Chinese Unicorn

Qilin
Medium: traditional bamboo brush and ink on rice paper

From the all-knowing Wikipedia: The qilin ([tɕʰǐ.lǐn]; Chinese: 麒麟), or kirin, is a mythical hooved chimerical creature known in Chinese and other East Asian cultures, said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler.

It's like a Chinese unicorn, guys!

The Asian Guard

The Asian Guard
Medium: digital painting

In my next installment of the Lion Guard as animals from all the different continents, here is the Asian Guard! It's Fuli the blackbuck (the fastest), Beshte the Asian elephant (the strongest), Ono the tarsier (the keenest of sight), Bunga the Asian palm civet (the bravest), and Kion the tiger (the fiercest).

Asia is such a vast continent with so many different ecosystems that I almost feel like it should have several guards. Most of these animals are from India. I chose a blackbuck for Fuli because they're among the top ten fastest animals in the world (as in running from point A to point B.) She's a doe, so she's neither black nor a buck, but that's life. Kion is a tiger because, well, it's a tiger! Beshte is an Asian elephant because what else would he be? Bunga is an Asian palm civet because they are typically pretty solitary like honey badgers, and they can be very tough when they need to be, and because I thought his colors would transfer well. I had planned on making Ono a bird of prey, but then as I was doing my research I started reading up on tarsiers, and they have incredible eyesight. They have possibly the best night vision of many animals in the world, and their distance vision isn't half bad, either.

Ocean Guard: http://kristengracehall.blogspot.com/2016/08/marine-animals.html
Asian Guard: http://kristengracehall.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-asian-guard.html
North American Guard: http://kristengracehall.blogspot.com/2016/06/north-american-wildlife.html
Arctic Guard: http://kristengracehall.blogspot.com/2017/01/arctic-wildlife.html

Wisp Dragon

Wisp Dragon
Medium: digital painting

Wisp Dragons are tiny dragons native to Asia. They appear in art from China, Japan, and Korea, among others. They come in a variety of colors, but most are shades of white and silver, and all have long antennae with glowing tips. They are named for the misty aura which surrounds them. Many have speculated that his aura is what allows Wisp Dragons to fly, even though they have no wings.

"Fables for Japan" book 2

Here are some spot illustrations I've done for the second book in the Fables for Japan trilogy. Fables for Japan is an anthology of short stories and artwork being published where all the money raised goes to earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. It will be available for download! You can find out more about it at http://www.fables4japan.com/ or by looking it up on Facebook and Twitter.

Title: Calligraphic Asian Dragon

Media: Pen and Ink

Title: Calligraphic Asian Dragon (portrait)

Media: Pen and Ink

Title: Kitsune Fox

Media: Pen and Ink

Illustration for "Fables For Japan"

Fables for Japan is an anthology of short stories and artwork being published where all the money raised goes to earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. It's being published on September 10th, and will be available for download! You can find out more about it at http://www.fables4japan.com/ or by looking it up on Facebook and Twitter. The book will be available in late August. Illustration for the story, "The Healer":

Title: The Healer illustration

Media: Photoshop Paint

This one is a spot illustration that is positioned behind the title.

Fables for Japan: