Valvaren's Art

Hello, I'm Dee, or Valv, owner of Valvaren. I'm a Canadian sculptor who specializes in realistic animals and fantasy creatures. If you'd like to purchase some of my work you can find the link to my Etsy below!  https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Valvaren

[valvaren]

Trying to focus on 'finished not perfect' but it's slow going as I keep making adjustments and changes. I just want to be able to get back into creating without this inability to push through the need to be 'perfect'.

[valvaren]

Throw back to 2019 and my Panther Chameleon work. Someday I'll create a new version, I miss painting in such vibrant colors.

[valvaren]

Tumblr is making it really annoying to post here x.x

Retic X Ball Python Mash up from awhile ago.

[valvaren]

Frog Pop #2 looks like a cool sunset! Did a splashback pattern for this one and I think it gives it almost a silhouetted tree line type look.

[valvaren]

First of the frogs from the color palette vote on IG. Think I might make 'Frog Pops' permanent, what do you think?

[valvaren]

I did a vote on IG for a random color palette to use and this is what has come from it.

Really excited to see these two glossed!

[valvaren]

Corn Snake Version 2 is printing and I'm excited to do a test paint! I felt the first attempt was a little stiff and unnatural so I tried to make this one more fluid.

[artofmarjorie-deactivated202309]

I wanted to draw this puma for sooooo long! I took the picture in 2015 at Beauval Zoo. (A5) #donotcopy #donotrepost #wildlife #cat #puma #mountainlion #cougar #wildcat #felin #feline #drawing #art #myart #pencildrawing #pencilart #pencil #sketch #chat #marjorie #serra #dessin #nature #sketchbook #study https://www.instagram.com/p/ClQhgzfIati/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[valvaren]

Blue check mark? Overrated!

Blue frogs? Perfection!

[valvaren]

Hello

I am here. I still have no idea how this platform works but I will try my best to post to it often.  (How does this work again?)

[fimbry]

Another House of the Dragon style design, but this time I’m putting more effort into it! I wish she were real.

[fimbry]

[fimbry]

Progress is slow because scales and I’m mostly still in DEER MODE.

[valvaren]

Taking a few clients for customs on my Hognose, Ball Python and Dart Frog bases. DM with reference pictures for quotes! 

[tikkety-tok]

Did she just tell an alligator what to do? 😳

[ordinaryredtail]

This is one of those things that looks cool and funny but it’s really not. Granted, I don’t work with large reptiles. But I do work with large dangerous animals. You don’t turn your back on a creature like this, especially when they know it’s feeding time. it doesn’t matter if they were raised in captivity or not. They’re still wild animals, and can bite and attack, even if they aren’t meaning to hurt you specifically. There should always be separation between the keeper and an animal that could rip your arm clean off. Those tongs also don’t look long or sturdy enough, but again, not a large reptile expert.

[gaelicfalcon]

I have even more bad news. I looked up this facility, and shockingly it’s not AZA accredited /s. It also appears to be a fancy roadside zoo, as it offers all sorts of hilariously dangerous excursions where you can hold and pet reptiles and amphibians. They started as an exotic pet store and changed their name to make people think they are a legitimate educational facility, but even on their own website they have pictures of their employees and guests holding gators and komodo dragons. Don’t follow them on Tiktok or give them money; they are not caring for these animals responsibly and admit to breeding “world’s first” animals which means they are not even trying to support legitimate conservation efforts.

[ordinaryredtail]

Yeah, this is honestly what I expected.

[kaijutegu]

Just a heads up- they’re not holding Komodo dragons. Those are water monitors. The distinction is REALLY important because until a couple years ago, Komodos in the US were under the strict purview of the AZA. Nobody outside the AZA had one, despite everybody wanting one. Now that’s changed. There’s one Komodo outside the AZA. She had to be spayed due to life-threatening egg binding (so she couldn’t be used for the species survival plan) and she’s in an amazing educational facility just outside of Chicago, but that did set a precedent for Komodos being scrubbed out of AZA programs and placed in non-AZA facilities.

