C.O.W. #147 Demon Devourer -- VOTING!!

[Michael Jaecks]

C.O.W. #147 Demon Devourer!! -- VOTING!!

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ROUND #147 VOTING

Topic: Demon Devourer!!


Deadline for the voting: Sunday 28 June 2009

Posting thread (closed): http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=159778.


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OK - before voting/posting read this!!!

1. Please give c&c or a reason why you voted for the image!

2. Feel free to comment on any or all entries, the artists will appreciate it!

[meeshoo]

Artist: meeshoo

Concept: Hell Freezer


The creature tracks demons with it's hell adapted eyes, sucks them inside it's cold body and devours them using burning frost.

699957

[dwinbotp]

Artist: dwinbotp

Concept: TundraBacks
Due to the attacks on the Dwarven Homelands of the North. These enormous ancient creatures have finally risen from their long slumber to feast on the invaders. Although not specifically inclined to primarily feast upon demonkind. The invaders all but left themselves to be the majority of the living populace. The Tundrabacks have gotten their name due to their majestic size and the ice encrusted backs that are the only visible parts of the beasts while in hibernation. Historically in the Archives, they are also fondly called the "Demon Devourers" of Kronodos.

[pahavasa]

Artist: pahavasa

Concept: Mimus derideoris

The Mimus derideoris have no own personality whatsoever - they stalk other demons as their prey and pick up their behaving traits in order to survive and stay in motion. Their translucent skin acts like chameleon's skin - only aping the prey's pattern, not the environments. Of course as soon as the prey has been eaten they need to find another target, therefore they are always in hunting mode.

[yAdam]

Artist: yAdam

Concept: Ambon

The species known as Ambon lurk in demon home worlds. They utilise a digestive system that breaks down all but the pure essence of the demon. This essence gets deposited into a flower or plant like structure for an
unknown purpose.

700818

[Reymus]

Artist: Reymus

Concept: Inner Circle Repossession Clerk


The inner circles of Hell are fraught with endless bureaucracy, to alleviate problems such as demons with delinquencies or imps which haven't been paid for in full, the R.I.R.S. (Really Internal Revenue Service) dispatches it's lowest paid, but usually hardest working employees, the Clerks.

[Gumish]

Artist: Gumish

Concept: Witchhammer


Nobody can imagine what terrible things were hidden in the catacombs of that old inquisition bastille in the middle of the Europe. During the Dark ages we from time to time heard some rumors about that. Everybody had to shake when imagined what could happened if he got in wrong with the Inquisition. One summer day some crazy wretch crawled to our farm. We gave him some food and drink. He started to babble something about witches, inquisition and so on. At first I wanted to stop him and repeled him. But unfortunately I didn't. As I got to know he had been quite rich farmer. But because of his daughter and wealth he had felt into disfavour with some inquistion officer. He had been prisoned and blamed as a heretic and devil ally. His property had been confiscated. After week of hard torture the inqusition court had decided that he had been incorrigible heretic. Next day he had been
taken to some deep catacomb. They had hanged him updide down. After a while some guardians had fetched some dark stinky creature. Its muzzle had been equipped by the tentacles. In its great muzzle there had not been teeth. Only great strong slimy muscles. The Inquisition uses this them-breeded creature to painly kill their prisons. Victim is slowly crushed and stifled. During this torturing victims jerk in agony so it seems that the body is sucked off demons. He had been the first one who had survived. They hadn't believed their eyes so they released him. Nevertheless he had been harmless for them. Ten minutes longing suffocation and torturing had devastated his brain into halfhuman creature. I believe that I am the first man he commited himself with his terrific secret to..
http://www.wydle.eu/stuff/COW_147.jpg

[s.a.r]

Artist: s.a.r

Concept: Angel Toad

The angel toad hunts by crawling into dark places where it lies in wait for demon prey. It uses its tail (the tip of which glows and resembles an angel with fiery hair) to attract demons looking for pure souls to capture and destroy.
The angel toad has some religious significance and is considered sacred in some religions.

[sketchius]

Artist: sketchius
Concept: Saint Orson's Hunger

Saint Orson's Hunger are relentless champions of heaven that are commonly sent deep into hell to consume the demons within. These creatures are known for their blinding light, elaborate halos and ornamentation, and their insatiable desire to feed upon evil itself.

