In honour of Smaugust this month, I thought this feature could be an artist whose dragons I really admire. C.C.J. Ellis has various themes and styles in their work, but mainly it is steeped in mythical creatures, monsters and, in particular, Welsh folklore. In their traditional work they utilise a loose watercolour and pen style to bring the creatures to life in a swirl of smoky shapes and intricate details. These fine lines take even more of a centre stage in their digital work where it highlights every scale and skin texture.
There is alot of charm and character in their spindly designs. Some appear friendly yet undeinably beastly, and others possess a very mysterious and unerving aura, leading you to wonder if this is the sort of creature you’d want to trust on a dark night...
Over the years I have followed them I have watched them pour and incredible amount of time and work into their labor of love, Welsh Monsters and Mythical Beasts. This beautiful and intricatly illustrated book documents the rich mythology of the country. While Wales does have a red dragon on their flag, sadly many of their other mythical creatures and stories are being forgotten over time. Through a passion for their culture, Ellis hopes that they may introduce the legends to a wider audience. The book is available through Waterstones and you can learn more about it here on their website.
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Back for day two of StocktonCon, and we’re ready for a great day! You can find us in the Artist Alley at the end of our row. I have my handmade dragons, indie comic, coloring pages, and more for all to enjoy! The show runs until 5pm, so come on out for a great day!
If you can’t make the show, you can always order my comics and plush toys on the Dragon Child shop at https://www.dragonchild.net/shop/
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Ok this guy was way too cute to fodder sell so! Meet Hushpuppy. For sale for 100g, sunset/mint xxy and comes with this art! Also open for trades/payment in treasure. Find them here !
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Feathered
“A dragon
Should not be
Feathered!”
My father squawked
Upon my hatching
My mother
Glared at him until he left
His job long finished
And his presence not needed
Or wanted
Anymore
But those words
Though I couldn’t comprehend them
Truly know them
When I was that tiny
They’ve haunted me my whole life
Mother called me beautifully different
She said I was special in a good way
But the laughter of my broodlings
When they began to fly
But I was still puffy and small
Lurks in the back of my thoughts
When I was old enough
I crawled from the nest
I hid in the brush and the rocks
Like some scavenger
Instead of the apex predator I was supposed to be
Like my broodlings
Soaring above me in the sky
And I
Too afraid to fly on feathered wings
Where they could see
Only taking to the sky in the darkest nights
I wonder
Do they miss me?
Do they remember me?
Do they care?
Did they ever care?
But I try not to think too much
About anything, really
Other than the next prey I need to catch
And where I’ll sleep that night
Until
Until
There is a screaming
Filling the air
Panic and pain
Constricted in a shrieking tone
And in the sky
A roc flies by
Not an unusual sight
They love the scrublands
For the same solitude it provides me
But that voice wasn’t bird
It was draconian
It was familiar
It was lovely
It was one I’d heard echoing in the nest
More than any other
Mother?
A streak of blue flies by after the roc
Speedy but not quite as fast
And that’s when the roc’s wings lift
And the prize clutched in its claws become clear
An egg
My wings spread before I even think
My feet no longer on the ground
Feathers sleek and quiet.
Protection may be my weakness
Feathers soft compared to armored scales
But my form is lithe
Silent
Speedy
I know I’m not like the others
I know I’m not as strong
My flame not as bright
My skin not as tough
But stealth
And quickness
Is how I’ve survived
The wind flies by
A silent whistle through my feathers
Wings just a blur in the air
As I catch the current and soar
Above Mother
Above the roc
Above the sky
Above everything
Until I dive
I sink faster than a stone in water
Barely a blur
Silent and sleek
And the roc doesn’t see me coming
My claws dig into feathers
Ripping, tearing
Until my maw latches onto a neck
Crack, crunch
Quick and painless
Killed how I would want to be killed
Before I flip the beast over
Take the egg in delicate paws
And spread my wings
Letting the body fall
As I soar slowly to the ground
Landing soft
With precious cargo
An egg
I’ve never held one before
Never seen more than fragments
Shimmering shiny and silver
In the corners of my birth cave
What sort of dragon does this egg hold?
What color will its scales be?
Unless it has feathers
But that
I wouldn’t wish it on them
A thud rumbles next to me
I curve my body over the egg—
And then I’m surrounded with scales and warmth
My mother
Not as large as I remember
Now that I’m grown
And now she’s
She’s…
Praising and crying and joyous
Happy
And for once
Maybe being feathered isn’t such a curse
Maybe being so light, so agile
Isn’t so bad
If it led to saving this little life
If it led to making my mother proud
If it led to making me happy
Maybe my life isn’t so much of
A curse
As it’s more like
A challenge
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me w/pretty stones since i was like 4
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