>>2258959In order to make a creature look convincing, you need to look for real life analogues.
If you want to draw dragons, you need to understand bat wings, reptile scales, and whatever the heck sort of body type you're using (lizard-like, cat-like, snake-like, etc.)
You're not making a bat-lizard-cat. You're making a dragon, but you still need to understand the anatomy and the patterning of these things.
It's why the scales on this dragon here:
http://orig01.deviantart.net/79b4/f/2008/106/c/1/dragon__s_face_by_audriana.jpgaren't as good as here:
http://orig08.deviantart.net/bc3e/f/2009/100/4/f/fully_scaled_dragon_face_by_rebeccannoying.jpgThey're similar levels of art, so it's not a question of who is better at rendering. Hell, the first one even has color and shading, but it doesn't look as convincing as the pencil sketch because that sketch uses realistic scale patterns.
IN the same vein, these wings do not look convincing because they have no structure:
http://aqwwiki.wdfiles.com/local--files/nythera-s-wings/Nythera'sWings.pngHowever, these wings have a bone structure, have musculature, and look like they could actually carry a large and heavy creature.
http://cdn.imgs.steps.dragoart.com/how-to-draw-a-dragon-wing-step-5_1_000000002859_5.jpgAgain, similar levels of art style, so it's not a case of rendering. It's simply the difference between using reference and anatomy, and not.
