| |
 |  |  |  |  | |
SciFi and Fantasy Art: The End In Sight!Tamar leaned back and put gentle pressure on the reins, holding Kometa in place as the young drake stood tense and trembling on the high scree slope overlooking one of the many canyons of the Great Snake Valley below. The vibrant blue of Tamar’s riding tunic proclaimed his allegiance to the Sky Clan to any spectator who cared of such things and the drake’s proud markings were of the bright hues of the traveling stars that occasionally flashed across the night skies and were the inspiration for his name. However, neither had any thoughts about how they might appear at that moment, both were equally focused on the daunting task ahead.
Tamar scanned ahead and almost did not believe his eyes as he beheld the camp in the distance where the grand pavilions would mark the finish line. No other riders were in sight either ahead or behind and the sun was still several hand spans above the horizon! Tamar thrilled that he was so close to the end well before the usual time it took more experienced riders to finish the race. Could he Tamar, the youngest rider in history and his untried mount Kometa actually be this close to winning the Great Race? Would his first attempt of this infamous contest end in a heady celebration of legendary proportions, or were the desert demons playing tricks on his weary mind and sending him false visions of a grand victory? Ah, merciful winds. One way or another it would all be over soon...
Yet with these thoughts Tamar still held the restless drake in check as his mind continued to circle with musings like birds in the hot airs above the valley. It had been two risings of the sun since Tamar had been still for so long and his body vibrated with the residual motion inside his very bones. He breathed deeply of the warm, dry air and closed his gritty, stinging eyes against the unforgiving glare of the westering sun and allowed his mind to glide freely for a moment.
The race had started yesterday morning as the daystar crested over the tops of the Barrier Mountains far in the east and there had been no time to rest since. Eating, drinking and sleeping on the run for over twenty turnings of a time wheel! Great Ahkmahafes! Tamar again marveled at how resilient the spirited Draken were. All Kometa had required during the grueling run through the valleys was an occasional biscuit made especially for the animals from a combination of pupa worms, maka roots and sweet tamba nectar. With his own insistent thirst plaguing his throat, Tamar could not imagine how these sleek reptiles existed without ever having to drink. Of course, these beasts were built it seemed for the sole purpose of conserving every drop of liquid they got in their varied diet: skin that did not sweat, membranes over the eyes and nostrils to keep moisture in while allowing the passage of air and most notably, no need to pass liquid waste. Tamar had to chuckle as he thought of how much cleaner these animals were compared to the lowly goats his family kept for milk and wool, simply because what little waste the Draken produced was as dry as the sand it fell upon. Tamar made the sign of the Nameless Goddess, who watched over all beasts, in gratitude of how fortunate he was to be in partnership with these amazing creatures.
The harsh cry of a sand skimmer jolted Tamar back into the present and he shook his head in an attempt to clear it of the fatigue that felt like a stone weight in his brain. He had no time to waste, especially with the end so near and the possibility that another rider could come around the nearest bend in the valley at any moment. How foolish he would be if he lost the great riches and honor of finishing before all others simply because he could not get his head out of the quick sand of daydreams.
Sure enough, just as Tamar gave a quick glance behind his position a chaotic grouping of three riders came into view, arms flailing, reptilian bodies careening into each other as they jostled for the lead position. The fine powdery dirt on the valley floor was swept up with the riders and formed an impressive plume that reminded Tamar of the southern sandstorms. His stomach clenched as he realized that they were close enough that he could faintly hear the whooping cries of the riders as they urged their tired mounts on.
Kometa responded instantly to the gentle pressure from Tamar’s heels and leaped heedlessly down the slope, landing with a hard jolt and bolting the rest of the way to the valley floor. On the flats the drake extended his sleek neck to the extent his bridle tie-down would allow and he quickly found his pace, tail lashing like a whip in sync with his flying steps to maintain balance. Tamar kept a firm pressure on the reins, feeling no small amount of pride as Kometa pulled back, asking to go faster even now at what would have to be the last of his stamina. With his free hand Tamar tightened the straps on his leg armor noting that it had taken quite a beating already and knowing that he would have a matching bruise for every dent in the surface. The elders had warned him that the other riders can be brutal when allowed to get too close and Tamar now knew firsthand how much so.
