SF&F Picture 32 out of 32 by Jennifer Miller (Nambroth).

SciFi and Fantasy Art: The Road Before Us

This took a very long time.

This was a commission for a very kind lady as a gift for her husband. Unlike most of my commissioners, she described certain elements that she wanted to see in the background rather than giving me a lot of detail on a character. So while I had to include a storm rising, a castle with a dragon circling it, two gryphons walking a mountain cliff pathway, and a large ancient tree, I was given free reign! If only more commissions were like this. ;}

Regardless, I tried to really push myself with this painting, I know it has some flaws but I'm afraid if I continued work on it at this point my head might well explode into a very messy smear on my Wacom tablet.

I apologize for the jpeg compression- I tried to make it a size that wouldn't kill folks with a slower internet connection.

Stats, for those interested:
6,000 pixels x 4,800 pixels at 400dpi
583.8 MB file
estimated 80-95 hours
"Chunky oil pastels" and a little "splattery airbrush" tools used in Painter.
Three layers, final.

Part of several tours:

The Best of Gryphons!

My favourite gryphons of Elfwood!


	Categories: [Landscape, Nature, Panoramic] [Mythical Creatures & Assorted Monsters] Techniques: [Computer Painted from Scratch]

Date	Name	Comment
20 Dec 2006	Aja Moniz	Loading... This is an exquisite picture. Kudos to your landscaping abilities; it boggles my mind to think of where you would even start when painting something like this.
14 Feb 2007	Heidi Hecht	Loading... I'm creating an "Awesome Gryphons" tour! Is it all right if I include this picture?
13 Jun 2007	Ashley Celesta Versaggi	Loading... Actually, and I might just be the first fellow artist to say this, Thank you for putting up those stats!! I keep working at a too small of a resolution in Photoshop with my tablet and in the process don't get as much detail as I would like....This is breathtaking, everythinga bout it!! You're brilliant!
26 Oct 2007	Mie 'Stormwing' Bendiksby	Loading... It's really, really realistic -the castle nearly gives me goosebumps! I just keep wondering what's going to happen to the gryphons. Someone here should write a story about it!
4 Nov 2007	David Michael	Loading... The castle, storm, and circling dragons are all routine ideas (though very awesome), but somehow the addition of the gryphons walking on the rode to it just gives it a whole nother dimension. Like the know the danger at the castle, but have a reason to go anyway. And they're walking like old friends through a park...it makes them seem wiser and more mysterious. I love it. Your colors here are beautiful as well. I love the shine on the road. Excellent.
11 Nov 2007	Stardragon <drago	Loading... Holy crapola, this is AMAZING. I love how much detail went into this picture and all the little things that make it shine. I could totally write a whole book about this picture. Awesome job!
26 Jan 2008	Jessica N M.	Loading... How?.... No, I’m done asking, your just too good.
10 Feb 2008	Mythical Tabby cat	Loading... Great job, those griffens are so cute.
23 Apr 2008	Felicity Endings	Loading... Why don’t they just fly? Heh
26 Apr 2008	Kimberly A. Taylor	Loading... wow that’s truly a masterpiece, i just love the way the grey gyphon’s ears are pricked.
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'The Road Before Us'

SciFi and Fantasy Art: The Road Before Us