#different shaped wings

[jemrising]

I haven't done a full illustration like this in so long, so this was a lot of fun!

[dragonskulls]

Based on the variety among sea animals I decided to make some regional variations of the coast strikers (note that these are variations only, not entirely new quivers or clades). The dragons shown here would be the most “defined” archetype of each variety, showcasing most or all traits characteristic of said kind. They all share certain base features, like rudder shaped tails, gills, harpoon tongues, echolocation, double rows of teeth, and flat tail spines that can be detached and thrown. However, some traits change or are more common in each variety:

Deep water

Make up about 5% of the population, and inhabit the smaller communities in deeper ocean. The main activities here are algae and mollusk farming, as well as resource collection from the sea floor, both of which require a more long term stay –despite the dangers of sea serpents and other such beasts–. Slightly smaller than their cousins, they’re better equipped for the depths rather than for flying: shorter wings, webbed talons, very broad tails, and gills being more oxygen efficient, although their dart spines are usually less in quantity and shorter compared to inland dragons. Extra flippers and more fin tissue between spines is common, as well as larger eyes to take in more light. Their most notable trait, is that of translucence. Most commonly, it’s usually just wings and torsos that are see through, but different dragons showcase different levels of said trait, some being completely translucent in rare cases (of course, trading better camouflage for less armor). Coloration typically goes from dark colors similar to coastal strikers, black, red, or sometimes pale colors (the latter present usually in the populations living in the deepest available settlements). Rarely, some slight bioluminescence is present in transparent sections of the body.

Coastal

The representatives of the Roaring Coast quiver, being around 80% of their numbers. Sleek, tall but well muscled, they inhabit the sea side cliffs on the coast and some settlements in shallower waters. Extremely long and narrow wings are perfect for soaring for hours out at sea, with webbed back talons and a flattened tail making them adept swimmers. Their blade shaped spines are plenty and deadly when thrown, and offer some protection to their necks and backs. Fin tissue in between the spines is few or non existent. An odd ability most present in this variety, is the one of spitting ink. Manifesting itself as dark splotches in the throat, this ink is dense and quickly expanding underwater, and very sticky and thick on land, making it useful at deterring predators or confusing prey. Countershading is the standard regarding coloration, with light colors underneath and darker ones on top, the latter usually ranging from black, gray to washed out shades of blueish or purple hues which shine with more vivid highlights under the sun. Most common patterns are stripes or flecks. A perfect balance between the sea and land.

Inland

The remainder of the coast striker population, they live in the rivers and lakes on the edges of the Roaring Coast territory, further inland but still relatively close to the ocean. Shorter but more stout than coastal strikers, with medium length wings, broad whiskered snouts and narrower tails. Their spines are closer to the average AshWing, being more needle shaped rather than a flat blade. Their colors are similar to those of pebbles and gravel (more earthy tones) and messy patterns of spots, blotches, stripes and rosettes. Fin tissue is more similar to that of fish, making itself present more than in the coast variety but less than those of deep waters, as well as having some slight webbing in all talons. Some notable features are some splashes of brighter colors, and semi retractable barbs in limbs and backs –like those of catfish– which can sometimes inject painful venom. These last two traits are similar to the ones present in swamp lurkers; this could be the result of convergent evolution or cross breeding between clades, given the relative proximity of their territories

On a final note, characteristics mentioned here aren’t exclusive to each variety: there could be a coastal striker with slight translucence and barbs, a deep water striker with whiskers and ink, or an inland striker with full talon webbing and jet black scales. These are increasingly likely if one parent has said traits. Additionally, many times these varieties and traits are not so starkly differentiated as are the ones show here, usually being a mild mix between some

[bastart13]

No points for guessing what's reignited my love for winged people

[inkskinned]

for months i had this obsession with wing shape.

the majority of feathered wings have an underlying musculature almost akin to a thumb. the primary feathers - sometimes called "flight feathers" - are those long feathers that seem to "hang off" of the wing. they're actually connected to the "hand" (literally the manus) of the bird and can be individually rotated. they are responsible for the majority of thrust during the downstroke, and while the number of them depends on speciation; the majority of birds will have between 9 and 11 of these feathers (as opposed to secondary flight feathers; their shorter partners, which vary from 6 to 40).

i started attaching them to the silhouettes of people, drawing angels tumbling out of buildings and running late to work and skipping class to smoke outside of a 7-11. i drew angels eating apples and doing their homework and pushing their hair back from their eyes and holding a pencil. the margins of all of my poems had feathers raining down the side of the page.

i was in the worst depression of my life and had decided i was giving up on the idea of freedom. i would be a happy wife to a mediocre husband and the angels would come and pass their wings over my eyes and let me feel nothing but numbness. i would have a life like an echo. i would never enter my body without knocking first - it would carry all this weight, and i would be sleeping peacefully, my soul somewhere out there, flying with wings.

she laughed and came over and sat next to me, and smelled of lavender. whenever she talked, a strange harmony stole into my heart; something that was only memory and no words. not an echo - an answer.

inside of her sketchbook were hundreds of pictures of birds.

