*EPIC*!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3

YOU'RE WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! x3

Awesome!

Thanks!

The art and dragon nerd in me scream out in delight at this image!
The sword nerd screams out "That's not how you make a sword!" in agony. Haha.

Hehehe, well I know that swords are "hammered" (or folded) and the metal is worked on a different way. ^^
Though... when I wanted to draw this (Drakon hammering a piece of glowing metal into shape) I found an artwork here at FA that looked almost identical. And I didn't want to "steal" the idea... so I had to do something else. I know that some rather "simple" blades can be forged by using casts... XD
Well, this is only a raw model of the final sword. I hope Drakon will use other forging techniques to get his blade finished!

Thank you for the comment, that's really appreciated!

Nice work here.

Hey, thanks a lot! :3

Any time, buddy.

Amazing as usual!

Glad you like it! ^^

i do agree the lighting and effects look quite great ! love the forge fire there :3

I chose this kind of lighting because it's really different from many other light sources.
It's not artificial and extremely bright and hot... even more than the sunlight.
It's always a great opportunity to use interesting lighting in a picture. ^^
Thanks very much for the comment, buddy!!!
<3

Beautiful!!

Thanksssssssssss x3

The almighty ones have granted you a sword to cut your own path~

So to speak...... XD

The Epic blacksmith knight at work

Well, you can trust only in the stuff you craft yourself. ^_^
Glad you like it.

Exactly~
Yeah~

First of all, it is absolutely incredible how you captured the reflective illumination of the sweltering heat and light from the cauldron as he lifts the iron chalice near the anvil. The radiation of the brightness is strong on the left side of his body, and slowly becomes darker with more shadows as it progresses a further distance to the right side of his body. This is extremely realistic and exceptionally well done. WOW!!

So let's talk about the well rendered facial expression and general seriousness of his composure. He looks very resolute in his determination to forge something this evening, and decades of metal crafting and weapon smithing are emanating from the way he holds his body. A master at work, for sure. Very breathtaking to behold.

Lovely detail on the clothing that he is wearing, the knotted leather texture on his armor and the shiny refractions of light from the spigots of silver on his clothing. Killer job on literally every aspect of this frame of reference.

Rounding out the rest of the eye candy, is of course the bulging musculature of his body. The quadriceps of the upper leg are immediately noticeable as they dominate the lower 20% of the image, lit up by the fiery cauldron to the west. The shadows dancing around his massive legs, you just want to trace your tongue up and round each of those delicious curves...

The snaking vascularity around his arms and biceps is very noticeable and ultra HOT!! to admire. The forearm muscles on the left side of his body must have been such a tough challenge to draw, but you totally nailed them and they are supremely curvaceous!

Finally, the sincere look of determination in his eyes, it's almost like he is still deciding the soul of the weapon he will make. Will it be for death and destruction? For protection to those he holds dear? Perhaps it could even be a gift for a friend in need. Only he knows for sure.

FIRST of all, thanks again for the long and lovely comment! <3
It's always a pleasure reading it.
The lighting was the MOST important aspect of this artwork because this is the part where it can fail or win. The thing is... the background was a photo of a forge and I had to adjust the lighting so that it all blends together. The dragon is drawn... the background is not. And this is usually the part where I really have to do my best to merge it together! In this case, it was rather simple because I'm used to this warm lighting.

Speaking of... this artwork here is very similar in atmosphere and lighting if you compare it to THIS one:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/26645688/

And by the way... it IS usually very easy if you have only ONE light source! ^^
Though... in this case... we have two shining light sources and a blue window somewhere on the right side. I love to use blue, red and yellow in combination... basic colours!

Drakon is always serious or angry and I guess I'll have to play with more fun expressions in the future. But thanks for the comment!!
:3

The armor was a challenge because I had to design from scratch. My friend gave me permission to do whatever I want. Though I have to admit that... this armor comes from the same leather manufacture or smith who's providing REPTILE with clothing! XD
LOL
If you check Drakon's armor... there are many similarities to Reptile!


Strong legs and strong arms are important... but you can see that Drakon is not as strong (or buff) as Reptile. After all, this guy has to be able to fly!!!!
^^"
You know me when it comes to vascularity... I like to add only the most important veins... but to great effect as it seems.
^^
THANKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

It's interesting the amount of science that goes into the creation of your artwork. To obtain realism, you have to respect the actual physical phenomena of light retractions and how they would look in real life, to deliver the gritty realism and dark shadows. Exactly how a forge scene would look, especially done indoors and during the nighttime, all these things need to be well thought out first and foremost. The entire piece has to be 'planned' around the light source, so to speak, is what it seems to be.

Ah, the pony artwork wind has swept you into it's bellowing grasp! I didn't instantly remember that Reptile has gotten enamored with the 'my little pony' style of chibi artwork, that was a surprise. But yes, the light source similarities are very similar, perhaps your experience crafting those ponies in the middle of what looks like a mad science lab was useful to your more 'medieval' forge creation here.

Multi... multi light sources? Such power is not possible...?? I got a very Elder Scrolls Skyrim vibe from this forge master image. There are opportunities in the game where you can craft or enhance your own weapons and armor, and this strongly reminds me of those times.

I agree, just a subtle amount of vascularity is believable. Too much and it screams of steroid use, and you end up looking like some medical anomaly.

I do admit that the "planning process" took weeks in this case. I had the idea in my head pretty quickly... but finding references and stuff... that took some time.

And yeah, I also know that you don't really forge swords that way (some comments here talked about this) but this is an "early build"... meaning that this early cast of a sword is only the beginning.
^^

I have done a whole lot of MLP art - in my own style of course. I still love MLP because the stories are not JUST for kids (or little girls in this case) but they are timeless.
True friendship... and all the things you have to consider while having friends... or keeping friends... this is a timeless topic and so prizeless!
Also, I love the voice acting of the show.
Considering all the crap you get on TV these days... the MLP show was nice and I return to it every now and then!


Yeah, about light... we have the forge (huge bowl)... the little cup... and there must be a window somewhere on the right side in the background. As you said, moonshine is coming through the window... it is night outside. Dark and cold... and bright and hot inside.
I love that contrast!!!! IT is so powerful!

I too have always admired the juxtaposition of light and darkness. For me, the light created by the burning coals in the iron furnace, as the master toils away in the somber illumination, shows his commitment to the craft. The eerie, gloomy world of reality is outside, constantly trying to sneak its way into the sanctity of his house and life. But the weapon he is crafting is not just forged with metals and other materials, but with the unyielding weight of decades of experience! Learning, trying, faltering, taking the necessary years to become a true artisan of smithing and forging. We are watching a real master at work, and it is absolutely breathtaking.

"The difference between the master and the novice, is that the master has failed more times than the novice has even tried." - Assassination Classroom

Cannot really reply anything here.
^^
You said it all!!