CHOW 114 :: The Beast

[S.C. Watson]

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/CHOW-LINES/CHOW-LINES-MEDUSA.jpg

ROUND #114

The Beast
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DESCRIPTION

Re envision a contemporary Beast from the classic fairy tale Beauty and Beast. You may need to do some research for this one. Wikipedia is an acceptable source, however, expand your horizons a little bit and perhaps go to a library instead of the web. :geekg:

[CLARIFICATION]
Okay, what I meant by "Re envision a contemporary Beast from the classic fairy tale" was to take the general theme, the idea of the beast, and come up with something more contemporary - I did not mean for you to do the boar-guy in a suit. Be creative - make him creepy, or frightening, in a contemporary sense. Don't like fur? Fine. Give him scales, or wet skin, or feathers - it doesn't matter. Keep the theme, but be creative with your design.

:right:Also, throw in a character design side bar: Facial expressions. No side bar, no poll.
_________________________________


:right: FOLLOW THE TOPIC.

:right: POST YOUR FINAL IN THE FINALS THREAD.


:right: SAVE YOUR FILES IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT. Chow##_Nickname
example: "CHOW#100_Oblio.jpg" ;)

:right: PLACE THE IMAGE IN A FRAME WITH YOUR NAME/TOPIC

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i222/ChowPics/frame.jpg
(you can add CA logo, etc).

-------------------------
DEADLINE
SUNDAY, April 20th, 2008
The way the deadline works: if deadline is on a Sunday and your image is posted on that Sunday 23:59 your local time it's a good entry.
In fact - as long there is Sunday somewhere on the planet your entry is ok. I will make the poll sometimes Monday evening my time (GMT - 8 ) yet I'll have a look at the last entries.
--------------------------


POST YOUR FINALS IN THE FINALS THREAD!

Remember to include your nickname in the filename.

About quality - as general rule: if your shapes and values are not decent - you are out. Watch proportions, perspective etc. we need perfectly readable shapes and coherent, consistent values.

_____________

BE PROFESSIONAL - only finished and good quality entries will be taken to the poll. Oregano and Daestwen (yay!) will make the selection.
______________

[ibrahx]

wow no more fur!!!!! well ill try!!! does anybody knows a "fur" video tutorial...

[PuppyKitten]

I've got so many images in my head that would work for this one. Beauty and the Beast is my FAAAAAVORITE.

Oooooh I'm excited about this!!

[niyado]

yaikssss a lot of AIR!!! :( ;_;

[niyado]

ups i eat an H*=hair XD

[PuppyKitten]

ups i eat an H*=hair XD


You can edit your original posts when you make a typo by clicking 'edit'

:) Hopefully that's helpful cuz if you're anything like me, you prolly make quite a few of em. ;P

[MOtero]

a modern 2008 boar beast? wat a ugly beast.

[madhatter106]

All I can picture right now is Donald Trump with tusks...

[ManaBurn]

Go where........ "Library"? It'll be me and all the homeless guys, and noone will be able to tell the difference.

[Dreoilin]

This looks like a cool topic, but I want to make sure I'm understanding it. We're just supposed to be creating a new, modern take on the Beast from 'Beauty and the Beast' right? Are we allowed to include Beauty in it? What kind of research are we required to do exactly, and will we have to post it with the final like the Gender Bender challenge? (or is the research just to make sure we have a good understanding of the original fairy tale? I'm not familiar with it outside of the Disney movie, so I would have to look some stuff up anyways, but I want to make sure it's not something further than that)

[Hexism]

I'm going to try my best to get this one done.
Right now I'm thinking of something like Beast+suit/office clothing/punk-ish fashion.

[grenogs]

omg!! fur fur and more fur, ive painted more fur in the last month than id like to in a life time. i think even if i had the time to, i still wouldn't want to enter this one, especialy if fur is a rule. ibrahx, sorry to say, but theres no easy solution for doing hair or fur, it all comes down to, a few basic things, how much detail you want, is it short or long hair, smooth or rough, matted or silky smooth, curly or stright? and each type has a different approach :(

[corspufo]

Library? Oh where the books live, gotcha.

I'd love a piece of this action.

Madhatter106: LOL! Beautiful.

[S.C. Watson]

haha - geez. Would you guys like some cheese with your whine? :P

Actually, I was pretty vague in the original description, so I apologize. I've updated it, so perhaps it will be a bit more clear.

This looks like a cool topic, but I want to make sure I'm understanding it. We're just supposed to be creating a new, modern take on the Beast from 'Beauty and the Beast' right? Are we allowed to include Beauty in it? What kind of research are we required to do exactly, and will we have to post it with the final like the Gender Bender challenge? (or is the research just to make sure we have a good understanding of the original fairy tale? I'm not familiar with it outside of the Disney movie, so I would have to look some stuff up anyways, but I want to make sure it's not something further than that)

- Focus on the Beast. Keep Beauty out of it.
- The research for this one is entirely up to you. (Stay away from the Disney movie).

