Dracopedia
Page 4
Throughout history, basilisks have been depicted in an array of forms. This image shows a basilisk with crablike legs, since the artist’s only reference was probably crustaceans or insects.
DEMONSTRATION SONORA BASILISK
There are many aspects to the basilisk that make it unique within the Dracopedia. When designing a full scale painting of such an exotic creature, it is important to try to include all of the elements that define it. When starting a painting, revisit the designs you have developed, along with your notes and reference and begin with a list of all the things that the image should include. This way you can be sure not to leave anything out such as:
• Multiple legs
• Desert landscape
• Spined armor
• Bright markings
Artist’s Note
To design a desert dragon like the basilisk, there is a lot of inspirational reference that is available. Looking at the horned lizards of America, as well as Gila monsters, and even armadillos and armored dinosaurs, it becomes apparent that some designs are common to all desert creatures. Food is so scarce in this harsh climate and competition so intense that most animals develop bizarre armor to fend off predators. Visit the library and even your pet store to see some of the amazing creatures that have evolved. Study how they live and survive when developing your own creations.
Some reference of horned lizards used to develop the Sonora basilisk.
1 Create a Thumbnail Sketch
With your pencil, work out some thumbnail designs. After completing this initial sketch, I realized a horizontal image would work best.
2 Create a Final Drawing
Working from your concept sketches, references and notes, work out a detailed final drawing for the painting. Work as large as possible, as this will allow for the necessary details to be rendered.
In this drawing notice that the angle of this view is slightly from above. This allows the drawing to show the eight legs.
3 Establish the Underpainting
Create a new layer in Multiply mode and do the underpainting, using a warm golden palette to emulate the glow from the hot desert sun. The underpainting is the most important step of the painting process. It establishes the lighting, texture and mass of the image. Be as loose as you wish at this stage since most of this work will be painted over. Use a variety of brushes, and feel free to make a mess.
4 Complete the Underpainting
Finish the underpainting by darkening the areas in shadow, using your finished drawing as a guide.
5 Begin to Refine the Color
Working in a new layer, block in the color of the painting’s major forms using semiopaque brushes.
6 Refine the Background
In a new normal layer and working from back to front, paint the background using opaque colors and detail brushes. A strong backdrop will really make the details of the basilisk pop. Keep the contrast of the background colors high to suggest a strong desert sun.
KNOW YOUR SOFTWARE
It pays to become well acquainted with all the painting tools and options your software offers. For example, Photoshop users should be sure to open the brush preset menu (choose Window menu > Brushes, then click the small triangle button) and look into the many other brush sets that are available beyond the default set.
Another great feature of Photoshop is that all of your custom brush profiles can also be used with other tools such as Eraser, Dodge, Burn, Smudge and the Stamp tools.
7 Refine the Basilisk
Using smaller semiopaque brushes and darker colors, add scale details. Do the scales in multiple semitransparent layers to make a convincingly complex texture similar to the scales on a Gila monster.
8 Add the Finishing Touches
Continue refining details until you’re satisfied with the painting.
COATYL
Draco quetzalcoatylidae
SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 6' to 10' (183cm to 3m)
Wingspan: 8' to 12' (244cm to 4m)
Recognition: Snake body with brightly colored feather wings
Habitat: Tropical jungles, desert oases, ancient ruins
Species: Aztec coatyl, phoenix, Egyptian coatyl, Egyptian serpent, hai riyo
Also known as: Coatl, dragon bird
Pronunciation: /kwä•tl/
South American Coatyl
Pencil and digital
14" × 22" (36cm × 56cm)
BIOLOGY
The coatyl is of the order of feathered dragon (Pennadraciformes). Long believed to be a purely mythological creature, the coatyl is revered as a holy animal to the native people of its habitats. The coatyl family is one of the smallest in the Dragonia class, consisting of only a few of the feathered, limbless dragons.
The South American coatyl has a large 6' (183cm) serpentine body that’s surmounted by 8' (244cm) colorful wings. It makes its habitat in the ancient ruins and jungles of the South American continent.
The Egyptian coatyl or serpent also lives in and around the ancient ruins of Giza and has four brightly colored gold and turquoise wings.
The phoenix, which makes its habitat in the monuments and temples of Persia and Mesopotamia, is bright crimson with breathtaking ruby feathers. The eggs of the phoenix are unique in that they have a very thick shell to protect the chicks from the desert heat and predators. This shell is also impenetrable to the baby phoenix. The heat of fire, however, cracks the shell open, releasing the newborn phoenix, as if it was born out of the flames. The parent phoenix may refuse to leave the nest, becoming consumed in the fire. Because of this dangerous birthing technique, the phoenix is extremely rare, and some believe extinct.
South American Coatyl
Quetzacoatylus aztecus, 8’ (2.5 m.)
Coatyl Feather
Ancient kings were known to decorate their crowns with these rare feathers. Today, the trading of coatyl feathers is illegal.
