Gryphon prompt: Lets share our inspiration and WIPs

[Joshua Chennault]

Lots of cool stuff in here, figured I would post a quick sketch on what I am thinking for mine. Also check out my sketchbook thread if you want to see some character stuff that I have been working on for this.

[zoejonesillustration]

Love seeing everyone’s progress! Thought I’d add the sketches for my piece. Finished on is on the submission thread. Based off a house sparrow and a house cat!

Got the idea from my cat leaving me little unwanted gifts at the door haha!

[MarcRobinson]

@zoejonesillustration love seeing the process sketches. Great stuff.

[Erin Hawkins]

I regret drawing it on a the back of a piece of copy paper I rescued from the recycling bin, but maybe someday I'll make a finished version. I probably wont get that done before the HTFYA, I'm ok with that. I am just starting out with illustration and taking the foundation courses, any feedback is welcome

The story concept is two different hybrid eagle/lion creatures getting married. It's supposed to be that moment after the kiss and right before they walk (or maybe fly) down the aisle as husband/wife (griffin/griffin?). The officiant is a minotaur. I didn't even know what a griffin or a minotaur was before I joined SVS a few weeks ago.

[Erin Hawkins]

@zoejonesillustration beautiful! I love the world you created with all the little houses sitting on top of a spiraling branch, especially the little props sitting on top of the lichen. The bird/cat character design is great too.

[zoejonesillustration]

@Erin-Hawkins

Thank you! And I love your concept you have here!

Very unique take on the prompt
I like your style going here, not sure if was cropped accidentally, but it would be good to see the rest of the “griffin husband”. Maybe also some creatures sitting in the aisle.

I think that’s the whole point as well to create pieces weather they are finished in time or not doesn’t matter we always learn something from doing them. Great stuff.

[Erin Hawkins]

This post is deleted!

[Erin Hawkins]

@zoejonesillustration Hi Zoe, thank you so much for the feedback. I was actually wondering if I needed to show more of the groom griffin, so I'm going to work on that. I tried the off-center composition to see if it would be more interesting than a centered composition, but I agree with you, it's cropped too close on groom griffin's side.

I like your idea of adding some creatures in the aisle too. The foreground shapes that are super dark are supposed to be the back of the heads of some wedding guests, not sure if that's coming across. Thank you again!!!

[Reb Erlik]

The concept is that both characters are each missing a wing. The other gryphons are abandoning the injured one. The moth girl is a re-occurring character from last month's HTFYA, but I need to get her on model.

Question: What should I do with the background? Just keep it simple and moody? Or try to add more story?

Some possible stories:
-This gryphon is different from the others; it has peacock feathers and the others are jealous so they rip its wing off.
-This gryphon is simply being abandoned because it can't migrate.
-This gryphon has 2 wings but it's injured in some other way. (Hunter arrows? sword?)
-Story needs to have an emotional metaphor, not just explain the injury.

For creature design, I like the idea of peacock feathers looking similar to moth girl's wings. The swan proportions are also appealing. However I want the creature design to most resemble a canada goose to evoke migration/abandonment.
I haven't done the back legs yet, because I don't like how they ruin the silhouette, so thinking more of a serpent body that ends in a mermaid tail instead, so a little more loose interpretation of a gryphon.

[Haley Browning]

I don't think I will get this in by March 1st as I kept restarting and trying new concepts. But I'd still like to post when it is done and get feedback if possible.

[Joshua Chennault]

Getting into the lineart. Going to be cutting it close, but I think I can get it done before the deadline. Fingers crossed.

[H. Moon]

Hi! I'm new here, wish I saw this before I posted my result for the prompt! but I would love to hear any thoughts on it. I've never drawn a griffin or even a lion before this! Very challenging, also this is done traditionally with ink and watercolor.

[Joshua Chennault]

Managed to get through the rendering. Still have a couple hours. Figured I would let it marinate for an hour or two and come back one last time before uploading to the final thread.

[Sarah VanDam]

@Joshua-Chennault Your style give me really fun Gravity Falls vibes

[Joshua Chennault]

@Sarah-VanDam Yeah, I loved Gravity Falls. Animated shows are a big inspiration for me. The stuff Disney, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Netflix have produced over the past 10-15 years are really great.

[Fey Realme]

@Haley-Browning totally still post it to the prompt thread when you finish! I’ve never seen them leave anyone out bc they submitted late!

[H. Moon]

@reberlik what about a defective wing that it was born with? You could add a very impactful emotional metaphor that goes with it, maybe make the lack of a wing positive in the end.

[Reb Erlik]

Which version do you guys like better? I intended it as a goose originally because of the migration/abandonment metaphor. But peacock feathers have a slight visual similarity to moth wing pattern.
Still feeling like there's not enough story here... I'll keep working on it post-HTFYA.

[J. Morgan Looney]

@reberlik the second one feels more cohesive to me because the color visually connects the characters.

[Reb Erlik]

@J-Morgan-Looney Thanks J! That's reasurring to hear that I submitted the more color harmonious option. You've got a great eye... it actually wasn't something I was thinking about. I was just focused on the "eye" shaped wings of peacock and moths, feeling this was a missed opportunity.