Ciao,
~Oreg.

[MOtero]

so we can re-design the beast.. create a original beast for the new beauty and the beast illutrated book based in the 1st one ever. NO LION FACES ARE ALLOWEDS! HA!

LOL

[Kreature]

These may be silly questions but can we use old mythology stories and perhaps the movies The dark Crystal or Labyrinth?

[S.C. Watson]

These may be silly questions but can we use old mythology stories and perhaps the movies The dark Crystal or Labyrinth?
... I'm *not* entirely sure I understand what you're driving at...

If you mean may use things like The Dark Crystal or Labyrinth (awesome movies, both) as inspiration, yes, certainly. But don't take a creature from either movie and redesign it as that would be off topic.

~Oreg.

[Amedyr]

I've got so many images in my head that would work for this one. Beauty and the Beast is my FAAAAAVORITE.

Oooooh I'm excited about this!!


Oh well, I might as well give up now...

(hehe just joking, it's the exercise that counts) :yayca:

[Kreature]

To clarify what i was saying about mythology, when i think of old fairy tales I also think that could span lots of things. I have a gaint book at home on old mythologies which are kind of like fairy tales.... maybe not.....


Also what about the French Fables de La Fontaine Stories? which were a series of short stories and poems on ... fairy tale things.

[MarkWinters]

To clarify what i was saying about mythology, when i think of old fairy tales I also think that could span lots of things. I have a gaint book at home on old mythologies which are kind of like fairy tales.... maybe not.....


Also what about the French Fables de La Fontaine Stories? which were a series of short stories and poems on ... fairy tale things.

He means The Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Not just any beast from any story.

[UCT]

well I came straight home from work and did this for about an hour.

After reading the further clarity to the brief Im thinking this is even more generic than I usually produce. But anyways, tis a start.

[ManaBurn]

Oregano I don't think I understand the sidebar requirements? Do you want like an orthographic of the head, or the Beasts face rendered with multiple expressions off to the side of the illustration?

[madhatter106]

He means The Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Not just any beast from any story.

Indeed. It's the first sentence of the brief. Come on CHOWers, please read the brief. More than once. With a fine glass of merlot at your side, if need be. You can avoid having to ask questions when the answers are right in front of you. ;)

[S.C. Watson]

Oregano I don't think I understand the sidebar requirements? Do you want like an orthographic of the head, or the Beasts face rendered with multiple expressions off to the side of the illustration?

Please take a look at Chate Noire's Sam Smythe character (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=342963&stc=1&d=1207710281). It's a perfect example of what I'm talking about :)

All the best,
~Oreg.

[mcmatz]

Save the shoe leather and the gas.
Here's the link to Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org) where you can search and get several free, downloadable versions of "Beauty and the Beast".

I <3 the internet...

[ManaBurn]

Thank you Oregano. Both actualy then. I have a way I'm interepeting the "Beast" curse that I think will be fun to interpret in the sidebar.

One other question Oregano. Can I place the sidebar outside the actual illustration, or am I to focus more directly on the char and not go for a full illustration?

[Lunian]

I'm going for a obese hynea man (with mange) not sure I'm going the right direction but it's what I got :)

[S.C. Watson]

One other question Oregano. Can I place the sidebar outside the actual illustration, or am I to focus more directly on the char and not go for a full illustration?
You can do the full illustration, but include the side bar as just that - a side bar. Attach it to the side of the full illustration.

Ciao,
~Oreg.

[Stephan_R]

Ooo, I like this.

So a character sheet then eh? Sure

[hippl5]

3d total's fur tutorial (http://www.3dtotal.com/team/tutorials/2dstarfinder_fur/starfinder_fur_01.asp). Thought this might help.

[ibrahx]

Oregano thanks for the [CLARIFICATION for dummies] way to much......

[S.C. Watson]

Oregano thanks for the [CLARIFICATION for dummies] way to much......

...huh? Sorry, but this is a really *light* brief this round, and simple to boot. I'm not following you.

[sarillion]

i know it's not required, but since there were some expressions of... emotion... about hair:

http://www.furiae.com/popup.php?text=hairtutorial

best hair tut out there that i have seen.

good luck all.

[Nightblue]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd214/lxc2000/CHOW114_pv1.jpg early wip, playing with silhouette and scale and trying to do something I normally don't do. The topic seems pretty open to me, so please let me know if I'm interpreting something wrong.

[Harlequin01]

Here is my sketch that I'm starting with for the beast. I read the original french version of the story to try and get some inspiration. I'm sure I haven't hardly pushed this. But, I'm just getting my feet wet. I haven't done a solid drawing in months. We'll see where this goes. Let me know what you all think.
http://www.studioharlequin.com/Sketchbook/2008/Character_001_small.jpg

[DefiledVisions]

Nightblue That is cool! I like the perspective and his huge shape contra her small.