702816

[SMILEFACE]

Artist: Grandmassa Mr. Spect

Concept: GRUMBLE
MY CREATURE IS NAMED GRUMBLE BECAUSE ITS ALWAYS HUNGRY FOR DEMON SOULS. HE WAS CREATED TO HELP W/ POPULATION CONTROL BECAUSE HELL IS OVERFLOWING. BUT LIKE CATS SENT TO KILL RABBITS THEY TOO ARE NOW BECOMING AN CANCER TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISPEAR

[lkjhgfdsa]

Artist: lkjhgfdsa

Concept: Pentagryph

Gargoyles, angels of darkness;
Five heads to devour evil,
ten eyes to find its prey.
Feathers of flight to ascend the skies,
wyvers tail to paralize devil's way.
Born of incestry and bread by thought;
only breeds by daemons slaught.
(sorry for bad bad poetry...)

[JEFFERSON]

Artist: Jefferson

Concept: Raknouk
The Raknouk is a massive mountain creature that dwells between the realms of Miogaror and Muspellheim. Forever flying over the volcanic landscape searching for Demons trying to break through into the realm of man. That is why the Raknouk is seen as a sign of protection and vigilance.

[tmyohlaing]

Artist : tmyohlaing

Concept: Danagiyi

When the devil army woke up and took over most of the human lands, devil devourer was summoned by the host of eleventh group (famous for their magic). It ate and killed the devils.
With its enomous body, huge muscle, black, four legs, wings, the devil devourer was unbeaten by devils. With its powerful strength of the neck, it swallowed the devils alive after catching them with its beak.
It only worked with the order of the host.

[Cam Sykes]

Artist: CamSyko

Concept: Imp-terceptor

The Imp-terceptor's dwell on a plateau above hell and prey on demons trying to escape hell's fiery pits. Their role is similar to that of a gargoyle. Although they can fly and swoop down on their prey, the impterceptor prefers to sit and wait for unsuspecting demons at the top of the cliff. It can easily tear a demon in 2 like a wishbone with it's powerful arms and talons.

[Crowsrock]

Artist: Crowsrock
Concept: The Shandarian

Nightmare of monsters, the Shandarian hunt down and devour lesser demons keeping their numbers at bay. The appetite of these predators is insatiable and, if demons had bedtime stories, the Shandarian would be their favorite boogeyman.

[dadoalmeida]

Artist: Dado Almeida
Concept: The Devourer

[VulgarDragon]

Artist:Mad Cross
Concept:Mr. Tenderlips

All demons tremble at the mere mention of Mr. Tenderlips. Only the Master Demon can command his might. If any of the lesser demons step out of line and no amount of spanking or time-outs will do, Mr. Tenderlips is summoned to devour the impudent demon. Mr. Tenderlips likes them spicy with some hot pepper sauce.

[MuYoung Kim]

Artist: MuYoung

Concept: Danger of the Deep

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
-Hamlet

Long before the wars of angels and demons was the silence of the seas...Long after will that silence remain for there are ancient threats that even devils fear...

[alive]

Artist: alive

Concept: demon devourer
eats demons

[Doomsquid]

Artist: Doomsquid

Concept: Paldek


The Paldek is an ungulate mammal common in the misty mountains of Bokai. The monks of the Bokai people are known to domesticate Paldeks for the purpose of protecting their people from demons. Paldeks are well-suited to this task, as they can easily detach and "slurp" out a demon's soul.

[Takeda11]

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/983/demondevourercab.jpg

[Michael Jaecks]

Okay, here is the poll. We had twenty entries and I pulled seven this week. Meemoo, Doomsquid, Jefferson, Gumish, s.a.r., CamSyko and Crowsrock were pulled from the poll because of quality. In some cases I thought the artist in question had skills over and above what they were showing us here (by taking a look at their sketchbooks). In all cases I thought the anatomy, design, rendering were below the quality I think merits getting taken to a poll for a weekly activity. I came really close to pulling half, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

I voted for dwinbotp. In addition to the creature being interesting, very well rendered, beautifully colored and so on the picture tells me the entire story. It quickly and clearly conveys the concept DEMON DEVOURER. dwinbotp seriously didn't have to write a single word in the concept for me to understand what is going on here. Some of the other entries are interesting looking, but they could be any kind of alien or monsterous creature. For me, dwinbotp did the best job in both articulating the concept topic as well as executing the illustration.

Okay. New, special two week Newborn topic will be up in a little bit. I'm writing up the brief now and much will be expected from a two week activity.

