"A Tuareg Dragon" by Mie ´Stormwing´ Bendiksby

For a fullsize, non-JPEG version, click here.

Here the other day I had a real itch to draw a desert dragon, and somehow it ended up with a Tuareg dude on its back. I've done some research on the Tuareg people with the intention of basing a fantasy people on them, and NOW THEY'VE SWAPPED THEIR CAMELS FOR DRAGONS AND ARE PATROLLING TRADE ROUTES. Think of the races they're going to have!

I started working on this traditionally, but I didn't quite manage to pull it off--didn't take long time 'fore I realised I needed layers. So I took a picture of it, imported it to Photoshop and finished it digitally. I think I have something passable now, but damn, did I struggle with the dragon's hands and feet. I ended up using my own hands and raccoon feet for reference.

I based the dragon's tack on the tack the Tuareg use for their camels--I added some rings to that neck ring for the reins to pass through, so that if the Tuareg should lose the them, they wouldn't, say, fall over the dragon's neck and end up out of reach.