Harlequin Nice sketch! But the way I see him there is more as a creature than a character. Maybe add some more elements that puts him into the role as the Beast, and not just 'a beast' hehe. Anyway, its only a sketch, I think you have something planned for him ;)

I've been sketching some, gonna see if the scanner works and hopefully it does. One question though for Oregano:
I was thinking of adding his exressions as a part of the picture, but more like sequels of his life, like grief and a small scene with him and a grave for example, where you clearly see his expression. Is it okay to do so? or just a plain full picture of the character and some different expressions next to him.

[S.C. Watson]

One question though for Oregano:
I was thinking of adding his exressions as a part of the picture, but more like sequels of his life, like grief and a small scene with him and a grave for example, where you clearly see his expression. Is it okay to do so? or just a plain full picture of the character and some different expressions next to him.

that sounds fine.

~Oreg.

[Hendric VII]

Harlequin, that initial design looks more demonic than bestial to me. I think it might be the multiple sets of horns. I think that its a good solid sketch but with the hooves, and the tusks, and the horns, its a little too much.

[DefiledVisions]

Here's some basic sketches. I was watching a program on discoverychannel the other day about great white's and was pretty awestruck.
They're not only the brutal killingmachine we think they are. Bellow the surface they are very calm and cool.

and so.. inspired by that program and the sharks, I thought I'd make my beast into a sharkhuman. I hope it's not going against the topic or so.

[DefiledVisions]

Here's my intended layout, very basic thoughts, don't know if I'll stick to it. Any opinions are most welcome.

1. Anger, a scene where he's loosing his mind, and a close-up of the face
2. grief, a scene at a grave ( maybe beauty? ) I was thinking of the idea of him, in his blinding rage, killing her... which would be a very sad story..
3. Joy, him and beauty. Closeup of their faces.

Might add a very neutral face bottom left where there's nothing.

What do you guys think?

[corspufo]

Harlequin: really the only thing bothering me is your Beast's wang. He's packing some heat there. A beast indeed sir.

DefiledVisions: ok dude, heard you sing it, NOW BRING IT! It's hard to give you any real feedback, so show us your stuff. SharkBeast does sound awesome though.

[Shard]

here's a study i've been experimenting with..pretty simple design..reminds me of Cthulhu sometimes but i'm still kinda liking it..
what do you think?

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7409/beast2sf7.jpg

[madhatter106]

DefiledVisions - I think you need to go back to the heart of the story - there's very little rage that the Beast demonstrates towards Beauty, so why would he kill her? His end of the story is more melancholy and sadness and pining to be her husband - I think you're headed more in the direction of Bluebeard, rather than the Beast...

Oregano - as for mine, I know I made a joke earlier about this being Donald Trump with tusks, but it's sort of a gut reaction that I'd like to explore. To me, part of the establishing of his character is his extreme wealth - he has an entire castle full of food and drink which he can set out for passing strangers, and he can even give the father a box full of gold once he's been promised Beauty.

For my modern day Beast, I see him as a Titan of Industry, a Tom Wolfe 1980's "Master of the Universe"-style character like something out of The Bonfire of the Vanities. A magnate, a CEO, a man of incredible wealth, rich as Croesus, who has everything at his fingertips except true companionship. So, I'm kind of liking the Trump-with-tusks approach I joked about...I want to get a board room, executive office, corporate feel to this, hence the lower angle and the looming BEAST Industries sign. I'm thinking something like a set out of The Hudsucker Proxy or Citizen Kane...considering even including an antique stocker ticker...

I haven't settled quite on what his deformity/beastliness should be, but I think I want to do the sidebar like an issue of Time or Fortune 500 or Forbes, with him on the cover.

Let me know if this is too off base or too out there...thanks for modding these Oregano! :)

[ManaBurn]

I really like what I'm seeing so far. Can't wait to see what your "beast" deformity is going to be Hatter. I've been getting wrapped up in the illustration. Think I'm going to take a day off and work with the sidebar Ideas I have. The "curse" being more or less visualy affected by his emotional state.

[RMick]

Alright, here's my WIP.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o134/RonnieMick/The-Beast.jpg

I see him as a bit of a rogue. Much like the original story, only true love will undo his curse. Unfortuantely, he's too busy getting LAID to actually find true love. It's not so much because he's bestial... could be he's just a bit of a dick until he meets Beauty( by the way, I see him as being Irish, kinda like Colin Farrell during his "greasy" stage - hence the pint of stout in hand.
Colours and faces to come

Ron

[Vorace]

good job everyone!

my sketch

[MichaelMotion]

Everybody knew him in this small town. At the age of 11 he killed his parents who btw treated him like an animal.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l184/_MVDB_/Beast-1.jpg

[Carnifex]

idea development...

nightblue - i love this! the scale difference is so sweet. i'll be very interested in the outcome.
vorace - keep in mind he's gotta be able to do expressions :) also,he must have one whole lot of inner beauty if the beauty is to free him of his curse ;)

edit: finished version for now. OREGANO,please tell me if something's amiss/it's too big/it's good to go for the poll. thank you :)

[DefiledVisions]

corspufo I'm bringing! oh I'm bringin'

Madhatter Yea good point, truth is I havn't checked up the story at all.. Only seen the disney version like 10 years ago, so yea. Some re-thinking needed.

