Lapis Sirocco | Copper-Finned Desert Dragon in a Sandstorm

The story of Lapis Sirocco

A fictional story inspired by the artwork.

The dragon lowers its broad muzzle and braces on short legs at the base of the arch. A copper-colored sail rises from its back and tapers toward the tail. Blue scales stand out in the orange light, while the shadow cast by the sandstone gives the creature a sheltered place to wait.

Caravan guides in this part of the desert use the arch as a landmark when the wind covers their usual tracks. One guide has noticed that the dragon arrives before the strongest gusts. She takes its position as a rough sign of where the wind is coming from, though the safe side of the arch changes whenever the storm bends around the rocks.

Sand curves across the foreground and rises into the orange sky in broad strokes. The dragon stays low in the composition, so the arch and its overhang can dominate the space above. Dark patches of blue on the shoulders draw attention to the sturdy legs and the wide shape of the head.

The scene could open a story about a traveler caught between two routes at dusk. The arch offers a place to stop, and the dragon's calm posture gives the traveler time to notice how the wind has changed since leaving the last well.

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