Edit - Updated the image with a version I scanned myself which has a bit better display of character colours. Couldn't get the sky looking right though, so stole it from the original dark scan. Also added in Daimin's blue stripes :)



This lovely piece was done by Natoli of  DragonLovers, the original piece is here (https://www.furaffinity.net/view/11197880/ ), so if you have any comments about the style, skill, etc. please leave them directly with the artist herself


There were apparently some scanner problems, so there's an alternate lighter version here if you want to try looking at that instead (http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11201224/ ).


From left to right, we have Shato, Odaith, Daimin, Alya and Dracasis.


This is part commemoration, part gift, and part, and part just something I wanted to have done. The focal point of the picture is Daimin, who came over to the USA from Australia to visit Dracasis and Alya in June of 2012. This picture is based on a real life event too! Shato and I frequently make trips down to visit Dracasis and Alya on weekends, and since Daimin was going to be there for a while, we were introduced to him shortly before he came, with the intention of an in-person meeting during one of our normal visits.


I was relived to discover that green dragons are not like Beta's (a.k.a. Chinese Fighting Fish), and when presented with another green male in the midst of so many lovely ladies, we did not in fact set about head butting, growling or nipping at one another - but instead had a very enjoyable time :) So much so in fact that we planned another visitation before Daimin left. Alya was kind enough to secure us all some discounted tickets to Disney World and Shato and I took a day off work so that all of us could go and enjoy the uniquely American experience (a first time visit for Shato as well as Daimin) *smiles*


This event happened to correspond with Daimin's birthday too! It was actually the day before we were at Disney I think, but Shato and I arrived that night in preparation for getting an early start in the morning. As such, we were there for the actual hatchy day, and thus brought with us a cookie-cake (http://www.furaffinity.net/view/9624262/ ), much to the delight of both Daimin, and also Dracasis who is a well know cookie-monster.


At any rate, a long hard day of walking, enjoyable sighs, fun rides, and good company, and it all finally started drawing to a close. We were all dead tired and beat, but we had to stay for the iconic fire worlds display (something you see at the start of EVERY Disney movie - how could that be passed up?). We all cozied up tight and close together, and watched the lovely display (something Shato and I can hear every night from where we live several miles to the south). I was told later that this was a major highlight of the trip for Daimin, and that was when the idea for this commission was born :) I spent several months of casual and well spaced questions to collect some of the finer body details for a reference so I wouldn't have to tip my paw and give away the surprise.


As an interesting side note, this piece got its start right at the same time, a year had passed from the event itself, hehe. That was not deliberate, it's just how things worked out, but I thought it was a neat coincidence :)


Thanks for all your efforts on this Natoli, it came out looking amazing - you did a great job capturing the mood and portraying the fireworks!