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Shadowy Dragons

image by Veronica V. Jones

Jessica Peffer

An elf woman with long brown hair with a large fanged serpent.
A small winged fairy with a small blue lantern on a pole.
A large serpentine dragon rears.

It’s not simply the skill with which Jessica Peffer renders her mythological subjects… it’s also the moods she captures in nearly every single piece. You’ll find this unseen force in her fairies and other winged folk, as well as her dragons and griffons.

Her style has developed over the years, but she’s always seemed to thrive in a particular niche that transcends her anime roots and gothic themes. What is this mystery thread that runs through all of Jessica’s works? Let’s just call it Spooky Cute.

Perhaps it sounds a little silly, but how else would you describe cuddly monsters and tormented angels? The Cute is almost always obvious, but the Spooky often lurks just under the surface. To be fair, her t-shirt designs seem particularly light on the Spooky, and heavy on the Cute, but these might just be the exceptions that prove the rule.

Analysis aside, Ms. Peffer’s works are a delightful journey into a beautiful — if slightly dangerous — world of fantasy.

Written by in January of 2005. Last edited September 2022.

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  • Samira - May 23rd, 2006 at 3:21 am

    Hi, I’ve been trying to get on to Jessica Peffer’s website but it’s not working… I’ve tried it on many computers. Does anyone know the problem?

  • Jeff - May 23rd, 2006 at 8:21 am

    http://neondragonart.com/Art/ works great for me!

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