C.O.W.#230, the Swamp God. WIPS thread

[(lark]

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For more info and details about the rules go here:

http://www.concepyart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=110879


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ROUND #230, the Swamp God

topic:

ROUND#230, the Swamp God


Props to rob powell this week. got this from his suggestion in the topics/suggestions thread and ran with it. THANKS ROB!

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A swamp is a place that is saturated with living things. Its believed that the moist climate,and close relationship with water is responsible for its abundant life form population.

This week we are going to pretend that theory is wrong, and that the real culprit for the immense amount of life in swamps is actually a master life form that creates new life from itself.

Populating its swampy home with an infinite number of new species, the creature you will be designing this week is referred to as "a god" by those that have witnessed its species creating abilities.

Requirements this week...

- The creature must reside in a swamp.

- the creature this week is immobile. Any appendages it may have are not to be used for locomotion.

- the creature should appear to be "godlike", it creates new species out of itself after all. its up to you to decide how to represent that visually.

Deadline:

September 28th 9:00pm PST (GMT -8 )

FINAL GO HERE... http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=3253989#post3253989

[Rob Powell]

You make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside ^^

I'll see if I can get something done for this after I finish my IOW (for which the topic I also suggested, haha) I have a few ideas floating around...

...also very creative breif to fit the topic, hot stuff, man!

[DefiledVisions]

Rob Powell thats one mighty topic! its gonna be epic :)

[sevira]

time is such a valuable thing....


I'm kinda unsure about the "life creating" / "life giving" and the "godlike"

would a swamp-elemental that consists of living material fit the brief?

in the Islandback WIPs thread someone posted this illustration made for MTG

http://media.wizards.com/images/magic/daily/wallpapers/wp_animarsoulofelements_1280x960.jpg

somehow this looks a bit like what I initially had in mind when I saw this weeks topic but as the live giving factor is a bit more passive in this concept I was unsure if such a creature would still fit with the brief

or

are we supposed to think of a way how our "god" actively creates live ?

[Lightpunk]

Sounds great! I have been meaning to try doing a COW challenge for ages, will definitely have to give this one a go! Nice topic suggestion Rob!

[Xeinnex]

well just a quick sketch of my idea, its a living creature attached to the biggest tree of the swamp, i havent thought of an exact explanation of how it creates life, i was thinking maybe the reason of it creating life would be to be able to eat what it creates, so far im trying to focus in the immobile rule, the creature will create life and well im not sure how to achieve a godlike look on an immobile creature so im going to have to give it more thoughts, any suggestions or comments are welcome.

:) nice theme by the way, the idea of an immobile creature inspired me, i usually spend most of my time thinking how a creature would move and here i dont have to think about it :D.

[GEB]

Make me think of the forest God in Helboy 2

[nilfheim]

http://i.imgur.com/1RrNC.jpg

This is an ancient creature which rules the swamp like an ant queen. This creature breeds new ones by growing new egg-like parts of body, from which new creatures breeds.

[DanSchallock]

I am envisioning a creature made up of the swamp itself (mud, trees, rocks) ... coming out of the ground.
This is a rough sketch of the concept. I am planing to sketch in some creatures floating out of the water coming from its mouth. Like a crocodile or fantasy version. and birds flying out of one of the eye holes.

[Scimthar]

...Wonder if it would be considered "big" enough to be a god.

Either way, very quick concept sketch.

[Eclectix]

Just a quick sketch. I will probably make some pretty substantial alterations if I pursue this one because the "creature" isn't that interesting yet IMO.

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[Misplacedhippos]

Swampy and immobile, but no plant creatures... :xpld:

My mind keeps going to the forest god in Princess Mononoke.

[lkjhgfdsa]

lkjhgfdsa

[lordofALLspacebugs]

this is a really cool concept and i'm inspired to join my 1st cow :yayca:
i think staying original here will be tough...how literal does "create life" need to be? does it have to directly create new creatures, or can the effects of its actions create a sustainable environment?

i was thinking along the lines of an immobile creature that feeds on the sludge and muck that slowly siphons from the water tributaries, and then...and then profit! seriously though, i want to try and keep it relatively realistic and in keeping with a low-oxygen system where survival is difficult. in a place like that a creature that introduces fresh oxygen / food etc into the water can be seen as life-giving if its actions make an environment hospitable right?

