Monday, January 2, 2012

L is for Longma
























This week's entry for AlphaBeasts made it in just under the wire. I couldn't find any Japanese beasts that began with L so I went for a Chinese dragon-horse. It took just a wee bit longer to paint than I'd planned!

I do love painting highlights, & golden scales call for lots of 'em! If you'd like to see a couple of process scans, here's my Longma post on Curious Art Lab.

Acrylic on text scanned from Young People's Natural History, 1901

By the way, 2012 will be the year of the Dragon, although the new year won't officially happen until the 23rd.

Edit: Prints of this painting are now available in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/90845784/longma-signed-archival-art-print-year-of

14 comments:

  1. Very nicely done. I like the page layout too.

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  2. You are truly a Rennaissance illuminator. Absolutely classic.

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  3. Oh, I like this horse. He's beautiful! Does he come with metal polish?

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  4. VERY good, nice entry.
    Gold plated... a lot of polishing to keep him shining :)


    Is his stable called a strongroom???

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  5. So pretty! That's a lot of detail!

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  6. Thanks for the link to your process shots...I always enjoy step-by-step pics!

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  7. I love how shiny the scales are and how the Chinese dragon is incorporated into the horse. This is the kind of creature i would want to use in battle. The golden color does give it a high contrast juxtaposed by the faded colors in the back as if it was leaping off the page. A nice authentic feel to it if i am add. Diffidently something you would see in an ancient manuscript. Excellent job my friend.

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  8. I love this, and the rest of your alphabeasts too. Happy year of the dragon (coming up)....

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  9. I always love your work and this piece is no exception. Beautifully done!

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  10. Thanks so much, all! It was bracing to start the year with this galloping golden guy-- sort of an embodiment of a shiny, energetic new year. But if I'm to keep all my other resolutions in good polish I'll have to rein back on the oddments a little! Today's will be much more modest... & probably rather late!

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  11. This is so great...I love your work! AlphaBeasts looks like a fun project to be a part of. I just checked out the Krampus parade. Too bad that tradition didn't make it to this country, so friggin cool!
    Happy New Year! It's not too late to say that yet, is it? :)

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