Elemental Unicorns pt.2

Water Unicorn
Medium: digital painting

Then everything changed when the fire unicorns attacked.
 

Fire Unicorn
Medium: digital painting

Fire Alicorn

Fire Alicorn
Medium: digital painting

Fallen Angel Dragon

Demon Dragon
Medium: digital painting

A subspecies of the Angel Dragon, the Demon Dragon is a spiritual dragon with no specific size. They can cover the sky or sit on your shoulder. They only appear the those they choose. They have never been observed eating, nor have hatchlings of this species ever been seen.

Their ancestry is apparent in that they have retained some of the feathers of their Angel forbears. It's unknown when Demon Dragons separated from Angel Dragons, but their war with their ancestors has played out throughout all of human history. While Angels are more powerful warriors, Demons prefer subtlety and deception rather than a direct fight.

These dragons work through deception and manipulation, whispering lies to their victims to gain their trust. It's uncertain exactly what their agenda is, but it's clear that they hope to disrupt the Angel Dragons' purifying work. Demon Dragons have been known to corrupt entire cities, provoking the Angel Dragons to destroy the cities. In such cases, sometimes blame is placed on the wrong dragon; the Angel is seen as the tyrant and the Demon is seen as the innocent, when in fact both dragons knew that the humans in question had a choice, but chose to follow the Demon Dragon and thus ensured their own demise. Needless to say, Angels and Demons have and probably will be at war with each other until one or both species is stamped out.

Fire Dragon

Pyro Dragon
Medium: digital painting

With tempers as fiery as their scales, Pyro Dragons live only in the hottest areas of the world. Many are found around volcanoes, both tropical and desert. These dragons are known for being easily enraged, and when angry, they don't hesitate to unleash their flame. They produce flame from glands in the mouth which secrete flammable chemicals. These glands are constantly working, supplying Pyros with seemingly infinite firepower. They are large dragons, about the size of elephants. Their hard scales provide excellent armor. The fleshy growths on their necks, backs, and tails have a dual purpose: Pyros use them to steer while flying, as well as to test temperatures.

Pyros are very sensitive to cold. It's said to be one of their few weaknesses. If the temperature around them gets too cold, they are known to ignite the ground around them and to bathe rocks in flame to create heat. If Pyros loose too much heat to their surroundings, they become lethargic and will eventually fall into a deep sleep, sometimes for centuries. Many cultures have legends that tell of slumbering Pyros beneath volcanoes.

These dragons, like many other species, also enjoy collecting shiny objects. Males will often decorate their lairs with treasures stolen from nearby humans in order to attract a female. Some humans have been able to appease a Pyro dragon by offering them gold, silver, or precious jewels. Pyro dragons generally live in pairs of one male and one female. They breed every few years, laying a single egg. The parent dragons build a nest of stones around the egg and bathe the stones in fire. Thus the egg itself is not directly exposed to the flames, but is still kept at a very high temperature. Like crocodiles, the temperature of the egg determines the gender of the baby inside. A hot temperature ensures a male dragon, and a cooler temperature ensures a female.

Dragon vs. Unicorn

Battle

Medium: digital painting

A dragon and a unicorn fight to the death! Who will win? Personally, I think that unicorn's got something hidden up his sleeve.

Fire Horse

Fire

Medium: digital painting

The fire horse from my Elemental Horses series!

Scholastic Art Contest Golden Key Winner

Fox Fire
Medium: digital painting

An entry for the Scholastic Art. Write. Now. contest.

UPDATE: This piece won regionals (Golden Key) and is going on to nationals!

Fox Fire

Fox Fire
Medium: digital painting

I was listening to Let it Defy Gravity and at 2:35, this image popped into my head. I don't know what it has to do with the song, but it was fun so I painted it. In all honesty, I think it was the sound of the music that inspired this, not the lyrics.

Nekomata

Kirara
Medium: digital painting (Photoshop)

The nekomata Kirara, because flaming big cats are awesome. Nekomata, sometimes called Split-Tail cats, are a type of cat youkai from Japanese mythology.

Kirara character is copytight Rumiko Takahashi's Inuyasha.

The Elvenking

King Thranduil
Medium: Photoshop paint

Every time you leave your campfire burning and it sets a forest on fire, an elf cries. Think of the elves! Protect our forest friends. Only you can prevent wildfires.

Sorry about that. Smokey the Bear popped into my mind when I finally finished this.




The Lord of the Rings and all its relations has always been my favorite story, and I've just realized that I've done precious little Tolkien-related art. I think it may be because I'm afraid I won't do the story or the characters justice. But then I thought, "Peter Jackson changed Thranduil enough. What does it matter if I accidentally change him some more?"

This is J. R. R. Tolkien's character Thranduil, the king of the Mirkwood elves. While the book will always hold a special place in my heart, I do like all three of the movies Jackson has put out. I like almost everything that he added into the story and I like how he brought Legolas into The Hobbit, even though he didn't play a part in the book. I'm sorry if die-hard Tolkien fans are about to become physically ill for hearing such blasphemy, but I like those movies. I also like Tauriel's presence as well. I'm not a huge fan of the romance between her and Kili (that smacked of a decision they made while that one guy was in the bathroom, and was so obviously thrown in just to feed the Kili fangirls), but I did like her presence. Let's be honest, if she hadn't been in it, there would have been no females in that entire movie except for the little girl in Bard's house who screamed at the orc. It kind of needed at least one female.

And then there's Thranduil. Jackson completely changed him, and I thought for sure I wouldn't like it, but I did. (Just so we’re all on the same page: I like Thranduil’s character, but I’m not a Thranduil fangirl.) I like both Tolkien and Jackson's versions. In this picture I tried to combine the two. I wanted to show the softer, "less wise" Thranduil of the book, and the hard-core, emotionally scarred Thranduil of the movie.


I mean, come on! He's an elf, which is awesome, and he's a king, which is awesome, so he's awesome + awesome, and… and…

What does that even equal?

"King Thranduil" detail
Medium: Photoshop paint

A close-up of the eyes, because eyes are fascinating and fun to paint. I painted them in a moving car. I should be proud of myself.

Elemental Flame

Fire
Medium: Photoshop paint

This girl is on FIRE!

Oh gosh, where did that come from? I don't even like that song. "Looks like a girl, but she's aflame..." Well, if it's not a girl, what is it? A bug-eyed alien?

Anyhow, this is the elemental flame lioness to go along with my elemental ice lion. He was lonely and wanted a mate. I think he got more than he bargained for. Ice Lion can be found here: http://kristengracehall.blogspot.com/2014/04/sparklelion.html