Spirall's Book of Beasties

[Spirall]

Hey! :D
For those of you who don't know me, my name's Courtney!
I just turned 16 and I'm currently venturing to improve my limited amount of arting knowledge.
I've really put off making a sketch-book, since everyone here seems to have such amazing talent and I feel incredibly out of place, but I figured that I'm not learning anything while I'm just sitting here (which is actually soft of a lie, since I learn heaps by just browsing one of the threads here, but still).
Feel free to paintover, critique or redline, ect any of the things I post here. I'll love you forever. <3

Anyway, on to art!

Okie dokie,
The legs bend like a horses, if anyone was wondering. I didn't refine the joint properly.
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so this one was something quick I did. The theme was 'slippery'.
If you're wondering what that scribble down the bottom is, it's just my username on deviantart (nyliirlyccanthanii). Long. I know.
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concept
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playing with copics
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Sketch for a past COW. We had to create a new dinosaur and zombify it.
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Newest piece. Theme was 'Teeth'. I'm trying out heaps of new things with this one.
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Once again, feedback is really appreciated!
I'll try to remember to save my sketches more often from now on too.
Thanks for looking!

[Verehin]

Nice creatures...moarrr!

[Spirall]

Thanks ;D
_

I have a terrible habit of making up anatomy. . .
I don't know what I did to this one, but I made it look horrible.
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yay rat skull!

[Lhune]

Pretty interesting creatures, Ny :). I'll definitely be following your sketchbook!

The only thing that leaps out at me with most of your pictures is I'm not sure where the light source is and what kind of colour it has. Perhaps try to draw a few pictures with some very strong light source (with or without reference) and try to figure out how that light hits and defines the shapes of your creature.

Keep it up though <3!

[Lhune]

Pretty interesting creatures, Ny :). I'll definitely be following your sketchbook!

The only thing that leaps out at me with most of your pictures is I'm not sure where the light source is and what kind of colour it has. Perhaps try to draw a few pictures with some very strong light source (with or without reference) and try to figure out how that light hits and defines the shapes of your creature.

Keep it up though < 3!

[Fiddzy]

Great Creatures designs, the Zombie Dinosaur is my particular favorite.

The rat skull is also very well drawn, maybe try out some more skull studies.

Keep up the good work.

[The Illustrist]

hey spirall for a sixteen year old you are doing pretty damn good in my opinion and im not just saying that i think your creativity is open and your willingness to randomly create new things is definatly a plus point, your off to an impressive start i am twenty and i am only just about to put up my gallery so i know where you are coming from. if you can carry on at the rate you have been i look forward to seeing what you are producing a few years from now!!

[Elz]

I reaaaaallly love your beasties. :D All of 'em! Great stoof. <3

[Spirall]

Thanks for the support everyone, I really appreciate you taking the time to look!

Lhune: Yeah, I've always had trouble trying to establish a decent lightsource. I'll try and work on it though, thanks! < 3

Fiddzy: The zombi-dino was lots of fun to draw. And I will, thanks! :D

Illustrist: Thank-you! It really means a lot to me!

Elz: Thanks! C:

[Spirall]

Haven't drawn much lately. Busybusybusy.
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I cliché picture of a forest for school. :>

[Spirall]

This is pretty much the only thing I've been working on lately.
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And a 2 minute sketch for this week's COW.
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[Leviathus]

Your designs are really original IMO :D and I enjoy the forest painting ;)
keep up the good works

[stormrider85]

really like the last one, with the arm on his head?, the shape is really nice, and the anatomy looks right aswell, when i was 16 i wasnt doing cool stuff like this :)

[Spirall]

Leviathus: Thanks heaps! I've done some more on the forest picture, but I forgot to post it.

Storm: Haha, thanks! It was sort of meant to be a land variation of an angler fish. xD

[Spirall]

Been in NZ, sorry for no updates.

Something quick I did last night. Playing with perspectives and such.

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[Icedearth15876]

Great stuff so far, your creature designs are awesome. Keep up the good work.

[Spirall]

Thank-you! I'll try. C:

[PurplePlatypus]

Nice creature designs, it will be interesting to see how this will progress.

You commented on making up anatomy earlier. Well stop it then :P the only way to get rid of bad habit is to tackle it. The best way to do it will probably be to spend some more time just studying real animal anatomy. Also, I think seeing these guys in some sort of environment would be pretty cool. It’s one thing to make up a creature, quite another to show it functioning. Keep up the good work.

[Spirall]

PP: Yeah, I have been trying (: It's just a bit tricky for me to find references that are easy to understand and are helpful. I need to save up some money and buy a good anatomy book. One day. xD
And thanks! I'll try some environment scenes too!

[Spirall]

Quick thing I did in a Paintchat of the character featured in the previous post. The anatomy is pretty horrid, I did this really quick. xD
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Finished forest picture.
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For a trade. I've never drawn a beach scene before. It won't look as 'stuck on' once it's finished, I promise.
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[Spirall]

Finished beach scene. Character is Eraili's on deviantart.
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Quick badge thing for Neltruin (also on deviantart)
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[Spirall]

More spam. :P
For a friend's birthday.
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[Corean]

You have a really crazy-cool imagination. I really like the creatures you've shared so far and look forward to more! Your values are improving too. The forest painting is coming along just right.

Happy drawing.

[Magic Man]

Ah, a fellow Austlander! Interesting work, very good for your age mate, keep it up and make sure to keep pushing your understanding of tone, it will really make the difference in your work.

Pop into my sb and say hi! =)

Cheers,Darren

[Spirall]

Thanks heaps, again!

I really need to go through my school notes and scan all the little doodles I have in them. One day.
Something quick I did the other day, I've never really drawn a person before. . .

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[Freddzie]

I absolutely love these, they're amazing!

[zou]

hello there
your place is definitely here mate.
your concepts are very interesting, if you want make them more believable. Then you have to dive into construction and 3d forms.

Before drawintg your actual creature or figure, draw it olike simple geometric forms (cylinder for a leg for example)
check loomis or bridgman to get the idea.

then you can learn anatomy (the next step) you must be able

i can't tell you about proportions since you're drawing imaginary creatures wich seems weel proportioned. but if intend to draw human, then you MUST learn proportions (by heart)

check out terryl whitlatch's training videos also

[Spirall]

zou: Thanks! I'll be sure to check those guys out! (:

Haven't drawn much lately, I've been pretty busy with school and such, I'm going to Thailand for two weeks in a couple of days. So I figured I might as well share this before I go.
Just something I did for Shinerai on deviantart. Another dragon. |:

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[Spirall]

Quick ref I threw together for Switch. I gave him a colour change and altered a couple of minor things.
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And I spelt 'tragus' wrong. :P

[Aresa]

Very nice sketchbook! I'm loving your crazy creatures and their designs. I don't know if this would apply, since these are imaginary creatures, but, I would be careful of the proportions. For example, in some of your pieces, the arms would be too short. (Again, this might be due to imaginary creatures) You seemed to be improving that aspect since you began your sketchbook, so keep it up! Also, if you're going to draw humans, make sure to study the anatomy! It will help tons! :) You're doing great!

[Spirall]

Thanks! I'll certainly try to keep a better eye on my proportions!

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^^^ For a friend on Deviantart.

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^^^ Concept for a 'dream keeper'. I'm attempting to sculpt something similar for my art class.

[Spirall]

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Something quick I did of my dragon charrie.

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Same creature as my first post, only slightly redesigned.
They create illusions to lead you away, put you to sleep, and eat you. :'D
He's illusionating the leaves and grass, when really it's all dead.