C.O.W. - #011: Dream/Nightmare Eater

[Fozzybar]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/images/cow/cow.jpg


Round #011

Topic:
Dream/Nightmare Eater

Deadline:
25.04.2005




- for any questions or help go here:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37512

note: The deadline won't be EXACTLY after a week...it can last up to 24 hours more, i am human and have to work also, you know ;)

Post your creature for this week!

[salaryman]

so this one's about eating eh?

guess I have to enter now!

another busy week, but lets see...!

[Fozzybar]

so this one's about eating eh?
guess I have to enter now!

hehe :tihi:

[Carnifex]

sounds like something matt could win.didn't he do some thunderdome once with a dream-eater? or was that rusty?

edit: btw,are them creatures allowed to have human body parts?

[Fozzybar]

edit: btw,are them creatures allowed to have human body parts?

I don't understand why so many people want to implement human parts/looks into their creature-concepts...do it, but it's boring in my eyes...

[Carnifex]

for my part it's that seeing something familiar in a strange creature makes it totally scary.

plus for me it gets boring after a while to put a lizard head on about everything that's supposed to be a monster(or something else with a long nose/beak/jaw)

edit: screw it,i've decided to take another route anyway.

[croovman]

I think I'm in :)

[S.C. Watson]

I don't understand why so many people want to implement human parts/looks into their creature-concepts...do it, but it's boring in my eyes...

It makes it more relatable, and creates a greater emotional impact. I agree with the rule, but I've found that with my stuff, people just don't get as worked up over something that they don't see a little bit of themselves in.

The best example that I can think of is the Alien creature design by H.R. Gieger. It was *alien* and nightmarish, but what made it so freaking scary was the fact that we could see little bits of ourselves in it - the way it moved, aspects of the mouth, and it's humanoid build.

You could also make the same argument for the Predator, or any of the aliens in Star Wars or Star Trek.

Personally, I'm for making something as alien or otherworldly as possible, but I've found that often you have to include something relatable in order to really get across the strangeness.

Just my 2 pixels worth.

~Shane

[croovman]

here's mine :) I drew it pretty fast, I guess, but that's only to blame the very inspiring idea by fozzyguy (thumbs up!). I didn't even want to sit and think too much about my creature idea so I just went ahead and started and it worked itself up from there.
It was really fun doing this, I even used colored pencils which I haven't used in a very long time and drawing an animal\creature is not something I usually do.
so it was fun and I hope to participate in next cows to come : )

http://img152.exs.cx/img152/6590/blinddreameaterdev7ng.jpg

the blind dream eater -
he can smell them, he can hear them, but he can't see them, so he tastes them and eats them, to feed his hungry mind.

[Fozzybar]

Carnifex/Oregano
Oh, i totally misunderstood the question...sorry. You're right about your question/suggestions, especially regarding this topic...human body parts would fit to the nitemare-creature...

croovman
The topic is not my idea...there is a topic-ideas thread and i am picking the topics for C.O.W. from there...
I don't want to be harsh or anything (as always *sigh*)...but please could you work on your entry a little more? The line-art is nice, but the coloring looks very rushed...you have still 7 days to go...

[croovman]

I'm sorry, fozz, it's how I usually draw, I'm not sure how I can work on it any more. I'll try though, thanks.

[Shamagim]

Finally done, is not what i espected, but i promise to get better over time...^_^.


EDIT*: main pic updated

http://upl.silentwhisper.net/uplfolders/upload9/contest5WIP01.jpg

http://upl.silentwhisper.net/uplfolders/upload7/MyCOW5.3.jpg



After all the wickas( witches) were in danger of being hunted by the church, one of them especialized on bringing fear to people in their dreams, by creating something himself called " Terror haemonculus", this minions were shaped according to the fears of the people they hunted in their dreams, but this fear was becoming the reason of his possible downfall...

People were transforming that fear into action, they wanted the terror to stop and they prove they would destry anything suspicious because of that fear, and the wicka didnt had more control over them, so he created something compleatly different, something that would destroy any will for anything, by consuming the townfolk´s wishes and ambitions...