[S.C. Watson]

Oregano - as for mine, I know I made a joke earlier about this being Donald Trump with tusks, but it's sort of a gut reaction that I'd like to explore. To me, part of the establishing of his character is his extreme wealth - he has an entire castle full of food and drink which he can set out for passing strangers, and he can even give the father a box full of gold once he's been promised Beauty.

Not opposed to the idea, however, make sure that you can identify him as The Beast right off, without need for verbal backup :) My main concern is that this stands a good chance of going off target.

...you mean Trump doesn't have tusks :wtf:

:P

ManaBurn -- just a note on your style - right now, you're looking like an Andrew Jones knock off. He's got some awesome stuff, and there is *nothing* wrong with exploring styles, however I think you would do better to explore your own, or at the very least, make sure you are using what you learning form studying Andrew's stuff and incorporate it into something uniquely yours.

shardana - I like your concept, but I can't really identify *what* your beast is - try and take an animal and mix it with a man. Right now, you could take what you've got and make it some sort of cephalopod/human mix.

Carnifex good point on the inner beauty note :)

All the best,
~Oreg.

[Saturns Gate]

Does the character have to be in color? Thinking of doing mine as a pencil illustration and keeping it that way, as I dont have the time to color.

[S.C. Watson]

Does the character have to be in color? Thinking of doing mine as a pencil illustration and keeping it that way, as I dont have the time to color.

No, it does not need to be in colour. Please read the chow header in the first post - it givees the guidelines for what is expected for entries.

~Oreg.

[DanielC]

nice work guys !
still gotta make him scary...

[Carnifex]

damn daniel,that's some sweet sketchwork!

updated orig. post.

[Jason Snair]

Vorace: Really liking your sketch there. He's got some nice personality..even friendly.

Daniel C: Nice drawing as well. Great pose.

[Sir Bret]

"- The research for this one is entirely up to you. (Stay away from the Disney movie)."

So, Oregano... if I do a Justin-Hawkins inspired Beast, complete with Gibson guitar, cheesy grin and broken teeth, that'd be fine? I hope so, because this is an opportunity not to be wasted! :P

"Looo-OOOVE on the ROCKS! Love on the rocks with no IIICE!"

[Jacob Kobryn]

Hey Sir Bret, My friend Beej painted his guitar!
I might do this one. I always say that and don't so I'm not making any promises. Beasts/mutants/scary things are my favorite things to draw.

[Harlequin01]

Here is new revised sketch of my beast.

DefiledVisions: I tried to inject more character by his pose and fixation on the rose. I don't know if it's enough, but I'm really trying to avoid giving him clothes.

Hendric VII: Well, I took out the hooves, but I wanted to keep the horns. The original description of the beast has him with a large pair of horns and then smaller horns preceeding down the back. In this new form my beast might not look as demonic.

corspufo: For you I removed the "wang". I included it because he is naked, and somewhat a man, thus it's not tucked up inside like an ordinary animal. But I also don't want people to be focusing on it.

There are some great sketches out there. I can't wait to see how each finished.

http://www.studioharlequin.com/Sketchbook/2008/Character_002_small.jpg

[Hendric VII]

Harlequin: I think that this looks much more "beastly" And the pose looks better, more sympathetic.

[Kaizer]

Just a sketch, so far. Trying to think of how to make him more interesting and modern. I'm actually thinking of piercing his brows. *shrug*

[corspufo]

Kaizer: Get some reference on how Lion/Big Cat legs look. Right now, those legs don't look right at all. I would say for a more modern look, go for Dreadlocks and tattoos. Maybe even scar him up. But firstly, reference my friend.

Halequin01: You could have modified the Beast's package to something more subtle, like Michelangelo's David. I have no problem at all with nudity, but your WIP had the beast floppin' around like a porn star. Subtle is the way to go. I like the direction you've gone it. I also think the horns look better this way.

Vorace: Cool design. I'm still on the fence on whether or not I am going to enter this one. But originally I started sketching the body similar to how you have it. Your head is cool. I love the arm, but I would say that it does look like Tyrant from Resident Evil's arm. Which is the dilemma I faced. Might want to A) reconsider that design or B) push the design and improve upon it.

[Saturns Gate]

Well, I hope I get time to actually change this a bit and color it before the final burning thread. Time is not on my side, but here it is so far. :)

[PuppyKitten]

Oh well, I might as well give up now...

(hehe just joking, it's the exercise that counts)

No way! I nevvvvver win CHOWs. EVER. The amount of votes I am getting currently are a fluke. Never had this many before and I seriously doubt I'll ever get this many again.

EDIT: Not that I'm not thrilled and grateful that I am doing okay this round. I am suuuuper happy about it. I just don't think I can duplicate it.

[daestwen]

No way! I nevvvvver win CHOWs. EVER. The amount of votes I am getting currently are a fluke. Never had this many before and I seriously doubt I'll ever get this many again.

