I really love Undel’s art and I think she is incredibly talented, but I do think she struggles with making dragons look more diverse. I’ve always felt that a lot of her designs get this kind of samey, almost dog-like anatomy. Dragons can have so many unique and cool forms, and ancients (which were supposed to be an example of this) also have this problem. They have been so disappointing as a whole. Half of them could’ve just been moderns. Banescales and aberrations were a step in the right direction, but I don’t think they’ve totally avoided the samey-ness either. I didn’t even notice until recently that aethers have 6 arms, you can barely see them. And as much as I like the new lightning ancient’s horns, the rest of the body is really just kind of a dog’s, once again. Undel even gave them claws like the Stormcatcher’s at first, but she removed them in favor of normal arms. :/
I really hope the other members of the art team have a say in breed designing, but I don’t think they do. And until that happens I worry we’re gonna keep having the same problems.
it's interesting to see people saying undel's dragons look dog-like (not saying youre wrong, just giving my own take on it. also, before anyone tells me to get therapy, i am in therapy and doing great) i have a fear of dogs thats also manifested as a deep level of disgust and anger when i see one, or anything similar to one. canids (and vulpines), even just their skulls or the shape of them and their bodies. i cant see dogs IRL and even seeing the doglike familiars on site causes this reaction (ive mitigated it with adblocking images though. its definitely not FRs problem, its a me problem lol). so even cartoon canine visuals trigger it
all that to say that ive never felt any sort of negativity towards the dragon designs themselves, though mirrors (and tundras) got pretty close to the edge for me (not helped by everyone in plague calling them "murder puppies"). they dont feel doglike to me, or any other dragon designs ive seen from undel. im wondering what makes other people see them as doglike? is it just because people associate mammalian = dog? (i dont see just you im replying to saying this, ive seen this sentiment a LOT)
Yeah, IDK. I wouldn't say all but two have dog or cat bodies, even if we're only talking moderns. And I don't see the mammalian back legs on the Bogsneaks, either.
during undels lightning ancient drawing stream she said that some of the other site artists do the sketch/concepts, and then she does the lienart and shading to keep those aspects consistent across breeds. IIRC xhaztol did the concept for bogsneaks, suburbansamurai did aethers and abbies, and idr the exact artist but undel said someone else did gaolers (sin maybe?). i dont have the timestamp for this but i think it was in the first stream
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Re: Dragon Breed Variety
(Anonymous) 2023-07-13 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)I really hope the other members of the art team have a say in breed designing, but I don’t think they do. And until that happens I worry we’re gonna keep having the same problems.
Re: Dragon Breed Variety
(Anonymous) 2023-07-14 03:18 am (UTC)(link)(not saying youre wrong, just giving my own take on it. also, before anyone tells me to get therapy, i am in therapy and doing great)
i have a fear of dogs thats also manifested as a deep level of disgust and anger when i see one, or anything similar to one. canids (and vulpines), even just their skulls or the shape of them and their bodies. i cant see dogs IRL and even seeing the doglike familiars on site causes this reaction (ive mitigated it with adblocking images though. its definitely not FRs problem, its a me problem lol). so even cartoon canine visuals trigger it
all that to say that ive never felt any sort of negativity towards the dragon designs themselves, though mirrors (and tundras) got pretty close to the edge for me (not helped by everyone in plague calling them "murder puppies"). they dont feel doglike to me, or any other dragon designs ive seen from undel. im wondering what makes other people see them as doglike? is it just because people associate mammalian = dog? (i dont see just you im replying to saying this, ive seen this sentiment a LOT)
Re: Dragon Breed Variety
(Anonymous) 2023-07-14 06:14 am (UTC)(link)Re: Dragon Breed Variety
(Anonymous) 2023-07-15 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)Yeah, IDK. I wouldn't say all but two have dog or cat bodies, even if we're only talking moderns. And I don't see the mammalian back legs on the Bogsneaks, either.
Re: Dragon Breed Variety
(Anonymous) 2023-07-19 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)I see horses in most of them much more than I see dogs. (Part of why I love the carousel apparel so much.)
Re: Dragon Breed Variety
(Anonymous) 2023-07-15 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)Re: Dragon Breed Variety
(Anonymous) 2023-07-16 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)Re: Dragon Breed Variety
(Anonymous) 2023-07-19 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)