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Oil Painting - Newest

The Victorian Hawk Dragon has currently reviewed the following:

Lava Serpent of Wadjet - Egyptian Cobra Goddess

Warriors of the Sands, and Guardians of the Egyptians, Lava Serpents bring Vengeance to the Earth:

Lava Serpent of Wadjet - Guardians of the Egyptians and Vengeance to the Earth
Lava Serpent of Wadjet - Guardians of the Egyptians and Vengeance to the Earth

In the Foundries of Vesuvius, in the Bedrock of the Mountains - with the Persistence of the Endless, does a Lava Serpent sleep. In the Chambers of Thera, in the Magma of the Vents, with the Slumber of the Dormant, does a Lava Serpent lie. In the Enemies of Egypt, in the Pyramids of Conflict - with the Wisdoms of the Pharaoh, does a Lava Serpent wake. In the Eruptions of Primeval, in the Rush of the Lava - with the Movement of a Quake, does the Lava Serpent strike. In the Abyss of the Desolate, in the Carnage of the Crust - with the Aftermath of Onslaught, does a Lava Serpent revel. It's mission complete: a relic is born! I like the fact that this artwork captures the idea of a serpent that lives underground: as the serpent has been positioned between both Stalagmites and Stalactites - which in doing so, helps to suggest the presence of an Underground Cavern. The Cavern is not disjoint from the Lava Serpent (as you would expect), but has instead, been used to enhance the appeal of the serpent (through numerous artistic effects). First: the Stalagmites and Stalactites are used to pull you into the scene (by thought of their opposing directions - you tend to focus on the Lava Serpent). Second: the Stalagmites and Stalactites have been used as a way to add layering to the scene (as the Lava Serpent loops both under and over them - you tend to gain a perception of depth). Third: the rock ceiling/roof appears as though it's being held in place by the Golden Pillar (suggesting that the Cavern roof could collapse - as it is with the Wrath of the Earth). When these three effects/features are combined with the darker rock (towards the bottom-left of the artwork), I fall-under the impression that the Lava Serpent is sheltering (perhaps from the Storms of the Lava). I also approve of the use of colour within this artwork, especially the way in-which the Lava Serpents skin, appears to be connected with both the Element of Fire (the reds and yellows) and the Element of Earth (the greens). I also feel that the choice of colours was made (by the artist) to convey two further important concepts. First: there is the concept of size - as you realise that the Lava Serpents skin is repeated towards the top of the artwork (making me think of the existence of gigantic Lava Serpents). Second: there is the concept of belonging - as the Golden Pillar appears to be out of place (making me think of the Ancient Egyptians and their Engineering/Architecture Skills). I suspect that this artwork was painted in oils - as there's a fair amount of blending/transparency (on the Lava Serpents skin) and several raised/contrasting edges (especially around the black and red fans/frills). As such, it appears that the artist decided to break-up several uniform tones/areas, by employing the pointillism technique (in two places). The first: pointillism has been used on the darker rock (to suggest some-kind of underground algae). The second: pointillism has been used on the background (to suggest the concept of Inner Space - perhaps within the Centre of the Earth, where the Cavern is nothing but a Portal). Overall: I love the Conflict that occurs within this artwork. On the one side, there is the Elemental Powers of the Volcano (the reds of the serpent) together with the Savageness of the Earth (the Stalagmite and Stalactite teeth). Yet on the other side, there is the suggestion of such Powers being Tamed (by a Pillar of Egypt) and a connection with the Roots of the Trees (the greens of the serpent - and surrounding rock). I was also impressed by the variation of the pointillism technique, that's been used to paint/colour the Lava Serpents skin (as this is more akin to transparent dashes - as opposed to solid dots). Lava may be the primordial force of the Ancient Egyptians, yet when it comes to the control of their underground domains, Lava Serpents remain their weapon of choice!

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Sea Serpent of Atlantis

Warriors of the Seas, and Guardians of the Mermaids, Sea Serpents bring Justice to the Deep:

Sea Serpent of Atlantis - Guardians of Mermaids and Justice to the Deep
Sea Serpent of Atlantis - Guardians of Mermaids and Justice to the Deep

In the Armouries of Atlantis, in the Vaults of the Reefs - with the Timeless of the Ancient, does a Sea Serpent sleep. In the Arsenals of Atlantis, in the Tides of the Seas - with the Patience of the Endless, does a Sea Serpent sleep. In the Foes of Atlantis, in the Temples of War - with the Councils of the Wise, does a Sea Serpent wake. In the Turbulence of the Oceans, in the Wrath of the Waves - with the Crush of a Hull, does the Sea Serpent strike. In the Depths of the Seas, in the Treasures of the Seabed - with the Pull of the Strong, does a Sea Serpent dive. It's mission complete: a shipwreck is born! I like the fact that this artwork captures the primary concept/idea of a serpent: the Sea Serpent has an S shape, which curls around and pulls you in (like a whirlpool). In doing so, it's easy to miss the fact that this is a baby Sea Serpent! Firstly, there is the fact that the Sea Serpent is on a similar scale/size to the shipwrecks anchors. Secondly, once you've pulled away from the whirlpool, you will notice that the Sea Serpents armour is repeated at the top of the artwork, and given the fact that this repeat is disjoint (from the baby Sea Serpent) - suggests just one thing: that there must be a bigger Sea Serpent above! I feel that the baby Sea Serpent is also sheltering - as he/she is nestled within a shipwreck: there's two anchors and the remnants of a coral covered hull against the side of a cliff (on the left-hand side), whereas the right-hand side (of the scene) appears to be much more open (to the sea). I also approve of the colour use within this artwork, particularity with the striking contrast between the bright fans/frills and the camouflaged Seaweed Armour. The yellow makes me think of Gold (and the Sun of Atlantis). The red and orange makes me think of Fire (and the Wrath of Atlantis). The blue hints at the coolness of the oceans and helps suggest the concept of layers. The blue also hints at an artwork that resembles a stained glass window (as the blue has not been used as a tint for the other colours). It appears that this artwork was painted in oils - as it seems that many of the surfaces are actually raised (especially the edges of the yellow, red and orange fans/frills). It also appears that the artist made use of a transparent medium (possibly Liquin) when painting the Seaweed Armour (as there's a fair amount of blending/variation at the edges of the brownish purple yellow). The use of a medium (such as Liquin) is also hinted at by the transparency/blending that's present on the seabed. The corals present on the remnants of the sunken hull, anchors and seabed (near to where the Seaweed sprouts) appear to be a variation of the oil painters pointillism technique - whereby the (relevant) background colour is allowed to show through (amongst the dots). Overall: I'm impressed with the variety of oil painting techniques that have been used to bring this Sea Serpent to life. This is especially true of the techniques used upon the seabed - whereby hard lines (in black) have been used to add both depth and clarity to the scene. There is also further variation, as the hard lines could have been added to the remnants of the sunken hull (e.g. to illustrate individual planks) - yet this has been avoided. Hurricanes may be the primeval force of the Mermaids, yet when it comes to the control of their undersea domains, Sea Serpents remain their weapon of choice!

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Oil Painting - All

Lava Serpent of Wadjet - Egyptian Cobra GoddessSea Serpent of Atlantis