That looks absolutely gorgeous. It's a very good tribute.

Thank you very much! :)

Beautiful piece! It really stands out.

Thanks so much :)

wonderful my dear tiger

*hugg* Thank you :) <3

*chuckles and hugs back* your welcome
you should just start copying and pasting "thank you"

Heh I know, my replies are quite boring, but I dont really know what else to say..But I try to reply to everyone, so people see I do read every comment.

yeah I know unlike a lot of other artist, which I think is rather sweet ^.^

What a beautiful piece. Well done.

Thanks so mcuh!

Wonderful tribute! Looks wonderful.

Thanks! I really appreciate it!

Your welcome. It is a very fitting tribute to him.

Congradulations on this commission. It has to be a real honor to you to have been selected. The picture does look like quite a tribute to the deceased friend. With the rock format.

This is awesome. I love it!

A very beautiful tribute.

Amazing work.

you are very good at mimicking traditional art with digital tools

It's absolutely beautiful. You followed  Athus's wisdom by letting your heart guide your art to spectacular result. I'm sure he loves it, I know I do.

If anyone cares about the backstory to the idea; a few months before Athus left us, he and I went to Yosemite. It was the first time for both of us. We went together on over Memorial Day week, when the waterfalls are at their peaks. It was such an amazing trip that I believe he really enjoyed. We were planning to go again the following year. He didn't make it, unfortunately. When Memorial Day rolled around again, I had made plans to camp at Tuolumne Meadows which is nearish to Yosemite. There was a freak snow storm that sprang up that necessitated I continue instead to Yosemite, a year to the day that Athus and I had previously gone to Yosemite. Seemed like fate, like I was meant to go there on the anniversary of a weekend that meant so much to me, even more so in retrospect. Something of a tradition had been started.

Fast forward a bit and I decided that I was finally ready to have a piece done of Athus in tribute. A few months ago I put in the commission request and waited patiently in line. Moving to the East Coast, with costly government furloughs looming, I was unable to follow through with the 3rd Yosemite trip on Memorial Day. As fate would have it, the commission for Athus over Yosemite began over Memorial Day weekend. It seems a fitting "coincidence".

Athus, I miss you and love you. Go and enjoy Yosemite for me ^.-.^

Beautiful work.

you're continuing to blow my mind more with each piece. This is absolutely magnificent. How do you even..ffffff

jesus thanks crazy

lkjhgfdjhgfdjhgfds teach me how to paint ;_________;

Yeah. That's something very special. Nice work.

.....you just keep getting better...

You never cease to amaze me!

Your style is just...ochh!!! Perfect!!!!

This is really amazing! Great job on all the details. Love the trees the most. :3

amazing maqqy, I haven't commented on your work for a while, it looks fantastic all those details damn you're improving soo fast. I love to see that there are people in study who keep on drawing wether they're in study or not. we have a lot of people in class who stopped drawing after school, while they joined the the direction of art and design. your shading is skills are becoming better and better. I'm now going to draw because it's so motivating.

This is just amazing.

Anna:

Splendid job!

I knew him in life, this honors his memory greatly.

This is purely a masterpiece! Seeing it made my eyes tear up... and it gets even more emotional when knowing that it is Athus in one of his favourite locations. Wow... it's just so emotional, and so beautiful!

Everything about this is great, both the background as well as Athus.

Interesting how you made a more traditional looking background! It really works in this picture!

Seeing Athus portrayed so wonderfully by you, makes me think I should sometime in the future commission you for a piece that includes one of my dragon friends. :)

After reading the story behind this, it's really touching and you did a marvellous tribute. Beautiful by every detail!

This picture just says 1000 words. It's really really beautiful. You've honored Athus so greatly.

Maquenda, you did a stunning job on this and I cannot thank you enough for it. There are no words for this and for what it means to so many, including myself. So, just thanks. From the bottom of my heart. <3

I have no words to describe my love for this piece... it touches me in so many ways, as I'm sure it does to many others. Thank you so much for sharing this with us and helping us remember him. He would be very happy

*Jawdrops* Man...! So amazing..! :o

Do you know how amazing this looks in 3D

I'm blown away by your work!
The detail is absolutly astounding! everything right down to the fine details like scales on the dragon to the cracks in the rocks.
I love how you done the scales too, it's not too in your face by at the same time it really stands out and adds so much realism.
I like the light on the wings also.
Fantastic ^^ must watch you and follow your work!