The remorhaz is a classic Dungeons & Dragons monster, a fierce giant centipede like creature that lives in frigid regions and scalds attackers with its boiling blood. They are predators and can be real trouble, and it looks like this selkie adventurer is ready to bring it down! The blink dog is another D&D creature, this one of faerie origin and benevolent disposition. They are sapient and can teleport easily. The mythical selkie, on the other hand, is not a regular in D&D. They are a regular in my homebrew D&D setting, Marinos. They are fey shapeshifters who use a magical sealskin to shapeshift into a seal, casting it off to take on human form. Generally, they are gorgeous and silvery. This one is a walrus.
Thought process on the first pencil sketch: 1) I can’t find any walrus selkies online to put in Marinos. 2) I should draw a walrus selkie. 3) She’ll be in the cold part of the world with steampunk Vikings. 4) Fantasy art with ladies in it usually has attractive babes let’s switch that up. 5) Hm battle axes are cool. 6) Hm looks like she’s fighting something. 7) Let’s draw her yelling at it. 8) Hm an owl bear would work. Nah that’s boring let’s use a remorhaz. 9) Well I guess the second page is now part of the drawing. 10) Needs one more thing. Maybe an adventurer friend by her side. 11) Nah that looks horrible. How about a blink dog that would look good there. 12) [I redraw blink dog’s leg position 8 million times]. 13) Okay time to scan it into Sketchbook pro and get started.
My Internet tabs during the sketching process: Walrus, Walrus Swimming, Female Weightlifter, Axe Warrior, Selkie Seaskin Cape, Hide Armor, Lady Yelling, Battleaxe Museum, Remorhaz, Blink Dog, Dog Running Forward Angry
My Internet tabs during the sketching process: Walrus, Walrus Swimming, Female Weightlifter, Axe Warrior, Selkie Seaskin Cape, Hide Armor, Lady Yelling, Battleaxe Museum, Remorhaz, Blink Dog, Dog Running Forward Angry
I don’t usually draw battle scenes so this was a change of pace. I am good at creating a sense of motion however, and my people have improved drastically over the years, so moving on from flying, jumping, running, expressive creatures and characters to creatures about to do battle wasn't a huge change.
This painting is a little more visually complex than most of my digital art, and doesn't look great on a phone screen, but when I looked at the final result on a computer I decided it was done. Finally remembered to sign my art.
