Courin and the Dragon

See the Work in Progress shots

D&D Fighter and Blue Dragon

Medium: Ink

"He has sandy blond hair, just long enough to put in a very short ponytail, in back. His eyes are a light blue, and he’s handsome- nice smile, strong jaw, etc. He is about 21, but because of his evident strength and skill, could look a bit older. He has on black full plate, although if that color will be too overpowering, perhaps something else can be arranged. He has a large bastard sword, the blade a pure, clean line, but the hilt and handle a bit ornate in black and silver (it is enchanted). Other then that, he wears a cloak, and has a ring on his finger (doesn’t matter which one, specifically).

She is a young dragon… though she’d be a young woman in human years, amongst her own, she’s just a baby. Her body is the size of a pony (not even a horse), but that’s not counting wings or a tail. She looks beautiful and mythical, but so relatively small that one has a dangerous longing a la the lion at the zoo- to pet the wild beast. In other words, she doesn’t quite inspire the pure terror of a full grown specimen, yet… more fascination. Although the portrait will be black and white, just for reference, she's a blue dragon.

I have a rather specific pose in mind. He is standing calmly, looking right at the “viewer”. His sword is out, point down on the floor, and he either rests both hands lightly on the pommel, or is holding it with one, while the other is... uh, on his belt or something. His expression is pleasant, even smiling a bit, but he still looks ready. She (the dragon) is on the ground behind him, curling slightly so that her head is turned towards the viewer, also. The middle portion of her body is obscured by his figure, but the rest is visible. The tail, on the right side of the picture (his left side), curls slightly in as well, so that even though she's not directly behind him, there is the mild impression that she is surrounding or enveloping him. Although this would be hard to capture, the feeling I’d like to convey is of a subtle battle of wills. Does he know she is there? Is she his pet or his hunter? Man versus dragon... That kind of thing."

Illus. © Eric Pommer, 2004