Colors Gallery, meet MahloTheDragon
An artist with a soul as fiery and as wise as an elder dragon's, @MahloTheDragon started their art journey traditionally and it was Colors Live that introduced them to the world of digital art! Their progress as someone new to the digital painting is truly to be admired, just like the mythical creature their alias was inspired from! I'm fired up for this interview so now let's get started!
@MahloTheDragon let’s get started and not drag on! What’s your lore? What do you want to reveal about yourself? Who’re you?
Okay, let's get started! I was born the fourth of eight children in beautiful Bavaria. A skin disease made school difficult for me, but I didn't let it get me down! Today, I don't have a problem with it anymore. I also work as a caregiver for seniors.
I have pets! A Border Collie named Ronny and two cats named Holly and Penny.
Summer Cats by MahloTheDragon
Dragons & wyverns seem to mostly be your main thing! What other sorts of inspirations do you have? What got you on your art journey?
Hmm, I'll have to think about that. Video games inspire me, like Pokemon or Monster Hunter. So do animals! And anime! And dinosaurs! Ever since I was little, I've had the urge to draw things I like! I hung many of my pictures on my bedroom walls so everyone could see what I like!
Eneco <3 by MahloTheDragon
With so much experimentation going on in your gallery, surely picking favorites would be a tad difficult for you! Which artworks of yours would you say define you as an artist the most? Which were the most challenging, and which are your favorites?
Choosing favorites is actually difficult, but I'm trying to narrow it down! xD
Does witch artwork define me as the most as an artist?
Difficult question xD But I'd say it's "A dragon made out of light."
A dragon, it glows, the contrast of dark and light. The dynamics. Exactly what I like!
The most challenging?
It's anything more detailed and elaborate, like "Gore Magala," for example. That one isn't even finished. I find it difficult to stay on the same image for a long time. I lose motivation. I don't know where to continue.
My favorites?
The nine-headet hydra by MahloTheDragon
Goodbye my friend by MahloTheDragon
Lugia, ruler of the sea by MahloTheDragon
Definitely "The Nine-Headed Hydra." I love the colors, the dynamics, just everything about it! I also like "Goodbye My Friend." Hansi and Larry will remain so unforgettable. And then "Lugia, Ruler of the Sea." I drew that for a friend; his favorite Pokemon is Lugia! Maybe I'll have this printed somewhere!
Which paintings are your top 3 favorites in the entire gallery? How do they inspire you?
My top three pictures in the gallery and how they inspire me.
I've been sitting here for a good hour, browsing the gallery. There are so many incredibly great pictures here! It's not easy to narrow it down to just three.
First, I'd say "Koi Pond" by Kjumper! The colors, the details, and the atmosphere. I'd love to be able to create that kind of atmosphere someday.
"Atmosphere" by Fading Glory. This is one of the first pictures I saw on Color. It blew my mind back then and it still does today. It showed me what is possible here!
And then Brettzer's "Whistling Bird". I still remember the first time I saw that picture. I was fascinated by the level of detail! Then I took a closer look. The way the feathers on the belly are drawn! The picture showed me that not everything has to be perfectly drawn down to the tiniest detail! I hope you understand what I mean xD
Favorite artist in and out of the Colors Live gallery? How do they inspire you?
Favorite artist in and out of Colors?
There are tons you could name!
I'll start with my friends.They're @Nooki_Rage and @Mikk6y. You're great, I'm glad you're my friends./
The "Damselette" by Nooki_Rage
sky cotl by Mikk6y
Then @The_Adjudicator, his comments and pictures are always motivating!
A gentle silence by The_Adjudicator
Also, @HannahWallbank! A fantastic person; without her, something important would be missing on Colors!
Happy Birthday! by HannahWallbank
Out of Colors, for example, would be Ori_gina_lart ! She mainly draws animals but also people. Her art is amazing, and I even have a picture she drew here on my bedroom wall.
Then Rayhan's artwork! She's also incredibly talented. Her artworks are breathtaking! She draws traditionally. She's also released a few manga!
There are also great artists on YouTube like Pikat and Drawinglikeasir. They teach you a lot about drawing!
