Arikla's Gallery

Red Tailed Hawk by Arikla

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:42:05 -0000

Second colored image for commissioner from California Fish and Game. I am really pleased with how this turned out. REALLY pleased. Colored Pencil.

Medium: Colored Pencil
Tags: bird raptor hawk red-tailed

Mallard in Flight by Arikla

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:18:37 -0000

Commission piece for a member of California Fish and Wildlife. Colored Pencil. Quite fun to do as it has been awhile since I have done a strait colored pencil piece (other than badges). Not to be reproduced elsewhere!

Medium: Colored Pencil
Tags: Flying duck flight mallard

Plains Thunder by Arikla

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:06:58 -0000

Part four of a series that started with "Came a Stark Naked Drummer". This piece actually replaces that one in the series since it was part of a portfolio so I can only make limited prints. This piece representing water, the west (Coyote) and the percussion instruments. The knotwork was done with copper foil.

Medium: Watercolor, Colored Pencil, Metallic Foil
Tags: coyote knot work knots drum sioux

How Black is the Color by Arikla

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:10:08 -0000

Inspired by the traditional Irish song "Black is the Color". Ironically painted using no black! I wanted to play with some new blending techniques and acrylic inks as well. Overall, I am quite pleased with the technique, but need to work on the anatomy more (and that huge nose!).

Medium: Watercolor, Colored Pencil and Acrylic Ink
Tags: leopard black panther anthro

Sound the Earthly Horn by Arikla

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:16:18 -0000

Number three in the "Elements of Music" series. Caribou, Earth, North, horn, and green. Still not happy with how overpowering the foil looks when it scans, as it isn't that glaring in person. Not much I can do about that, though.

Medium: watercolor, colored pencil and metallic foil
Tags: green Earth caribou irish knotwork horn north viking norse

Wolf in the Den by Arikla

Fri, 09 May 2008 23:17:44 -0000

Finished commission piece for JR Wolf. Overall I am quite pleased with the finished look.

Medium: watercolor and colored pencil
Tags: wolf sunset water mountain river Waterfall sunrise canada den

Eastern Air by Arikla

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:06:32 -0000

The third in the series I decided to call "Elements of Music". This one representing the east, yellow, air, and wind instruments. The thing she is playing is a Chinese Xun. The knotwork is more simple then other pieces, but I wanted to stick with the asian/eastern idea and so overly complex knotwork just didn't blend right. Knotwork is done in gold pen, which never scans well :P

Medium: Watercolor and Colored Pencil
Tags: Air dog Element knotwork knot work East shiba inu elemental xun

Between the Body and the Soul by Arikla

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 22:39:04 -0000

A combination of two ideas I have had floating through my mind. Both loosely based on the song "Mary's Eyes" by Gaelic Storm.

Medium: watercolor and colored pencil
Tags: wolf werewolf anthro anthropomorphic irish knotwork shifting changing

Hounds of Annwn - Cwn Annwn by Arikla

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 02:55:31 -0000

An experiment with Watercolor Pencils and with a different type of watercolor surface. Not overly fond of the surface, too rough for my tastes, but I am ok with how this came out. The "Cwn Annwn" or Hounds of Annwn are the hounds of the wild hunt. They bring the souls of the dead to the underworld. In Welsh mythology they are white hounds with red ears. I took a bit of artistic license and made them red-eyed instead.

Medium: Watercolor pencils
Tags: snow red hell hound wild saluki hunt eyed

Strings of Fire by Arikla

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 01:46:36 -0000

Part two of a series that started with "Came a Stark Naked Drummer". This piece representing fire, the south (Maned Wolf) and the stringed instruments. The knotwork was done with metallic foil, and scanned oddly.

Medium: watercolor, colroed pencil and metallic foil
Tags: wolf Fire music violin irish knotwork maned foil viola fiddle

All Souls Night by Arikla

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:17:47 -0000

Inspired by the Lorrena McKennitt song "All Souls Night". Another day of playing with scratchboard. Not a media I often use, but every now and then the bug bites me to play :)

Medium: Scratchboard
Tags: fox halloween wolf Fire all souls mckennitt beltain samhain

Lab-adored by Arikla

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:19:10 -0000

Commission piece. Yes, I know the ear is wonky :P

Medium: watercolor and colored pencil
Tags: dog commission portrait pet labrador retriever

Through by Arikla

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 02:28:19 -0000

Started with the foot/hand in the bottom left...and it sort of evolved from there. Rather fond of it, as I don't draw "meanies" very often, but it came out alright :) I put the design on a few shirts over at CafePress, and should I get the time maybe I'll make the "butt" side for the backs of the Tees :)

Medium: Pen and Ink
Tags: wolf werewolf Rage fury

Pseudo-alaskan Eagle by Arikla

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 22:23:46 -0000

Playing around with some different tribal styles. Kinda fun, may have to work with a few other creatures this way :)

Medium: Micron inkpens
Tags: tribal Eagle alaska

Woven Song by Arikla

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 03:46:23 -0000

Piece done for Mr. Adolphson's 3x5 card collection. Very nice fellow to do work for.

Medium: Watercolor and Colored Pencil
Tags: fox celtic knotwork whistle

Peaceful Harper by Arikla

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 03:14:38 -0000

Finally done. This piece is huge, about 20X30 and currently the largest I have done to date. Watercolor and colored pencil. Unfortunately lost alot of detail in the scan due to the size change But, it's done, and I am rather happy with it. Any odd lines or color shifts most likely due to me having to piece this together from scanner. Originally intended to be part of a series of four that would have the boarder done here proceed all around, but have yet to get teh ambition for a piece this big back :P

Medium: Colored Pencil and Watercolor
Tags: harp barnacle goose

He Made a Harp of Her Breastbone by Arikla

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 03:01:35 -0000

Image inspired by Loreena McKennitt's "Bonny Swans" Especially the line about the harp... "He made harp pins of her fingers fair with a hey ho and a bonny o He made harp strings of her golden hair the swans swim so bonny o He made a harp of her breast bone with a hey ho and a bonny o And straight it began to play alone the swans swim so bonny o" Not so easy to make a harp out of a breastbone, though. The top part is bird pelvis Note: I am aware there are several variations on the song, and that it is based originally off of an older story. Loreena McKennitt's version sticks in my mind the most, however, so that is why it is listed as inspiration.

Medium: Watercolor and Colored Pencil
Tags: Swan harp bone

Art Imitates Life by Arikla

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 03:00:38 -0000

I am still having fun with these Esher-esqu images. I am rather pleased with how this fellows fur turned out, and the hummingbirds.

Medium: Watercolor and Colored Pencil
Tags: wolf anthro anthropomorphic hummingbirds escher

The Edge of Beyond by Arikla

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:59:41 -0000

Finally finished with this one (I think) I love the fur and the wings, but not as thrilled with the background Photo reference from a trip I took to Caanan Valley, WV many many years ago.

Medium: Watercolor and Colored Pencil
Tags: wolf winged valley

Snow Cat by Arikla

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:58:28 -0000

2004 Holiday card

Medium: Watercolor
Tags: snow leopard christmas