[churapsoy]

Voted for dwinbotp for the exact sentiments Michael Jaecks stated above. Nothing much to add, just wonderful piece to look at. A close second would be lkjhgfdsa's entry but to me it just isn't a devourer. Reading earlier posts on the WIP section, I think dwinbotp nailed it when he meant devour as synonymous to swallowing whole as opposed to a horse beast "feasting" upon a demon creature. All in all, some very interesting creature concept! Love the topic! For the next COW,and being a two weeker, I will have a go at it! Don't keep us hanging Sir Jaecks:D

[Justice Von Brandt]

I voted for yadam because the design was original and not just a generic beast. It also had a mystical appearance to it which ties in with the demons.

[Michael Jaecks]

New round is on:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=161181

[¿Dubious?]

voted for Alive cause I thought it was very well rendered, but also very original. I said it on the wip thread and Ill say it here dwinbotp's entry, while beautifully rendered, is basically a giant ice-wyrm creature, which Im pretty sure we've all seen before. dwinbotp please dont take this as anything personal at all cause I have a lot of respect for you and I think the piece is really nice, I just want to make sure people are voting based on concept and execution rather than just the latter.
lkjhgfdsa and yAdam were also standouts in my opinion.

[Blitz]

Had to go with dwinbotp.

IT came down to dwinbotp, Takeda11, and lkjhgfdsa for me.
Was a hard choice going back and forth and what to base it on. But dwinbotp's just stands out a bit to me.

Good luck on the next challenge everyone.

[dadoalmeida]

"Ok. It´s sunday and I had time to look at your art and make proprely comments about it. Congrats to everyone, again. I´m learning a lot here in COW. I´ve tried to make my inputs solid as I can (hope you guys get my point an try to absorb some use full ideas).."

meeshoo: oh man, I really suggest you to draw more (I mean, linework) and forget the colors by now. I can sound idiot, but I think you´ll be more free to conceptualize things. In my case, it´s easy to work on lines and leave the light and colors just to the end of process. Ok?! Hope you give a try.

dwinbotp: Dude you got my vote. Simple brilliant! It fits well in the history and universe you´ve created. The fact you don´t treat Demons just like (the evils creatures who lives in hell) add a lot of value to your concept. Congratulations.

pahavasa: best design! I like to see a creature with a exposed skull like that in real world. I just think you´ve failed in the colors choice (both creature and background). White and Blue, in general, are so well defined as good/peacefully colors that doesn´t help your creet to look bad. Really love to see a dark/red version of it. :)

yAdam: hey Adam. Man, you did great (really), but the idea does not fit. The originality you have on this one (the good part) makes the creature too much subjective for the brief (unfortanelly the bad part). Hope you get my point, Ok? Keep it up. The creature itself it´s great. Looks very huge and real.

Reymus: ahaha. You´re crazy! :) Nice concept (drawing, colors, shape). Only the idea looks weak. Push the boundaries in the next time, if you want to make it funny, draw in a funny way. The shapes are to serious for the theme.

Gumish: you really know to tell and illustrate a history. Congrats, this knowledge, I think, it´s very important for a concept artist. But, I really like to see more of the creature without the environment (the back history).

S.a.r: Impossible, but nice. Like I´ve said in yAdam suggestion. The originality doesn´t help to achieve the brief. But I like the frog idea. You guys are much more crazy than I think. :)

sketchius: Man, I don´t get it! LOL. You did nice in the art (the oriental look of the creature it´s curious and original), but I really don´t look at this creature as a Devourer.

lkjhgfdsa: you got my second vote, you crazy artist! :) Really well conceptualized and rendered. Just don´t get you as first option because I like whales more than horses...kidding! Do you have plans to sell it as a poster? Hope you paint that in high-res.

Jefferson: good one. But I don´t like chimera-creatures very much (just my simple opinion). I really want to see different shapes. Looks you´ve tried a bit in the creature face, but their body looks to generic. Got it? Hope I don´t sound rude.

tmyohlaing: like Jefferson, the creature it´s nice but lacks in new shapes/forms. If you expand the mouth ideas to the other parts of the specie, maybe it´ll looks much more interesting.

CamSyko: Ok! Since the first time I see your piece I was astonished. Like in comps ago, there some pictures that "break my common feeling", and you made the one. Really, really scary. And I personally love the composition. I can fell the pain and agony of that demon. Congratulations. CamSyko.

Crowsrock: ahaha, too much crazy ideas (both history and shape). This makes the whole concept looks "confusing". But....I like your demons. :)

Mad Cross: Nice you get this one in time. You´re such great artist (detailed line work, interesting shapes), but the color pallet doesn´t help to show the badass factor you want for the creature. Keep it up for the next COW, Michael!

