Dragon WIP

[blinddog 99]

Just finished roughing in the white underpainting, wanted to take a break. Lots of detailing before color, but this is the basic form.There will be a wing curling over the right side, then small scale true fire surrounding the entire piece. Its for a bike customer. Kudos and thanks to Rod Fuchs, this is a lame imitation of one of his famous dragons, thanks for the inspiration Rod!

Yep, then back to the tutorial, worked on it for four hours today, yeesh!

[Whit]

That's Lookin Great !!!
Okay,,, How'd you do the scales on the back ???
What colors lay over it ???
Inquiring minds here !!!

[Clem]

Looks good, keep dropping posts as you go if you would. I would like to see how the layers are set and planned.

Thanks

Clem

[jason prouty]

looks great man, just add black for detail and call it good.

[blinddog 99]

Thanks Whit scales are done with little cutouts in acetate, so I can see where to place them. I get impatient, and they are a mess, must do some repair. Clem, its just HOK BC-26 white, over a scuffed black panel, heavily reduced of course. Chalk lines traced over a pencil on paper sketch I did months ago, then masked with clear R-tape, cutting out sections as I go. About 4 hours, but I am so dang slow. Colors will be Kandy Pagan Gold, which is actually a yellow, and Kandy Tangerine, sort of reflecting the fire that will be coming out of his mouth. If it helps, I will take pics as I go.

Clem, this is a good example of what Steven C and I were trying to say. The thinner lines on here are pencil thickness and achieved with an Iwata HP-C, heavily thinned white auto eurathane paint. Compresser at 32 lbs, easy on the trigger. You can see my "splats" in several places.

[blinddog 99]

Thanks Steven, I do plan on buying some. My concern is, I don't mind buying that kit, but what about after that? Will you be selling all the colors, reducers, etc?

[Skids]

Looking good Dog, I love working on black!

[josie]

Very nice detail Dog...love the way its turning out....keep us posted

[blinddog 99]

Next steps. I really hope I'm not intruding when I do this, I feel like I'm showing off. Not the intention, just sharing how I do this. Hope you like it.

1. Sketched a wing on vellum while placed over the panel to get the scale. Then chalked it on the back and traced it to the panel.
2. Laid some R-tape over the chalk-up and cut out the webbing of the wing.
3. Blew white into the cut mask, tapering to darker at the bottom right corner.
4. Unmasked and detailed it to give a more organic look and highlights, traced freehand with white in my Micron, added shading and veins in the wing membranes. Also finished most of the detailing freehand on the dragon, including the facial scales. Thank GOD for Microns, couldn't do it without this great tool, the face scales are only about 3/16" in size. Too bad I flubbed the perspective, the wing is wrong, but that's why we do tests, right?:)

[Whit]

Lookin Gooder n Gooder !!!
I like the way it's progressing,,,
those wings add bunches,,, I like
those veins (panels) in there !!!

[Clem]

You feel like you are showing off and I feel like my posts and questions are interrupting and distracting to people. That is not my intention.

As for myself, showing off or not, I am interested in this type of breakdown. Often the small things not mentioned and taken for granted is left unknown to someone like me that doesn't know the in between.

Thanks

Clem

[blinddog 99]

Thanks Whit! It has a lot of flaws, but has been a fun test panel. I am nervous about doing the bike, but I have all the time in the world, so I'll keep testing.

Clem, that's why I want to do it. As I learn stuff, I feel good about passing techniques on and sharing ideas and solutions. Its good to share, please keep asking questions, I look forward to seeing you post some work one day. Lets both not worry about imposing and just do what comes natural.

[Skids]

man, it looks great in white imho...has a nice crystal look to it. I'm sure it'll look even better with color tho-.

[TheArteest3]

that looks bad even though you stubbled a lil on the wing but i wouldnt even get close to doing anything like that ...your so good that when you went to show the underbelly it looks like its popping off...idk if ya get that ..in other words it looks good!!

[Steelhorse]

Hey Dog!!! been at work all day and just found this!!!! Man is that gonna pop when ya hit it with the colors!!!! I got a vectored piece of vinyl of a dragon down stairs that I have been saving...seeing yours now gives me a ref to build off with the shading!!! Thanks for showing us this.

[blinddog 99]

Hey Arteest, thanks. Yep, the wing shoudl be curved back way more instead of stickin up like a big ol' block. Not enough curl back. The pose is that he's supposed to be lifting his wing, and turning back behind him to give something(or someone) a blast of his fire. You can do this, trust me. Patience and practice, work on shading exercises, it will come sooner that you think!

Thanks Len, gonna be orange colors, with yellow & white hightlights, then flames. Stopped for now, we go away on Thanksgiving vacation, back next week. The vector tutorial is 2/3 done, so next week for sure. Sorry to take so long, its 27 steps or so!

