A cute and cuddly Balinese Barong playing with two mischievous monkeys.

The Barong is the king of spirits in Balinese mythology that serves as a protector and stands for goodness against the forces of evil. He is commonly depicted as a cross between a lion and dog with a red face, wooly body, and is adorned with decorative jewelry and mirrors.

This piece was created for a four page tutorial on how to design cute fantasy creatures for Digital Artist Magazine. It is featured in the June 2012 edition.