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Sunday, August 13, 2017

First comes painting, Then comes sketching

While enjoying my new acrylics hobby, I started a painting and decided I wanted to include a dragon statue in one of them. There was, though, a hurdle I had to overcome. I don't know how to paint a dragon. I pondered a bit and realized I didn't know how to draw a dragon either.

So, I picked up Michael Dobrzycki's The Art of Drawing Dragons, Mythological Beasts, and Fantasy Creatures at Michael's. I opened its pages, grabbed a sketchbook, and took a very deep breath. I vowed to not cower before the intimidating task at hand.

Much to my astonishment, they turned out better than I expected. I've still not painted a dragon yet, but I have now drawn a few. And I will draw more. I can use the practice.

And for your amusement, here are the ones I've done, shown in the order I did them. (I've captioned each drawing with the title used by the book.)

Fire Dragon

Storm Dragon

Hatchling

Drake

Hydra

Amphitere

Lindworm

Wyvern

(Just a bare naked tree -- not from the book)

So, I guess I've acquired two new hobbies this year.

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23 comments:

  1. Elephant's ChildAugust 13, 2017 at 1:39 AM

    Wowsers. Colour me awed.
    And grateful. Too many dragons would be barely enough. (I am a fan of the elegance of naked trees too.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hilary Melton-ButcherAugust 13, 2017 at 2:45 AM

    Hi Jeff - these are amazing ... brilliant - gosh what a talent. That's wonderful to have found another passion ... and it'll lead you out to so many other artistic projects - just to add to your other talents. Dragons, Wyverns and trees - all good subjects ... enjoy and please show us more - cheers Hilary

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    Replies
    1. Jeff HargettAugust 13, 2017 at 10:49 PM

      Thank you! I'm finding that writing and painting and sketching all seem to fill the creativity tanks of the others.

      Delete
  3. TruedessaAugust 13, 2017 at 10:41 AM

    Wow Jeff, I am absolutely awestruck. I do love dragons they speak to me so deeply. I would love to use fire dragon or storm dragon for a poem! I think you are finding you have hidden talents :)

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    Replies
    1. Jeff HargettAugust 13, 2017 at 10:50 PM

      Methinks you can't go wrong with dragons in poems! Go for it!

      Delete
  4. Patrick StahlAugust 13, 2017 at 4:47 PM

    Okay, that tree is awesome.

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  5. widdershinsAugust 13, 2017 at 6:29 PM

    More dragons .. the world cannot have too many dragons. :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. JoAugust 13, 2017 at 6:44 PM

    I rather like Storm Dragon, not seen it before. Or one or two of the others. I love the drawings and if you do get round to painting them I bet they will be really awesome. What about the Scarlet Dragon in your book. Grandma Dragon

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    Replies
    1. Jeff HargettAugust 13, 2017 at 10:54 PM

      Painting Rendowin (and his mate Verithica) is my ultimate dragon art aspiration. I fear I'll never be able to do him justice.

      Delete
  7. S.P. BowersAugust 14, 2017 at 11:01 AM

    can't even draw stick figures. I'm in awe of your talent.

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    1. Jeff HargettAugust 15, 2017 at 7:29 PM

      Ah, I bet you're much better than you give yourself credit for. :)

      Delete
  8. klahanieAugust 16, 2017 at 7:05 PM

    Hey Jeff,

    You are one talented dude and I've admired your sketches on Farcebook, um, Facebook.

    Now, I wont say something predictable about my comment starting to dragon on and on and on....

    Nice one.

    Gary :)

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    Replies
    1. Jeff HargettAugust 21, 2017 at 7:13 PM

      Thanks, Gary! I do love your comments, dude, even when they dragon and on. :)

      Delete
    2. klahanieAugust 21, 2017 at 7:19 PM

      🐲🐉 Thanks, dude!

      Delete
  9. Heather R. HoldenAugust 16, 2017 at 9:23 PM

    These are amazing! So many wonderful details. I've tried drawing dragons in the past, but they were nowhere near as impressive as this. (I failed immensely at it, in fact, haha.) Best of luck with your future dragon sketches, and the eventual painting of one--they'll no doubt be fantastic!

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    Replies
    1. Jeff HargettAugust 21, 2017 at 7:17 PM

      Thank you, Heather! I'm looking forward to working up the nerve to actually paint one! hahaha!

      Delete
  10. Elizabeth SeckmanSeptember 19, 2017 at 2:54 PM

    I happen to be friends with a dragon! I could get him to pose for you. LOL. You did a great job. Hugs, Jeff. I hope things are going well for you.

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    Replies
    1. JoSeptember 19, 2017 at 4:29 PM

      Liz, I just had to butt in here, Jeff is very close friends with the same dragon and knows as much about my grandchild as you do.

      Delete
    2. Jeff HargettSeptember 19, 2017 at 6:42 PM

      And I just got home from work and read the headline of an earthquake near that dragon's lair. I do pray that all is well with our beloved dragon.

      Thanks for the compliment, Liz. Things are going well here all things considered. Hope the same is true for you.

      And Jo, are the temps starting to chill up your way yet? We're having some great weather here this week.

      Delete
    3. JoSeptember 19, 2017 at 10:16 PM

      I must have missed that news report, didn't hear about it until the Dragon wrote to us. As for the weather, been pretty good up here too although no doubt you are warmer. Getting a bit darker quicker though.

      Delete