Red-legged honeycreeper, Cyanerpes cyaneus (Thraupidae), a cool generalist avian nectarivore. Colored pencils for training. More like this on: https://www.instagram.com/camilojulianc/
Mixed media artworks. Created in conjunction with each other, on a single piece of paper. As the colors of marker or watercolor bled through, so I worked with the motifs on both sides. It is no secret that i absolutely love birds and they feature so heavily in my drawing/illustrative work.
After 1.5 hrs of experimenting...
It wasn't easy to decide on what body shape my character should have. Through an "intuitive approach" of shifting anatomical proportions, it was still decided to remain on an avian's concept instead of a wyvern's. Wyvern can be kept to the wyvern... The phoenix needs something more like an bird's, after all.
p.s: I also have to remember to keep the neck shorter...
Phoenix or Wyvern? Avian or Dragon? It doesn't matter anymore when Ido seems to hold characteristics of both. On a prompt, I tried reverting a very important feature: the eyes, back in a light cyan / blue colour. Suddenly with this step backwards, he was a step closer to life again.
Been some time since I touched the pencil. It wasn't easy to get back to drawing, since I was also distracted by the internet for some time. Lots of things went through my head, while I was out on a trip. Just drew whatever I felt like drawing, and this came alongside some reflections:
I have been stuck on fixing this character concept for a very long time, trying to box it within a classification. Bird, wyvern, dragon, shadow, whatever- I came to a point today, where I felt that it really doesn't matter anymore. This is that sort of character who can be everything.
I spent the entire afternoon trying to arrange all the little ideas and features, following true to creative intuition. Smashing together many of my previous character designs, this appeared. A masked and unnamed figure (???) with traits from many of my previous works.
An avian / draconic / spiritual shapeshifter has always been something with me all this time, even when I tried to create a sona years back (finding it meaningless). True to its nature, it has few lively features except its eyes and requires a mask to display additional signs of life.
Its clear that this character is basically a symbolic self-expression. It wasn't easy to seperate myself from my introjective tendencies, which easily distorts my concept of this figure (took weeks to untangle). Once the confusions loosen, it reappears with noticeably familiar features.
The scribble above still has some room for rearrangement, just limited by the irreversible nature of pencil drawing. The grey markings were too dark, and the feet might look better staying white. The pale golden underbody markings, were actually a surprise.
Oseberg Style Norse Wall Plaque. Silver gilding on lustrous blue. Typically animalistic faces in grotesque grins in order to protect individual or household.