South American Coatyl Wing
Egyptian Serpent Wing
Phoenix Wing
BEHAVIOR
Since it makes its nests in the rocky overhangs and crevices of ancient Aztec and Inca ruins from Belize to Peru, the coatyl is said to have a magical relationship with the peoples of Central and South America. Now biologists understand that the various coatyl species actually live in a symbiotic relationship with humans. Humans feed and protect the coatyl, revering it as a spiritual animal while the species, in turn, keep out vermin.
Only the male coatyl possesses the colorful feathered wings that have become so prized by poachers over the centuries and have led to their decline in numbers. The coatyl only lays one egg at a time, and the average life span is fifty years.
The habits of the phoenix and the Egypyian serpent are similar in that they live in the ancient stone temples of the Middle East. The millennia-old sybiotic relationship with humans is unique, but centuries of war and development have destroyed the coatyl’s ancient habitats, leading to the near extinction of the coatyl species.
Coatyl Habitat
The South American coatyl makes it habitat in the deep South American jungles. This seclusion has allowed for the relative saftey of the species.
Male Coatyl Behavior
The crown plumes and wattle of the coatyl are only on males, which they use to attract the attention of females.
Male South American Coatyl
The male coatyl displays the bright plumage of the species.
Female South American Coatyl
Female coatyl exhibit earth colors to camo-flage themselves while tending to their nests.
Coatyl Egg, 4" (10 cm)
Coatyl eggs are so rare, they are worth more than their weight in gold.
HISTORY
For millennia, the coatyl was always considered to be a mythological creature. First discovered by Spanish conquistador DiegoVelázquez de Cuéllar in 1513, the last South American coatyl in captivity died in 1979 at the Lima Zoo. The coatyl is believed by many Aztecan religions to be the earthl
y embodiment of the god Quetzalcoatyl, which is the root of the family’s Latin name. The coatyl also refers to the massive Late Cretaceous pterosaur, quetzalcoatlus, discovered in Texas in 1971.
Once populating the kingdoms of the Aztec and Inca people in vast numbers, the introduction of European animals and diseases in the sixteenth century decimated the species, along with the magnificent culture they inhabited.
Egyptian Serpent
The phoenix and Egyptian serpent are also extremely rare with the last phoenix reportedly being sighted in 1991 in Iraq. Today the International Coatyl Fund (ICF) works to return this ancient creature to its former glory.
DEMONSTRATION
SOUTH AMERICAN COATYL
As you begin to work out the design for a painting of the coatyl, collect your references, concept drawings and notes. These will help you develop a strong idea of what your dragon is going to look like. Think carefully about what aspects of the coatyl make it unique and interesting and then be sure to include those elements in your painting. Some typcial coatyl features are:
• Colorful, feathered wings
• Jungle habitat
• Serpentine body
• Avian features
For the background and foreground details, I used reference materials on bromeliad flowers, jungle plants and South American ruins from the library to accurately depict these features.
1 Create a Preliminary Sketch
With a pencil, sketch out several possible positions for the coatyl to be sure your design is complete. Here, I’ve decided to show the coatyl from behind with its wings extended to best illustrate its beautiful plumage.
2 Create the Finished Drawing
With an HB pencil, render the full-size drawing, using all of your references for additional details and inspiration. I used photos of Aztec ruins and tropical flowers for ideas about the coatyl’s setting.
3 Establish the Underpainting
Paint in the basic forms of the image using broad strokes and simple colors to establish the Underpainting.
4 Complete the Underpainting
Continue the Underpainting, keeping the monochromatic color scheme, until all of the elements have been sufficiently rendered.
A WORD ABOUT COLOR MODE, GAMUT AND CREATING ARTWORK FOR PRINT
I recommend that you work in RGB color mode. RGB stands for red, green, and blue, the three colors of light that combine to produce all the other colors on television and computer screens.
Digital images generally start out in RGB mode and are converted to CMYK mode for printing. If you expect or aspire to see your work in print, be aware that the RGB gamut or color space is larger than the CMYK gamut, meaning some RGB colors can’t be reproduced in CMYK. Watch for the Color Picker’s “out of gamut for printing” icon, which looks like a black exclamation point inside a gray triangle. When that icon appears, the chosen color won’t be as vivid if converted to CMYK. Click the little box underneath the warning icon, and the nearest printable color will be selected for you.
5 Refine the Colors
Create a new layer in Normal mode with an opacity of 50%. Using the thumbnail sketches from your concept designs as a guide, block in the basic colors over the underpainting. Use semiopaque, broad flat brushes.
6 Refine the Background
Starting with the background, apply colors that are more opaque from those used in Step 5. Use detailed brushes to render the setting as a backdrop for the coatyl. Keep the colors and contrasts low. This will allow the bright colors and deep shadows you will develop on the coatyl to stand out.