...and sorry for the long rationale, i just want to make sure i get my point across :canadian:

xeinex - interesting tree-symbiosis...i like it

nilfheim - which creatures does it breed, all swamp creatures or a specific one of your own design?

eclectix - very cool concept. i can almost see this in an almost symbiotic relationship with something like a colony of ants - they feed it and it protects the nest from attackers.

symbiosis seems to be a big factor in this one already, and i can't wait to see how people portray the combination of sentient and immobile

[sevira]

@clark
It would be great if you could clarify some of the things that have been mentioned here in the thread


as for now my creature is technically a plant and it's live giving factor is more or less abstract (might change that later though)


so, too much plant?

[tamirespp]

@nilfheim: Loved the overall composition! I was wondering though it lacks some contrast, don`t you think? And maybe a nice shade of orange would suit better the "eyes" of the creature. :)
So, my first WIP on the subject!
It`s the first time I`ve ever done a COW!
Please, comments and critiques are SO very WELCOME!
Have a nice day!

[albino-Z]

Great work till now everyone.

@sevira: we had a similar vision regarding the life giving method of our swamp gods. At first I thought it was water but seeing it in color I realize we are close :]


Some questions regarding the activity: Is posting wips mandatory? or posting on the finals thread will do?

and I also have some thoughts about the "no plants" rule. Some clarification would come handy.

[sevira]

@albino
as far as I'm informed wips aren't mandatory in cow, though we all appreciate them :)

after all it is a chance for everyone to get some critique regarding concept and technique which is why we're here anyway




update
the question about the no-plants rule is still open, but well, it's too late for me to start all over again
changed the head area so it looks more like a creature

[ninety9]

@albino-Z: posting WIPs isn´t mandatory but helps showing the process and perhaps helps others learn to get better - wich is, more or less besides the "fun"-component, the main goal of these weekly activities.
however there have always been a majority of artists only posting their finals in the finals-thread.

[Eclectix]

Meh, I thought I'd see if I could salvage this, but alas, I'm not too happy with it. I have a different idea in my head and I'm going to try going that route instead. Here's my attempt to rework the first idea before moving on to another one:
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[warburton]

Rob Awesome topic dude, would be cool to see your take on this if you had time ;)

xeinnex good start, keep working those values and keep up the good work.

nifheim Great story telling and atmosphere. At the mo looks evil and more of an 'undead' creature than a life making god creature, try experimenting with your choice of colours and bringing more attention to the fact this thing is creating life.

danshallock cool drawing, it doesnt look like a living creature at the mo but more a face like cave. Think about the material this living creature is made out of and try to show as much of this creatures anatomy as possible to push the overal design.

scimthar doesnt necessary have to be big to be a god ;) its a cool sketch and start, would be awesome to see you push it further.

eclextix You've got a good idea, you've shown the life giving swamp element well. Perhaps having this glowing element a section of the creature and building some anatomical structure would help your concept.

lkjhgfdsa ...:heart: Amazing as always, just show some way this creature is making life and you have my vote ;)

sevira Cool concept, perhaps abit plant like but its still a good design. I think the "life creating" element to the brief is prity straight forward. I guess its up to the artist how you interpret the description. Probably best a mod helps you if your still stuck, i'm prity lame at describing things lol. Sorry i can't be more help

tamirespp Cool initial sketch, nice composition you've got going. Be sure to make the creature the number 1 focus and show at least 3/4 of its design. Focus on getting a light source and a solid range of values together to push the form of your creature. Finally don't forget to show some way this creature is creating life. Hope his helps, keep up the good work =)

Hey guys, been watching this and I figured other folks who love creatures and anatomy would benefit from this if they haven't seen it already. I would post this in the resources section or somethin but its only on for a certain period of time (a month i think) so figured this would be the best place to share it.

Hope this works ok, and a warning that it does contain gore, obviously lol.

LWfEv2LAJz0&feature=sh_e_top&list=SL

[Si_Swe]

Sevira - I might push creature elements a little bit further to avoid the plant rule.
Eclectix - If you do choose to pursue this illustration I'd definitely increase the actual amount of creature there is in the piece.

[Eclectix]

I decided to follow a different route. I much prefer this gelatinous creature. Swamp animals are drawn to it when they are near the end of their lives. The creature consumes their dying bodies and excretes new life as a by-product. In other words, it eats death and it poops life. Hopefully I'll have time later tonight to start fleshing it out.

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[thirdeye]

Good stuff so far guys. Seems that everyone has gone similar direction like me :)

Here's my progress :)

http://www.thirdeyeart.home.pl/sketchbook/cow_230_02.jpg

[Nickodemus]

Nice stuff, guys.

