It's time for a month of dragons again! I am indeed participating, and following a list by Katy Lipscomb I believe. I will be doing as many as I'm able to.
The first day was fruit, and I wanted to paint a raspberry dragon, since I've liked them for a long time. I wanted to bring the texture of the berry into the dragon as much as I could, so I added the texture/shape to the scale details. I wanted the painting itself to look like you've caught a glimpse of one of these little guys while looking through a raspberry bush. I only really used two colors for this one.
I started with a rough preliminary sketch in light, erasable colored pencil, then went over it with a regular pencil for adding details and structures. From there I layered in the background leaves slowly, building up the layers there before adding in the color on the berries and dragon itself. I went over the layers of watercolor with colored pencils in a few places to add in more depth.
I will absolutely be painting more fruit dragons, as well as my floral and mushroom ones.
Meet Sakura and Cereza, the #Cherrypie dragon! They're the proof that sometimes, two heads aren't better than one as they get easily distracted when "helping" in the kitchen to prepare nice jams and fruit tarts. If you find that your sugar runs out faster than usual, they may be hiding in your pantry!
Watermelon Dragon💕💕💕 I finished this doodle I had done along with the Dragon Fruit Dragon💕 #fruitdragon #artist #artwork #artistsoninstagram #digitalart #digitalartist #digitaldrawing #watermelon https://www.instagram.com/p/CfPVcW4vUk_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
@hisyria is the best motivator for drawing small stupid dragons I swear. I actually tried putting off the dragonfruit-themed fruit-dragon because it was a bit too obvious but look at this I have no self-control! #dragon #art #watercolors #dragonfruit #fruitdragon #pink #fruit #fantasycreatures https://www.instagram.com/p/B_NH4NzlS9R/?igshid=ro13w6zbdk1h
The other Strawberry dragonfruit lemonade dragon made two months ago! I have a few other drink dragons (*taro boba and mochi*) made before I moved last month, and hopefully will finish when I get back 🍡🍵 . . . . #polymer_clay #polymerclay #dragon #dragons #summer #lemon #dragonfruit #fruitdragon #glowinthedark #gitd #miniature #mini #fantasy #fantasycrafts #motherofdragons #handmadewithlove #handmade #etsyshop #etsy #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #etsyelite #rainbow #rainbows #sfetsyteam #staedtler #fimo
Another fruit-dragon! Yes, it's @hisyria fault. I blame her. A physalis one this time because I liked the color-scheme and they look like a little treasure 💕 #art #dragon #fruit #fruitdragon #physalis #watercolor #orange https://www.instagram.com/p/CB08RkzlzgM/?igshid=17rkob4hklcz1
Strawberry dragon fruit lemonade dragons! I've had these cane slices on my desk ready for months, but finally got around to making these! They also glow in the dark! 🍓 🍋 🐉 . . . . #polymer_clay #polymerclay #dragon #dragons #summer #lemon #dragonfruit #fruitdragon #glowinthedark #gitd #miniature #mini #fantasy #fantasycrafts #motherofdragons #handmadewithlove #handmade #etsyshop #etsy #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #etsyelite #rainbow #rainbows #sfetsyteam #staedtler #fimo
Amanda groggily lifted her head, annoyed. “What, Mom? It’s like, midnight. Leave me alone.”
“Wake up, Amanda. I’m not your mother. You must come with me.”
At that, Amanda’s head cleared and her eyes shot open. “Who are you? How’d you get in my house?” She couldn’t see anyone, however; the darkness was too all-encompassing. She fumbled for her nightstand lamp.
“Amanda, we don’t have time. We must leave before it comes.”
“Why should I go anywhere with you? I don’t know you.” Her hand bumped into her glasses, nearly knocking them off the nightstand, and she mumbled a curse under her breath as she grabbed them and slid them onto her face, then went back to groping for the nightlight.
The voice went silent for a moment, before a muffled thud and a string of curses echoed around the small room. A moment later, spoke again, a note of pain in their voice. “Amanda, we must go now! The Phobic will not be far behind. It has found a way between-”
Amanda interrupted, not sure if she’d heard correctly. “The what?”
“The Phobic. It is after you, and the rest of my kind.”
The words took a moment for Amanda to understand. Something about how the voice had said my kind, as if she wasn’t… but that wasn’t the point. “Me, specifically?”
“Because it knows you. At least, that’s what I’m told.” Amanda had stopped trying to switch on the light, all her focus on trying to understand what was going on. Something fizzed, and the mysterious voice mumbled something unintelligible, but Amanda was far too confused to care.
Another fizzing sound startled her out of her thoughts, right before a bright light filled the room and nearly blinding the girl still buried in her covers. Once Amanda’s eyes had adjusted, she stared in shock. A circle surrounded by swirling white light filled the space by the foot of her bed, depicting a scene with rolling green hills and a forest of willow trees in the distance. It looked so real, she could have reached out and smelled the cool summer breeze scented with lilacs, or felt the soft green grass between her toes.