7 Punch Up the Contrasts
Create a new layer in Normal mode with an opacity of 100%, and, moving forward from the background, paint the log and the bromeliad flowers. The bright red petals of the plant give a visual “pop” that separates foreground from background.
8 Add the Final Touches
Working with 100% opaque brushes, punch up the colors, darken the shadows and sharpen the edges. Use detail brushes to finish the painting. The sharp detail and vibrant color makes this coatyl eye-catching.
DRAGON
Draco dracorexidae
SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 75' to 100' (25m to 31m)
Wingspan: 100' (31m)
Recognition: Quadrupedal serpentine body, large bat-like wings. Colors, markings and crests vary by species
Species: American Acadian green dragon, great Icelandic white dragon, Ligurian black dragon, great Welsh red dragon, great Norwegian blue dragon, great Chinese gold (yellow) dragon, Elwha brown dragon
Habitat: Temperate to subtropical climate. Maritime locales
Also known as: Great dragons, true dragons
Great Welsh Red Dragon
Pencil and digital
14" × 22" (36cm × 56cm)
BIOLOGY
The dragon is by far the most feared and famous creature in the history of the world, even though it is one of the rarest (second only to the coatyl, see Coatyl). With 100' (31m) wingspans and the ability to “breathe” fire, it is the largest and most powerful terrestrial animal that has ever lived. The dragons come in a wide variety of species and range all over the world, from the rocky shores of the Pacific Northwest to the Mediterranean Sea. Revered by every culture and in every region, today there are few surviving specimens. The bright colors of each species are more pronounced in the males than the females.
Although there are many species of the dragon, the most famous is the Welsh red dragon. Consisting of a large quadrupedal body, a long tail, a serpentine neck, scaled armor, surmounted by massive bat-like leather wings, highly intelligent, and able to breathe fire, the dragon is the most enigmatic and fascinating creature alive. Although dragons are unable to speak, they have a long and revered relationship with the people of their territory.
Great Welsh Red Dragon
Dracorexus idraigoxus
Wingspan: 100' (31m) The most famous of all the great dragons.
Great Norwegian Blue Dragon
Dracorexus sognefjordus
Wingspan: 85' (26m)
Great Icelandic White Dragon
Dracorexus reykjavikus
Wingspan: 75' (23m) Icelandic dragon markings become white in the winter and browner in the summer.
Great Chinese Gold Dragon
Dracorexus cathidaeus
Wingspan: 90' (27m)
DRAGON NATOMY
Skeleton of Great Red Welsh Dragon
Hollow bones like those of a bird are common to all dragon species. This reduces their weight by thirty percent, aiding in flight.
It is believed that Leonardo da Vinci’s extensive sketches of wing designs are based on those of the great dragon.
Musculature of the Great Red Welsh Dragon
BEHAVIOR
Dragons are highly territorial and antisocial, even to other dragons. They prefer high cliffs and rocky outcroppings, making their homes along tall palisades overlooking the sea. These lofty and remote vantage points allow for clear observation of their territory, safety from enemies and the ability to take flight. The seaside also allows the dragon to feed from the ocean, snatching tuna, porpoises and even small whales from the water, and then bring it back to its lair. Despite their massive size, dragons do not range very far from their lairs and only move if the food near their lairs disappears, or if they are threatened by human encroachment.
Human-dragon interaction is actually quite rare, since they do not usually share the same territory. The only natural enemies to the dragon are humans and wyverns. Once reaching adulthood, a dragon will leave its mother’s lair and find its own nest. Here the male dragon will begin to prepare for a female. Collecting shiny objects to line the nest, the male dragon will attract a female using calls and fire displays. Once the eggs are laid, the male dragon will leave the lair to find new territory, leaving his land and home to his off spring. Dragons can lay up to as many as four eggs at a time and can live in excess of five hundred years. They are also capable of hiber
nating for long periods of time. Waking a sleeping dragon is not recommended.
American Acadian Green Dragon
Dracorexius acadius
Acadia National Park in Maine is now home of the nature preserve that protects the green dragon.
It is believed that the ancient American Acadian green dragon, Mowhak, was alive before the American Revolution.
Dragon Habitat
Supplying abundant quantities of food, constant strong winds and seclusion, the seaside cliffs of the world are the natural habitats of the dragon.
HISTORY
In recent history, the relationship between humans and dragons have been almost symbiotic, with much care being given to the needs of dragons. Human sacrifices were once regarded as necessary, but that practice has all but been abandoned in the western world, and actual accounts of human deaths by dragon attack are extremely rare. The oldest and most ancient dragon on record is the venerable Tong Long Huo, the ancient gold dragon of China, who is reputed to be over five hundred years old.
The Dragon Is a Common Symbol
The dragon is a common beast of heraldry, symbolizing power, strength and majesty. King Arthur of Camelot used a red dragon as his standard. Henry V and Edward I of England also bore dragon banners.