Color Works

East Bridges West--Totem Card by Swandog

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:33:17 -0000

My finished submission to the "Pathfinders" Animal Totem Card Deck...Pictured here are the Wood Duck and the Mandarin, the only two members of the genus "Aix" and belonging to the perching duck tribe "Cairinini". For a full desc of the totemic value/aspect of these ducks, please see over here: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/51694583/

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink
Tags: Totem wood duck duck china california american american japan drake West bridge asia garden symbolism totemic symbolic pathfinders cards deck folklore myth fable native legend colorful north East bamboo mandarin stream ferns

Swanstar Totem Card by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 23:15:23 -0000

My finished submission to the "Pathfinders" Animal Totem Card Deck...Pictured here are the eight living swan species of the world: Whooper, Trumpeter, Whistling/Tundra, Bewick's, Mute, Black, Black-necked and Coscoroba. For a full desc of the totemic value/aspect of swans, please see over here: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/40173676/

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink & gel pens
Tags: mythology Swan Totem star rays animal card swans symbolism rainbow totemic symbolic pathfinders cards deck folklore myth fable starlight flower petals pattern swirl

Friendship Knows No Bounds by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 23:10:33 -0000

Papercutting (commission) of the giant gryphon Archteryx and his equine pal, Silver Brumby, enjoying a twilight romp together. Traditionally, gryphons and horses are mortal enemies, but sometimes they can look past tradition and become the best of friends. :) I colored the sunset gradient on golden parchment paper with Prisma/Tria markers and colored pencils, shaded the knotwork edges with markers, and inked the black lines over the knotwork as well as the signature at the very bottom. The knotwork itself was cut from the parchment (same as you see in the margin), and everything black you see was cut from black paper. The quote and sunrays were cut *out* of the black paper (so that you see the parchment beneath), making three layers of paper total. The floating inserts in some of the letters (r, e, d and o) had to be glued down separately. Hope that all makes sense. :P

Medium: papercut, markers, colored pencils, ink
Tags: sunset equine Flying Horse play gryphon run running silver fun pony friends fly freedom best sunrays giant Archteryx Brumby pals buddies twilight romp galloping dusk friendship

Hawk and Dragon by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 23:02:52 -0000

My last commission to be done only in colored pencils, due to the time it takes and the risk of burnout (I started this before I got my Prisma markers, which takes me far less time and hassle to color images). Warp's char is a broadwing hawk, and the dragon is just a special symbol to him, which together form an egg-shaped, yin-yang pose. The chars are supposed to look stylized, and the background flat and undetailed, because I wanted the contrast of detailed foreground set against a simple background, with the foreground creating the background's border. (BTW, the colors are MUCH more vivid IRL, the details more clear, and the original is quite large--at least for my usual work.)

Medium: colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: dragon sunset sun Flying forest mountains chinese hawk oriental fly freedom lake yin-yang free pastels broadwing broadwinged asian globe sphere shadows reflections jessies egg

Snowelf Sphynx by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:55:50 -0000

Gift art for my dear soulsister Snowelf, who is an elf-lynx "Sphynx". :)

Medium: colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: anthro lynx elf snowelf sphinx sphynx

Apocalypse by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:53:51 -0000

(Ancient art...) The End of the World will be both a beautiful and terrifying thing..."I watched as the angel opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place." (Rev. 6:12-14) The decending, shining Dove is symbolic of the Second Coming--of hope and salvation amidst the storm, the destruction and chaos of the Apocalypse.

Medium: conte crayons and oil pastels
Tags: chaos spirit Moon full end clouds storm ocean rays sea darkness blood dove crescent rainbow revelations apocalypse times holy decending bloody dripping swirling reflection moonlight hope

C Eagle by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:50:24 -0000

Commission for my soulbro C Eagle. (I do very few such "toony" works, as you can see, but I still do like how this one came out.)