But the wicka was afraid that a beast like that may hunt him in his own drams, so he turned himself into that beast....So while the beast only will is to consume all the dreams of his surroundings, it would remain invincible to any attack ( because it only exist in the dream world)...while the wicka remains the body as his own desfigured head..sleeping.

[GomenNasai]

the tapir is known for its ability to eat nightmares in Japan, where it is called "Baku" :) funny, I thought it was a new idea... :

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/tapir.jpg

another source :

Baku, Eater of Dreams
Japan

In Japan, among superstitious people, evil dreams are believed to be the result of evil spirits, and the supernatural creature called Baku is known as Eater of Dreams.

The Baku, like so many mythological beings, is a curious mingling of various animals. It has the face of a lion, the body of a horse, the tail of a cow, the forelock of a rhinoceros, and the feet of a tiger.

Several evil dreams are mentioned in an old Japanese book, such as two snakes twined together, a fox with the voice of a man, blood-stained garments, a talking rice-pot, and so on.

When a Japanese peasant awakens from an evil nightmare, he cries: "Devour, O Baku! devour my evil dream." At one time pictures of the Baku were hung up in Japanese houses and its name written upon pillows. It was believed that if the Baku could be induced to eat a horrible dream, the creature had the power to change it into good fortune

Source: F. Hadland Davis, Myths and Legends of Japan (London: G. G. Harrap, 1913), pp. 358-359.

[Fozzybar]

I think is a good idea to make some WIP´s posts in here, so we dont ge any "already seen stuff" in here...
Don't go overboard with the wips, people...we have 20-30 members participating each C.O.W....this thread would be a mess with 2-3 wips of every participant...open a new thread in the sketches or help section to get copious help...

[S.C. Watson]

GomenNasai That was really cool. Thanks for posting it - I *love* little tidbits like that! :)

[redehlert]

Hey Shamagim, et al.
If you have a WIP, then create a sketch book thread, post WIPs there and then post your comment in the current COW with a link to your sketch book to have interested peeps to go there, review and comment. It keeps the current COW down to just the final work and comments but still keeps you gettin' the crits you deserve. I do this with mine, er...I have done this with mine, and it really helps.
Just my humble 2 cents. Now I'm poor. Does anyone have any spare change?
Peace,
d

[possessed]

I'm not pretending to be on the same level as you guys are but I really like these activities and wanted to join in on the fun. So here is my entry:

The Trance vassal
http://img25.echo.cx/img25/5798/dreamer34gx.jpg
The true servants of Nightmares. These creatures always stay close, but undetected, to human settlements. When the humans are sleeping they turn their attention to what's going on inside their victims mind. If a Trance vassel succesfully 'connects' to a dream it will start to clear all activity within that dream until the dreamer is left in a trance-like state from which they cannot awaken. Then, the vassel creates a special dream which induces sleepwalking. The poor victims will always walk straight towards the vassals hidingplace. Not satisfied with devouring their victims dreams, the vassals consume the hapless human.

[Dougbot]

http://www.dougbot.com/forum/dreamEater.jpg
The Alucinorbestia wander in the dreamscape between consciousness and unconsciousness. Their long legs help them wade through the milky dream lake that lies deep within the combined minds of all people. Their long tongues dragging deep within that lake, absorbing the dark dreams that lie below the surface of the lake. Feeding off nightmares, the Alucinorbestia have taken grotesque appearances that do not represent their true benevolent nature.

[xia]

Description to come
Liar! Looks good anyway.

[S.C. Watson]

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1113964175.jpg

The Eater of Dreams dwells in the Nether-world between our conscious and uncounscious minds, manifesting in the twilight hours before dawn to steal our dreams away. Once collected the dreams' energies are consumed by the Eater, who leaves their twisted, corrupted shells scattered like brittle leaves in the barren landscape of the Nether.