MuYoung: Again, a great concept (original in forms, colors and shapes) but as a whole it doesn´t fit well in the brief (I mean, the history I´ve imagined for a Demon Devourer). A huge creature like that trying to eat a single demon, makes it too much "fantastic", almost impossible to exist (even in the in-existent world that we create). A bunch of demons running or fighting in the scene would make your specie more dangerous and present. Hope you really get my point. My English it´s really bad. LOL

alive: very well rendered (did you used 3D shapes as a base?). But the concept idea is nonexistent. Technically it´s perfect, artistically I want too see more. Thanks for the participation in that one Alive.

Doomsquid: like I´ve said to meesho, really suggest to people who are starting to sketch and draw more in line work. I think if your mind are free to think in shapes, forms (instead of colors, lights) you always came with much more interesting stuff. But... if you´re comfortable to make both (conceptualize and paint), do in your way. It´s just my opinion, Ok?! Wanna see what you guys think about my point.

Takeda: Awesome piece. But I need more non-sense things, like all the other guys had done. LOL. Anyway, great art Takeda.

That´s it. See you Creature-Creator in the next COW!!

[Reymus]

I voted for Lkjhgfdsa, though Dwinbotp's is outstanding, people have criticized to going away from the worm designs before, amazing piece nonetheless.

Meeshoo - You should explore some shapes and forms next time, go nuts stay away from simple forms and adding scribbles onto it.

Dwinbotp - What can I say about this piece that hasn't been said about the country with giant finned worms ravaging peaceful farmer demons making a life for themselves through sustainable agriculture. Hats off to you sir.

Pahavasa - I think the background dosen't suit it well, it would have been better to go much darker and make the creature pop a lot more, that way the veins/skin texture would've given it a lot better contrast.

yAdam - Well done, and I think you win for the most original concept here.

Reymus - GREAT IDEA! Very poor representation of a Inner Circle Repossession Clerk though. Tsk Tsk.

Gumish - I like it, I think you could have added some hard lines to define the creature against the background though.

S.a.r. - Yours is more of the chimera than a devourer to me, crocodile/frog/firefly.

Sketchius - Strong concept but there's some of it that's hard to read, his right hand isn't as developed as his left, it's difficult to understand how he's posed as he's kind of floating in the tunnel.

all for now :)

[Doomsquid]

Hey guys! This was a very interesting and challenging topic, and some really awesome stuff came out of it!

Sorry that mine was sub-par-- I had a lot of difficulty in the early stages, just working out what the creature would look like. By the time I had something I was happy with, I was running low on time to render and polish. Combine that with the whole still-learning thing, and well... sorry... T_T

Anyway! I too will go with dwinbotp. Really fantastic rendering, motion, weight, depth, atmosphere, color choices, and of course crystal clarity in the concept department!

Others I find particularly awesome are yAdam's, lkjhgfdsa's, and alive's.

[SMILEFACE]

i voted for pahavasa for the WICKED' design an the idea behind it is waY COOL'
GREAT JOB EVERYBODY all yall RRRRRRRROOOOCCCKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AhkNemet]

Unfortunately I didn't have a lot of time to follow this COW this week, and my comments will reflect that - this time they will be (however you choose to look at it) blessedly brief lol.

My vote went to dwinbotp - yeah yeah worm design blah blah I hear a lot of almost complaining about that - but why not just appreciate a very well executed worm design? Despite them being frowned upon - that doesn't exactly make them illegal concept does it?
It was beautifully finished, looks like something out of 1970's sci-fi, but dwinbotp has actualised them so well, I can almost hear them swooping overhead! I don't care it's wormesque, I like bohemoth of the skies lol - Maybe if they were just less detail, less idea... then perhaps it would be a problem, but there is some thought in this wormy lol and I would expect to see it on a book cover.

s.a.r - I thought yours was well thought out, and nicely finished. The blurb matches the image, its great ;)

lkjhgfdsa - I liked yours too, but something didn't quite do it for me, and I can't put my finger on what.

Sorry I don't have time for any more - I went on a bit with the first one lol sorry! :P

[Gumish]

Ok, I must admit that all of you are right. I was carried away by the idea of the Inquisition's creature so I really underestimate rendering and inventing creature design. I didn't concentrate to creature but I enjoyed that monks, catacomb and dark atmosphere.

I was voted for dwinbotp because I identify with it most (at first I wanted to paint some manta-like flying creature floating under the small middle-age town and devouring demons). Of course very nice rendering and feel of their size. I think that every was said about it.