Medium: colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: monster toon toony anthro Eagle clover kilt bald bagpipes pipes bagpiper loch ness nessie thistles scottish scotland

HollyAnn Foxtaur by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:43:35 -0000

(Old art again...) A commission/trade for HollyAnn, who is normally an anthro "vixen of another color", but I wanted to be different, so I drew her as a foxtaur holding her beloved blue rose. :)

Medium: colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: vixen pink purple hollyann anthro yellow stars magic rose blue dancing foxtaur rainbow

Little on the Wylde Side by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:41:39 -0000

My art trade with Wylde, the lovely demon bunny, looking rather sultry here...I love her mismatched feeties! <3 Wylde was one of the first artists to ever ask me for a trade years ago and then we fell out of touch for a long time. Her half of the trade may be seen here: http://www.deviantart.com/view/14269691/ :)

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: rabbit hare bunny dragon tattoo bat demon anthro art wylde horns wings tail scar hoof leather striped nouveau border prehensile barbed paw bedsheets sultry seductive spiral markings studs ring stitches rip ripped

Mandala Intro Graphic by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:16:25 -0000

I've seen many fine artists' galleries that have intro graphics on their main pages, and I like the look and idea of them, so I finally made one for my own site. This "mandala", for lack of a better term, symbolizes much of what I am and what I love. I've always been obsessed with Celtic knotwork, Art Nouveau (Alphonse Mucha's works in particular), Medieval heraldry and carousel art, and so I've tried to combine all these styles into one. My fursona and otherkin/totem creature is of course Swandog (swan/saluki gryphon), with a hidden unicorn side that few previously knew about (thus the horn in the center). I'm also a nocturnal person and love pastels, ivy, waterlilies, pearls, seashells, luna moths, stars, the moon, ribbons, tassels, spirals, feathers and wings. And being a Christian, I've included a Chi Rho symbol as well. The ivy border and wings were borrowed from my favorite of Mucha's images, and the knotwork was inspired by the awesome artist of Castpaper.com. :)

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink pen
Tags: night unicorn Moon gryphon art Swandog wings sky stars moth Luna spirals celtic heraldry knotwork ivy nouveau feathers ribbons crescent pastels mandala horn alphonse mucha heraldic carousel nocturnal waterlilies lilypads pearls seashell tassels chi rho

Quaggacorn by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:09:47 -0000

Quagga/Fjordhorse cross anthro uni (edited version)...My first Prisma marker pic, as a experiment to see if I could even work with them. And well...I've used them in almost every pic I've done since then. ;)

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: unicorn Horse anthro anthropomorphic quagga sexy celtic knotwork norwegian norge fjord circle

Therian Spring by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:48:57 -0000

A birthday pic for my soulsis, fellow celtic nut, wolf therian and a fabulous artist, Illahie/GrayWolf, showing her in both her forms. :)

Medium: colored pencils, mech pencil, ink pens
Tags: wolf girl spring celtic knotwork otherkin therian therianthrope graywolf illahie

Texas Pe-can Pie by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:43:42 -0000

My entry for Frisket's "Cake Portfolio II", which I don't think ever actually got printed, sadly...For a bit of an explaination, I'm a big Spongebob fan, plus a native Texan living in Norway that gets homesick once in awhile...Well, there was an episode of Spongebob in which Sandy the squirrel got homesick for Texas as well, and so they threw her a suprise Texas-themed party, complete with "ten gallon hats" (made from 10 gallon jugs), "BBQ" (made from barbed wire shaped into a "Q") and a "pecan pie" (with a can of peas stuck in the middle) among other things. Thus I couldn't resist including a couple of those silly items in my pic, as well as some TX flora, fauna and folklore. ;)

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: horned BBQ Butterfly jackalope flag armadillo yellow rose portfolio roadrunner cake texas tx pecan pie pecans peas can spongebob sandy party rattlesnake swallowtail mockingbird toad mesquite bluebonnet indian paintbrush oak leaves prickly pear cactus whip lariat

Chainmail Corset by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:38:04 -0000

My submission to Illahie/GrayWolf's "Laced" Portfolio, which showcases anthros in corsets.

