Yesterday, as I opened up Photoshop, I realized that the streak of muse-ation that had propeled me through the three naga drawings and countless sketches had just died.

Foolishly, I tried forcing art out. Predictably, and as any artist knows, this didn't work. My sketches were uninspired, choppy, and only one was saved from the trashcan at the behest of my boyfriend.

I fooled around for a while, trying to revive my muse. Nothing worked. The clock ticked. I did homework and went to sleep.

And then this morning I woke up and realized two things.

One: I've never drawn a fantasy image featuring The Dramatic Rock Outcropping, where every group of adventurers poses on, and which is the perch to many a mythical beat.
Two: I suck at drawing backgrounds. Specifically, rock outcroppings and dramatic clouds. Therefore, I should draw some. (Sometimes that artistic maxim is the bane of me).

And with that, my muse wandered back. And stayed for seven hours. To finish this drawing.



Anyway, this is a Spindlewing or Glass dragon, so named for the patterned and translucent wing membranes, unique to their species. He is posing on The Dramatic Rock Outcropping, for Dramatic Effect. Or maybe he's surveying his territory.



This drawing went through a bunch of phases. I didn't save any WIPs, unfortunately. :P He was going to be grey and gold, with stripes on his sides, and then he turned yellow, and finally this teal-blue color. There was going to be lightning. Then it died. At first, the dragon didn't have frills; just spines. He didn't have patterns until the last minute.
About seven hours in Photoshop. Spindlewing dragons are mine, I suppose.