EDIT: Not that I'm not thrilled and grateful that I am doing okay this round. I am suuuuper happy about it. I just don't think I can duplicate it.

PFFF. Bull! >O puppy, you totally deserve the votes you are getting, trust me.

Even Poshspice doesn't win every round he's in. :P And bluefooted is amazing and she's only won once or twice, so. Just keep at it. :) (That goes for everybody!)

[Kaizer]

corspufo, thanks for the advice. I'm looking them up right now, and I really like your idea for dreadlocks. Thanks much!

[Lunian]

I actually liked Harlequin's first version - abit more daring than the rest of us :P certainly showed he was a beast

(yes you can slap me for that hahaha)

I've been working on mine some more trying to add more detail and get the linework for the heads out of the way. I should finish that tonight then I can spend all day tomorrow colouring :D And barring any unforeseen circumstances uploaded on time this time :D

BTW Kaizer a tip for drawing upright cats hindlegs using a big cat for referance is great but the legs are generally the wrong shape for drawing upright, too much muscle at the top and the leg bones are different sizes, best way to do it is get a friend to stand on their tip toes and bend their knees. then just shorten the lower leg bone and lenthen the main foot bone :) you also might need to increase the size of his 'paws' as he has more weight on them for realism :) - hope this help and slap me if I'm too long winded.

[ManaBurn]

Too over the top then Oregano? Your the client so same method but with the aim of a more traditional render. Through this together today, I have no idea how I'm going to do the sidebar with this head though. ;)

[S.C. Watson]

Too over the top then Oregano?
Not at all - but it looked like an Android knock off, that's all. So.


Your the client so same method but with the aim of a more traditional render.
Nah - just think of me a slightly grumpy AD :ilaekae: :ore:
You can do something highly stylized - I actually really dig it when people do (if they carry it well).


Through this together today, I have no idea how I'm going to do the sidebar with this head though. ;)
head angle, posture and lighting can do wonders :geekg:

All the best,
~Oreg.

PS - PK, you know better. Daestwen is right. Your stuff is well worth the votes that it gets!

[S.C. Watson]

Finals thread is up (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=123651)

[Tavarilyn]

Just got a new tablet, so excited.... haven't had a chance to get using it yet, though. I may just finish this one in pencil and not chance the colored aspect.

So here's our Modern-Day Beast... a product of a longevity experiment gone horribly wrong. In his vanity, he attempted to blend his DNA with snake DNA and wound up in a spiral of nasty genetic mutation that left him half man, half snake. Only with a supplement of DNA from the right individual can he ever fully regain a fully human form again.....

[Kmadden2004]

Just stumbled across this CHOW last night and quickly scribbled this design:

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii302/Kmadden2004/beast.jpg

I'll try and get it finished by the deadline... if only I weren't going to Stratford tonight!

[IIKII]

Almost forgotten about the weekly chow but i will still try to make it on time

[Timmy the Turtle]

Nice stuff guys... here's a WIP, shattering my CHOW virginity :bashful: Will make a little story for him as I go... :)

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9303/beastsmalljp9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Kaizer]

Tavarilyn, he looks a little stiff. Maybe try relazing the upper half of his tail?

[blackrobin]

update : i missed the specs with my earlier sketch, so here is a new sketch
i hope i can finish it later

[Carnifex]

updated my post with final version.
OREGANO, please tell me if everything's alright with it or if it's too big/something else.
other comments welcome too of course. :)

[madhatter106]

Tavarilyn - it's very interesting that you chose the snake as a basis for the Beast - while I was doing some reading this week on this subject (yeah, guys, research doesn't necessarily mean pictures! ;) ) there was a mention that in many European versions and variants of the story, the Beast takes on a snake-like appearance.

Freudians read into this not only as a phallic creature, but a duality of the more primal animal (id) and the more mature and intellectual (superego). And using a snake even brings in a religious connotation, too...

Here's my revised - I wanted to maintain that executive board room portrait feel - hence the very contrived businessman pose. I think the sidebar portrait is less effective, but I probably won't have time to modify it...so it will probably go in the final burning thread as-is, with a more detailed note on theme/idea/etc...

[S.C. Watson]

Carnifex, you're fine.

Madhatter: your image is *very* dark. You may want to adjust the levels on it or something - also, I'd like to see at least one more face shot. The idea is to show a range of expressions, not two. Also, the angle at which you have the TIME shot you'd see some of the left eye, so right now it looks like he's missing half or at least a chunk of his face.

All the best.
~Oreg.

[Lunian]

Madhatter I love the pose however the head and the body don't seem to match, the body is near realistic where the head is very stylised (unless you meant that)

and I don't mean to be the dark messenger but I thought the brief states to stay away from the boar-guy in a suit :S

[Tin Can]

Just thought I’d drop off where I am at the moment on this one. Haven’t quite finished and I still have to do the side bar. The picture looks allot different on the web then in photoshop, so the shadows are quite black at the moment and I’ve already dipped the , I’ll try to play with some settings and change that for the final, if I can.


http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh103/TinInACan/Cbeast2flattest.jpg


Here are some really quick, trite and rather unhelpful comments. Nevertheless, here we go anyway.

