i make

[merimask]

SO happy with this dragon.  Of all the many versions & color combinations I've done, this one is my favorite.

I inlaid a blue paua shell cabochon in the forehead...just a tiny one but very blue against those gold flames.  I tried to match the vibrant blue of the paua with my own mixture of cobalt & pthalo blue and silver acrylic paint (Liquitex in case you care).  Drybrushed by hand over the black scales...I think it really worked.


It's up in Etsy already.

I'm pretty darn pleased with this one, I have to say.  ^__^

Comments

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

That. Is. Phenomenal. Even though it's my high school colors, it's still amazing. If I had more wiggle room in the budget it would be Mine. But I've already commited my indiscretion for the month in your etsy shop. :-)

Stunning Andrea. Abso-fucking-lutely stunning.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really like this one too. It doesn't seem to be getting a lot of attention but I don't care 'cause I'm happy with it.

[ramblinsuze.livejournal.com]

Oooooh. I love the colors! They are so vibrant and really complement each other. Gorgeous!

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah the blue came out PERFECT. I don't know how many shades of blue I mixed together or exactly how much silver I put in there, but it was exactly the right shade to go over those black scales & really shine.

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

Oh, and now that I'm past the initial "oh my god that's gorgeous reaction"... Beautiful work on the dry-brushing. I had to go back and re-read the post to realize that was how you did the blue. It actually looks like you've gone back and done the detail work in black over the blue, not vice versa. Very, very nicely done.

Did you consider doing a very light gold dry-brush over the black on the horns? They're a little flat compared to the rest of it (not that I don't think it's stunning - it's just that my capacity for analysis just kicked back in.)

[merimask.livejournal.com]

The gold on the horns is a good idea...if I do a second one I'll try it that way.

I didn't get a really "tight" twist on these horns because this leather is pretty thick (I usually use 7/8 and this hide was 8/9 tending towards 9) so I think I'd rather use the contrast of gold/black on a horn that'll show it off better.