HOME | DD
rachaelm5 — Patriot's Flight 2
Published: 2007-03-27 00:17:16 +0000 UTC; Views: 4216; Favourites: 127; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
I went to Chicago to see my second sibling graduate from Navy basic training. (I now have a younger sister and a younger brother in the Navy.) Needless to say, I got the urge to draw patriotic stuff while we were there. This redeaux of the all-American gryphon is the first idea.Now, get this: I didn't have my full set of colored pencils with me at all. I had a set of twelve Prismacolor Verithin (the hardlead ones), and of that set, I used ONLY SEVEN COLORS. This was difficult to do, but I really like the rather subdued, softened result.
Original artwork: sold
Prints:
8x10 for $15
11x14 not available
16x20 not available
Related content
Comments: 87
Yeah, only seven colors. When I'm used to working with about a hundred twenty, that kind of a limit makes quite an interesting challenge.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
....And here I thought my 25 was a lot. XDDD Then again, I use markers, alcohol based ones.
But seriously, that scale of colours explains why your pics are so good. The rest is explained by pure kick-ass talent.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Okay, that is totally fantastic. And with only seven colors? I'll bet in person it looks awesome.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks very much!
...Yes, only seven colors. I just about lost my mind; I'm used to working with about forty colors at a time.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is superficially similar to the effect you got with the Polychromos [4 years later]. By chance, do you still have these around?
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
Oh yeah, after I finished this I bought a larger set of Verithins so I'd have more than the basic twelve colors. They're still a bit softer than the Polychromos, and a little less chalky. Between the two, I think I prefer the Verithins, and I may switch back to them for the next country's gryphon.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Oh, what's your opinion on people submitting things to groups for you? There's that would love this...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LOL - I have no problem with people submitting my stuff to groups. I get introduced to groups I would not know existed otherwise.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is REALLY awesome! Especially the inspiration (I'm a Sailor myself)
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks very much!
That limited color palette is hard for me to deal with, especially after a Jazzdragon that uses 3/4 of the pencils in my box. A project like this, with limited color, forces me to think a bit more.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanks very much. I plan to draw a patriotic gryphon for many different countries one of these days. Everyone has a wonderful flag...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you. I really need to do one of these guys on a larger scale so that I can really play with the ribbony bits.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
It certainly does have a gritty, soft effect. Looks fierce too! And the swirly wings give the effect of a flag quite well too.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks! It was a bit of a challenge, but I do like the end effect. I'll probably do more drawings like this with the hard lead pencils in future.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Practice is good for everything. I'd love to see other flag gryphons.
I use the word effect alot don't I? 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Great concept, and beautifully executed. The wings look amazing.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks very much!
I'm still noodling the gryphon/country flag concept, and eventually I want to expand it into a series that touches all the flags of the world - or a good portion of them. Lord knows the number of countries is constantly in flux...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Cool! I look forward to seeing the rest of the series, however many there turn out to be.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanks. That was my favorite part about this gryphon, too. The "feathers" aren't particularly practical, so this guy would probably have to have magic-assisted flight rather than actual wing-flight.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
magic-assisted flight is the best way to fly ^.=.^
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I can't get them things to work for me, or at least I haven't figured them out. That fact that you could accomplish this with the Verithins is just simply awesome.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks!
I think the trick with the Verithins (and with hard-lead colored pencils generally) is that you have to build up your values in a lot of thin layers. Where with the regular Prismas you can practically *sculpt* your drawing with the squishy colors, with the hard-leads you have to have a much lighter hand. That's been hard for me to do, since I'm used to a really heavy-handed approach.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanks! I'm glad you like it. I know these wings aren't particularly practical, but they were sure fun to draw.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
That is something somebody would like to have as a tattoo or a sticker on a car. You really did great with the shading and blending with the colors.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'd love to get some anonymous surprise email that shows me someone has stuck this guy on the nose of a Navy jet or something. That would just make my millenium.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I 
Ya know, some people are all, "omg i h8 amerika" when they really mean they don't like the president. Sorry, kinda anti-Bush.
Well, seven colours?! That's not that many. I use at least 20 for my coloured pencil drawings, and they're not half as detailed as this!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
My sibs have only just joined up with the Navy. Brother joined last year, and he just got his duty assignment in Guam. He leaves in about eight hours to fly there. My sister, the new graduate, is going to go to school for another year to learn Navy computer ops, and then she wants to be stationed overseas, probably in Europe. I don't think either of them will see action in the Middle East theater any time soon.
Best of luck to your cousin. I'll keep him in my thoughts, along with all of my military friends and family.
Yeah, it's saddening to see that there really *is* an I-hate-America crowd, along with the anti-Bush crowd. Dammit, what happened to having the whole country behind our warriors? I guess that went out with the closure of WWII. *sad headshake* Well, it's reassuring to know that you *do* cheer for them. I'll be right there with you to cheer for them until they all come home.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Correction: My friend's cousin.
I know. It's like, I don't hate George W. Bush, I just disagree (rather greatly) with some of the decisions he's making. *shrugs* It's really weird, though, because we support the troops and their cause.. or do we? It's becoming awfully confusing nowadays.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Woah...now this is some fine work. The tones are awesome as is the subject matter
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks very much! It's some odd work as far as my usual fare goes; the colors are fairly subdued and well-behaved today.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Haha! You just gotta let those colors know who is boss! ;D
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
In comparison to the other patriotic griffin, I must say this one's position and anatomy has improved, and it seems a lot more forceful and free in it's movements.. perhaps it's position alone does a better job in symbolizing the country, itself. Both are beautifully done, and I agree, the colored pencils' effect is a nice one, and gives a feathery effect through it's shading. The wing style is gorgeous. Lovely work.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks very much!
I think the idea behind the first American gryphon was a sort of soaring-free thing, while the idea behind the second is more purposeful - defense and attack; win the day; that kind of thing. Both the anatomy and the *purpose* have improved.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Oh I like it much! The wings are fantastic. ^-^
Jibril
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you very much! I love to design different kinds of wings. Even though these wings are not very practical, they were sure fun to draw.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
thats gorgeous!! love all the flowing colours <3333
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks very much! Getting all the colors to flow was harder than it looks for this guy with only seven colors to use.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
ooOOOooooo... uber shway. that'd be so awesome if our country mascot was a gryphon. we'd kick every country's ass with style. xD i love the flow and the colors really look good and balanced. great job! <3
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
| Next =>