I started with a sketch for this one, too. In this case, though, I did the sketch solely for the purpose of scanning it in to create this graphic. It was based on a 19th-century etching I found in a book. I did the painting and shading with the airbrush tool in Photoshop, then used the Craquelure filter to get the texture for the chameleon's skin. Then I used a slight drop shadow and some lighting effects to make it more three-dimensional.

This is the first realistic-style reptile graphic I've done, but it won't be the last. I love reptiles; they're beautiful creatures. I chose the chameleon first because they're so unique, and they're fascinating to watch! My brother had a veiled chameleon for a few years and I particularly loved watching her eat-- she looked just like a Muppet. :)