Welcome to Rediscovered Realms’ new series, “Fantasy Art Workshop”—your gateway to crafting epic fantasy art! In this first edition, we’ll explore how to bring the towering Cyclops of myth and legend to life on paper, using the step-by-step method from Samwise Didier’s How to Draw Mythical Monsters and Magical Creatures.
Great job on your cyclops. I'll have to give it a try. You're right about having to quiet our internal critic on this kind of thing. I still struggle with it when I paint miniatures. Pushing through it though you'll have those moments of enjoying the process and eventually the end result.
I'm with you, Eric. What I find for myself is that if I accept -before I start- that the final product will be worthy even though it will almost always look different than I envisioned/planned.
I try to get excited about the somewhat randomness of the result. "Ooh, I wonder how I'm going to roll the dice today!"
This helps me go more with the flow and often (like with my Cyclops) when you look at it with fresh eyes days or months later, you realize you actually did ok!
I bet your miniatures are awesome! (And definitely let me know if you wind up drawing this Cyclops 👁)
Great job on your cyclops and I love your book review as well as your feelings about drawing. I feel the same way but I keep pushing through the inner critic. I’m going to check out that book too! I love art books that give you step by step instructions.
Thank you, Robin! You know, I just had a thought. How cool would it be if we could trade out each other's inner critics for a while? You take mine, and I'll take yours. That way we both get a break! 😜
Right??? I love to draw and sketch but to get really good at it you need to work on that skill almost every day. It is something you can learn and grow. I can’t wait until I retire (soon!) and can finally really develop my skills.
I like your cyclops. You don’t have to “be an artist” to have fun making art. It’s amazing what we can create once we put aside the labels and just do the thing.
Not sure, GMaia! Cyclopes, according to Greek myth, were the offspring of Earth and Sky before the Greek gods.
Are you referencing fossils of long extinct dwarf elephants in ancient Italian & Greek caves? Apparently, they had a big nasal cavity (for their trunk) in the middle of their skull that could have appeared to be an eye socket to the ancients who weren't aware of this species.
I've also seen reference to possible origins of blacksmiths (who wore a patch on eye to avoid sparks) and people with cyclopia (potentially brought on mothers consuming white hellebore).
Let's see if anyone else knows the legend of which you speak!
Great job on your cyclops. I'll have to give it a try. You're right about having to quiet our internal critic on this kind of thing. I still struggle with it when I paint miniatures. Pushing through it though you'll have those moments of enjoying the process and eventually the end result.
I'm with you, Eric. What I find for myself is that if I accept -before I start- that the final product will be worthy even though it will almost always look different than I envisioned/planned.
I try to get excited about the somewhat randomness of the result. "Ooh, I wonder how I'm going to roll the dice today!"
This helps me go more with the flow and often (like with my Cyclops) when you look at it with fresh eyes days or months later, you realize you actually did ok!
I bet your miniatures are awesome! (And definitely let me know if you wind up drawing this Cyclops 👁)
So true and thanks. I'll let you know on the cyclops.
👍
Great job on your cyclops and I love your book review as well as your feelings about drawing. I feel the same way but I keep pushing through the inner critic. I’m going to check out that book too! I love art books that give you step by step instructions.
Thank you, Robin! You know, I just had a thought. How cool would it be if we could trade out each other's inner critics for a while? You take mine, and I'll take yours. That way we both get a break! 😜
Right??? I love to draw and sketch but to get really good at it you need to work on that skill almost every day. It is something you can learn and grow. I can’t wait until I retire (soon!) and can finally really develop my skills.
I like your cyclops. You don’t have to “be an artist” to have fun making art. It’s amazing what we can create once we put aside the labels and just do the thing.
💖 Thank you, Stace!
...ok, now question about the roots of the legends about cyclops... do you know where do cyclops' legend is likely form? Here below a hint:
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1408c881-59eb-4b9e-8aec-9189b2753e83_416x549.png
Not sure, GMaia! Cyclopes, according to Greek myth, were the offspring of Earth and Sky before the Greek gods.
Are you referencing fossils of long extinct dwarf elephants in ancient Italian & Greek caves? Apparently, they had a big nasal cavity (for their trunk) in the middle of their skull that could have appeared to be an eye socket to the ancients who weren't aware of this species.
I've also seen reference to possible origins of blacksmiths (who wore a patch on eye to avoid sparks) and people with cyclopia (potentially brought on mothers consuming white hellebore).
Let's see if anyone else knows the legend of which you speak!
Right, i was ref to the elephant skull found in ancient caves!
No way! That's cool. Thanks for putting me on that treasure hunt!