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Unicorn

A unicorn (from Latin unus 'one' & cornu 'horn') is a mythological creature. Though the modern popular image of the unicorn is sometimes that of a horse differing only in the horn on its forehead, the traditional unicorn also has a billy-goat beard, a lion's tail & cloven hooves—these distinguish it from a horse.

In my interpretation, I used the structure of a warhorse with powerful legs & wild hair. I made sure to add dynamic smoke/magic dust to suggest where the unicorn's power supply is.

The Making of Unicorn

How'd I do it? Watch how I work! Here are scanned images of the illustration in development! See Unicorn in the works, from preliminary pencil sketch to the final pen & ink drawing! These phase-by-phase drawings may also give you some ideas for your own drawings!

Click the images to see full-view

Phase 1

Inspired by Bruce Coville's book, "Glory of Unicorns", I set off to draw my own.

Sorry, no preliminary sketches for the unicorn. I was so intent on transfering the unicorn in my head onto paper that I couldn't stop in between to scan.

Phase 2

Outlined the drawing in ink.

Phase 3

Shaded-in textures on the body & head.

Phase 4

Shaded-in the tail. Added some stray strands of hair around it.

Phase 5

Shaded-in the mane. Added some stray strands of hair around it.

Phase 6

Shaded-in the fetlock & eyes.

Phase 7

Shaded-in the hooves & horn.

Phase 8

Added dynamic smoke to add magical flair.

Phase 9

Rendered the smoke using the pointilist technique, so it looks like it's made up of magic dust.

Finished!

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Jason @ Strategic Visual
Josel @ HackUndertaker
Jelena @ Endless Light
Lynn @ Golden Roses
Nelchee @ In Obscuro
Robin @ Sleep Zero
Yann @ Marshmallow Palace

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