And the less reputable places absolutely know this and they are salivating over the prospect. Komodo dragons are pretty much the one reptile there isn’t a black market for in the US. The export and breeding is too tightly controlled, and they’re too well-known to slip under the radar. But places like this do want you to think they could have a Komodo dragon. They want to be seen as an actual conservation effort- they want the court of public opinion to be swayed towards them. So it’s important to be aware that nowhere (unless it’s the Wildlife Discovery Center in IL or an AZA facility) in the US has a Komodo. It’s important to know what you’re looking at, because places like this do not need to have Komodo dragons, and the public assuming they do/should is potentially dangerous for the species.

Although… I do think it’s kinda funny that despite being an “educational facility” people walk away from their website thinking they have an animal they actually do not. Kinda shows they’re not really on messaging target, doesn’t it.

Secondly, I am a large reptile expert and my conclusion here is the same as the non-experts (because the folks who have chimed in have eyes): this is incredibly dangerous do not try this at home. You should never be that close to an untaped alligator’s mouth. If the mouth is banded, that’s one thing, but that animal could easily have taken her face off. She already has it keyed up with a feeding response, and she’s using the stimulus (feeding tongs) to put physical pressure on the animal while trying to direct it to something other than a feed. Alligators are really easily trainable. Once they get a stimulus or target in their head, it is in there to STAY. Redirecting with the feeding target is dangerous because when the alligator sees that, the only thing going through its head is “FOOD. NOW.” This is really irresponsible!

I also want to point out that handling reptiles isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s one of those experiences that can be done really well or really poorly. I’m actually a pretty big proponent of reptile meet ‘n’ greets because they get the public interacting with stigmatized animals in a positive light. This is especially true for snakes in general and reptiles native to a place- we need people to understand how important they are for the ecosystems in which they evolved. Getting up close and personal and doing some light handling is a really good way to help people learn and love. But you have to do it sensibly. It’s never a good idea to do that with amphibians; they’re far too delicate. Alligators- specifically young ones- are honestly a-ok to do this with, if it’s done correctly and with the animal’s comfort in mind. The mouths must be banded (this does not hurt them) and they need to be able to have space for heat and seclusion. There are plenty of places that will let you hold alligators. It’s not by default a bad thing. But if the mouths aren’t banded, that shows they don’t care about the animal’s safety or yours.

[valvaren]

Legit all you needed to know that this place was a crappy ‘circus zoo’ was that J*y Bre*er is involved.

[rhunevild]

THEY’RE ALL GOOD GECKS, BRONT

Some more (old) pet portrait commissions. 

[valvaren]

LOOKING FOR REPTILE OWNERS To provide photo references for models, will be credited for helping with the base model as well as paid, either in money or with a discount/free commission on the base you help with.

After the pain that was trying to sculpt the Corn Snake without proper refs I'm going to treat this more like a business deal. With the help of my S/O I got some example pictures of Brood, my ball python, to use as a guide for any snake references. I will also need geckos and lizards but unfortunately don’t have my own to take example photos.

https://imgur.com/a/pl7X51l I am only looking for people who can provide clear, crisp and close up photos with good lighting and ideally with out much noise in the background. I wont be using your photos outside of referencing, I also wont be copying exactly, they will be guides, but I WILL credit you for your help with the base model. For anyone interested I would ask you to contact me with an example of the quality of photo you would provide and if it meets my needs we can discuss further terms of the deal i.e. payment/free commission etc. If you have any questions please ask! Also here is a photo of my 3D modeled Corn Snake that I just finished, and this was without proper references (was a complete nightmare >.<) Any reblogs are super appreciated <3 

[valvaren]

Finally, the first model in my 'High Realism' series is finished! Learned a lot, especially since it was only my second ever Zbrush sculpt x.x. Test print will be on Tuesday, if it passes I’ll paint up a few for examples. Next models are Blood Python and Carpet Python. Pictured in both Jelly Bean Material and the Standard MatGrey. Model is posable. Polypaint on eyes, nostrils, mouth only.

[valvaren]

Space Snake Sale Tomorrow!

Listing go live for these cuties TOMORROW at 1pm EST. They will be $80usd each, shipping to Canada and USA is included. Do you have a favorite? https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Valvaren *Sales go to paying off vet bills and for a taxidermist.*

[valvaren]

These will be available to buy in 1 HOUR! https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Valvaren