[josie]

[QUOTE=blinddog 99;3043]Next steps. I really hope I'm not intruding when I do this, I feel like I'm showing off. Not the intention, just sharing how I do this. Hope you like it.

Hi Blind i dont think anyone who shows us their step by step is a show off...you are actually showing us newbies what can be done...Dont stop please...this is gonna be totally awsome ...cant wait to see it when you are done

[jason prouty]

I don't think there's anything wrong with a show-off in this line off work.

As artists we have to show our work! We need the critizism to get better, we also need the pat on the back to know we are in the right direction. The best part about finishing a piece is showing it. Why do it if you're not goin to show it, right?

Frankly I wish more folks would show-off. I think we all go straight for the posts that have new "fresh" artwork.

Blinddog - Great job, keep showing off :wink2:

[Steelhorse]

Thanks Len, gonna be orange colors, with yellow & white hightlights, then flames. Stopped for now, we go away on Thanksgiving vacation, back next week. The vector tutorial is 2/3 done, so next week for sure. Sorry to take so long, its 27 steps or so!

Scott! Take your time Bro!!!! Don't rush on my account....I can sit on the front porch and watch the grass grow!!!!!:wink2: ....as long as the MAKER"S MARK hold's out!!!! Have fun during your holiday venture!!!! Come back fresh you Ol' Dog you!!!! Len

[blinddog 99]

Thanks friends, you really rock! I owe a tutorial right now, but I had to stop and paint something! I'm an intense workaholic person, drilling a hole in the world every day, trying to keep a fairly large company growing, this is my total release. Golf, fishing, nah, my mind is at work. Put the airbrush in my hand, and leave me alone, I'm off to Lala land, for hours, without pause, there is just not enough hours in the day. (You would know I'm old, I listen to Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan and Neil Young on my iPod when I paint.) Kinda funny to be in your early fifties and re-ignite your passion huh? Thanks for all the kind words, you are all very inspiring!

[blinddog 99]

Josie, jeez, you need to understand, I am a relative newbie. I look at the fire on that drum kit you did and want to send the dragon panel to you to paint the fire that will come out of his mouth! I am totally new at fire, so believe me, I may wreck this whole thing when I go there, but what the heck, that's what grows us right?

BTW, did you get the Lavallee stuff yet? Had any practice time on it? You already do good fire, so with his tips, you will do very well.

[Whit]

50's,,, yeah sure,,,
you younguns are all alike !!!
Lookin Good for your second childhood !!!
GOOD SHOW !!!

[Steelhorse]

50's,,, yeah sure,,,
you younguns are all alike !!!
Lookin Good for your second childhood !!!
GOOD SHOW !!!

Hey Whit, sorry for asking you if you were retired the other night.....I now realize that you are just "tired"!!!!! teenager's!!!! haahhahahaha Steel

[moogoo]

nice! this will be covered in candies?

[josie]

lol ty Blind but my fire sucks im still waiting on my dvd it was supposed to arrive two weeks ago and im still waiting :rage: :rage: :rage:.....i cant wait to see when you are done with this dragon theme so far its


Josie, jeez, you need to understand, I am a relative newbie. I look at the fire on that drum kit you did and want to send the dragon panel to you to paint the fire that will come out of his mouth! I am totally new at fire, so believe me, I may wreck this whole thing when I go there, but what the heck, that's what grows us right?

BTW, did you get the Lavallee stuff yet? Had any practice time on it? You already do good fire, so with his tips, you will do very well.

[josie]

lol ty Blind but my fire sucks im still waiting on my dvd it was supposed to arrive two weeks ago and im still waiting :rage: :rage: :rage:.....i cant wait to see when you are done with the fire and all ...... this dragon theme so far its:rockon:


Josie, jeez, you need to understand, I am a relative newbie. I look at the fire on that drum kit you did and want to send the dragon panel to you to paint the fire that will come out of his mouth! I am totally new at fire, so believe me, I may wreck this whole thing when I go there, but what the heck, that's what grows us right?

BTW, did you get the Lavallee stuff yet? Had any practice time on it? You already do good fire, so with his tips, you will do very well.

[Skids]

I must concurr w/BDog here Josie....Those Drums Rock!!!

the photos aren't that detailed, but you can tell that you definately have the aesthetics right on, and that's the main thing, imho.

[Clem]

Josie is better than she wants to admit. If you look at the items she has posted you can see that she is headed in the right direction. Keep up the good work Josie.

Whit, Dog and others concerned, the thing with retiring in the 50s age group is figuring out what you want to do when you grow up. Of course the time spent looking around is very enjoyable. Biggest problem so far is figuring out who to call to call in sick for the day.

Clem

[josie]

lol thanks skids but i hope to show better pics of fire once i get my dvd:)
I must concurr w/BDog here Josie....Those Drums Rock!!!

the photos aren't that detailed, but you can tell that you definately have the aesthetics right on, and that's the main thing, imho.

