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dead-end-draws · 1 day

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I absolutely adore your work!!! You've inspired me to focus even more on the culture of my own fan tribes, and I even made a banner for my favorite one :3

I hope you keep drawing for years to come, and keep uo the good work!!!

This is truly one of the best compliments I could ever receive. Thank you so much! 🫶

I’m so glad to hear you’ve been able to focus on your own tribes! World-building can really challenge you to think outside the box and do some fun research. Fantasy banners are always cool to draw lol.

I hope I can keep being inspired and same to you! Art can be a chore at times & creating is not for the weak, so you gotta take the motivation as it comes, but that’s why we artists gotta help each other out! So thanks again for the kind words, it means so so much! 😁

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dead-end-draws · 9 days

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TMI, obsidians in real life, are incredibly sharp but very fragile. So, if one was to make a weapon out of it, they won't be targeted for long-term use. Peaces of blade would be stuck inside the wound, so it would also be tricky for medics to treat. And since you headcannoned that Nightwings offered assassination services, I think it works well with the quick and promising death assassins persue. Wonderful work!

Oooh this is some neat info! Thank you for sharing!!

When I was initially designing & thinking through the idea of the Nightwing booth, I knew obsidian had incredibly sharp properties, and I figured it would match the Nightwing aesthetic & dark themed color palette more than anything lol.

But I hadn’t considered the fragility and how that would work in favor for an assassin. I love that you picked up on this and attached it to the head-cannon. That’s an awesome bit of detail to know!

I’m glad you enjoyed the concept, thanks again for letting me learn some new info 😁

#wof #wings of fire

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dead-end-draws · 10 days

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WOF tribe Merchant/Trading booth concepts:

Hey folks! This one was the recent winner of this WOF poll, so here’s my concept art that headcannons trading in Pyyria.

Read below cut for close-ups of the individual booths + the thought process / headcannons behind the design choices: 👇

Skywings: The Sky Kingdom’s mountain ranges provide plenty of pasture for raising sheep. As such, Skywing shepherds benefit from traveling to sell their wool, dyes, fabric, and woven tapestries. Many of these merchant tables also include herbs grown exclusively in the mountains, or ibex drinking horns that can be strapped on a dragon’s shoulder & carried in flight.

Along with goods, Skywing merchants may offer sewing services to fix tears, burn marks, or other fabric damage. They are sought out for their quality clothing, and most fabric across Pyyria originated from a Skywing’s talons.

Mudwings: Mudwings’ abundant food & cooking skills are envied almost anywhere in Pyrria. Their swamps have fertile soil, responsible for hosting diverse crops which can be purchased as produce at merchant stalls. For those lucky enough to find a traveling Mudwing merchant, the promise of a delicious dish can be whipped up and served at the stall in no time. Along with produce goods, Mudwings sell weaved baskets, spices, and cooking ware.

Sandwings: Sandwing booths offer luxuries of the desert: It’s most common to find accessories such as gold carved jewelry or musical instruments such as drums, lyres, & mandolins for sale. Though, even more sought out across Pyrria is Sandwing tattoos/piercings, which are done within the merchant areas. Ink etchings on papyrus paper are stationed outside their tents to showcase designs. All which can be selected, and poked into the skin with a tapping stick and plant dye ink by a trained talon.

Seawings: SeaWings sell a variety of ocean related goods; taking a share in the fish market with Icewings. Outside of food, there are den decorations like driftwood carvings, accessories such as seashell & pearl jewelry, and rope nets weaved by expert Seawing sailors. Some Seawings even sell fishing equipment, canoes, or offer sailor knot tying instructions to curious dragon buyers.

Nightwings: During the war, it was near impossible to find a Nightwing merchant. Most refused to participate in merchant territory, mostly as a way to keep up with their tribe’s mysterious nature.

Though in the more shady, unground parts of the market you can buy from a huge selection of obsidian weaponry, the sharpest in Pyyria. No one knew initially how Nightwings smithed so many weapons, or why, until their secret volcano kingdom and the intention to invade the rainforest was discovered. Then forging armor & weapons became clear. Along with a vast armory, for the right price, some Nightwing merchants offer Prophecies & Nightwing Literature (not always guaranteed to always be reliable) and assassin services as well (very reliable).

Rainwings: Though Rainwings haven’t been part of Pyyria’s trading for years, they have a vast hold on dragon medicine. An apothecary of herbs, salves, and remedies are all offered for various ailments due to the rainforest’s abundant resources. Along with medicinal goods, many Rainwings are fruit vendors, promising to any hesitant meat-eating dragons that such an array of flavors isn’t to be missed. Though, their fruit selling pitches often fall flat to most other predominantly meat-eating tribes.

