AGoT - A Hidden Agenda - Rhaegal Process

Back in January I shared with you my updated versions of Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal. Today I have for you the process and steps that went into making Rhaegal. So that we are all on the same page, here is how the final version of Rhaegal from A Hidden Agenda turned out...

Rhaegal - A Hidden Agenda
© 2014 Fantasy Flight Games

As mentioned with the post about Drogon I worked out all the initial thumbnails together so that they were working as a set and individually. ...and so that they could potentially be interchangeable if one thumbnail suited a different dragon better. Here is how those original thumbnails turned out...

Dragon thumbnails
© 2014 Fantasy Flight Games

There were some notes to take into account with Rhaegal as I moved forward with this piece. I implemented the edits and resubmitted the thumbnail. Here is how the updated and finalized thumbnail turned out...

Rhaegal - Thumbnail
© 2014 Fantasy Flight Games

With the thumbnails now approved it was time to get drawing... and that is what I did. After some good old scribbling time on paper with pencil I had a finalized drawing of Rhaegal...

Rhaegal - Drawing
© 2014 Fantasy Flight Games

Drawing approved it was time to paint! In just 12 easy... MOVING ON... Not as many major edits as Drogon, but there were some definite tweaks and edits to make the piece work better. Here is how the painting developed...

Rhaegal - Process steps
© 2014 Fantasy Flight Games

I wanted to achieve something different with each of these dragon pieces while calling back to the original 3 dragon paintings that I did for the AGoT card Game. Many people have expressed to me which piece is their favorite or not their favorite, for me, this piece is my favorite of the three. I have been holding onto a set of photos of a forest fire for a while and I knew there would be the right piece to use them on eventually. When I got this assignment, I knew immediately Rhaegal needed to be flying through a red/gold environment of fire and burned trees. I love yellow skies... I love red skies... I love green skies... I love skies that are not blue and the images I was using as reference had this amazing colored sky. Add in the burnt trees, smoke, fire, and a big green dragon and I was super happy. Here is an animated gif to better show the progression of this piece...

Rhaegal - Process progression animation
© 2014 Fantasy Flight Games

Another more or less straight forward painting. I had a clear idea in mind for the finished piece and I set my sites and got to work. Again, here is how the final piece turned out as well as the final production card...

Rhaegal - A Hidden Agenda
© 2014 Fantasy Flight Games

Rhaegal in handy dandy card form

That is all for another exciting Monday on the blog, see you back here on Wednesday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com