Some features

I watch a great many artists here on DeviantArt, and there's quite a pool of talent in that group. However, sharing all of the pieces I like with my friends gets to be a little much, and so I'm going to be trying something new. Instead of sharing links as I find them, I pick the most outstanding pieces and from those choose ten to share here, along with my reasons for choosing them.

Without further ado, here are my choices today.

The first is The Day of the Dragon by kokodriliscus: kokodriliscus.deviantart.com/a…

This is quite simply one of the most technically impressive pieces I've seen, with rich detailing and good use of color and lighting, especially on the foreground dragon. And of course, seeing many dragons flying out like that is always a welcome sight in my book.

Baby Dragon by DawnMLC: dawnmlc.deviantart.com/art/Bab…

While the picture in the stitching is not the artist's original work, the way it faithfully replicates sandara's precious (sandara.deviantart.com/art/pre…) in this medium is quite striking. The focus on the little one within his mother's paws is touching as well.

Birth Saphira by Daeigira-Blood: daeigira-blood.deviantart.com/…

Another baby dragon, this one here by virtue of its sheer "Awww" factor. Though I don't tend to think of newly hatched dragons as seeming so hopeless as the one in this piece, her expression is heart-meltingly cute.

Facing the Nightmare by kokodriliscus: kokodriliscus.deviantart.com/a…

The contrast in colors  defines this piece, with the blue of the guardian dragon set against the red of the terrible entities she must face. And one can tell from the expression on her muzzle that she is bound and determined to succeed, despite being outnumbered and seeming overmatched. The traditional dreamcatcher she holds is a nice touch as well.

whw By Nemeseth: nemeseth.deviantart.com/art/wh…

Steampunky dragon! I can't recall having seen a dragon portrayed in such a setting before, and so this piece would stand out for that alone. But it's nicely detailed as well, and one gets the impression that if they could squint a little harder, they could even make out the numbers on the clocks. Nemeseth shows quite a bit of promise with this and other pieces, and I'm looking forward to watching them as their art evolves!

Shakara by Coyrin: coyrin.deviantart.com/art/Shak…

A quite excellent rendition of a dragon lazing in a prairie. The dragon's pose might be a little off, but the rest of it more than makes up for that. The scale textures are well done, especially the reflective shine on some parts. The colors are good as well, but what's particularly notable is how well Coyrin works with shadows in this piece. Consistent, and suggestive of just where the light is coming from. Undoubtedly one of the best pieces here.

air dance by Kasia88: kasia88.deviantart.com/art/air…

Nothing catches my eye like dragons in flight, courting each other. And air dance is good example of that. The scene is simply lovely, with a mated pair flying in that twilight hour where it's no longer truly day but neither is it night just yet. The right wing on the green dragon seems off, but it's a fairly minor quibble against the good work of the whole piece.

To the stars by Shaori07: shaori07.deviantart.com/art/To…

I'm not exactly sure what it is about this piece that I like so much. Perhaps it's the scene, high above the clouds in a night sky. Perhaps it's the colors, soft blues and whites. Regardless, when I look at it, I admire the beauty I see, its quiet, peaceful air. And after reading the artist's comment's on it, it becomes more moving as a scene where one has the opportunity to say goodbye to a departed love....

Together by Chickenzaur: chickenzaur.deviantart.com/art…

I love scenes where dragons are showing affection for each other, and the relative simplicity of this piece is very much a virtue. There's nothing to distract from that essential emotion, no overbearing complexity to get lost in. Beyond that, I like how the scales are done in this one, with a level of skill I don't see too often. Quite nice all around.

The Defender by Nightlyre: nightlyre.deviantart.com/art/T…

It's amazing how even a relatively modest piece can lift one's mood. When I first saw this, I figured it was just the stereotypical brave human warding off the marauding dragon. But much to my surprise, the dragon is the titular defender, guarding her home against invading humans. You go girl! Fight to defend what's yours and your family's! Too bad pieces like this aren't common....

Well, that's it for today! I'll do another journal like this when I have more pieces to share.

EDIT: Corrected the link in Baby Dragon's paragraph. It now properly refers to the original piece the work is based on.