[oomgawa]

Dougbot: I was going to make mine Pink! whaaaa

[Fozzybar]

pink is for sissies....oh wait, one of my COWs was pink... :bashful:

[salaryman]

Dutch Gelderland Gjooba.

Lolloping across the nighttime landscape like a drunk uncle at a wedding, the Gelderland Gjooba feasts on the nocturnal dreams and nightmares of the populace. Towering at 200 ft, yet with the brain of a midget fool, the Gjooba brays for sustenance. While all nighttime fancies are fodder to the Gjooba, he prefers dreams of hope and nightmares of despair. Completely hairless with vestigial knife and fork, the Gjooba is prone to melancholia and late mornings.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/salaryman/gjooba.bmp

No time this week! If you wondered about my 5 minute work, well now you know. Sorry Fozzy, it doesn't have to go through!

[redehlert]

A totally benign creature with no evil plot to take over your mental facilities - it just has a thirst to screw your mind, so to speak.
Extremely small and easily mistaken for noseeums buzzing around your head whilst you sleep, the Donald lands to feed once it sees you enter into a state of REM. The Donald…smart cookie that it is, realizes that REM is prime time to suck up those mindscape morsels. The Donald can be beneficial to you by erasing nightmares as they occur whilst feeding or it can be a total bitch when you try to remember that awesome dream when you wake up but it's 'poof'…gone…into the Donald!

http://www.cognitionstudio.com/conceptart/redehlert_cow11_r1.jpg

Cheers!
Dave

[Sok N. Wett]

LOL...there you go again Dave using your medical illustration background....man that must be so awesome, to know those stuff.

[redehlert]

Hey Sok,

Well....don't go pullin' out any anatomy books to double check my work - just did it quick from memory. :x
Undertow and Prostate Sunrise forced me to see the light about incorporating more of my med illus work into my concept development. It's a fun springboard, I'll admit and both areas are starting to blend together nicely for me.
Cheers and thanks!
D

[Bretton]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/bretton/dreameater011.jpg

Hannelore:

The Hannelore is a creature that is reoccurrent to young Timothy Higgins' dreams. Timmy knows nothing about this creature except that it's name is Hannelore and that it's appearance signals the dreams' end as it's mosquito-like mouth pierces dream-Timmy's frontal lobe.

[Carnifex]

damn you guys are destroying me this week.
how should i stand a chance against this...most of all redehlert...damn...

[redehlert]

Hey Carnifex - you won't know until ya post, eh? I'm grateful for the nod of confidence though. Your concepts are impressive, ya know....which reminds me...got to do COW 10 crits - you're my first on the list of many to give props to.
Peace!
d

[Carnifex]

aww shucks-thanx:)
ok,i will enter and try to destroy you with my concept then. :tihi: :P

[bluefooted]

My first entry. Ever.

http://www.angelfire.com/art2/bluefooted/images/dream4.jpg

The Nightmare Eater - On nights when the moon tints the clouds red, the creature lurks above unsuspecting hamlets, feeding from the bad dreams it cultivates.

[redehlert]

that's sweet, bluefooted....definite period feeling to it!
welcome to the mix....
d

[cakeypigdog]

salleryman: thats cool mate! did it literally take 5 mins?!? really nice character: the mouth area in particular. You have a fine imagination indeed.

bluefooted: thats a fine first entry! love the subtle use of colour in the background. Your lines (particuarly in the sky) have a lovely lyrical quality. excellent stuff!