Icewings: Icewings have everything a dragon could need to brace the cold, with a selection of goods only found in the most frigid regions of Pyyria. Furs, bone jewelry, and fresh fish (thanks to frost breath) are served on ice. Though Icewings themselves don’t require fur to withstand the cold, it’s considered fashionable and common in upper ranks to wear fur as a status symbol. Since metal is hard to smith without fire & in cold temperatures, fur and bone are more accessible to Icewings for clothing statements.

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dead-end-draws · 13 days

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Fallout inspired flash!

The show definitely launched me back into my fallout phase, so I made some tattoo designs for it!

(I’m over at dead_end-arts on insta as well, showcases some of my actual work outside of illustration 👀)

#fallout #fallout show #fallout 4 #fallout new vegas #fallout 3 #fallout companions #nick valentine #tattoo #tattoo design #tattoos #video games #video game art #video game fanart #fallout nv #fallout franchise #fallout prime #fallout amazon #fallout tv series

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dead-end-draws · 18 days

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Mixed media Silent Hill 2 studies.

Edited the backdrops for the 1st nurse image on Word, mashed em up, and did some pose studies for the second image!

#silent hill art #silent hill #silent hill 2 #illustration #horror #video games #pyramid head #pyramid head art #dead by daylight #dbd fanart #dbd art #pyramid head silent hill #horrorgames #horror franchise #horror art #james sunderland

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dead-end-draws · 22 days

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Resident Evil Flash designs 🩸🔪

Don’t think I’ve ever been so genuinely obsessed with a series quite like this, enough so it’s infecting my work like Las Plagas to the brain.

(I’m over at dead_end-arts on insta as well, showcases some of my actual work outside of illustration 👀)

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dead-end-draws · 29 days

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Another poll for ya’ll, since the WOF food worldbuilding was a huge hit!

Thank you all again for your feedback, reblogs, etc. I took a minor pause from WOF but the art always brings me back. So, I ask ya’ll question once again-

Unique Weaponry:

In WOF we know spears are utilized by each tribe, but there’s potential for more; claw knuckes, tail end weapons, wing tip blades, etc. Do Icewings utilize ice or bone to create blades instead of fire to smith them? Do Sandwings coat blades in venom? This prompt emphasizes art of weapons meant to be wielded by dragons, not scavengers. How would a dragon utilize a sword? (Think Guardians of Ga’hool style weapons).

Merchant Booths:

Trading is hinted to be a part of WOF, and is mentioned in Darkstalker’s book + the Scorpion Den. This prompt goes into what each Tribe could offer to other dragons across the continent.

From the tattoo/piercing booths by Sandwings, to the fabric & wool of Skywings, to the remedies of the rainforest, this opens the door to tribes interacting and benefiting each other with their resources. Both booths and props will be illustrated!

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dead-end-draws · 1 month

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Have you seen a red pyramid thing 🔺🔪 around here anywhere?

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dead-end-draws · 1 month

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Licker from Resident Evil 2 remake.

Recently played through the game and found these guys to be the coolest in terms of design. Like a creepy flayed amalgamation of Venom & Alien’s xenomorphs. Love it!

Two versions here! One in B&G & the other in color.

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dead-end-draws · 2 months

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Skywing Gladiator Helmets Part 2:

Part 1 + Lore behind these helmets, and why Skywings incorporated them in the arena!

Had way too much fun with the first batch of Skywing helmets, so now we have a baker’s dozen of them! Love drawing armor, even tricky ones like these guys are.

Average Skywing head base/measurement for Helmets:

#art #illustration #bookart #wings of fire #wof #dragon #dragon art #wof art #skywing wof #skywing #skywings #wof fanart #wings of fire fanart #wof fandom

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dead-end-draws · 2 months

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Just wondering, can I use your concepts in my art/stories? (Yes I’ll credit you)

Hi, there! 👋

I’m totally open to anyone who’s looking to use art from my concept art acc for personal use, be it stories/fanfic, concepts, bases, etc.

I love seeing what we as the art community can use as inspiration, it’s a great compliment I can potentially contribute to that!

Credit is greatly appreciated & my only current request when sharing or reposting at the moment. Thank you for asking!

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dead-end-draws · 2 months

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Skywing Gladiator Helmet concepts: Part 1

Part 2 ⬅️ more designs

To me, the Skywing arena was the most memorable parts of the first book, and I liked the idea of Scarlet having consistent champions outside of prisoners, like Peril, that were used as actual fighters. Similar to the Roman colosseum’s style of fighting.

