There were dragons when I was a boy

My piece for the upcoming Gallery Nucleus tribute show "Together From Afar: A How to Train Your Dragon Tribute Exhibition" ! Opening Reception is on April 11th from 5–8 pm 🐉☁️

I love Astrid and Stormfly, so I was really honored and excited to get to draw them🙇 John Powell was on full blast the entire time 🙇🙇🙇

Honestly, who needs a weighted blanket when you have a dragon?

me: the sheer rawness of hiccup saying “i AM older and i still don’t understand” in how to steal a dragon’s sword in response to stoick’s defense of slavery as a necessary evil blows my mind?? the concept that loss of childhood doesn’t have to mean the same thing as disillusionment or letting go of idealism, that idealism isn’t inherently a “childish” trait to have, that you can become an adult and a leader without compromising the moral values you held as a child despite the world telling you that those moral values were a sign of immaturity and inexperience?? and on the flip side how cynicism isn’t synonymous with wisdom or experience, and in fact cynicism is more of a crutch for characters to excuse their own passivity and justify how they are complicit in an evil social structure simply by upholding the status quo?? go OFF cressida cowell

I like httyd

It stuck with me.

I just really wanted to draw some scrungly Tooths.

I wasn't really in the fandom, but was familiar with it, saw an amazing animation by meltsmelt for the Of The Northmost Winds and Skies fanfic, got very intrigued, saw on tumblt that that this story is extremely loved. I read it. I literally can't start thinking about it without crying. I can't explain my feelings fully, but to say that I love it would be an understatement.

There are no dragons, in this world. Maybe not in your entire lifetime and a dozen lifetimes after yours, but history is a succession of noble failures. Do not be afraid to fail, just as hiccup did, do not be afraid to care. Success may be improbable, but an effort made in the right direction is still a change towards a better world. Even in failure, there is hope. Until then, even if the world isn't wonderful just yet, if you look close enough, perhaps you can still see some of its wonders.

I had a dream. A foolish dream, a hope that perhaps human beings and dragons could coexist in the world.