[Mushroom168]

i went for lkjhgfdsa because its so mythical looking. i like the idea from the first sketch and it only went up from there

[lwhuang]

So many got cut, must be the free time setting in:D voted for dwinbotp. Love the size, also love giant Wurms with a whale crossbreed type. I feel for the demons, no fighting chance,haha!

[M!CK]

=( that sucks mate just stick at it.

I voted for alive, really just great design, alot of thought has been put into this creature and i just couldnt go past it.
dwinbotp's concept was brilliant, definately a close second for me. Unfortunately the design just wasnt as original as alives.

[Cam Sykes]

I voted for yAdam, simply because it stood out to me, and was quite an enchanting image, but gotta give props to everyone, because it was a hard choice to choose. Alot of really dynamic and exciting images. Disapointed I didn't make the poll but will psuh me harder to do better the next round, and it's gonna be a great round too.

Edit: Just including a detail shot in-case it was a question of rendering that was an issue for mine not making poll. Was it a reason of concept, or execution that was the problem? Just asking so I don't make the same mistakes in future. Would be realy helpful thanks.

[Droid]

Dwintobp.

Really good work, great detail, and looks wonderfully realistic.

My second choice is Lkjhgfdsa, I loved the starting WIPs, and you've brought it through to a really nice final concept.

;)

[volscalkur]

Great round everyone!
I really wish I would have had time to finish mine, this was such a cool topic, and there are lots of great entries!
Just got back into town last night, so now its time to vote and provide some feedback! :)
I hope that I can provide some useful feedback, I'm still not sure what I'm talking about most of the time, and I hope I don't fall into going "oh that's cool" without backing it up with something helpful as to why I think it is cool.
As always these are just my opinions! :)

meeshoo while your creature is interesting and cute, it doesn't really say "demon devourer" to me.

dwinbotp Awesome creature, and the rendering is excellent. While some may argue that the whole giant worm thing is over done, I think your piece fits the brief perfectly, needs little or no explanation, and is artistically superb! I really like the fact that the creature has no eyes, that give it a mindless, predatory look which is something I could see frighting demons! The demon army it's self ties the "demon" part into the "demon devourer" and yet does not take attention from the creature. The story is really cool as well! All in all this screams "demon devourer!"

pahavasa nice creature! I really like the anatomy and the skull-like head!

yAdam Very interesting creature, and unique approach to demon devouring! :) I like the texture and the lighting from the glowing orbs.

Reymus I loved your story! The R.I.R.S :tihi: nothing is scarier then bureaucracy! I like the coloring of your creature too!

Gumish Awesome! I really like the dream-like quality that you managed to bring to your piece, and the cloaked figures in the background are a nice touch, the creature it's self is quite cool too! :)

s.a.r I really like the angle on your creature's tail! That is a fun idea to trap demons!

sketchius Excellent! I really like your creature! You pulled off the righteous heavenly creature superbly! I love the little demons coming out to fight it! :) on a side note the lava looks a bit dull to me? Awesome piece all together!

Grandmassa Mr. Spect Can't see much of your creature's anatomy, but the demon going "WTF!" is awesome!

lkjhgfdsa I really liked your creature! It is very well rendered, and the idea is great! I love the eyeball! The only thing that hurts the design (and this is only my opinion) is the horse heads don't really fit the devourer theme. Maybe a more gryphon-like look with the heads of a carnivorous animal like a lion rather then horse heads would fit a bit better? once again just my opinion.

Jefferson Great creature, and I love the wings! However once again, like I mentioned to lkjhfdsa I think the rams head doesn't really speak "devourer" as much as something a bit more carnivorous. :)

tmyohlaing Very cool! I love color choices, and the mouth on this creature as well as the throng of little demons!

CamSyko I do like the giant vulture look! Almost a harpy like quality to this creature, the texture on the hands and arms is a nice touch!

Crowsrock very cool design, diggin the rapter claws, and the lobster pincers. The mouth is very unique as well! Nice job on the demons!

Dado Almeida I like the idea that eating demons doesn't satisfy this creature. Interesting anatomy- a bit confusing but very "devourer-like" I like it!

Mad Cross Great concept! I really like the story and the line work is great, coloring fell a bit short imho

MuYoung I like the color choices and the creature it's self is really cool! The little demon laying on the ground really puts the size of the creature into perspective!

alive Awesome creature! Very well rendered, I would have loved to have seen some for your WIPs for this! It is quite excellent!