[Uziel]

The Dreamdweller
This creature lives inside the dimension of our nightly fantasies also known as dreams and nightmares. There it lives of the essence of fear and love. Because fear is much more powerful (except for wet dreams) it stimulates nightmares by spreading darkness and disrupting our imagination. This also the reason why it’s so difficult to get out of a bad dream. Due to the disruptions it’s difficult to wake up. We first have to gather enough energy to escape from the dreamworld. Result: waking up suddenly, shaking and confused.
So think again when they say:
“Don’t worry, it’s just a bad dream. Go back to sleep…”

Sweet dreams
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/jarrafatti/dreamdwellersmall.jpg

[Pupil]

This is the first piece of artwork I have put up on the concept art boards so any breif crits would be great. I'll crit everyone elses when it comes to the voting :) Sorry for the double post but my internet won't let me post big replys :nohope:

Concept:
Hanging from the ceiling of the bedroom, the creature slowly spins and twists as the wide-eyed child succumbs to its hypnotic dance. The infant’s pupils begin to dilate before their eyelids become heavy. Silently the child enters a trance like state of sleep. R.E.M. begins and the child’s unconscious is overcome with swirling psychedelic dreams. The creature’s lips part and it extends its serpentine tongue, descending, then slipping into the child’s ear. The parasitic creature feeds on the electrical activity the dreams produce in the brain until the child is worn out. The child therefore requires much more sleep than an adult despite being far less physically active. Another side effect is acute memory loss and limited mental capacity in the child, though this becomes less pronounced as their brain becomes larger and more able to combat the effects of the parasite’s feeding.

[Pupil]

The creature is only able to feast on the dreams of the youngest human children (below 28 months old) because the elder humans posses the brain functions to repel the mental manipulation, and the physical ability to remove the creatures from their living space. Though easy to spot, these creatures are often ignored by even the most attentive parent due to their superficial similarity to a baby’s mobile.

http://n00092.myspace.com/00092/16/54/92734561_l.jpg

[talbot]

Man, there are sweeeet entries here!

Oregano; I love it. Very sinister. Reminds me of Onimusha when you suck up all the dead souls. Great job!

bluefooted; Incredible. Just plain creepy. I can't stop staring at it... :x

[leckronium]

http://home.comcast.net/~leckronium/onlinestorage/cow11d.jpg
Ever wake up in the middle of a dream just to find yourself face down in a drool soaked pillow? Yeah, of course you haven't. Well for those of you who have, you have been a victim of Bobb the Dream Eater. Bobb likes to sneak into your room when your sound asleep and wrap you up in your blanket just like a lollipop then feast on your sweet dreams and sour nightmares. He doesn't eat you and has never really hurt anyone. After he's done he returns you to your place of rest to move on to his next tasty treat. Occasionally Bobb will leave a little to loudly and startle his victim to consciousness but by then all has returned to normal and the only thing that is left is a drool soaked pillow with your face in it. :P

[redehlert]

Leckonium - that is damn funny, hoss! I think Bobb got to me the other night...almost drowned in that wack sheeeit.
:)
Peace!
D

[leckronium]

Leckonium - that is damn funny, hoss! I think Bobb got to me the other night...almost drowned in that wack sheeeit.
Haha, thanks.... I tried to just let loose and let my mind wander this time. Last week's idea turned out rather blah and I didn't want that to happen again. I hope I do much better this week. :D

[Carnifex]

well,i'm afraid i don't even come close to any of you picture-wise this week. that's what i get for trying to do it all digital :nohope: i think i couldn't pull anymore out of this concept though. great entries everyone so far!
edit: some workover.
--------------------
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/carnifex_19/dreameater3.jpg
The Dream Eater
Or brainbug.This critter crawls into your bedroom when you're sleeping and locates you via his little hairs on the belly,which feel the vibrations.His instinct then leads him to your mouth,which it cracks open with his powerful jaws.After that, he inserts a tongue-like apparatus into it and drives it into your brain to feed of the neural energy that is generated by your dreams. After he is finished he crawls away to either rest in some cellar or other dark places.When being attacked, he uses the hairs on his back to inject some drugging substance into the agressor. This usually grants enough time for the brainbug to escape. Reports of little children jumping from trees and breaking their legs because they believed they could fly are often found when doing research on the brainbug.In late of October,the male specimen goes into a mating frenzy and impregnates atleast 5 females,only to die the very same night from exhaustion.The females themselves are devoured by the offspring from the inside.The brainbug is the main reason we often wake up with a dry mouth and can't remember shit about what we dreamt the night before.

