Laila Powell

 

Inspired by the wasp and dragon hybrid HiveWings from the third mini-series within the Wings of Fire book collection, this piece features a bee- or wasp-like dragon. Like a beehive, this piece features a repeating collage of yellow honeycombs gridded with gold within the main hexagonal honeycomb of the original piece. The focal point is a yellow and orange dragon that has bright, emerald green eyes; dark, jet-black talons; a combination of wiggly and sharp bumblebee-like stripes; a large black stinger coming off the tip of its tail; and prominent white wings that resemble those of a bug. Despite its inspiration, the frequently evil and murderous HiveWings from the books, this dragon wears a serene and benevolent look that contrasts its ferocious characteristics, such as its menacing tail. Moreover, to continue the complementary palette of warm colors interspersed with a mixture of some cooler tones, including the greens and light blues in the center of the piece, the ground is the same sparkly gold that distinguishes each honeycomb in the background from one another. Black outlines give the piece a cartoonish and more playful look while also making the dragon figure in the foreground pop out more than a lack of these lines would cause.