#scaled creature

[dyke-in-crisis]

I have noticed a pattern & I’m guilty of all of these

[shpepyao]

Thats a lot of shiny iridescent critters lately! Custom for beeblebobble from TH

[dinodanicus]

My female carnotaurus character Calliope heading down to the beach for a swim. My old computer finally gave up the ghost after 10 years of okay service so this is the first painting of my new computer.

[clockworkcreature]

The Quetzal-dragon, Gatafu, so close to done! And yet, still so much to do. The head will be getting a few more touches (mainly airbrush), but other parts still have a little way to go.

The bodysuit, especially. A combination of things - some which were obvious dumb mistakes, some which defy explanation - made it necessary to completely re-do the torso and arms. The sewing on that is almost done now, at least.

There’s not that many tasks left on this project all together, but it still feels equivalent to scaling a mountain. The whole project has been so involved and has taken so long, you can start to believe that it’s impossible to actually finish.

[dayvan]

sollux shrine i made for my neopets shop layout

[meirimerens]

who up scrubbing and oiling their creature

[carmeltheslimy]

🪶🐟🔎

[samsantala]

Adelle

Female Dragonborn Wizard

Absolutely Serving 💅

[gay-cripply-scientist]

Lil man added to inventory

[themeeplord]

Hey Meep, Meepster, Meeperoni how do you draw scales?

I love your scales, both the prominent and far away ones. I especially love the scales on your cryptid boys.

So how do you do it?! When I try to draw scales it looks like a gravel road and just overall bad. Please share your wisdom, I beg.

In my head this turned into a bigger question than you might have intended pfjfjf, I tried my best to stay relativity simple with my answer!

Let me show you how you can think when figuring out big scales.

First I try to keep it simple and not sketch in all the scales until I've gotten the pose down.

When I start planning out scales I start with figuring out the direction of the scales and the big shapes (I usually do this in my head, but drawing it can be very useful)

Once I'm happy with the shapes and directions I start adding the scales one at a time, all overlapping each other like they're huge fish scales.

Scales don't always have to follow the same 'start at the head and run down the body' idea, you can do the opposite and get some very neat looking shapes. You can mix it up too. Here's some examples!

There are a lot of different kinds of scales and animals often have more than one kind. Some even do look like gravel!

I suggest looking at real life animals and fictional creatures for inspiration and reference. It takes a long while to learn how and where to use specific scales, but it'll be easier if you're willing to spend some time looking at and studying scales and the anatomy around them.

Some examples of animals with scales~ (names in alt text)

[the-dragon-girl-27]

flocking drawings!!

Young Altispinax preparing to do a mating display

Thyreosaurus slaying a Theropod

Ornithoprion just swimming round

Mama Mapusaurus bringin home a Chakisaurus carcass for her daughter

[shpepyao]

Custom that I had to finish in previous year, but got to it only now Fella done for SumTrails on TH!

[dinodanicus]

A young female archaeopteryx named Tippett has lost her way while traversing the forest floor.

[clockworkcreature]

Quetzal-dragon/Gatafu progress shots! I forgot take photos for a bit in there.

The cowl is taking FOREVERRRRR

[artandstarstuff]

Getting back into the art groove. I can finally draw dragons middle school me would be proud of.

[jenfoundabug]

LONG

(Banana slug in Northern California)

Seriously just look at how large this creature is. And that face.