I like the style of your dragon's scales - defined and chunky. Do you only use pencil to draw? - I reckon your dragons would maybe suit a greater depth of tone, could be easier with ink or something.. but then i'm just a sucker for big tonal contrast.
Also, have you read and of Terry Brooks' "Landover" series? There's a dragon in them I keep meaning to get round to drawing.. great books to try and illustrate.
Good stuff.
-Kristy

Chris E. Gustad replies: "Thank you! Pencil is (so far) the only medium I'm comfortable with, I've been less than pleased with my color and my ink experiments. Haven't read "Landover" series yet, it's near the top of my "to read" list. Currently working on a scene from "The Sword", we'll see how that turns out. Thanx for stopping by!"

Hey, I got to see your pics the other day, but they are so much better and more detailed now that I'm able to look closely! (And my screen at work is pretty good, which doesn't hurt) I'll try to leave comments on each one as time permits. But I love reading the comments of other people! You have a real talent, as many others have said, and I've said for some time. I agree that you need more than five. Have you gotten any requests for using any of them yet, or maybe just a request to illustrate someone's book? Nice, very nice!

Chris E. Gustad replies: "Thank you very much! The originals are much better than these, the scanner left a LOT of details out. No use requests yet, I am hoping... Again, thanx for stopping by and your too kind words!"

Just five pics?
I wanted to see more!
You have a hand for shading, you really do. The dragons are just fantastic – great work on the scales, very detailed and they cover the body in a way that lets us know where the bones and muscles are. I like the tails and the claws in particular.
About the tower - I’d like to see a whole city or at least a castle/palace. It’s something we don’t see very much and few people are patient or talented enough to try it. Maybe you could be one of those people…
Great expression on Zerion’s face – perhaps a full body pic in the future?
I have only one suggestion (one which I had to convince myself to follow as well at a given time): bolder contrasts. I think you should invest in a good set of pencils, a box with a range of hardness of at least 6 different types of pencil. It’s not that expensive and it will do wonders in your next pieces.
Hope to see more very soon!

Chris E. Gustad replies: "Ana, you have no idea what a comment like that means to me, from an artist I respect as much as I do you. Thank you so much for stopping by! Ya, only five (it was 4 in the morning when I uploaded them and I had that 4-letter word the next day... you know, WORK) I have a couple I'm working on right now, waiting for my ticket lock to expire (should be tomorrow). I do have a box of different hardnesses, 4 of them, 2B, B, HB, 2H, but I probably don't use them as much as I should. Actually, those were the best pics I could find at the time, that fit the genre of fantasy/sci-fi (without being fan art). Anyway, thank you so much for coming and your kind words, they really mean a lot to me coming from an artist that I respect and admire so much. You have inspired me, you really have, if not for your encouragement, I would not be on Elfwood, so thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!"

Chris,
Hi! I really like your art! I think the sorcerer's tower is my favorite. I'd like to meet you someday. Take care of Annie and Dikki for me.
--Chris Holliman

Chris E. Gustad replies: "Hi back! Thank you for stopping by! I appreciate your comments! Annie and Dikki are a blast - we love having them here! Congrats dad on you son or daughter to be! I also look forward to meeting you, take care until then!"

chris thank YOU so much for all your kind comments and support you left me i appreciate it so much!!! you have a wonderful gallery ! keep up the good work

Chris E. Gustad replies: "*worships* I'm so happy you came to see my gallery, and hearing that I have a wonderful gallery from an artist of your caliber is really encouraging! Thank you for coming and for your comments!"

Coming from you ill thank you again for the comments, you are very talented!! You have a really nice gallery!! I like the goblin face it looks like a tattoo!! And you do an amazing job on shading!! Ill be visiting again real soon!! Looking foward to seeing more!!

Chris E. Gustad replies: "Ok, it's official, I WILL be getting that a tat of that Goblin, everyone seems to like the idea! Thank you so much for coming by and commenting, you and your hubby are very nice people and welcome any time, I even have an update in the works as I write this! (Now if those Mods would hurry it up... lol j/k, they are doing their best for volunteers in their spare time with the number of pics and stories they have to look at!) Anyway, thanx again, I'll keep an eye on your galleries as well!"

Hello Chris! So I finally visit your Elfwood page; I am really ashamed that it took me so long! *hides in a corner*
Anyway, I just had a thorough look at your art and I think your eye for movement in a picture is your great quality, together with your perception of detail (intricacy altogether eh). As you have seen in my gallery, I do not draw dragons and therefor have little knowledge of their anatomy and so on, but when I look at yours, I see that it is the way it should be. The scales on "Dragon" are so well shaded and highlighted and so is the body of your "Grosh'lek". The only thing I wonder about is why you do not add a background to your works. I think it would really finish it off! But then I am reminded about the fact that you don't like too crowdy (or busy) scenes, so that can explain it. Either way, I think you have talent and I will surely come around from time to time!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my gallery!

Chris E. Gustad replies: "Thank you so much! Your comments really boost my confidence! I am not really good at backgrounds, though I have a few in the works that that have them. I really appreciate you visiting my neck o' the woods and leaving the too-nice compliment. Come back anytime, I will keep an eye on yours as well! "

Hello Chris D
I like the colors you use in your pics; pretty good D
*Hugs*

Chris E. Gustad replies: "Thank you very much! You have a nice gallery as well, though it's in a different style that doesn't mean I can't appreciate it. (In the midst of looking now, will leave comments.) In the meantime, thanks for stopping and commenting!"

Great pics! I guess you've probably have heard this before, but your shading truly is amazing!And it's really a good way to make pics turn to life! Great gallery! I'll be back!

Chris E. Gustad replies: "So glad you liked them, Thank you for stopping by and commenting! Shading is one of my favorite parts of a pic, so I really appreciate your compliment. I'm looking at your page now, will comment there when I'm done. Thanx again!"

Wonderful pics, i love the goblin, you should give him a body =) Your shading is great, i cant wait to see more!

Chris E. Gustad replies: "Why thank you! A full bodied goblin (maybe a battle) is in the works, I'll get it posted eventually. I'm glad you stopped by, will return the favor as time permits. Thank you for your nice comment!"