Said it there (twice because DA likes to put the same messages twice :/ )
You are simply the BEST.
I don't know how you do that, but with every new piece of art, you blow my head more and more.
Nice! Like the retouched version.
Really cool piece Graver. I really like the style the flames have on the unmolested one ... the way her right hand comes through ... really cool.
That axe came out superbe and the clinging fog adds the nice desired spooky effect. Great piece man.
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Ahh Graver strikes again!
Wonderful as always.
I am struck by the contrasting elements of your works my friend. Such dark subject matter married to pastels and light. These pieces ALWAYS bring to mind fairy tales to me. Very Brother's Grim, and very beautiful. Thanks for sharing. 
Love it man.
Especially the touched up piece.
I like the original a lot more than that bastardiization of humanity! Just kidding, I'm all about the digitals... great work, and deadly sexy!
LJ
I see what ya mean with the Fiery Auras on the hands. Love the work you do Graver. Gotta love the use of the Axe handle to keep Fire Mistress' modesty 
Now....where can I find the story that you mentioned over on DA?
Your work is something really uniqe.
If I ever get my hand on the substantial money I think your work is worth I am going to ask for a commision.
Untill then I´ll have to just enjoy the work you do for others.
Cheers Poul
Move the fraking axe Donnchadh!
Incredibly cool piece, Graver!
Definitely a worthy addition to your growing collection of masterpieces Graver.
Bout time I started saving up those pennies again!
Yes, YES! All of you, save those pennies, SAVE THOSE PENNIES and soon my ingeniously evil plan shall come to fruition! Today the rent, tomorrow, the electric bill! Mwhahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Seriously, thanks for the comments, guys! I still feel iffy on the whole digital touch up of the paintings, but there will most likely be more in the future. While, stylistically, I do dig the original look of the flames, the color was off and they just didn't have any punch or glow to them (that is so hard to get in watercolor if you're not really really careful). The main issue I'd have with touching up the works i do is the fact that i have no idea when to stop tweaking something... it can always look better after all. Eh, I guess I'll cross that bridge when i come to it.
KnightSilent, about the story... I'm not entirely certain. I was working form a description of a scene that DonnchadH had that sounded like it has a much larger story to it. This is all he sent me:
Evil DonnchadH seated himself in his throne watching the ebb and flow of the battle in front of him. On his right in the arena toe to toe stood EDs greatest threat DonnchadH (Justice) with another dimensions version of himself DonnchadH (Liberty). Firing out fireballs in the general direction of Eckankar was Flaming Mistress. She carefully watched his lizard like form moving stealthily amongst the pillars and spikes.
As the heroes began to win the battle, Evil DonnchadH unleashed his master plan, and suddenly the souls of the dead, hero and villain alike, shot out from the evil eye that imprisoned them.
Alternate Scene
After battling it out the four remaining participants battle around there fallen comrades. Eckankar and DonnchadH are fighting a losing battle against the superior heroes. Called upon for help Evil DonnchadH sets his master plan into action, and the souls of the fallen villains and heroes rise to join the battle.
It just seems like he has a much larger story going on here 
Wow, when I looked at the painting I was listening to Pandora (streaming radio) and Proliferation by Moonspell happened to be playing and...wow. 
Mood music.
Very nice.
Dang it Graver -- I can't decide which one I like better -- the "Molested" one is tighter than your usual stuff and strong as hell. On the other hand, one of the things I like most about your work is the beautiful "randomness" on the watercolors. Sweet piece! N'Awlins humidity is doing wonders for your paints Grave!
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Okay, I do believe I is completely finished with DonnchadH's piece, The Arena!
With this one, however, i decided to do something a bit different (mostly due to BillZBubba) and do some post production tweaking of the image. I'm not too sure which I like better, though i am leaning towards the tweaked version as I was able to correct some things that were bugging me.
Either way, you can find the molested and unmolested versions of the painting through the fallowing links along with a whole heck of a lot more words and junk from me... like there needs to be more.
The Arena
The Arena (unmolsted)
:Paint: And now, I gots to get back to work... it never ends! :sob: Someday, I'll be caught back up and can take some leisurely strolls through the forum again... some day... some day.
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Never got the chance to post on this here but I got to say Graver the unmolested one is the one I'd pick!! I agree with Brandon on the randomness of the watercolor and thats what makes your pieces so damn awesome!!
Of course the molested one is just another version of hawtness as well!!
Rock on man!!
Hrm... so it's the randomness! Well, if a tweak another one, I'll be sure the watercolory nature of it remains a bit more. That indecision (and the fact that I still feel that tweaking the paintings is laying about the painting... but it does make a whole new picture... so... hrm) is why i posted both versions and, in the end, it's the watercolor version that's getting sent to DonnchadH anyway 
Really, thanks for letting me know what's working and what's not. Being so close to the work, i can never tell.
Edit: and OMG, yay for Moonspell. I didn't know they had a new album out!
*bounces merrily off the walls all the way to amazon.com*
Okay, I do believe I is completely finished with DonnchadH's piece, The Arena!
With this one, however, i decided to do something a bit different (mostly due to BillZBubba) and do some post production tweaking of the image. I'm not too sure which I like better, though i am leaning towards the tweaked version as I was able to correct some things that were bugging me.
Either way, you can find the molested and unmolested versions of the painting through the fallowing links along with a whole heck of a lot more words and junk from me... like there needs to be more.
The Arena
The Arena (unmolsted)
:Paint: And now, I gots to get back to work... it never ends! :sob: Someday, I'll be caught back up and can take some leisurely strolls through the forum again... some day... some day.