The Loch Where the Mythic Beasts Meet (aka All Smiles) (CLOSED)
82The Celtic goddess Sirona in forest nymph form sits astride her favourite unicorn (the national animal of my native Scotland) whilst behind her a water dragon emerges from the loch.
I made several different versions of this render, tweaking lighting, textures and poses each time, until everything came out the way I wanted it. In the first incarnation the unicorn had a serious expression, but that look has been done so much in art, I opted for something different: a sort of Mr. Ed (the talking horse) smile and demeanour. Posing the unicorn so he's looking directly into the camera was meant to add an extra dimension by "breaking the fourth wall": the unicorn is aware he's being viewed and is happy about it. I tried having Sirona look straight into the camera too, but that felt like it took away some of her mystery. Better to have her gazing off to her left, looking at... who knows what? I spent a fair bit of time on her riding pose to make it look effortless, natural and comfortable. Likewise with her facial expression: nothing forced or contrived - just pure goddess serenity. The dragon underwent several incarnations, including one in which I made his body and wings out of volcanic rock shot through with molten lava - that looked impressive, but eventually I decided that making him out of dark water was more in keeping with the overall vibe of the render.
Anyway, that's enough rambling from me. I hope folk enjoy the render.
Wireframe:

Render:

I made several different versions of this render, tweaking lighting, textures and poses each time, until everything came out the way I wanted it. In the first incarnation the unicorn had a serious expression, but that look has been done so much in art, I opted for something different: a sort of Mr. Ed (the talking horse) smile and demeanour. Posing the unicorn so he's looking directly into the camera was meant to add an extra dimension by "breaking the fourth wall": the unicorn is aware he's being viewed and is happy about it. I tried having Sirona look straight into the camera too, but that felt like it took away some of her mystery. Better to have her gazing off to her left, looking at... who knows what? I spent a fair bit of time on her riding pose to make it look effortless, natural and comfortable. Likewise with her facial expression: nothing forced or contrived - just pure goddess serenity. The dragon underwent several incarnations, including one in which I made his body and wings out of volcanic rock shot through with molten lava - that looked impressive, but eventually I decided that making him out of dark water was more in keeping with the overall vibe of the render.
Anyway, that's enough rambling from me. I hope folk enjoy the render.
Wireframe:

Render:

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