With how extravagant Scarlet’s punishments, hatching day, etc. are described, (she loves her bloody entertainment & fan fair). There’s no way she’d allow for her champions to go undecorated in the arena. Additionally, Skywings are implied to be the most battle experienced tribe, so they should have armor that reflects this sentiment.

Aside from the lore drop, I absolutely love rendering metal & armor, this was just an excuse for me to do that lol. It’s very interesting trying to fit helmets to dragon anatomy opposed to human anatomy. Gotta accommodate for horns, ears, and the snout. Really cool learning how to work around it!

Skywing average measurements/head base for helmets:

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dead-end-draws · 2 months

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whenever i see your art my jaw always DROPS its so beautiful thank you for dragging me back into my wof obsession (and my tumblr dashboard with it) :))

Thank you so very much!!!

I got dragged back into my WOF obsession out of the blue as well. It seems to happen every year like this weird werewolf transformation where I need to desperately reread and draw stuff from the series lol.

Dragons have a way of clawing into the brain and demanding to be drawn. So I’m glad to return the favor by spreading around the WOF obsession!

I appreciate the kind words, it’s so encouraging to get feedback from ya’ll! 🫶

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dead-end-draws · 2 months

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WOF tribe delicacies / treats concepts:

Hey folks! This one was the recent winner of the WOF poll, so here’s my concept art that headcannons foods each tribe is most recognized for!

We know Dragons can hunt on the go, but a prepped meal shared amongst clawmates is more cherished than picking fur out of your teeth!

Not a ton of lore undercut this time. It was super fun drawing fantasy dishes, as I rarely ever draw food or dishware. It was truly a good challenge in creativity and recounting types of the foods mentioned in the series!

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dead-end-draws · 2 months

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WOF tribe wingspan concepts:

Read below cut for close-ups of the individual wings + the thought process / headcannons behind the design choices: 👇

Skywing: Huge wingspan to body ratio, meant for catching air current with ease, and soaring great distances, even days on end without rest. It can also assist in billowing fire, mainly from the sheer power & air that flapping their wings can generate. Inspired by seabirds such as gulls & albatrosses, all equipped for traveling overseas.

Mudwing: Rounded wings to assist in parachuting and carrying more wind under a Mudwing’s muscled & bulky form. Striped patterns underneath wingspan resemble swamp reeds and algae when hunting. Given Mudwings are ambush predators, their wings are inspired by birds such as owls, which despite tending to be larger birds of prey, are very silent predators.

Sandwings: Coiled wingtips which mimic their barbed tails in flight. They have wavy line like patterns underneath, meant to resemble shifting dunelines or freckled sand spots. Sandwings have the largest wingspan next to Skywings, due to their requirement of flying long distances across the desert. Primarily inspired by vultures, and carrion birds meant to soar & circle.

Seawings: Fin-like Wings better equipped for swimming than flying. These wingspans are Manta Ray inspired, with dolphin-like tail ends connecting all the way to the wing tips. Depending on genetics, some seawings are born with more shark-like tail ends.

Nightwing: Sleek & recognizable wing shape, commonly associated with all dragon imagery. Their wingspan is inspired by bats, making them equipped for gripping craggy rock ledges, and blending into the night, since they can easily furl around their body.

Rainwing: Decorative and frilled wings. Inspired by Macaw/frilled lizards. Their wings mimic the same frills on their necks & tailbase, and can come in a variety of colors & patterns underneath. Stripes, spots, & swirls are all common sights. These wings are meant more for gliding, but also serve simultaneously as threat and courtship displays with the right whorls of color.

Icewings: Icewings have ridged wings which mimic icicles and shattered glaciers. Their wings feature sharp, narwhal-like spines at the tips. Similar to their serrated claws, they are perfect for stabbing into ice for balance, or spearing seals & fish. They can also hold dragon/prey firmly in place, and easily scewer an opponent in flight if needed.

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dead-end-draws · 2 months

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Thank you all for the amazing feedback, reblogs, and overall kind words for my WOF concept art!Since I’ve been more out of touch with my illustrative side for little over a year (due to art block and general nerves sharing my other work). It’s been beyond encouraging to see all your interactions with the posts!

As such, I’d love y’all to take a vote on what you’d like to see first! (Feel free to read beneath the poll for descriptions of each selection before voting!)

Pantala tribes will be done in the future, but I’d need to reread Arc 3 for a refresher on lore before illustrating those yet!

