🐉Greetings hoarders and dragon lovers,

I just had to share my excitement with this finished illustration that I started in the livestream yesterday!

Isn't he adorable? I can't decide whether I love this warm version or the more colourful one better. Can you help me decide? This dragon will be officially added to the signed/numbered Gilded Dragons hardcover art book! You can add it as an add-on to your pledge, or back it as it's own tier! In fact there will be two brand new dragon illustrations added to it, which was not in the soft cover version!
 

I also decided that I most definitely want to make him into a pin (and apparently so did the 

40 of you who voted in the last poll! In fact, if I am honest, I am more excited about this book wyrm than I am about the 3D pins! 😅 (Shhh don't tell anyone ^_^)

Which is why he will squeeze into the next stretch goal at $8500.

 

You can help us get to that goal by backing if you haven't already, sharing the campaign with everyone you know (You never know which of your book wyrm friends will want a shiny dragon book wyrm to keep them company!) or by increasing your pledges to include more pins or the art book!

Speaking of the artbook, Here are a few pictures of it ^_^ Since I have the softcover in stock from my first Gilded Dragon campaign, it wil not include the new art. But since this is the official release of the hardcover, it will! Including any other dragons I draw this campaign!

But wait, there is more!
Because I am in love with this dragon, I am also adding him to my velveteen pillow case designs!

These pillow cases are super soft velveteen and 18x18 inches. Printed double sided so you don't have to pick which version you love most!


These are available in the add ons section of the campaign. Note, designs will be chosen in the survey after the campaign ends. 

So happy Sunday! 

Yours in art,
Therena

Greetings hoarders!

I just wanted to stop by and thank everyone who came to chat with me during my first ever livestream.

I was so nervous I was shaking, but as always, the creator & Backerkit community was amazing and supportive.

If you missed it, you can check out the recording here. You can watch this dragon come to life from scratch to pin. 

Without further adieu, meet the book dragon! (Or is it book wyrm?)


I love it so much. And considering my nerves, I'm surprised it turned out this good. 😅 I knew I was going to draw a dragon sitting on a pile of books, but the little beast turned out looking very different from what I imagined when I visualized him. I love it though, trusting in my Muse to come up with these crazy ideas.

In fact, I really want to turn him into a pin. But...only if there's enough interest to add him as a stretch goal. So vote below to let me know your thoughts! In the meantime I'll tweak him and talk to my manufacturer about quotes before I announce the official stretch goal amount. But I'm thinking either $8.5k or $9k...

So vote below and tell me your thoughts!

Yours in art,

Therena

PS: Remember to back by April 10th if you haven't already! All backers who back by the 10th will get a free sticker. Plus if we hit either 300 backers or $10k by the 10th all backers with 3+ pins will get a free mini dragon pin!



And here's the three campaigns I mentioned in the livestream:

Greetings Dragon Hoarders,

Well, it's the big day, or at least it's a big day for me in that I am going to do my very first LIVE drawing - ever! And I want to invite you along. It all starts 12:00pm PST

I will use twitch for my livestream, and after practicing all week, I think I am ready! (Maybe) But, I would love you to join me as it would feel super weird to be talking into the void. So come chat with me about dragons, fantasy, romantasy, books, ttrpg's, hoards & more.

My twitch account is @Therena_C (is that how you tell people?)🤷‍♀️You can tell I am completely new at this. But what I am not new at is drawing dragons! And I used to be a gamer way back in the very beginning when MMORPG's became a thing. So talking isn't that hard even if I am a little rusty...

You can even help me decide some key features of the dragon! And who knows, maybe if we can raise enough funds even unlock it as a pin! 

Speaking of pins, the campaign is slowly crawling along, but we still have a few more days to reach the stretch goal. And I am hopeful that this livestream will get a few more eyes on the project! I really want you guys to get a mini gold dragon pin, (because *I* really want a mini gold dragon pin 😅) so let's spread the word! We are currently only 105 backers away from unlocking the Guardian 3D pin! And only $2612.50 away from the Scorpio!

Simply share this link: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/therena/gilded-dragons with as many of your friends as possible, or tell them about my livestream happening at 12 pm PST today!

You should also be able to watch the livestream on Backerkit...assuming I set it up right lol.

Until then, here are the designs from unlocked dragons until I see you at noon!


Yours in art,
Therena

PS: If you haven't backed yet, go do so now!

And don't forget to add my collab partner's campaign so you can get both these FREE dragon pins!



And since my live drawing will feature books and dragons, here are two more campaigns for you to check out!

Greetings hoarders & dragon lovers,

Yesterday this campaign has passed my every expectation of what was possible. When I set out to make these pins, it was unknown territory. I didn't know if people would love them as much as I wanted them. But your support has been both inspiring and encouraging. I'm blown away by all of you being here, celebrating not only a love for dragons, but also pins! So thank you! You are the shining treasure in my life right now, and the reason I wake up smiling!

Since the next stretch goal is a little bigger than the others in scope, I thought I would talk a little about what goes into the making of a 3D pin. And since I received the 3D renders this morning I can share my excitement with you!

It all starts with the concept art & design. Since I already had two golden dragons lying around, I used them for the concept art.

I then send it to my manufacturing company. Sometimes the feedback is messy and there are lots of changes. Minor tweaks which will elevate the final product. Like the fairy dragon below. Because sometimes an original design needs tweaking. I'm learning a lot through this process, and eventually I'm sure it'll be less messy. But my manufacturer is great and have always been able to decipher my requests into something beautiful.
 


