Topic awaiting preservation: WIP--Dragon--

Anyone remember the excellent dragon sketch Hugh posted up a few months ago? You can view the thread and original image Here
I really liked it, so with his permission I have been experimenting with trying to "flesh out" the original.
As stated this is a WIP. I have never tried to add to another persons work before. Most of the techniques I have adopted are new to me!!. I have been trying to find or develop ways of overlaying skin and texture on top of the base image, making use of the highlight and shadows there.
Suggestions and comments welcome.
Tao

Click on image for larger (176kb) image
If requested I can make the PSD available to view.

As I said before in the email, im glad to see you like it so much, its definatly not a problem with anyone who wants to draw over my work, as long as i'm mentioned I cant imagine being offended etc... in anyway, I think its great. Over at http://forums.sijun.com when I used to post there when people posted lineart, it was accepted that people would colour it and post it, or if someone posts a pic everyone draws their own similarly themed.

Some comments:
The Yellow lines make it look moreso flat and there not affected by the light that shine on the dragon, they dont quite wrap around him either it does look good on the tail tho. I do like the wings, the texture suits albeit smudgy at the top.
You've done a nice job of changing the ... gaps ./.. widths .. of the yellow mesh as the bits go in and out.

heh, and also the contrast in texture between the feet and above make it look like he's wearing yellow jammys

I'm not so sure you picked a great piece to work with I mean its full of mistakes, the head just doesnt make sense and the wings are crazy and the dragons ass would be far to huge to ever take flight, not with those wings anyway. Also his tail is bent it takes a quick 90* turn as soon as it starts.

mmmh, maybe I shouldn't be telling you all these flaws, not that there subtle. If you can fix any of them I'd really love to see it, I spent a good long time moving things up down in across and topwise untill I settled on it.

LOL don't mention the dragons ass!! heh, every time I try a different "skin" now I will be able to hear him say "does my bum look big in this"?
With the size of the textures, I decided to make several "sheets" of the texture, same size, but each on a seperate layer. Then I grafted each sheet using transform/distort, into roughly the size of the area to be covered, head, neck, belly etc. This helped to give a "slightly" more realistic gradiation to the size of the scales.

*Burmph*
That good huh.
I think I am going to have to invest in a drawing tablet, this stuff is tough on mices! On "effort #27" I am over laying, layers of solid colour, and then experimenting with shading/highlights on those layers. I'll post it if I overcome my innate shyness...
Tao

Is your dragon wearing a leopard print unitard?

Need to work on the transitions near the feet a bit. Right now the lines are too definite.

:::11oh1:::

Hmm.. Can I suggest something. I didnt read posts much. or atleast not for a week or two so shoot me if im studdering here

As hugh mentioned before in his thread this thing always seems statuesque... to me its in a very distinct sitting position.. so the only way i could see the dynamic side of this coming more interesting would possibly have it leaning against something?! maybe suggest a dark cave in the bg. or something interesting.. hm It almost looks like it was just chilling and some wiseguy/critter walked up and its just scaring it off.. i'll hush now. peace