Doomsquid Nice creature, and I really like how it devours it's prey, it does seem a bit unfinished though, but very cool none the less!

Takeda11 Excellent! What a cool design, and very well executed as well! I really like the metallic look of the creature, and the wings are great! The background is quite nice too!

I ended up voting for Dwinbotp I felt that it fit the brief the best and was artistically superior.

Awesome round guys! I'm really looking forward to participating in the new two week round! I'm pretty excited! Can't wait to get started!
See ya'll there!

[The42n8s1]

Awesome!

[VulgarDragon]

Voted for Ikjhfdsa, because I really loved the five-headed horse concept, and fact that it's having lunch. dwinbopt's is a close second, with dynamic atmosphere...the creatures looks like huge blind flying mosasaurs (extinct aquatic reptiles). I also loved Alive's and Takeda's creatures...both are beautifully rendered.

Great concepts from Sketchus, yAdams, MuYoung, CamSyko, Grandmassa, and many others.

As for mine, I have to admit that although I'm good at linework, I am relatively new to coloring and need to practice some more. I wished that I had the time to add scenery, maybe some drool and a pitchfork beside him to indicate that he just had lunch. Maybe I'll forward the picture to criqute corner and work on Mr. Tenderlips 2.0!

[meeshoo]

Thank you guys for your input and advices. This is actually the main reason I'm trying to participate into these contests, to get better.

I'm quite a beginner (I guess my drawings show it), I followed a 3 years art school on graphics as a hobby but didn't have the occasion to practice it too much. However I am a complete beginner with digital painting and color. I think it will be better if I'll go with my favorite traditional media (graphite pencils :) ) on my next drawings.

Thanks again,

see you on next challenge (might be IDW this time, because the vacuum cleaners are nice machines :) )

[MuYoung Kim]

No worries, dadoalmeida, you're English is just fine! Indeed, I've sadly known quite a few native English speakers do a *bleep* sight worse.

Thanks everyone for the comments, and especially, the critiques!

[Michael Jaecks]

I voted for yAdam, simply because it stood out to me, and was quite an enchanting image, but gotta give props to everyone, because it was a hard choice to choose. Alot of really dynamic and exciting images. Disapointed I didn't make the poll but will psuh me harder to do better the next round, and it's gonna be a great round too.

Edit: Just including a detail shot in-case it was a question of rendering that was an issue for mine not making poll. Was it a reason of concept, or execution that was the problem? Just asking so I don't make the same mistakes in future. Would be realy helpful thanks.

Hey Cam:

Thanks for posting the detail shot. There's a lot of rendering technique there that I quite like... variety of brushwork and texture.

I guess the problem was that I just couldn't see any of that with the way you presented your entry. There's a lot going on in your illustration that makes it very difficult to see what's nice about your creature. There is a lot of saturated color everywhere that is competing with the creature. All of your lovely textures are drowned out by a long distance crop and a very colorful, noisy background that is not serving the image. All the competing elements flatten the entire thing out and make it very difficult to see your creature concept.

In all honesty, having seen the detail shot, I can tell you've got a pretty delicate and refined touch when it comes to laying down the paint. The two biggest problems for me are all the competing, clashing colors and the fact that the creature is completely drowned out by that, the loud background and all the competing texture. It's scaled and cropped so small, I can't see what is nice about it.

Do you still perhaps have this saved at full res in layers? Is it possible to pull the creature off that background? If so, try this... I know people are not in love with white backgrounds, but I would like you to try it anyway... or another neutral color. Take your creature, place it on a plain white or grey BG, crop it closer so we can see all that texture. Post it at about 800px tall and see if that makes a difference. You could put a small silohuette of a demon on the left side to show your creature's scale.

Sometimes less is more. If your entry had been presented a little differently so I could see all the nice work you put into it's textures and rendering, I might have taken it to the poll.

Hope that helps.

[OTTA]

I vote for lkhgfdsa, It reminds me of demon killer by first look.

Dwinbotp I love yours very much too, Coz It's rather complete by itself, but I think it can be just a sea monster that attack anyone who passing by not only for a demon. so I choose lkhgfdsa. But your work is awesome!

Alive, yAdam : Very good rendering, Your creature fantastic me :)

[Razorleaf]

My vote was a toss-up between dwinbotp and lkjhgfdsa. Both are excellently rendered and I liked both very much - dwinbotp for the overall imagary and lkjhgfdsa for color and presentation. But in the end I gave it to dwinbotp because it did indeed convey an entire story in a single image.

[The Gurch]

voted for meeshoo