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: Swan Furry gryphon anthro Swandog gold golden corset chainmail celtic knotwork mute saluki sighthound knots border calla lily

Love is a Ferret by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:31:40 -0000

*sings* "Cupid, draw back your bow, and let your arrow go straight to my lover's heart for me..." (In memory of my dear little Cameron, who modeled for this when he was 6 months old.) Arikla bought an old (from '91?) sketch from me, and so I colored it...I apologize in advance to anyone who suffers an acute diabetic attack due to saccharine overdose because of this image. It was not intentional...well, sorta. ;)

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink & gel pens
Tags: cute heart love hearts ferret day sweet Valentines romance valentine cupid loving romantic cuteness rainbow pastels arrow arrows bow quiver

Dragonheart by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:26:31 -0000

A gift for my soulsis, Slinky Dragon (aka "Aisling the Dream Dragoness"), and her mate Jonny (aka "Nameless the Illusion Dragon"), along with a raven clutching their wedding rings as well as a symbolic sun, moon and eclipse. (I took a bit of artistic license on Jonny's char; his neck isn't supposed to be that long, but I wanted the two of them to be roughly symmetrical.) :)

Medium: colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: dragon sun Moon Raven anthro heart brown love dragons wedding old ancient romance celtic knotwork dream lovers valentine illusion rings loyalty fidelity marriage parchment monochrome eclipse

Corvidæ Celtica by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:11:09 -0000

Art trade with Pshaw Raven and Ka Crow. I just included them both in one pic, since they are both corvids and good friends with each other besides. :) This image was also used as my submission to the Corvid Portfolio.

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: Moon Flying Raven anthro crow fly freedom celtic knotwork corvids free crescent

Cuddling by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:06:22 -0000

(More old art...) Commission for Xaxoqual, a mourning dove, pictured here cuddling his (at the time) ringtail mate, Loiosh.

Medium: colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: anthro ringtail love romance mourning dove cuddling cushion blanket lovers snuggling

Faithry in Her Garden by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 16:06:09 -0000

(Again, old art, sorry...) Commission for Faithry (this pic has elements of both Art Nouveau and the Pre-Raphaelites, both of which I adore, but I can't do perspective to save my life). Faithry is a wingless, rich, vain, snobbish, haughty, beautiful, graceful, elegant and regal Swan who is also slightly cruel...as is evidenced from her ermine/pearl-lined gown and birdwing fan--taken from creatures that obviously fell out of her favor and good graces. ;)

Medium: colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: Butterfly Swan anthro art fan rose flowers jewelry ivy robe veil nouveau feathers jewels ribbons stonework stairs

Bright Eyes by Swandog

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 16:02:06 -0000

My submission to the "Symphonies in Fur Minor" Portfolio, in which my chosen song was "Bright Eyes" by Art Garfunkel (written by Mike Batt), from the Watership Down movie. Shown here is the rabbit deity triptych, with the Black Rabbit of Inlé patiently waiting to harvest the souls of the warren rabbits. The sun with the rabbit's eye is Frith, giving life and warmth to all creatures. The rabbit hero El-ahrairah is the star constellation, guarding and inspiring his beloved progeny. The dying rabbit is in a yin-yang symbol because it's hovering between life and death, light and darkness, like the sky surrounding the scene. The others are watchful of what they can see and hear, feeing relatively safe and content as long as they have each other, and fearful of the death and darkness they know they all must face. They ready themselves for that long journey and yet never lose hope or faith in life, which they will ever struggle to cling to.

Medium: markers, colored pencils, ink pens
Tags: rabbit fear sun black anthro skull life clouds hill stars light grass darkness claws stylized shadow Watership Down teeth symbolism rabbits Inlé hazel-rah warren yin-yang death constellation fog frith el-ahrairah sunrays roots flames necklace guardian