[bogcreacher]

Sail and Marlin, two of Mako’s former comrades. Mako and Marlin used to butt heads a lot; Mako’s relationship with Sail was better, even if he did harbour an unreciprocated crush

Sail is Deaf and communicates with aquatic - his white spotting is linked to his congenital condition. His sister interprets for him when needed. 

[rose-i-guess]

Thinking abt wings of fire for some reason so uhh here’s some starflights ?? Yes I gave him emo hair…spikes

[m340700]

so i'm trying to figure out how to make a single dca mask where i just spin a part of the face plate and retract the rays to turn sun into moon (hence the several layers) and.

Burger

[nyxanarchy]

Something something about stories and tales as a weapon against authoritarian authority, something something about a girl who is a liar destroying death with the power of telling real stories , something something about the second Eve freeing the deads by giving a name to a creature who was deemed unworthy of it.

[curiouskaden]

GUYS????

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

How the FUCK do you draw DRAGON FACES AND EYES

I can get the body and head down ya know? but its the damn FACE that fucks me up when drawing faces

So if its not to much of a burden, could you please give some tips on how to draw dragon faces?

oh boy i am the Wrong person to ask lmfao - when drawing dragon faces 90% of the time im confused and fucking it up 20 times before getting it right and the other 10% is just "wait how the fuck did i do that? nice! anyway"

i've been drawing dragons for so long that the drawing process is almost entirely subconscious! and i'm not entirely sure what you mean by Faces instead of heads! but i can still attempt to offer Some advice - specific references, that kinda thing

uh i think one thing that's good to keep in mind is that dragons (typically - dragons are a Wide range of shapes and sizes so this is technically subjective) have Binocular Vision. forward facing eyes! just like us, predator animals, birds of prey. personally i like to mainly study dinosaur skulls when working on how i draw dragons, especially raptors and tyrannosaurs. i think dinosaurs are a Really good reference since they're pretty much the closest thing we have to real life dragons. so the eyes are generally higher than the snout or level with the top of it. tldr: understanding that they have forward facing eyes helps shape and Place the eyes correctly.

i'm not sure if i can help with the Shape of eyes? i tend to draw eyes mostly the same no matter what i scribble. but Another thing i'd recommend using as a reference - specifically for the snout and how it bunches / how the muscles move - is look at pictures of wolves snarling / facially expressing. they are a Great base point.

with the eyebrows/eyeridges uh. i suppose they tend to be rectangular! or Oblong! just flexible little logs placed over the eyes. they tend to be level with where the top of the head is. again i will recommend looking up photos of Tyrannosaurus Rex Facing Forward, they have some great ridges

but yeah just! look around! play around with facial structure and what feels/looks right To You! look up those expression sheets/memes and use 'em for practice, they're great for that! and as i will always say - Dragons Dont Look Just One Way! Fuck Around And Find Out What's Dragon To You!

oh, and also look at anthro art. there's a lot of really good anthro art that can help show you how to place/move facial features on an animal with forward-facing eyes and much room for expression <3

[hyydraworks]

Have some things coming down the pipeline, but today brain is mush, so here’s new Mothra friends that are coming!!

[ya-boi-haru]

Seen a few theories floating around about the Sherbs merging into one...

(First anamatic and people are not my area of art, so be gentle lol)

[sysig]

Having fun, more and more! (Patreon)

[hua-fei-hua]

read a sick as hell arlebina fic by @followerofmercy a few months ago, and the title ended up sticking in my head. i actually meant to do this more carefully on calligraphy paper, but then earlier today i noticed that i refilled my pens with colors that all go together for once and decided to ride the impulse to see how la colombe envie les cygneaux might look with them. fortunately, the light on the train decided to cooperate.

[tumblesheep]

made some carbuncles

[raayllum]

X marks the spot