[josie]

Thanks Clem im still waititng to see some of your work.....

Blind .....do you have any new pics to this dragon?
Josie is better than she wants to admit. If you look at the items she has posted you can see that she is headed in the right direction. Keep up the good work Josie.

Whit, Dog and others concerned, the thing with retiring in the 50s age group is figuring out what you want to do when you grow up. Of course the time spent looking around is very enjoyable. Biggest problem so far is figuring out who to call to call in sick for the day.

Clem

[blinddog 99]

Hi Josie, just this minute got back from Thanksgiving in Louisiana. Very tired, won't be working on it today, but soon. Moogoo, yep, I will be be layering on some Kandies.

[blinddog 99]

Finally got to lay some color on this. You can see in the first one, I layed a little detail in Kandy Orange with a little Red in it and began to work the shadows. Then carved out the scales a little, more Kandy Orange, then in 3 I have washed it with some Pagan Candy Gold, which is a transparent yellow/gold. I included the close up to show all my terrible mistakes. You can see all kinds of mess in there. Funny, first time I worked in the cold in a long time, and the paint was skating all over the place. Gotta get some fast reducer, felt like it was over reduced, which is possible.

Next step is to use some Purple to carve the details back out & add some shadows, lock it down with some clear coat, then a little bit of white with a drop of yellow (Vince Goodeve tip) to pull the highlights back out. Photos are terrible, couldn't use a flash, but when I wiped it with Grease & Wax remover, it really does pop. More pics after next step.

[Skids]

that's lookin good Bdog! Can't wait to see it finished! Dunno if it'd work in your case, but i get a neat effect sometimes with putting a touch of yellow over purple. Doesn't seem to work with other mediums, but with the airbrush it can give this eerie glow to it.....just my 1½¢ worth!

[blinddog 99]

Thanks Skids, heck yeah, I'll try it. The pics are flat, dissapointing, it really does pop better than it shows. Lotsa mistakes, but after all, it is a practice piece. Wait'll I put the fire on it, probably totally screw it up, we'll see.

[Clem]

Can't say it's screwed up yet. If ya quit working on it and not happy with it is when it is screwed up.

Looks like a good start from here. I know you'll hang with it and get what you want.

Clem

[josie]

Looks great Blind...are you doing all the scales freehand?

[blinddog 99]

Thanks Josie, yep all freehand, they're pretty small, as Clem and I were discussing, with my arthritis, I have to hold my airbrush with 2 hands and an elbow on the bench, LOL. They are only about 1/8" across. The whole dragin head is only about as big as my hand. Thank goodness for Micron airbrushes, that's all I can say!

[Whit]

The yellow over purple is DO thing here !!!
I use the purple for shades instead of black
then hit it with an overall thin coat of yellow !!!
Pulls everything together and gives a warm feel !!!
It does,,, in cases,, turn it a nice brown tho !!!

[Skids]

isn't that the oddest thing Whit? in other mediums mixxing those two colors turns to mud, but with the airbrush it's kind of vibrant and organic or something...hard to explain! (and thanks for chiming in so's i don't sound any nuttier than usual....HA!

depends entirely on the shades used of course, but definately worth a side-trip tp play with it on some scrap, Bdog

[blinddog 99]

Its only practice, besides, I agree on the puruple with you guys, I tend to use it rather than black for shading on color work. Much larger tonal range. I tend to shy away from black mostly. The "glow" it has comes from a transparent yellow wash already. Will test it, but it sounds right to me.

[josie]

Are you putting any other colors in there Blind?

[blinddog 99]

Hi Josie, yep a couple more rounds, purple for shadows and detail, white/yellow for highlights, then add the flames that come out his mouth and encircle the panel. I'll try to post a final over the weekend.

Did you get your Trufire DVD yet?

[jason prouty]

looking awesome dog, cant wait to see it when its wet, sometimes i add blue into my black when shading, it kills the dead look.

[Clem]

Hope you understand what I am going to say to ya but, Too many folks being nice to ya. Hope your not forgetting to throw in a couple pics as you progress thinking everyone know what ya are doing.

Looks good and don't want to get lost figuring part of this out.

Thanks

Clem

[blinddog 99]

Clem, yes, people are very nice here, not entirely sure what you mean. If you mean the pictures help your learning that's cool, a couple more tonight, its almost finished.

Purple is down for shadow and texture. Eye (original was just for placement) is blown in with white, then red, then a small black diamond like lizard's eyes (cut acetate mask) and highlight dots. Still needs black outline to hide overlaps. Then some white for where the fire and smoke will go. Just placement again, tomorrow I will add the fire, highlight face & scales with white/yellow mixture for reflections, a little black for details final clearcoats. When I wipe it with grease remover and its still wet, it really pops. Will try a daylight pic tomorrow.