Finished! Gradius III Fire Dragon.

I think I'm finished.

This is the Fire Dragon Boss from SNES Gradius III. It's made with colored pencil. I signed it, "Hilma Josal 2017". 

Every drawing has its limit and I think I'm there with this one. Time to move on.

My next drawing will be of the Moai Boss in Gradius III ...I think. Ancient stuff is up my alley, so I believe I'll have fun doing it.

It was interesting trying to draw something that's been drawn a billion times -a dragon. I don't believe I mastered drawing fire or space at all yet. I should have done more research on that. But, I had fun and invented some things like: 1. Erasing the boarders, 2. Going outside the boarders, 3. Circle scales (I gained that skill doing disco swirls on cards I'd make for friends in high school), 4. ... well, I wish I had invented four things. I really just "invented" one thing: playing with the boarder -specifically, erasing the boarder.  

Woo!

PS the jet is flying through it and this is my take on the part where the dragon circles the jet.

fire dragon mouth
That is one handsome dragon.

That is one handsome dragon.

Rainbow Background

Instead of painting the background just black as black colored pencil can get, I started to add brown, purple, blue and gray. In an attempt to create depth and the illusion of space, I catered to "spots" that were happening. My awesome artsy grandma said an instructor of hers called these "happy accidents". 

I spent a while looking and trying to match the tail of the cool lizard pictured and taped to the drawing. Often I have to remind myself not to be lazy and do what I know is what I need to do: flip the image on the compuer and print it out again, sharpen my pencil, step back, erase, look at what "you're" trying to draw (not your drawing), and try draw it somewhere else first.

Then I hit it with paint thinner.  

Oh yea! Ryan asked me, "Is the jet being held?" I didn't want that impression, so I tried to add movement. With an eraser, I created some lines removed and some light lines added. Garfield comics are my inspiration for that and my "skills" were developed when I invented Super Bean, The Evil Can Opener and Queen Corn long ago.

Uhhh I really should add some yellow, huh. How do I make the top of his head better? Tempted to add a hint glitter powder in his eye. Pretty cool, no? What color should I do inside of his mouth?

Uhhh I really should add some yellow, huh. How do I make the top of his head better? Tempted to add a hint glitter powder in his eye. Pretty cool, no? What color should I do inside of his mouth?