Tamar bent low over Kometa’s withers, sensing the decreasing gap between them and the quickly approaching riders behind. He knew that they were pushing their Draken to their limits in a desperate last attempt to take the lead. Tamar also knew that they would not allow an upstart rider on a gangly drake to get in their way. His only chance to avoid getting run down and literally beaten out of the race would be to stay ahead of them all the way to the finish.
Kometa sensed Tamar’s unease and again pulled at the reins, begging for the chance to run full out, yet Tamar held firm knowing that he would have to wait until the last moment before allowing Kometa his head. Too much speed too soon and the beast would run itself into stumbling exhaustion well before the finish line. It would be very close and even the smallest miscalculation would mean ultimate defeat. Tamar had absolute faith in Kometa’s heart, but he was not so certain about his own nerve. He drew his thoughts in and focused on the intensity of his drake’s stride. If the rider did not have the strength then he would have to become one with his mount and give whatever strength he did have to his struggling beast. He had to trust that together they could make it. Despite the challenges they would have to give it their all and stay focused on the goal. In this, two would become one.
From behind the pounding in the earth and the hoarse cries grew stronger as the trailing riders drew closer, and closer still. Kometa vibrated with a menacing growl.
The finish line came into view. The end was in sight! Tamar drank in the wind and held it within himself, trying to absorb it’s very nature. Hold. Hold. Then…
...he let go.
*This is my submission for the Bifrost project, The Farthest Horizon. The goal was to create a piece with the desert as the main theme. In my attempt to do this I focused mainly on the background and spent the majority of my time on trying to create the fictitious Snake Valley that is mentioned above and in my other Draken pics. In fact, I spent so much time on the background that I almost didn’t leave myself enough time to paint Tamar and Kometa! Eeep!
Anyhoo, let me know what you think and if you’d like a little more background on Drakens or the Great Snake Valley Race check out my other two Draken pics. One of those sketches was used in this pic to create Kometa, but the rider Tamar is new. |
|
 | |  | | | Date | Name | Comment | | | 2 Oct 2007 |  Glo 'the Bug' Bowden | p.s. I love the way you've framed the picture, but left Kometa's tail and claw poking out. And that background was worth the effort you put into it. It totally rocks! I really love the colors you chose for Tamar's clothes. Random, I know, but true. They're very eye-catching.   Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Awww. You're so sweet!
I am happy with how the frame turned out too. I am trying to make my pics look more finished and adding a suitable frame really does wonders. The trick of having part of the character poke outside the frame is something I've seen other artists do and I wanted to give it a try.
I'm so happy that you like the background! I used like twenty different reference photos of deserts in the US and it was pretty tricky bringing the ficticious Snake Valley to life, but it turned out pretty good in the end.
Random or not, I'm glad you noticed the colors. There's a reason for the brightness and hue and the new EXTENDED DESCRIPTION does explain that in part. Am I making it too obvious that I want you to read the new description? *giggle*" | |
| 2 Oct 2007 |  Glo 'the Bug' Bowden | *first comment pre-victory victory dance* So does he win the race or doesn't he? How can you leave us in suspense like that? For tsk, Barbara. Shame shame.  Kometa has such a saucy face, though I guess all your Draken do. He's just as delighted to be so far ahead as Tamar, I shouldn't wonder.  Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Well, you'll just have to come back and read the NEW EXTENDED description that's with the pic now. Na na na-na na. *chortle*
Seriously, I was in such a rush to get it submitted before the queue got long again that I only put in a fraction of the description that I had originally wrote for this pic. Now it is here in all its grammatically challenged, puncuation offensive glory. Yee haw!
That's what Kometa was really smirking about. Har har har. I sure hope you enjoy the rest of the scene. In fact, I can't wait for you to read it! *hint hint*" | |
| 3 Oct 2007 |  Kharmii | That's a great contribution to bifrost! I like the vastness of the background. That dinosaur looks fast though, like it could run from one end of a desert to another.  Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Yep. These gangly reptiles are known as runners but what I wonder is how did the desert men ever manage to catch one to tame it to race? Hmmm. *lol*
Thanks for the great comment!" | |
| 4 Oct 2007 |  John R Farley Jr | One of my favorite artists is Jim Burns and this reminds me a little of his style. But this is good in its own way. The desert background is really good, and I like that it's slightly "out of focus." But it's the creature and rider that is well drawn and painted that tightens it all up. Barbara J. Wickham replies: "I'm not familiar with Jim Burns so I did a search of his work. Well...reminds you of Jim Burns, eh? I sure can't complain about a comparison like that! No sir! Thank you very much!