[kingrobot]

Hello! This is my first image post to CA.org forums. I have been lurking for a while being to embarrased to show any of my stuff...this is the first thing I have ever got to a stage that I could call finished.

Anyway, here be my Dream Eater...crits welcome (be gentle with me!).

http://www.pistolstardesign.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/concept/dreameaterv2.jpg

OLD VERSION - too grungy? too dark? (http://www.pistolstardesign.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/concept/dreameater.jpg)

Lesser Dream Eater (Vorosomnio Ereptorus Parvus) - (O. Coleoptera Imaginarus)
Often found in the bedding of disturbed mental patients, this foul insect feeds on the psychic energy created by nightmares and troubling dreams. It grows to around 1" long and 1" tall when fully gorged. It uses the fearsome mandibles on it's underbelly to consume the negative energies of nightmares. Intricate movements of its appendages cause a temporary psychic vortex to be generated that act like a magnet to psychic energy. An electrical glow is often seen during feeding. The creature feeds by attaching itself to the head of its prey and making a small incision in the skin to disrupt the human magnetic field.

The upper body of the Dream Eater has several adaptations to assist in the collection of dream energies. Six arm-like appendages are used to grip onto hair and clothing while feeding. The head features 5 pairs of eye each with distinct functions those being low light, fast and slow movement, infra red spectrum and wide angle vision. The feathery fern like antennae sense tiny movements in the air as well as the chemical composition of the air. Finally the large red structures are actually used for hearing. They are very sensitive drum like structures which pick up even tiny sonic vibrations. All of these senses are used to detect when a victim is about to enter a phase of disturbed REM sleep. The rudimentary wing structures are of no use as the insect cannot fly. It is thought these are used for mating displays or to intimidate rivals.

[RaneValderez]

on the rules it said you could post, well basically scribbles on the next round after you had made them better, but I was wondering don't you do different subject each round?

[Sok N. Wett]

We do new subject each week, we are up on the 11th week of the 11th subject, if you do a ten minute scribble, it's not worth posting, cause it's not complete unless you want to post your WIP, but using that as your final will not get you to the polls. Foz has given everyone a week, that's enough time for most people. If you finish it the first day, and post it, then it's fine, but you still have 6 more days to play around with it and change it if you want, even delete that whole concept and try a different one.

[Mike Corriero]

http://www.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files/38691_P2N6IewSO3osPWDNntjEJE0kg.jpg

Dreamers .The Nightmare eater or otherwise known as "Dreamers" walk amoung our world fiesting on our dreams. Dreamers cannot be seen for they live in a subconscious environment that exist only in our minds. When we sleep at night and our dream state takes over, this is sort of a "door way" for the Dreamers to enter through. Once this happens, we lose all control over our dreams, and horrific images start to take shape turning the dream into what is known as a "Nightmare". There are cases when a nightmare may cause death, heart attack, excessive sweats and racing pulse. This is the Dreamers ultimate goal, to tear your soul from your body so that once you enter thier world, they may feast on your thoughts, your dreams, your mind...taking everything that is precious to you and torturing you to the very limit of insanity until there is nothing left.

[Matt Dixon]

http://www.vortex.plus.com/COW11.jpg

Humperdink's Doodah. Named for the neurosurgeon who first discovered this tiny parasite while operating on an infected patient, these tiny creatures live on the surface of the human brain. The details of their behaviour is not fully understood, but these organisms send out nerve-like tendrils from their bodies which appear to interface with synapses in the brain where the creature somehow feeds on neurotransmitter activity. The process seems to have no affect on the host, with one notable exception - they no longer dream during sleep - this has led to the Doodah's nickname as the 'Eater of Dreams' and may go some way to explain it's contented expression.