UTC: not sure what to say yet, I’ll need to see more. I think he looks a little too old fashioned so far though.

Nightblue: I like the grand scale you are going for, I hope you pull through with it. good luck with production

Harlequin: I agree with the de-wang-ification. It did tend to draw the eye a little too much. The new sketch looks good. I hope you are good with fur :P.

Defiled visions: A shark beast man eh? Unique idea. I hope you pull it off. Looks like you’re pushing the sidebar a bit further too. Good luck with all the angles.

Shardana: really nicely rendered. I like his otherworldly face. He does seem a bit scrawny though, considering the beast’s is supposed to appear able to easily fight of three men. I think I could take this guy :P Just a small thought for consideration. I do like min though. Hope to see the finish. :)

RMick: interesting, look forward to the finish.

Vorace: … Now this guy is just messed up. really cool asymmetrical design. I really really like him. Looking forward to the final. DEFINITELY FINISH IT!

Michael Motion: A boy beast. Interesting idea. He could be a character in a modern teen movie version of beauty and the beast. Sort of like the way “ten things I hate about you” modernized “the taming of the shrew” in teen form. Just an offside thought

Carnifex: Interesting take. I like the environment. Looks sort of futuristic, though.

DanielC: tough as nails. I wouldn’t mess with him. Look forward to the final.

Kaizer: Looks like you’ve already had some good advice. good luck with the legs.

Saturns Gate: I really like the way you are going with this. I think this is my favorit posting so far. I certainly hope you finish this and show it to us!

PuppyKitten: I respect your modesty. I certainly hope, however, that on a deeper level you know what an amazing artist you are even if you don’t voice it. I look forward to seeing many more winning entries from you in the near future. :)

Lunian: good luck with the final rendering of your mangy Beast. I think this will be great if rendered well. all his faces seam to be a bit angry, however. I hope you rock out some other emotions in your final.

Mana Burn: really like your style. I love stylized work. This image looks great so far too. Personally, however I would call this more demonic then beastly. Maybe that’s just me. hope to see the final.

Tavarilyn: cool concept, interesting way of making the tale modern.

Kmadden2004: nice character for a subtle, more humanized approach. I think he would benefit from you beefing up his beastliness, though.

Timmy the Turtle: well you can’t say he isn’t modern. I may reserve judgment on this until your final with the sidebar. However, I do find that he seems more like an insane demon guitarist rather then a beauty and the beast character. He looks like he’s having way too much fun with that guitar :P It just doesn’t seem to fit the tortured beast character.

Black robin: Your character looks very beastly. How is your IT drone going to correlate with the story though? I really look forward to your completion.

Mad Hatter: your piece is completed with your usual Academic grace and subtlety. Excellent work.

[ManaBurn]

Oregano I was thinking of presenting the sidebar that way, that's good advice. I can always use a slightly grumpy AD. ;)

[ManaBurn]

Tin I would agree with you. I definitely am trying to push it away from what I think other's are doing, but still trying to make the cut. I'm trying to take it from an angle of well he's cursed, and it leads to a horrifying level of deformity. Otherwise it's going to be like shapeshifter week 2 for me.

[madhatter106]

Oregano - I will probably tweak the levels just a tad, but I do want it to be pretty deep in value - dark suit, dark fur. It's the New York "power" dark suit - the alpha executive thing that the 80's was known for. The white of his tusks, eyes, and shirt are the lightest I'd like to go, but I'll definitely play around with it. Alas, time will prevent me from being able to sit down and tweak/play with his Time sidebar, or to produce a second one. (I would have loved to do him on the cover of Fortune or Forbes as well.) I'll pop it in the final burning thread, but if it doesn't make it to the poll I would understand...though I've seen much greater sins of omission re: brief stipulations and requirements in the past. ;) It's yours and daestwen's call...

Lunian - see my earlier thread with an early rough for my evaluation. I meant "Donald Trump with tusks" partially in jest, but it was an honest gut reaction to the brief. (Titan of Industry, a reclusive figure of great wealth, etc.) It will be elaborated on in the final burning. ;) I do want the head to provide a great hunch and a thick neck, hence the posture and stylization...is it the realistic hands versus the boar head which throws you off?

[jhagen22]

My first time officially entering a chow. This one sounded like fun. I've been working on my entry in both photoshop and painter. Been having a blast slapping on paint in painter. Maybe getting too happy with it....ah well, I think it's looking okay. :P

[Dan!]

well, that was fun- come on in for true love's kiss
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q81/DECYPL/beast.jpg

[Nightblue]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd214/lxc2000/CHOW114_pv2.jpg

Wip update. I'll try my best to finish this tomorrow. I'm actually having a lot of fun painting the details on the head :)

Not sure how the body and background is going to come out yet. Still have no clue about the colors either. This might just end up being black and white...

