Glainargel

After two years, it's the return of the gem dragon! I really missed this guy and needed to paint something shiny, so I grabbed some acrylic and an illustration board and went crazy. I like some things and dislike others (particularly the feet and hands. Blech), but overall, I'm pleased. Although I have a feeling that since I taught myself to use acrylic, there's a little thing I'm missing that throws the whole painting process off. XD It's probably that I use acrylics as if they're watercolors for the most part.

The story here is that young gem dragons (usually males) must go to crystal/gem caves and gather a liquid gem to add to their skins. Or something.

The whole "gem cave" concept was kind of inspired by James Gurney's amazing illustrations in the book 'Dinotopia: The World Beneath'. I swear, I've spent HOURS looking at that man's paintings. It's just amazing how lifelike his style is. It's not even photorealism...it just LOOKS like it was painted directly from life.

As for the name: When trying to think of a title for this piece, my mind kept being drawn back to the Welsh language, so I looked up an online dictionary and spliced two words together. Glain means 'gem', and argel means 'secret place'. So I assume Glainargel means "secret place (insert-word-for-"of") gem". :B

TIME: About seven hours.
MEDIA: Acrylic paint on 8x10 illustration board.

-Wolfyu