“Get up, Amanda! It’s almost here!” the voice said, and, as though hypnotized by the picturesque scene, she climbed out of the covers and knelt at the foot of her bed, facing the strange picture.
A dark shape flitted in the corner, and her focus was momentarily broken. Then she felt a push on her lower back and fell face-first into the picture. But instead of being held up… she fell through.
***
Amanda was lying on the softest grass she had ever felt. She wasn’t sure where she was, but as she slowly stood up, her jaw dropped at the view.
She was standing on a grassy hill, facing a forest of the tallest willow trees she’d ever seen in the distance, with each tree reaching a height of what seemed to be at least fifty feet. Wind ruffled the impossibly healthy grass, causing waves to ripple across the landscape. Wildflowers broke up the green, splashes of color on an otherwise blank canvas. The noonday sun filtered down, not a cloud in sight.
Somehow, someway, she’d ended up in the painting.
“Oww… I hate traveling by portal,” a voice muttered behind her. Amanda spun around and nearly fell over in shock. A pretty elfin girl was sitting up and rubbing her eyes, a frown present on her face. Pointy ears stuck out of her long, chocolatey curls, and she was as barefoot as Amanda was. Strange enough, she looked familiar. But her voice was definitely the one that had been in her bedroom.
“Hi, strange person, tell me- what am I doing here, and where did my bedroom go?” Amanda demanded, annoyed. “Take me back! It’s a school night, I should be asleep! Also, do I know you? You look really familiar.”
For a moment, the girl looked sad. Then her expression closed over, the frown taking its rightful place on her face. “Well, round-ears, it’s nice to see you too. I just saved your sorry life from the phobic, you know. You could be a little appreciative of that. Also, just so you know, my name is Naira. Follow me.” She got up and stalked off towards the woods, fully expecting Amanda to follow her. Amanda thought about staying where she was, but realized that if she didn’t follow Naira, she would be stuck in a strange land with no way to get home. A stuck-up elfin girl with an over-inflated ego was a far better deal than never seeing her parents again.
They walked for all of five minutes without incident. Suddenly, Naira stopped, causing Amanda to bump into her. Amanda quickly stumbled back, muttering a half-hearted apology.
“Shush,” the elfin girl whispered, putting a finger to her lips. “Someone is watching us.”
Looking around, Amanda didn’t see anyone, but she still stayed quiet. After all, Naira was the native to this strange land. Amanda had only been here for all of ten minutes.
A moment later, Naira lowered her hands and kept walking as though nothing had happened. This time Amanda didn’t hesitate to follow her. They kept walking until they reached the forest, where Amanda was stunned speechless yet again. Something she hadn’t seen when she’d looked from afar was that many of the branches actually grew glowing orbs. As she watched, one of the orbs detached and floated off into the trees. Dozens floated all over the place, detaching from the trees and crumbling minutes later, giving the forest a mystical feel. The whole thing only served to make her feel more alienated.
“Round-ears, listen up. From this point until I say otherwise, you must only step where I step. There are more dangerous traps in the Willow Woods than hairs on your head. The traps won’t bother me, as I was born and raised here, but you are unfamiliar. The forest doesn’t know you, and so will shift in order to lay traps for you. Understood?”
Amanda nodded, glancing at the forest. The forest was starting to look more ominous with every word out of the other girl’s mouth.
“Okay. Let’s go, then.” Naira stretched, then started stepping carefully into the forest. She brushed aside the drooping willow branches with a wave of her hand. Amanda tried to follow her precise movements, although the few times she missed a step, she didn’t activate any sort of traps. She did pay for later by stubbing her toe on a rock, though she hardly thought that counted. Finally, they stopped in a clearing. The willow lights were thicker here, as though they were gathering on something invisible.
“We’re here,” Naira said after glancing around as though looking for eavesdroppers.
Amanda glanced around. “We’re here… where, exactly?” she asked shortly. All she saw were tree trunks and the occasional bush.
Naira snapped her fingers, whispering something under her breath. “There.”
Suddenly, before Amanda’s eyes, half the forest in front of them and nearly all of the willow lights disappeared. About five trees, taller than any she’d ever seen here or at home, grew several hundred feet into the air and were as wide around as the whole apartment complex she lived in. Holes had been carved into the trunk, many of which were shining with a bright yellow light. Bridges hung from tree to tree, with more wildlife and plantlife thriving on the bottom. Everywhere she looked, elven people strolled with each other, played games with each other, talked with each other.
Naira spoke, and Amanda could hear the admiration in her voice, the first sign of any true emotion from the elfin girl. “Welcome to Arborglen. Now come. We must visit the elders.”
Posts about Dreams written by Fruit Dragon
For the other parts in the series, click on the link above!
