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windfalcon — Winter Gryphon
#solstice
Published: 2008-12-09 18:02:58 +0000 UTC; Views: 16678; Favourites: 698; Downloads: 260
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Description
After deciding to actually get into the holiday spirit and do a card this year, I came up with this joyful gryphon, spreading cheer (as well as berries and acorns) through the winter forest.
I just wanted to do something happy and fun, and a pen-and-ink and watercolor gryphon seemed in order. I've learned a lot about inking from my Drawing for Sequential Art class. Yes, I'm an illustration major, but the Drawing for Sequential class is INCREDIBLY helpful for illustrators. On top of constructive anatomy, I also learned a lot about perspective and inking.
I'll be using this image for my Yule/Christmas/Holiday cards this year!
Holbein ink and watercolor on cold-press Arches watercolor paper, 7.5 X 10.5 inches
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Comments: 70
An early 'merry christmas' for you all, best wishes!
(I saw the submission date, but whatever, for this year...)
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Beautiful!
I don't know what a gryphon is, but he kinda reminds me of a flying cat!
I made up flying cats in my imagination way back in the 1960s.
This is a picture of flying cats way over the Pacific Ocean (drawn 1970). It is not very good, but it captures the spirit, maybe.
This picture features a big muscle woman overpowering a guy, but cat-hawks can be seen way to the right, still yoked to a "sky-chariot".
And in this picture, cat-hawks are seen in action. Again, a big, hulking, rough (and topless) lady is featured, but the cat-hawks are clearly seen, yoked to sky chariots, flying thousands of feet over the mountains.
None of these even approach yours in technique or artistic ability, but they're curious anyway.
Watch out for that last one, toplessness. I come from the muscle-women-admiring part of DA. I stumbled into "your area" of DA and was most impressed by your bird paintings. Really, really good!
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Awesome job! I just wanted to let you know that I featured this in "Realms of Fantasy and Myth: Week 17 - Griffin", you can find it here: [link]
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Wow, that is masterfully done, and definitely fit for a card! Just beauiful!
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It's inspired a bit by both, though I got a bit creative and made it different in ways.
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Hello! I gave your art a mention in my journal. 
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The detail on the feathers is gorgeous! Wonderful work. ^^ Your birds are always a joy to look at.
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WOW
Brilliant! I adore it
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I'd like to send you one of the cards.
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GOLLY!!! thank you
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What a beautiful image. I love how the wings came out and all the details.
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What a lovely design! The colours and shading in this are really well done - so nice and bright - and the composition is great 
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He's wonderful. I love his feather pattern and that joyful expression on his face. Awesome job, lovey!
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Heh, let's hope it's not smiling because it ate a cardinal or something. That's what my friend suggested.
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and just so I won't be one of those drive by favers, I'll leave a comment tooXD Wow this is just awesome! I really like how his wings really seem to be coming out towards the viewer. I think it's literally the best perspective I've seen you do, as far as wings go. The holly collar is a lovely touch, as are the warm colors amidst the cool snow and pine. It's just perfect
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Thanks! I usually have trouble with fur.
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no problem. REally? I like to do furs. Specially the realistic fur. 
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This is a really lovely piece from you m'dear. You really can tell that this is a subject you adore painting, but on a technical note, the classes are definitely improving your stuff no end, I love the way he pops right off the background but without feeling detached from it either.
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That's one of the inking techniques I learned - giving close things a bolder edge than and things farther away. If there was any inking in the background, the lines would have been very fine. I'm still getting the hang of it, but I think it worked well!
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Absolutely Gorgeous! 
Merry Christmas!
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Sadly I built up this scenario in my head where the gryphon is smiling because as he was flying along with the wreath he happened to catch and swallow a cardinal.
He's full now so the others needn't worry.
Excellent penmanship by the way. My only critique would be the anatomy of the tail, that's a really thick tail. Unless of course that's on purpose to which I concede the point and whistle as I walk away...
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