'The Dragon Catcher' by Heathcroft

Poser • Fantasy • posted on Jul 18, 2008

Contains nudity

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This artwork contains mature content: nudity.

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Description

This has been my most difficult project to date. Inspired originally by e-Brink's excellent 'Dragon Slayers', I went into 'dragon mode'.
Not wanting to use arrows and spears (or lasers) I wanted to devise away of bringing the dragons down, and I chose rope and wire. I split the project up into several manageable chunks.
The whole thing came together in a large Photoshop CS file of 45 layers at 2,600 x 2000 pixels. (85mb). I have reduced the dimensions here, but it is still quite large for screen at 1680 pixels wide so please zoom in to see details!
Anyway, permit me to let Count Tyrannus set the scene....
"Yes My Children, 'What is occurring?' I hear you cry?
For although I am at constant war with the Baron of The East (who resides in the Dark Tower across the Royale Baye of Grouveille) sometimes it is in both our interests to join forces against a common enemy - the feared Northern Blue Dragons of Garnsea.
For these dragons invade us like swarms of flying ants in the early Spring when the tides are at their highest and neither of our armies can muster on the great Long beach that divides The Castle from The Dark Tower. So there is, by mutual agreement, a lull in hostilities.
We have developed a unique method of defence against these powerful dragons, as arrows and spears just bounce off the dragons' armour.
Here, Viann'ah, my comliest and most athletic Dragon Catcher, swings out from the Castle belfry, secured by a long rope, and throws a noose around the dragon's neck.
The loose end is secured to a long wire that is hauled via a pulley fixed to the top of The Baron's mighty catapult and thereby by more ropes to many strong soldiers who haul away until the exhausted dragon comes tumbling down to drown in the sea beneath.

Again and again Viann'ah and her Sisters in arms repeat this stunning feat, and are swung back to safety by the many eager hands of the Castle Guard.
How we cheered when the great beasts writhed and fell from the sky! How the soldiers and slaves gathered along the Castle ramparts to admire Vianna'h's athletics and (no doubt) her comely form!
This, then, My Children, is a picture of this exciting interlude in our ever changing life here at The Castle, visualised by my artist slaves as they lie awake at night screaming and writhing in their narrow cots. "
(Excerpt from the Chronicles of Count Tryannus, Lord of Castle Tyrannus, as related to his faithful servant Seaglemus on his deathbed.)
This is the 45th episode in The Castle Chronicles, the whole of which is at 'The Castle'

I am very pleased at how many artists here have agreed to contribute to the other sections in the main project which had 86,000 page views last month.
All comments welcome - I really appreciate your support!
Dave
Previously....

"The Moth Problem"

Production Credits

Kirke Hair

By Mairy

$4.52 USD

Comments (160)

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speculoos

9:20AM | Sun, 21 September 2008

I love this image. It is a great render. It does have all the qualities that make of it a perfect movie poster! You have a very cinematographic style and it is why your art is so unique. Really amazing. I admire that artwork of yours! Philippe (aka speculoos)

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Elcet

2:55PM | Mon, 29 September 2008

Simply fantastic! A total success, very professional

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trentlane

11:12AM | Mon, 06 October 2008

WOW!

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cannonn

9:44AM | Wed, 08 October 2008

so much coooooool

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Chipka

6:48AM | Tue, 21 October 2008

I've been away from this gallery for FAR TOO LONG, but I'm so glad that when I pop back in, I get to see something like THIS! I love it and it's easily a favorite. The action is nicely distributed and gives a great sense of scale. There's the babe in the foreground (gorgeously done, by the way!) actively dominating the action rather than being some damsel in distress...but what really grabs me are the other characters occupying the background. The writer in me wonders what they're thinking and feeling. Great narrative as well...definitely something that deserves the central position in a HUGE project. Great stuff!

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