How’d you come across our humble community? What’re your favorite things about it?
How did I find Colors Live? I'd been researching digital drawing for a while at the time. But everything I found was expensive and complicated. Then I discovered Colors Live and thought I'd give it a try. And now, years later, I'm still here!
I love the community! Everyone here is so great and helpful. Everyone can and is allowed to share what inspires them. You always get help when you need it, if you just ask.
Rainbow rings by MahloTheDragon
If you could decide what features we would implement into Colors Live next, what would they be? What’s your feature wishlist?
A soft eraser would be cool. Or tools for straight lines and especially circles. While there are ways to create perfect circles, it's especially problematic for beginners, as you first have to figure out how to draw decent circles.
There's a color quest called "Finding Balance" or something similar, where the image is mirrored in the middle. That would be cool too!
What makes dragons so “hot” to you? Is it their supernatural abilities? Their important role in a lot of fantasy stories? And most importantly, if you had a dragon or wyvern companion, what would they be like?
As a little kid, I much preferred playing with my dinosaurs than anything else.
Happy Dino riding! by MahloTheDragon
And what's cooler than a dinosaur? A dragon, of course! My mom supported this and kept giving me dragons! They're everywhere, too, if you just look around. Dragons are always portrayed as strong and smart. Dragons are also so adaptable; there are so many shapes and forms to discover. Nothing could stop a dragon, and that's what I love about these creatures!
Fenrir the Dragon by MahloTheDragon
If I could have a dragon, it would probably be Toothless. It would be great to live with! You could go on wonderful trips, and it would always protect you. There couldn't be a more perfect pet dragon!
As your skillset expands, so does the type of art you create! Where do you see yourself taking your art in the future? What types of art do you want to create that you haven’t tried yet? What would you say are your current strengths and weaknesses?
I don't know what the future holds, but maybe I'll do some commissioned work and earn some extra money that way. But I'm not reliable enough for that yet.
I still want to learn so much! Better shading, better anatomy, backgrounds, and landscapes. Human drawing. I'd also like to try painting with oil or acrylic on canvas. And so much more!
Hand study by MahloTheDragon
My strengths? I learn quickly when I want to, but I need motivation for that.
My weaknesses? My often lacking motivation and concentration xD
For artists who are shy about trying something different or are afraid of getting out of their comfort zone, what advice do you care to share?
Don't be afraid to try something new. Sure, the results won't be convincing at first, but you'll only get better with practice.
I've drawn hundreds of dragons, and I've gained experience with each one. Believe me, my first dragons were strange creatures xD
I can't really draw people, that's because I never draw them. If I were to draw people every day from now on, the results would be strange at first. But over time, over weeks and months, I'd get better.
The most important thing is not to lose heart and to stick with it! You can only get better by doing something! It doesn't have to be much, just a little bit better each time, and you'll make progress!
Arty and Sharo by MahloTheDragon
Even dragons can suffer from burnout… What do you need to do to reignite that internal fire?
I often have times when I can't draw anything. But I don't put myself under pressure. Rest often helps. Often, the motivation comes back on its own. What helps me, though, are other people.
I like drawing for others, I like giving gifts! Looking at other artists' pictures is also a source of motivation. It also helps to draw something together with my little nieces and nephews! I draw, and they color it in; that's always great!
Mew :D by MahloTheDragon
Goals and passions for the near or far future? What do you hope to accomplish?
My goals for the future? To improve my art in general. Maybe start drawing more traditionally again.
I've just reached the 600 mark in my gallery, and I'm very grateful for that. Maybe it'll be possible to break the 700 mark by the end of the year. But for that, I'll have to draw more again xD
Thanks for 600 Follower by MahloTheDragon
Who needs some love next? Anyone you are passionate about that needs a shoutout?
The entire color community deserves love, every single one of them!
Finally, I'd like to express my appreciation to the entire Color Live team. Without you, none of this would be possible! Thank you!
That wraps up our interview with @MahloTheDragon! The Colors Team would like to thank you for your time! Don't drag your feet, check'em out!
Check out all of our previous interviews here:
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Zyik & The Colors Team
