[Art] Dire wolf sketch.

[moonvoice]

I've gotten permission to post the work in progress shots of this by the client.
So huzzah!
A thousand times huzzah!
:)


Dire Wolf as Totem

Comments

[skyfiery]

I don't know whether to be more amazed by your sketches or completed artwork most of the time. This is so awesome. =D

[moonvoice]

Heh, I love the sketches, but I can't wait to finish it as well! :D

[starstrider]

*BOUNCES*

=D

[moonvoice]

*BOUNCES!* :D :D :D :D

[ariestess]

Oh holy crap! Such depth in his face already! I am in love.

This IS a male dire wolf, right? That's the impression I'm getting here...

[moonvoice]

Yeah, it's a male dire wolf. I only got male energy, really. Female energy stayed well hidden from me.

[ariestess]

*nods*

[kehleyr]

Ah GORGEOUS!

[moonvoice]

Thank you!

[silverjackal]

Oh...

It's a good thing this one is a commission, for the sake of my bank account!

Seriously, I don't have words. :)

[moonvoice]

Eeee. I do seem to be getting a lot of commission requests for rare or awesome canids lately, don't I?

[sundog]

Oh...I love this. Absolutely and forever.

[moonvoice]

Thank you. :D

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

What there is of this looks very good, especially the snubbed ears. But the distinctive ruff and shoulder hump of the dire wolf aren't visible, which leaves this looking closer to a modern wolf, unless one knows about the ears. I still like the picture though.

Re: Hmm...

[moonvoice]

which leaves this looking closer to a modern wolf, unless one knows about the ears.

And the change in the dentition (which affects the size of the muzzle and the way the cheek hangs over it) and the general broadness of the face and length of the muzzle.

I looked up several scientific references for this, and didn't find any reference of a distinctive ruff (though the shoulder hump I'm aware of, along with distinctive differences in craniofacial morphology and the pelvis); do you mean in both the North American and South American subspecies? Do you have some good references that I could look into for future reference? They don't have to be internet references.

Re: Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>And the change in the dentition (which affects the size of the muzzle and the way the cheek hangs over it) and the general broadness of the face and length of the muzzle. <<

Yeah, the muzzle is good.

>>I looked up several scientific references for this, and didn't find any reference of a distinctive ruff (though the shoulder hump I'm aware of, along with distinctive differences in craniofacial morphology and the pelvis)<<

I ran across the reference to a shaggy ruff or mane while researching dire wolves some months ago, but now I can't find it for the life of me. Sorry for the distraction.

Re: Hmm...

[moonvoice]

That's okay! Maybe it's one of those things that's transitory on the internet, but I'll keep an eye out, since I'm sure I'll get another Dire Wolf totem commission in the future. :) It'd be good to keep as up to date as possible.

Re: Hmm...

[paleo]

I ran across the reference to a shaggy ruff or mane while researching dire wolves some months ago

The is one internet artist well-known for her dire wolves who draws them with manes and protruding fangs. The latter is not true to facts (which she admits) and I don't think there currently is a way to know fur density from bone fossils. I don't think a preserved dire wolf body has been found yet.

My own UPG says that dire wolf winter coats would have given them a bit more of a shaggy look than grey wolves. For some reason, this sketch makes me think of spring. But again, that's UPG.

Re: Hmm...

[starstrider]

This.

Though my therianthrope side never gets a mane, persay; it is as Paleo says, a shaggier, ruffier winter coat look than grey wolves. =)

I just love the muzzle and ears though! =)

*grins*

Re: Hmm...

[moonvoice]

Yeah, I definitely gave him a bulky coat. If he kept going 'off camera' he'd have a very huggable neck. If you could get past the gigantic teeth he keeps hidden.

Re: Hmm...

[shistavanenjedi]

I would recommend looking at work by Tedford and Wang, as they have done a lot of work into fossil canids. They have a book called Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History and their journal work is published in the Bulletin of American Muesum of Natural History (something like that.) A google scholar search should help you find it.

Re: Hmm...

[moonvoice]

I am definitely going to look into that book, thank you!

[urbanimal]

That background looks amazing already.

[moonvoice]

Thank you. :D

[lysanatt]

Oh, my. That is gorgeous!

[moonvoice]

Thank you! :D

[paleo]

Wow. Just wow. It brings chills.

[moonvoice]

*dances*

[white_rabbit]

Ohhhh my gods. I heart this so hard, though that makes sense since wolves are very dear to my heart in general. :D :D

Can't wait to see it inked and coloured. That background is just stunning.

[moonvoice]

It's going to be awesome-sauce! I can't wait to get the inking finished.

[spider_fox]

I could tell it wasn't a modern wolf (I couldn't tell what it was actually until I found your caption), so I say mission accomplished XD

I'm more enthralled with the mosaic background though.

[moonvoice]

Very excited to work on the background, I must admit. :D

[mirrorred_star]

Wow!

[moonvoice]

Hee thanks!