Himalayan Gryphon

My first artwork of 2017 is finally done!
The picture was made as a project for my art college. The topic was "A Mythical Beast". I've decided to create something in vein of Indian, Nepali or Tibetan culture.
In the end I've drawn a gryphon being a hybrid of a Tibetan eagle and a snow leopard. The main inspiration of the gryphon was Garuda, the Hindu deity.

Now as for work, I had a lot of strains and challenges while painting it, but nevertheless it was fun I was quite difficult to paint the Lhasa Potala Palace on the top of the mountain.
Another trials was rendering the golden crown and neck collar, fur on leopard part or the stones, especially the one with Om Mani Padme Hum carved on.
However the biggest fun I had was painting the individual feathers on wings

Done in Photoshop CC within approx. 10 hrs. Hope you like it