It was hard to convey a vast sense of depth in this pic so I hoped the narrow focus on the foreground and heavy blurring of the background would help. My desert landscape is by no means panoramic, but I am satisfied with it all the same.
Thank you for the very flattering comment!" | |
| 7 Oct 2007 |  Glo 'the Bug' Bowden | Aaand...you still never answered my question. Does he win the race or doesn't he?! >  Barbara J. Wickham replies: " *devious chuckle* What would be the fun of just blurting it out here? Tamar and Kometa's fate deserves at least another pic, or a properly written story. I'm afraid your just going to have to wait a bit longer...
Keep in mind, I am a sucker for unexpected plot twists and unpredictable outcomes... Bwhahaha!" | |
| 7 Oct 2007 |  Glo 'the Bug' Bowden | You totally drew me in. I got your comment response and thought, "Oh, I'll just read the first little bit into it, but then I really should get to bed." Ha ha...my mistake. It's so intense! As a reader, I was totally cheering for Tamar, and especially for Kometa! I love how he just wants to run full out. I used to run cross-country for my school, so I know how he feels. It's hard trying to pace when the end is in sight, or especially at the beginning of a race, when one's energy is at its peak. I love how you tied in the shade of Tamar's clothing, especially with the traveling star bit. Beautiful images there!  You should write stuff more often. And share them in a wyvern account. I really enjoyed this blurb. I mean it, I love your stories. -- even just the little stuff I get to hear through your picture descriptions. You are such an incredible storyweaver! You create such excellent pieces, whether in prose or paint. I just love it! Barbara J. Wickham replies: "I wrote the scene description as a whole during the coloring process based on some notes I wrote on one of my other Draken sketches. I neglected to proofread the material when the extranet was down so when it was back up again I rushed to get my pic submitted and didn't want to take the time to edit the whole thing so I just pulled out the second paragraph, thinking that would suffice. Afterwards I began to wonder if I even needed the whole segment since the short paragraph got the base point across. Well, after your comments I realized that I shouldn't let my work go to waste so I quicly proofread the rest and updated the file in my gallery.
In the future I will remember to not cut myself short like that. If I put the effort into it, I should show it!
I would feel more comfortable creating a Wyverns shelf if I had more readable stuff ready to upload. As it is, 99 percent of my written material is hand written chaos in smelly old files in my keepsakes chest. Getting some of this stuff entered into my computer would give me a chance to update and edit what I do have and maybe I could come up with more than just random fragments of stories. If so, I will open a library account. Of course, I would also have to overcome my crippling fear of having everyone see my poor grammatical and puncuation skills. But hey, maybe this would be an opportunity to improve on those weaknesses. Hmmm...worth a try, eh? I'll be sure to let you know how that goes.
Thank you for your endless encouragement and contagious enthusiasm! You truly inspire me to improve myself! *hugs*" | |
| 9 Oct 2007 |  Liz Verde | Oooo! I absolutely love this! I've been waiting for it to come out since I looked at your other Draken pics, where you mentioned that you were going to do one with a rider. The description is amazing ... the building of suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. And the picture goes along with the story so well! Another amazing job! [hands out cookies] Barbara J. Wickham replies: "It just goes to show that I eventually get around to everything...just not right away! *lol* Thank you for your patience and I am thrilled that you like the result. I'm glad you like the story too since it was meant to provide more info on Drakens and the race in general, however I wanted to make sure it was also entertaining. *shares cookies with Tamar and Kometa* " | |
| 16 Oct 2007 |  Sara D Campbell | This is really great! It has a feeling of kinetic energy--like they're about to leap into action!  Barbara J. Wickham replies: "That's exactly what I was going for! Thank you very much, Sara!" | |
| |  | |  |
 Do a search for similar items! (Regarding theme, technique and inspirations)
|
 All
rights are reserved for the work 'The End In Sight!' by Barbara J. Wickham under
Elfwoods all rights reserved copyright policy
License.
All material posted at Elfwood is covered by the Elfwood Rules. If this page break any rule(s), help us out, and report it to the ERB by clicking here!
|
|
|
