"My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!" - Smaug, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I'm trying to add more non-avians to my portfolio, and the "How Do You See Smaug?" competition seemed as good an excuse to paint a dragon as any. I've loved The Hobbit ever since I first read it back in 6th grade, and Tolkien's description of Smaug is one of the most chilling of any dragon. At first introduction, he's not the explosive force of destruction most dragon villains are, but rather calm and calculating. To me, Smaug was his most terrifying when laying on his treasure, just rising to speak with the 'thief' he couldn't see. Not only massive and powerful, but cunning as well - even the strongest and most clever could fall prey to his 'dragon-spell' if he spoke to them for too long. I wanted to show him just rising, peering in the direction where he knew Bilbo to be hiding with the threat of fire kindling in his throat, but even his sharp eyes could not spot the invisible hobbit...but he knows where he is.

Acrylic on board, 11X14 inches