[sarillion]

i'm definitely not gonna have time to ps paint this up, but here are some inks. any last minute crits before i polish and post? oregano, too human? lemme know what you think.

...and yes, i know the anatomy is off. >sigh<

EDIT: Tin Can inspired me to draw butterflies :D

[Lunian]

To Madhatter - it was actually :D

and to Nightblue - I personally think that black and white gives it more of an edge about it, kinda meancing especially with the pose he's in :)

[Chate Noire]

sarillion, the lines are really nice and the character looks interesting and well-designed. However, it doesn't really say "beast" to me...the horns look more like a comical addition than something bestial.

madhatter16, like Oregano pointed out - your piece IS too dark. I get that you want to convey a dark "businesslike" feeling, but coloring your entire image black with a few greyish spots isn't the way to do it. It doesn't say "dark and mysterious" when you can't see anything in it. That big red Time square draws attention in a blunt way and takes away from the character design; in first glance, that is the only thing we see. We should know who this guy is without using obvious pop culture icons.

Timmy the Turtle, it's a cute idea making him a rock star. I would personally like to see more of his beast side in his pose and movement, especially combined with those of a wild rocker.

Here's my start.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/chatenoire/CHOW114_Beast_1.jpg

[blackrobin]

a few quick crits :

Shardana : i like your character, but i feel its like a gentleman in a beast form. maybe because of his tidy clothing or his refined posture, i dont know if you were going to that direction, but its just not a 'beast' to me, beasts are supposed to be wild and scary

vorace : great concept, but but his face is abit messy. i cant get the general shape/idea of his head

danielC : nice sketch, yes make him scarrier

timmy the turtle : i kinda get the general idea of the beast you want to convey in your image, i think it can go wilder than that, smashing guitar instead of playing it? more muscles? or furs? and the tail wrapping around the left leg is abit distracting, and his clothing is abit too casual for a beast, try exploring stuffs

DECYPL : i have a few technical crits for you, the beast is abit offbalance, the rendering can be done better too, give it abit more work and dont hide the forms in the blacks/shadows, the beast body hair is done too rushy, anatomy needs fixing :) nice layer coloring tho

Nightblue : dont jump to details, watch the forms and shapes, after that bring values in, also the beast needs more anatomy attention

chate noire : nice concept nice sketch i like the face sketch, actually no crits for you, but gotta say i like the character, looking forward to your final piece

and btw can someone help me to explain what a sidebar supposed to be? a story accompanying the illustration? 1 panel or more needed? and does it have to stick to 'beauty and the beast' story? or can it be any contemporary beast?

[Kaizer]

The sidebar is for other facial expressions your beast can achieve. Read the brief. It's explained there.

[blackrobin]

ah yes thanks, just read it, i must have missed it yesterday
looks like i need to change my beast

[Dan!]

well, I updated my pic but won't take it to poll, thanks for the crits blackrobin

[madhatter106]

madhatter16, like Oregano pointed out - your piece IS too dark. I get that you want to convey a dark "businesslike" feeling, but coloring your entire image black with a few greyish spots isn't the way to do it. It doesn't say "dark and mysterious" when you can't see anything in it.

While working in photoshop and looking at this on a mac, the piece isn't reading to me as "black with a few greyish spots." Are you able to see the pinstripes? The fact that it's a double-breasted suit? Can you make out the pocket flap at his right side? I'm wondering if the color profile is saved correctly with the piece, but like I said in an earlier post I will tweak the levels a bit - I just haven't had time to do so yet...it does look dark on my PC, but then again my monitor calibration is all crappy. But on a mac and working within Pshop, it doesn't look too dark to me...I'll play around with it this afternoon.

That big red Time square draws attention in a blunt way and takes away from the character design; in first glance, that is the only thing we see. We should know who this guy is without using obvious pop culture icons.

I quite agree - the whole use of it was to facilitate the added requirement of the sidebar. I don't want to include it, believe me. I also don't want to do a bunch of random floating heads next to the full figure, as I wanted it to be a more cohesive image. If I had my druthers, I'd eliminate the whole sidebar itself; I think a humanoid figure with a boar's head and holding a flower comes close to saying it without having to go the text route - I'm just trying to tie the whole "power broker" theme into the sidebar, and what better way than his face on a couple of high profile covers? If that's "obvious pop culture," well the brief is to take a modern interpretation, right?

I'd rather go down the "blunt" obvious pop culture road than have my sidebar look like a bunch of studies tacked on to the side as an afterthought. I want the sidebar to be a part of who he is, and not just what else he looks like when he smiles, when he frowns, etc. ;)

[Shard]

blackrobin: that was what i was going for,I was thinking that its supposed to be a beast that someone falls in love with, that doesnt quite go with wild and scary :)..its been long time but I seem to remember the beast in the movie as being a quite gentle figure too..but yeah its not easy to balance! after oregano pointed it out I started stressing the beast part and eventually ended up with this..kinda late now and still loads to do i doubt i'm gonna finish in time unless we get more..

tincan: not so easy now! :)
nice entries everyone looking forward to the finals!

