Good evening everyone.. how are you?
As a fan of Splinterlands, I have always admired the unique and diverse characters in the game. Recently, I decided to challenge myself by participating in the Splinterlands Art Contest on Hive. For my submission, I chose to draw Gargoya Scrapper, a fascinating monster from the Chaos Legion edition. This was my first time drawing this character, and I used the Sketchbook app to complete the artwork, which took me approximately one hour.
In this post, I will share my creative process, the challenges I faced, and my overall experience in bringing this fierce creature to life.
Why I Chose Gargoya Scrapper
Gargoya Scrapper is a Death Splinter monster with a melee attack and the Scavenger ability, which makes it stronger whenever another monster dies. I was drawn to its menacing appearance—a stone gargoyle with sharp claws, tattered wings, and an intimidating stance. The design is both gothic and powerful, making it a great subject for an artwork.
Since I had never drawn this character before, I saw this as an opportunity to improve my digital art skills while paying tribute to one of my favorite Splinterlands monsters.
The Tools I Used
I created this artwork using the Sketchbook app, a user-friendly digital drawing tool perfect for beginners and professionals alike. The app offers a variety of brushes, layers, and editing features that helped me achieve the desired look for my Gargoya Scrapper.
Since I’m still improving my digital art skills, I kept my approach simple:
- Sketching the basic outline
- Refining the details (claws, wings, facial expression)
- Adding shading and texture to give it a more dynamic look
- Finalizing the artwork with bold outlines
The Drawing Process
1. Sketching the Outline
I started by studying the original Gargoya Scrapper card art to understand its proportions and key features. Since the creature has a hunched posture, I made sure to capture its aggressive stance. The wings were particularly tricky because of their tattered, bat-like appearance, but I focused on making them look dynamic.
2. Detailing the Face and Claws
The face of the Gargoya Scrapper is one of its most striking features—with glowing eyes and sharp teeth. I emphasized its fierce expression by darkening the eye sockets and adding highlights to the pupils. The claws also needed careful attention since they are a vital part of its menacing look.
3. Shading and Texturing
To give the artwork depth, I used cross-hatching and soft shading techniques. Since Gargoya Scrapper is a stone creature, I wanted its body to look rough and weathered. I added cracks and uneven textures to its skin to enhance its gargoyle-like appearance.
4. Final Touches
After completing the main details, I adjusted the contrast and lighting to make the artwork pop. I also darkened the background slightly to make the Gargoya Scrapper stand out more.
The process :
Challenges I Faced
Since this was my first attempt at drawing this character, I encountered a few difficulties:
- Proportions: Getting the wings and body ratio right was tricky.
- Shading: Making the stone texture look realistic took some trial and error.
- Time Management: Since I only spent about an hour on this piece, I had to work efficiently.
However, these challenges helped me learn and improve, and I’m happy with how the final artwork turned out.
Conclusion
Drawing the Gargoya Scrapper was a fun and rewarding experience. Even though it was my first time sketching this monster, I enjoyed every step of the process. The Splinterlands Art Contest is a great way for artists to showcase their skills while engaging with the community.
I hope to continue improving my digital art and participate in more contests in the future. If you’re an artist (or aspiring to be one), I highly recommend joining these contests—it’s a fantastic way to challenge yourself and connect with fellow Splinterlands fans!
Thanks for sharing! - @cieliss