I'll be honest, my first reaction to the golden dragons were somewhat lack luster as they only sent the mock ups for the hard and soft enamel pins. While still pretty, it wasn't what I envisioned and dreamt it would be. So I asked for an actual 3D render to go with the quote.

And I was blown away with giddy excitement this morning when it was in my inbox! I have chosen antique gold for my colour as I love the contrast of the antique metals. The 3D doesn't show this as well, so here's what it would look like.





What do you think? I love the 3D design, and the antique gold will really accentuate the design and make it pop. Plus, I love texture. And my favourite pins are 3D pins.

So what can you do to help unlock this design if you already backed? It's simple, share the campaign with everyone you know! Once we hit 300 backers the guardian unlocks. Which means the more people we can lure to the shiny hoard, the better! And once we hit $10,000 the scorpio unlocks! It's a race to see which one we will hit first!

Or you can increase your pledge to add more pins, the art book, or a velveteen pillow case of your favourite dragon! We now have 8 unlocked designs to choose from! And by increasing your pledge you not only get more awesome stuff, but you help us get closer to unlocking Scorpio!
 
 


Speaking of unlocked designs, I have updated the story section to include each dragons' unique attributes like glitter, pearlescence, transparent designs, etc. I'll also highlight each dragon over the next few days. Since each of them has a story!

I know many of you are excited to unlock these limited edition 3D pins. But what if I sweetened the hoard by adding ANOTHER golden dragon mini pin?
If you guys unlock either of the 3D pins by Wednesday, April 10th, I will design a mini dragon pin to go with the 3D pins and all backers with 3+ pins or over $70 CAD will receive the mini pin for FREE.

So don't be shy, share the campaign and let's unleash the dragons and grow your hoards!


Until tomorrow. Happy hoarding.

Yours in art,
Therena

PS: Don't forget to back the Life Cycle of a star campaign to get the Celestial dragons FREE


And some more dragons for your hoards:

Greetings fellow hoarders and shiny dragon lovers,

You did it! You unlocked the mechanical sea dragon! 

I am so happy to unleash this little guy as he is pretty special to me! You see, this illustration was one of my first finished art I made once I returned to digital art after 7 years of not doing illustrations and focusing on my photography instead. So unlocking him is something of a personal treat because I love him so much. And yes, he technically looks more like a seahorse that a seadragon, but let me keep the illusion okay? 



In fact, I love him so much I modelled one of my characters in my first published novel after him! So, if you pick up Star Found, you will see the story of this little critter as well! (I will add my novels to the pledge manager after the campaign ends ^_^ since I have collector editions for my novels as well!)

But the fun isn't over yet. I have taken your feedback in the poll into serious consideration, and decided that I will not be releasing a 2D version of the limited edition Moon Dragon as I didn't explicitely mention this at the start of the campaign. But, instead I have added a new EARLY bird reward. Anyone who backs before April 10th will get a sticker with the design instead!

So it is win-win ^_^ The collectors keep their special pin, and everone else gets the sticker.

That being said, almost all the limited edition pin tiers have been claimed, and I love 3D Pins. Plus, I want everyone who supports this campaign to have an opportunity to get a limited edition pin. So, I decided that I will design not one, but TWO 3D pins based on these designs. There is already a poll on which one you guys want to unlock first depending if we hit $10,000 or 300 backers first. And so far the guardian has taken the lead!


How will this pin be limited edition? Well, I learned from last time, so the limited edition will be the 3D version. I may still create a 2D hard enamel pin in the future using the art, but I will only print the 3D version based on how many people add it to their pledges rounded to the next 50 (since that is the Manufacturer increments). The minimum would be 100. That means if 123 backers add the 3D pins to their pledges in pledge manager, the edition would be an edition of 150, etc. 

Another feature I am adding to all my pins is the laser engraved logo on the back of my pins. Some may just have my name engraved if the logo doesn't work with the clutches. But I decided to add this to all pins going forward to establish authenticity to my pins. Plus, I get to add my little moon dragon to my designs and that makes me happy ;)


I am in LOVE with all the unlocked designs! It is super tempting to keep creating dragons for you guys! And I find that I always want to draw MORE during a campaign, especially when it's going well. In fact, I am considering doing a lifestream where I draw another dragon. And I want to invite all of you along to chat as I draw.

You will get to ask me questions, talk all things draconic and fantastical, and even help me decide key features or make suggestions as I draw!

Now, I will be honest, I have never actually done a livestream anything before. 😅 So this is kinda scary and exciting. I am thinking this Saturday at 12pm PST. I am still figuring out the details (like which platform I can share my screen and draw live at the same time...), so I will let you guys know in an update later this week. I welcome any advice on this! (Discord? Zoom? Twitch? Facebook? Unfortunately, Youtube is out as I shared a NSFW timelapse of one of my art not realizing I wasn't allowed to >.< OOPS. So I am in Youtube probation until the end of the month lol.)

Anyways, I look forward to chat with you guys and draw another dragon! I don't know if I want to do a book dragon (Book Wyrm) or a Sakura inspired dragon because of all the cherry trees blooming down our street! Come Saturday and help me decide ^_^

Yours in art,
Therena

And if you haven't backed yet, do so today and help us unlock these awesome stretch goals!



And while you are checking out the Pintopia campaigns, be sure to visit some of my personal favourites!