[Art]Zirra: A Dragon's Den (05/25/2011)

[Zirra Nova]

Hey-low! And welcome to Zirra's Art Thread.
Beware, there be dragons about.

Your Name: Deirdre (feel free to call me D, Deedee, Deirdre, Zirra, Zi, or any such name derived from my name or screen name. XD )
Your Artist Name (what you sign your pics with): Zirra Nova
How long have you been drawing: Since I could hold a crayon.
Have you taken any art classes: Not notable ones.
If yes, what kind: High School Art classes. 8\
What is your favorite thing to draw: Dragons and other mythical critters or monsters.
What is your LEAST favorite thing to draw: Hmm...humans/humanoid things...but only because I'm not particularly good at drawing them. 8C
Do you draw traditional (pencil, paint, etc) or Digital: I spent most of my life drawing in traditional media(pencils, crayons, and color pencils), but when I finally got a tablet in 2009 I got hooked on digital art. 83
Do you color your drawings: If I plan on posting them somewhere. Though my Tegaki E accounts are full of sketches. XD
Is Art going to be in your future as a career: I doubt it, though it was a dream I had for a long time. 8C
What's your favorite medium: Traditionally, colored pencils. Digitally, SAI.
Where do you get your inspiration: Songs, jokes, friends, pets, family, life in general.
Have you ever been paid to draw: No...though I'm pondering opening commissions...maybe...
Is there anything you see yourself never drawing: Well...I dunno. It all depends on the circumstances.
Have you ever drawn from life: Yes, in high school art. I actually enjoyed it, but I never seem to be able to make myself sit down and draw from life on my own. XP
Do you take requests often: Ah...I do have an open request thing on Tegaki, for Pokemon fanarting, but people rarely ask.
Anything else you want to say about your art: ...Not off the top of my head. XD

:Zirra's News and Notes:

• All of my pictures will be click-able links to their full-sized version uploaded on Image Shack.
• I look forward to getting some feed back for my art. I really want to improve it. ^w^

::Art Index::

-2nd Post:Page 1-
Two images: Unnamed dragon, Zip.

[Zirra Nova]

A dragon I drew up in SAI to play with feather/membrane wing combinations. I decided to play with piebald markings while I was coloring it, too.
No name.


My most recent drawing. I have to say I fell in love with how Amber has used shading and highlighting to show scales on Matilda and I wanted to see if I could succeed in doing that. I dunno if I did. -shrugs- I colored him blue because...he didn't mind and I need more blue critters.
Name: Zip

[WhiteFox]

I have taken far to long to respond to this... Mea culpa.

I like the piebald look. It's not a pattern I see a lot of artists use. Some of the edges look like they could use a little more "blending," but it's a neat look none the less.

The scaley-mottled look of the blue dragon is just damn pretty.

The lighting on Zip doesn't seem to have a clear direction to it, particularly around the neck and back leg. His neck has some weird thickness to it... I could do a redline with suggestions, if you'd like.

I notice the shoulders and hips joints seem rather thin, and the hands/feet are broad at the knuckles. Is that a stylistic choice? Kinda reminds me of Digimon.

[Zirra Nova]

First, thank-you for the response. The wait wasn't a big deal. ;3

That is actually the first time I'd tried that pattern. It happened because of a search for another project, that had me looking up several different species that show piebald markings. That got me wanting to try it. XD

Thank-you, Zip is meant to be a fairly flashy guy. X3

Hmm...lighting. In this picture it's meant to be sort of, behind him to the upper left, and with the neck I tried to show the light "spilling" over above and below past the jaw's shadow. I wasn't sure if it turned out very well, and now I know for sure it's something I need to work on. (Shading/lighting tutorials here I come!)

If you're up to I'd love some red-line feed back. 8D

Ah, the thickness in the knuckles is a style choice. I've always been fond of that look. The hips and shoulders are half style half inability to draw muscle-y things. I've never been good with bulky creatures, even when I know that the chest should be deeper or the hips larger, I have a hard time getting them to look right when I up-size them.

Thank-you again for all of your thoughts! I really appreciate the feed back! ^w^

[WhiteFox]

(Shading/lighting tutorials here I come!)

I keep meaning to write one of those...

Ah, the thickness in the knuckles is a style choice. I've always been fond of that look. The hips and shoulders are half style half inability to draw muscle-y things.

For me, it's vice-versa. I always have trouble 

Hmm...lighting. In this picture it's meant to be sort of, behind him to the upper left, and with the neck I tried to show the light "spilling" over above and below past the jaw's shadow. I wasn't sure if it turned out very well, and now I know for sure it's something I need to work on.

Just to be sure I have this right... if Zip is facing 12 o'clock, and the camera is at 9, the light is at 1 or 2 o'clock? If that's the case, a lot of the lighting suddenly make more sense.

The forearm closer to the camera has a bright area, and the side of the head has some medium shade. That made me think the light was directly ahead of Zip. If the light is at 1 or 2, I imagine that the outstretched rear leg would be in the shadow of the body.

I've never been good with bulky creatures, even when I know that the chest should be deeper or the hips larger, I have a hard time getting them to look right when I up-size them.

If you're interested, give it a shot and I can do a redline.

[Zirra Nova]

I keep meaning to write one of those...

If you ever do, drop me a line! 8B

Just to be sure I have this right... if Zip is facing 12 o'clock, and the camera is at 9, the light is at 1 or 2 o'clock? If that's the case, a lot of the lighting suddenly make more sense.

Yeah, light would be at 1-2 o'clock and up a bit.  83

The forearm closer to the camera has a bright area, and the side of the head has some medium shade. That made me think the light was directly ahead of Zip. If the light is at 1 or 2, I imagine that the outstretched rear leg would be in the shadow of the body.

Hmm. -nods- Yeah...I still need to work on my shading.  XB
You're right about that leg....oops... 8X

If you're interested, give it a shot and I can do a redline.

M'kay, I'm workin' on some other things at the moment, but next time I'm starting a new pic, I'll keep this in mind. 8D
And thank-you!  ^w^