Thomas Olson
Artist * Game Art Prof * Educator * Game Developer
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Epic Dragons, part 2

Lots of epic dragons, holiday dragons, gemstone dragons.
These were all more rare, limited time, and expensive--and generally larger. So they were allowed a bit more detail, as they would be bigger on screen.

Apocalypse dragon! I really love Mayan art. In 2012, when some were worried about the end of the world prophesied by the end of a Mayan "great cycle", we made this dragon. I added as much Mayan flair as I could, and allowed this one to be more sinister.

Apocalypse dragon! I really love Mayan art. In 2012, when some were worried about the end of the world prophesied by the end of a Mayan "great cycle", we made this dragon. I added as much Mayan flair as I could, and allowed this one to be more sinister.

Zombacalpyse dragon! I think this one was done a year after the Apocalypse dragon. How do you make it cute and necrotic a the same time? The animations were great.

Zombacalpyse dragon! I think this one was done a year after the Apocalypse dragon. How do you make it cute and necrotic a the same time? The animations were great.

Ouroboros. Another Apocalypse dragon! This is one of the ugliest dragons in the game, and that's intentional, lol. It was based very directly on a Medieval illumination of an ouroboros dragon--Medieval dragons have really strange faces.

Ouroboros. Another Apocalypse dragon! This is one of the ugliest dragons in the game, and that's intentional, lol. It was based very directly on a Medieval illumination of an ouroboros dragon--Medieval dragons have really strange faces.

Silver Olympus dragon.

Silver Olympus dragon.

Gold Olympus dragon.

Gold Olympus dragon.

Cyclops dragon. Once you've made a habitat and a class of Epic dragons, it's wasteful to not add more. So our Olympus dragons have been joined by some Greek mythology inspired kin. Heavily inspired by Ray Harryhausen. Pretty sure I didn't do the baby.

Cyclops dragon. Once you've made a habitat and a class of Epic dragons, it's wasteful to not add more. So our Olympus dragons have been joined by some Greek mythology inspired kin. Heavily inspired by Ray Harryhausen. Pretty sure I didn't do the baby.

Gold dragon. The first of the Treasure epics. I was inspired by the idea of an old miser king with heavy gold armor that's he's a bit shrunken in.

Gold dragon. The first of the Treasure epics. I was inspired by the idea of an old miser king with heavy gold armor that's he's a bit shrunken in.

Electrum dragon. Electrum is a mix of Gold and Silver, and was used widely in ancient Lydia. In Greek mythology, their symbol was a double bladed axe. These little journeys of learning during research made each new dragon exciting to work on.

Electrum dragon. Electrum is a mix of Gold and Silver, and was used widely in ancient Lydia. In Greek mythology, their symbol was a double bladed axe. These little journeys of learning during research made each new dragon exciting to work on.

Electrum dragon, wings up. Dragons like this we called "wing walkers." And George R.R. Martin is derisive of any other kind being practical :D

Electrum dragon, wings up. Dragons like this we called "wing walkers." And George R.R. Martin is derisive of any other kind being practical :D

Luck dragon. A hasty reskin of the Flower dragon done for St. Patrick's day, turning one of the creepiest dragons into something sweet.

Luck dragon. A hasty reskin of the Flower dragon done for St. Patrick's day, turning one of the creepiest dragons into something sweet.

Love dragon. For Valentine's Day. I'm pretty sure Dom Walding, the animation lead, scolded me for the long legs. This one has more than a little My Little Pony influence.

Love dragon. For Valentine's Day. I'm pretty sure Dom Walding, the animation lead, scolded me for the long legs. This one has more than a little My Little Pony influence.

Easter dragon. More on the ancient side than the Christian side. Mass market entertainment that deals with mythology, and American religious holidays is tricky.

Easter dragon. More on the ancient side than the Christian side. Mass market entertainment that deals with mythology, and American religious holidays is tricky.

Emerald dragon, first of the Gemstone dragons. These were originally going to be tiny fairy dragons, all skewed cute, even in adult form. They ended up larger because marketing figured if they were expensive, players would want to see them better. Fair.

Emerald dragon, first of the Gemstone dragons. These were originally going to be tiny fairy dragons, all skewed cute, even in adult form. They ended up larger because marketing figured if they were expensive, players would want to see them better. Fair.

Jet dragon. Jet (lignite) is a kind of precursor to coal, and as such not a true mineral. It's organic in origin. The Victorians made mourning jewelry out of it, hence the somber expression and ornate styling.

Jet dragon. Jet (lignite) is a kind of precursor to coal, and as such not a true mineral. It's organic in origin. The Victorians made mourning jewelry out of it, hence the somber expression and ornate styling.

Ovalith dragon. In DragonVale lore (at least in my head), ovalith is a magical crystal that becomes an egg when two dragons go into the breeding cave and uh... resonate their elemental magic. It's blends and stores it, and a new dragon is formed.

Ovalith dragon. In DragonVale lore (at least in my head), ovalith is a magical crystal that becomes an egg when two dragons go into the breeding cave and uh... resonate their elemental magic. It's blends and stores it, and a new dragon is formed.

Ovalith dragon, wings up.

Ovalith dragon, wings up.

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