Tribe Delicacies & Treats: Illustrations of recipes & treats commonly prepared in Pyyria’s tribes. (Ex. Icewing Tavern food) with brief descriptions of what local ingredients are used. These show what guests visiting other tribes are greeted with at feasts, and the dinnerware used to serve these meals.

Skywing Gladiator Helmets: Scarlet loves her bloody entertainment, and there’s no way she’d allow for her champions (prisoners) to go undecorated in the arena. Given Skywings are implied to be the most battle experienced tribe, they should have armor that reflects this sentiment. While prisoners of war can fight, subjects that have wronged Scarlet are equally worth the show. 6 concepts of dragon helmets will be illustrated to show a look at this idea!

#wings of fire #wof #bookart

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dead-end-draws · 2 months

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Tribe Banner concept art:

Folks seemed to enjoy my WOF WIPS, so here’s more concept art for y’all! My favorite thing about WOF is the potential for world building. I thought it’d be cool to see a tribe emblem represented on a banner/flag of sorts:

Read below for some of the thought process / headcannons behind the design choices: 👇

Skywing Banner:

Skywings pride themselves on 3 things; treasure, fire, & their enormous, soaring wingspan which steals the sky.

As such, portrayed on the banner, the fabric (often made with dyed cow or goat leathers) resembles draped dragon wings. Two Skywings embrace a goblet, which is spewing golden fire.

The banner is often held aloft with iron or gold poles, signifying to other tribes their wealth and pride.

Mudwing banner:

These banners are fashioned with leather hides from cow or crocodile skin, held aloft with bamboo, and painted with a Talon-print & Reed crest.

The talonprint symbolizes community and the strength of Mudwing sibling bonds. The reed border unifies all Mudwings regardless of their relationship to home; the swamp. Bigwings are often seen carrying these into battle, signifing their status and making it easier for a sib to locate them in the flurry of a fight.

Sandwing Banner:

Sandwing flags are made with camel skins and dyed cactus leather.

A crest shows a Sandwing coiled around a beaming sun, a reminder that despite the revered 3 moons, Sandwings are born to thrive in sunlight.

The fabric is cut in a way to mimic the swooping dunes of Sandwing territory. And the poles of the flags are equally intricate, with scorpion tails and golden ropes which frame the banner.

These flags make prominent appearances in parades, festivals, and markets, and even miniature version are often displayed in homes or as tapestries/carpets.

Seawing banner:

These banners are often seen displayed in royal quarters or councils, or above land to mark territory.

A nautilus shell crest on front echoes the swirl-pattern associated with royal Seawings: The banner’s borders resemble waves and a dragon swimming beneath their surface.

These are crafted with rich materials, strung with seashells, pearls, silver dollars, and deep oceanic color fabric. There is severe penalty for Seawings found plucking treasure from the banners, as they are a direct symbol of royalty.

Nightwing Banner:

These banners emphasize the Nightwings’ relationship to the moon, their source of power and praise. The material, a contrast of white stitching against purple velvet showcases moonlight and night, black scales against stars, magic and mystery.

They are seen decorated with 3 moons at the top and a centered dragon reaching up into the night sky.

These banners were often used during the war as secret code by spies to deliver to other tribes. Prophecy scrolls often came attached, delivering cryptic messages or secrets in the night. These banners all helped add to the secrecy of the Dragonet Prophecy, and kept tribes on their toes around Nightwings.

Rainwing banner:

Rainwing banners are not used for battle purposes like other tribes, most are mere decoration, location indicators, and have no unified design.

However, It is said back when Rainwings left the rainforest to trade pre-war, this particular banner design was often raised above Rainwing merchant tables, and showcases the coiled tail of a Rainwing with leaves, vines, and other sights from the rainforest adorning a bamboo pole. Bright color combinations accentuated the flag to entice curious customers.

Now, only one tattered version of the original Rainwing banner remains, displayed proudly in Queen Glory’s quarters, a reminder that building the Rainwings’ community is their most important goal.

Icewing Banner:

These banners reflect the same standards Icewings hold themselves to.

Like a visual of the rankings themselves, each banner is cut perfectly from an Icewing’s trained, serrated claws to resemble icicles, and crafted with fine blue stitching.

Flags are often held aloft with perfectly polished narwhal horn or bone, and can be inlaid with sapphires or diamond.

Icewing soldiers are often gifted these during ceremonies, and perform training exercises with the flags to test their stance/attentiveness. The crest showcases the swift sharpness of ice through a flying dragon, and a snowflake toward the bottom reminding Icewings that even minuscule snowflakes, small things, should be perfect in form.

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