is someone else's character, and critique as if it was an original piece.
Vision: 3/5
This is a striking pose that absolutely everyone loves to do. And it's always fun to look at.
Originality: 2/5
The fact that this is a commonly replicated pose and composition does subtract from the originality. I think it could be improved by a more dynamic perspective. Perhaps the whale in the foreground and the monster leaping toward the viewer as it grabs its prey?
Technique: 3/5
I am by no way a master of coloured pencils but I can see the effort put forth in this. The detailing, scales and colouring on the monster are the best aspect of this piece. However water is always difficult, and the ocean looks very flat and placid for there to be two massive aquatic beasts leaping out of it. That wing or fin on the monsters back is just sort of trailing off into nothingness behind it, and its almost questionable as to what it is. The two animals themselves are also confusing. The whale is a blob of grey and could use some touching up, it looks like an afterthought in comparison to the larger creature. Both of them should have more water trailing from them, and though the splashes are nice there should be a gradiation of tone from light to dark caused by the water droplets starting at where their bodies are leaving the water. (ex: [link] ) The whale should also be more blue in tone instead of brown.
As for the monster, when I first look at him I'm confused as to what's going on. His head is massive compared to his body and throws me off. It may be that you were trying some perspective with his head coming at the whale and towards the viewer, but this contradicts with profile of the rest of his body.
As a side note, it looks like the scanner or camera may have diminished the quality of the pencilwork. If you have a photoshop I suggest editing the levels of the image to make the coloured pencil pop.
Impact: 3/5
Not much has been done with the background, which leaves the piece looking unfinished and somehow diminishing of the impact. Whether it was some distant shore, more ocean or just a colour gradient. Anything would have been better than nothing in this case.
The monster again is confusing, and causes me to analyze him first before I'm able to look at the image as a whole.
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hey im michael. im new to deviant. check my drawings. i'd appreciate the feedback nice picture by the way
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wow that's cool! He looks like a dinosaur C:> Then most dragons do, and I LOVE it!
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hmmm, thank ya X3
you're pretty much right on that, actually; i was told his story and he's somewhat of a prehistoric...dragon creature. so yeah.
glad you like~
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I didn't realise quite how awesome this was until I realised that it was going for a whale O_O
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XD why thanks 
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hmm, could be
more along the lines of a different world
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that is absolutely excellent pencilwork! the scales and skin are all very well done. my only problem is maybe his feet are a bit too small
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why thank ya ^^ i really am proud of them scales, specially on the face.
and the small feet are my attempt at depth >.< gotta work on that
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yes his face is scalylicious you should be proud :3 !
and even if he didnt have feet this picture would still be awesome
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That is freakin amazing!!!!!
I wish I could get this kinda quality!!!
Great work!
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aaw, why thank you (:
muchly much practice, i tell ya~
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Quit. Being. Awesome. D8 I always feel full of fail when I see your stuff!
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bu-bu-but, whadabout yur stoof?
tis pretty epic in my book :3
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My initial reaction to the thumbnail alone was a whispered "holy shit!"
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ha, glad i could inspire such great awe~
X3 glad ya like
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yay! Shade!!!!!! I gotta get to his story soon yesh
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AH wow that's awesome! You got the skin texture and everything perfect 
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thank ya ^^ i'm so proud of him (:
i do realize i need to work on water though @_@ any flat-colored area is hard to do in pencil, always looks sketchy >.<
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Poor whale! I love how you conveyed its desperation to get away, and the dragon's glee at getting his meal. Wicked!
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That is really quite good- I like the water, and Shade's eyes in particular.
If you post more like it, I shall indeed bear with you!
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why thank you ^^
heh, i feel horrible for letting all this pile up. and the stack of homework i'm trying to get thru at the moment doesn't help -.-
i commend your patience
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