Art Block Collection: Unreal Beasts of the Mind

These creatures actually do not exist, but they have fascinated many people for generations. Fantasy creatures have made their mark in various cultures around the world, influencing our lives and interests in various ways.


Dragon

Water Dragon, acrylic on art block, 2017

Dragons have captivated our imagination since ancient times, and they come in various shapes and sizes. In most cultures, dragons are said to be symbols of power and having control over natural elements. Many early depictions of dragons portray them as snake-like creatures. Sea serpents like the one in the painting are commonly associated with dragons.




Phoenix

Golden Phoenix, acrylic on art block, 2017

The phoenix, or "feng huang" in Chinese, is a popular avian symbol in Eastern mythology. It is said to be the ruler of all birds and its body parts are said to represent celestial objects and natural phenomena: the head is the sky; the eyes are the sun; the back is the moon; the wings are the winds; the feet are the earth and the tail signifies the other celestial bodies such as planets and stars. Chinese cultures believe that the phoenix lived at the summit of the Kunlun Mountains of western China.



Griffin

Griffin, acrylic on art block, 2017

The griffin is a legendary hybrid which has the eagle as its main component and is traditionally depicted as having the hindquarters of a lion. The griffin is said to be a very powerful and majestic animal because its components, in which the lion is the king of the beasts while the eagle is the king of the birds, are said to have royal connections. Griffins, like many other mythological creatures, frequently show up in the fantasy genre. 



Cerberus

Kerberos the Hellhound, acrylic on art block, 2017

Cerberus is a multi-headed dog which is said to be the guardian of the underworld in Greek mythology. Its main duty is to prevent the spirits of the dead from leaving. As his twelfth and final labor, the Greek hero Hercules was tasked to capture this beast from the possession of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld.



Chimaera

Winged Chimaera, acrylic on art block, 2017

The chimaera is a fire-breathing hybrid creature in Western mythology which composed of parts from more than one animal. Many depictions of the animal depict it to have a lion and a snake as its major components, while several depictions mentioned it having wings. It shares its name with a type of cartilaginous fish that is related to sharks. 




Yeti

Yeti, acrylic on art block, 2018

The yeti is a large, ape-like creature in Himalayan folklore which was nicknamed the "Abominable Snowman" in western popular culture. However, the scientific community has generally regarded the yeti as the result of a combination of folk beliefs rather than a real creature. Recent research discovered that remains purportedly belonging to yetis actually belonged to bears and other furry mammals which lived in the area.



Storm Dragon

Dragon of Storms, acrylic on art block, 2017

This is an original creation dragon created by the artist himself. According to the artist, this dragon, the "King of the Storm Dragons", asserts dominion over storms and hurricanes and its energy is concentrated in an orb on its chest which he named the "Storm Engine". 


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