Absolute Zero (Hi-Res + Extra Thoughts)

This is the hi-res version (3600 px)! Thank you for your support.

A painting for Falindrith. Active Time Maneuver! "Absolute Zero" - Press button rapidly to not freeze. Your White Mage is still dead, though. This is what happens when you mess with a dragon's plushy hoard.

Tried to go for a bit more dynamic of a dragon here! I think a lot of my dragons and "feral" characters tend to feel a bit stiff, a bit boring, so I wanted to try a pose or angle that I don't get to do much. This prompt was the perfect one, though I think having stepped away from it for a day, I need to work a bit more on my claws and arms/legs. Might need to study some wolves and such, maybe a few reptiles, so I can figure out how to get them proper chunky for animals!

Thanks, Falindrith, as always. For both your patience, and for letting me work with you again. <3

---

It's been rough out there. Black Lives Matter (which they do, duh), the Coronavirus and re-openings in the states (god no why), unemployment (our state is ranked slowest and worst paying)... Doing art recently has definitely felt like an "I could be doing something more important" feeling. Drawing dragons or happy animal characters in these times is sort of surreal.

I fell into a bad slump near the latter half of this because of those feelings. A crash of "This might be the best rendering on a dragon I've done" down to "Oh god why am I finding pride in in this when the world sucks". Gave me whiplash. Lots of dark places I went to for a few days. Buried myself in Hollow Knight for a while. Not proud of it, but getting that out there.

But I'm still happy with where we ended, even if I was massively over-budget. I gave Falindrith something like 7 extra hours because I felt bad both for his wait, and for collapsing near the end. I'm likely doing that for a few people in this final stretch of commissions... And gosh, commissions. I'm legit scared to re-open, at least in part. But that could be an essay in and of itself.

I'm trying not to be too doom and gloom here. There's a lot I could spill here -- vitriol, anger, disgust. I won't. But I hope you all have been safe out there, especially if you're protesting. Please, keep wearing your masks, washing your hands, tearing down the system, and making sure your family and friends are safe. Thank you for your support, but please, if you can, make sure to give at least in part to bail funds and community efforts, too.