Here is where I am right now. Pretty happy with the rendering...still working out the swamp god part, though :)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9W6pjZ5zCc/ToEfoZ7bXNI/AAAAAAAAAZo/WXV7k6jFexE/s1600/SwampGod.jpg

[sepu]

here is wip, hopefully I will get enough time to finish it. plan is to get swarms of insects flying and crawling out of this tentacled swamp god.

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1708/swamp4.jpg

[lkjhgfdsa]

Troll God of the Swamp

[Eclectix]

Coming along. I'm done for tonight, but I still have more work to do.
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[(lark]

Hey guys. Just to clarify the plant rule. I see it like this... there can be plants on it, or coming out of it. But the creature should remain non plant at its core. Hope that clarifies.

[sevira]

maybe a good time to ask now:

I've always been wondering why there is a "no plant" rule anyway

I mean what was the initial concern that lead to that rule?

somehow I find it hard to believe that something like this (Kotakis work (http://www.guildwars2.com/global/includes/images/concept-art/guildwars2-28.jpg)) would be against the rules while it is technically a plant

wasn't able to find any source on this particular rule and as I said, I was just wondering

[Rob Powell]

sevira: I think the main idea is that people create creatures that seem to move and act as creatures/animals even though they would be almost completely made out of plant like materials. Basically to avoid boring venus fly trap creatures, or just a plain plant concept. Pretty much the same reason why there is a no humanoid rule, since they (the mods) are trying to push and encourage creativity... .but that's just what I think I could be wrong :P

[albino-Z]

Great ideas everyone!

Here are some of my steps. Started with an alchemy sketch which got seriously chopped up in the process.

[zenarion]

lkjhgfdsa : Great looking beastie.
Nickodemus : nice stuff too!

Edit: posting WIPs
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/zenarion/cow230_swamp_god_zenarion_small.jpg

[Stinkfist]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DjbC5CyesKw/ToIEM9knjVI/AAAAAAAAADY/ostho4JG0A8/s1600/cow230.jpg
gotta little brush crazzzy

[tamirespp]

Soooo
@logistic puppet: thanks for the advice ^^ really usefull!

Well, I was initially going for some kind of bug, but then I thought back and why not make it a giant fungus that lives in a creepy rock? \o/ He vomits snakes, huh

[Si_Swe]

Well, I was initially going for some kind of bug, but then I thought back and why not make it a giant fungus that lives in a creepy rock?

Because if it's a rock or fungus and not a creature, then obviously it isn't a creature, which would sort of make it ineligible for creature of the week.

[sepu]

next wip, still no swarms of insects, but I have enough for the night..

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/5385/swamp411.jpg

[Pat Thompson]

:yayca:
Now this is a challenging topic! Love it, great idea Rob. A bit hard to come up with something that's not a plant or environment.

Thinking something like a mix between a Chinese-Dragon Turtle + Gizmo with water + Zaratan.

This is tough, but I've been playing around with a few ideas on the same theme - a stationary mound-shaped creature, with some sort of extensions out into the environment. To create it life, eggs, seeds, embryos, fetuses, etc grow off it, and hatch. Several ideas feature hanging egg sack type things, where others grow straight on its back or out of its massive pores.

Here are the sketches:

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Mound with pores that emit egg sacks, and features roving tenacles and eel heads to feed on the sacrifices.

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Egg sacks will hang from the bridges, birds and bugs emerge from the central hive. Lures sacrifices into central lower area.

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This one has a alligator-turtle type with the various species families having a sector on him. Reptiles emerge from his mouth (alligator coming out), fungus and mold from his butt, seeds and spores of trees from his shoulders, birds from egg fetuses on his spine, and then maybe rats and such coming from the fuzzy folds and jelly rolls that will spill into the muck.


P.S. I have an interview with Gameloft for the 'Concept Illustrator' position tonight! Any tips or words of wisdom?

[ninety9]

is the deadline 8:00 in the morning or in the evening? since i am GMT+1 that should be 9 hours ahead, how many hours are still left till deadline from the date/time of my posting?

[thirdeye]

Maybe that may help :)

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/pacific-time/

Around 15 hours left if I'm counting correctly :)

[ZenithDeLunaris]

I only had a few hours to work today but wanted to show my idea anyway.

I made it a dragon/serpent type creature fused to the ground in some kind of shell from which the swamp creatures spouted.

[(lark]

hey guys poll up in 5 minutes. if you got something get it in there.

[Rob Powell]

was actually stuck doing some other things within the last couple of hours so it was a rush job to get this finished enough for the finals...the background however was about 98-99% finished anyways, so here is a detail shot at 100%
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