This took a very long time.

This was a commission for a very kind lady as a gift for her husband. Unlike most of my commissioners, she described certain elements that she wanted to see in the background rather than giving me a lot of detail on a character. So while I had to include a storm rising, a castle with a dragon cicling it, two gryphons walking a mountain cliff pathway, and a large ancient tree, I was given free reign! If only more commissions were like this. ;}

Regardless, I tried to really push myself with this painting, I know it has some flaws but I'm afraid if I continued work on it at this point my head might well explode into a very messy smear on my Wacom tablet.

I apologize for the jpeg compression- I tried to make it a size that wouldn't kill folks with a slower internet connection.

Stats, for those interested:
6,000 pixels x 4,800 pixels at 400dpi
583.8 MB file
estimated 80-95 hours
"Chunky oil pastels" and a little "splattery airbrush" tools used in Painter.
Three layers, final.