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9378/beast2vp6.jpg

[Chate Noire]

madhatter, it's not the color profile or exactly how black the blacks are, It's the composition of your tones. When you break the piece down to the basic shapes, your character creates an amorphic sillouhette that barely stands out on a background that's almost the same tone. The lighter grey around him only barely defines his general shape. When all the tones are the same, the viewer's eye has nothing to focus on, and then when you add this (relatively) vibrant red, the viewer can't help but stare at it, almost ignoring your character (which is the main point of this challenge, I think).

I get that you wanted to show the sidebar expressions in an original way, but right now what I see is a big red square with white text and I really have to strain my eyes to see there's a head in it, not to mention a different expression.

Take a look at the attached file. The drawing was broken to its basic shapes using Filter-->Artistic-->Cutout (you can get the general idea by squinting at the screen: the details are lost and all you see are shapes and tones).

My final:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/chatenoire/CHOW114_Chate_Noire.jpg

[madhatter106]

Chate Noire - well I've been playing with the values and the levels,and it is indeed very dark. I've also played around with desaturating the sidebar cover, though I don't want to lose too much color in it, since that periodical's border is iconic. I don't want it looking too rosey. My timeframe this weekend prevents really fixing the sidebar, but like I said, I'd rather it wasn't there at all...

I think my downfall is the lighting scheme - any time you put the source of light behind the figure, it's going to make that figure pretty dark, especially if he's wearing a dark business suit and his face is covered in coarse dark fur.

Though, to be fair, taking any of these illustrations into Filter - Artistic - Cutout, you are going to get "an amorphic silhouette." (Do you mean "amorphous?") Especially if you have the Edge Simplicity cranked up as high as you appear to have in the animated file you have in the last post. This is yours, for example...who's amorphic now? Heheheheh ;)

[sarillion]

ooh sparks. i'm sure you both already know this but for anybody else wandering by: you can select how many color levels you want with the cutout filter, so anyone's illustration could be reduced to an amorphous two-tone blob (although the silhouette would be more legible in some cases than others.)

i think oregano was right that the levels need to be tweaked a bit so that there is a bit more contrast though... you lose some of the text if you push it way over like i did, but the form stands out more. it does lose a bit of the mood.

i'm gonna have to drop out of this one guys, too much work to turn over before tuesday, but good luck all :)

[Nightblue]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd214/lxc2000/CHOW114_pv3.jpg
Looks like I'm about to barely make the deadline... still have sidebar to go.

[Kaizer]

I have to drop out. I won't have it done by tonight. I'll get it next time!

[S.C. Watson]

CHOW 115 is posted. (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=123754)

[PuppyKitten]

I gotta drop out too. Not even close to finished and I have other projects looming. Boo. I can't wait to see the entries though... I really like the brief. <3

[RMick]

Here's my finished colour version.
Alas, I do not have the face pics scanned in yet.
Will I make the final cut? If I can get my shizznit to work here, I'll load it up.
In the meantime, here is my nearly-finished masterpiece (including open space for faces

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o134/RonnieMick/Beast.jpg

Loved this one, by the way. Great topic.

Ron

[Chate Noire]

madhatter, while the shapes in my drawing are fairly amorphous (my bad with the spelling), I think a beast-like form is still recognizable, and I think even with these simplified forms your eye pretty much knows where to focus.

What sarillion did with the paintover is in the right direction in my opinion - the beast pops out, it's easier to focus on his face, and the red square isn't so eye-catching. The hand could possibly be a little darker, but that's just nitpicking.

[Jockemon]

Here is my sketch for those who are interested. Final in final thread.

[Harlequin01]

Well, I screwed this one up. I didn't read the part about the expressions needed and I've run out of time. Oh well. I wanted everyone to see my finished piece anyway. I'd love some feedback. If you can go to my sketchbook and share your criticism with me, I would be appreciative.

http://www.studioharlequin.com/Sketchbook/2008/Character_002_smallcolor.jpg

[Chate Noire]

Hey markito, if you're around - I just saw your piece in the finals thread and it's lovely, but it's missing the sidebar with the different expressions. I really hope you manage to add them in the very last minute...

[jhagen22]

All the entries look awesome! I won't be able to finish up mine in time because of work. :( I'll have to try another one in the future. This was a hell of a lot of fun!

[Lunian]

NightBlue I gotta say I LOVE your beast, you can't get more modern and menacing than that!.

I just love the way he looms over her giving off that predator 'I can crush you like an ant' kinda feel yet at the same time the light he's holding is cradled almost tenderly.

Very very cool :) I'm super jealous though, I have a tough time getting chrome to look right lol

[S.C. Watson]

POLL IS POSTED (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=123651)

[Jtho]

I really wanted to make my CHOW debut this week, but I just barely didn't have enough time to finish up. Oh well, I got pretty far along, I figured I would at least share the WIP with you guys even if I'm not in the running.