[Helzon]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/Helzon/wip4copy.jpg
Dateline: 06/11/2007
Internal Memo: The Council On Responsible Genetics
It has recently come to our attention through the efforts of a tenacious field agent that the disgraced former governor of Massachusetts, R. J. Geralds may have netted a sizable financial windfall from those connected to the Plum Island Genetic Research facility. It was after all the governor's controversial policy of exporting the state's most violent criminals to a maximum security facility in Virginia. There it was known that several inmates committed savagely inhuman violent acts and others committed suicide while guards watched. For many months the story was simply a tale of cruelty until the final piece of the puzzle came in the form of a disgruntled researcher, James Fichmiller. Fichmiller claims that the heads of Plum Island in concert with their counterparts in the NIH worked with the knowing consent of the governor's office to conduct research experiments on the convicts. One such experiment was called A20432D, nicknamed the "pacifier". An organism that was able to "phase" through the human physiology, namely the skull to nestle between the lobes of the brain where it would regulate the mental function of the subject during sleep, by "eating dreams and nightmares". However, whatever benefits there were were quickly offset by loss of memory, self identity, and touch with reality. Soon it was found that to further sustain itself during waking hours, the creature was slowly sapping the nutrients from the brain and nervous system, thus causing the outbursts and brutal ends.
It is our position to forward any and all relevant materials to the DoJ, Internal Revenue, and state's attorney's office of Massachusetts for further exploration and termination of this project and to also suspend any other efforts to export prisoners to surrounding states and territories.
Proceed with any and all discretion. This means no media coverage or leaks, discussions outside of this building are prohibited, and destruction of all internal memos are mandatory.
Harold Milton
Chairman of the Council on Responsible Genetics

[redehlert]

Matt Dixon - were you listening to Hooverphonic when you came up with your title? Me thinks you were, but not 100% sure....that's a great entry - the smile is crackin' me up. The best part is that I can see it residing within the brain - would like to see some action with the H. Doodah dendrites synapsing with nuerons to achieve that 'glow'. Oops....did I sound like a med ill nerd....hahaha.
Mike - so glad you popped in a new COW - lookin' forward to your concept copy.
All entries are funky fresh more so than I think I've seen yet....I'm all sugar free jazzed.
Peace.
D

ps. Holy poop! Helzon - don't touch that dial....from here on out, you're charged with just pencil workups for your creatures....I'm diggin' that big time.

[Fozzybar]

Helzon
Oh man...you would have won half of the C.O.W.-rounds with your pencil works only...so great...if you add light and shadow with your pencils, the only thing you need to do is giving a solid color area under the creatures body, that's all!!!

MIKECORRIERO
Wow, i love this greenish color scheme, yummee!

Great entries so far, i have to hurry...i hope i will have some time over the weekend...

[Helzon]

Hey red and fozz,
thank you both for your kind words...I really appreciate them.

Redehlert: Pencils from now on?..Shall I be doomed to a life of graphite gray???...then how will I become a rendering god...like douggie, xia, negrotuerto, or Matt Dixon? J/k...LOL Seriously though I understand what you are saying. Pencils are my stronger suit, and I can appreciate that.

Fozz: Will try some 10% gray washes to coincide with the lights and darks...not quite sure what the solid color underneath will be..because it will have to bounce on the underside of the creature...but will figure something out...

Again thank you both...
Cheers!

[redehlert]

Hey Helzon,
Nothing of the sort, bro...it's more like this - you've got great ideas and excellent line work and I think that before you go into lots of color, I'd echo doing what Foz is suggesting and put in those tonal values and build up your skills by way of tone before hitting color full on. I see the true success stories coming from excellent draftmanship. To quite a mentor med illustrator, John Daugherty (http://www.highlightstudios.com) - "Accurate interpretation and construction of anatomical forms begins in the sketch stage, which is often most difficult, but ultimately the most rewarding phase of an illustration's development". This statement can be applied to any type of drawing. Where am I goin' with this -- in essence, if your form is solid with lighting, point of focus, etc. in your sketch stage, it's just gonna go SNAP! POW! BOOM! when it is pushed into the color realm. That said, this is why I'm not hitting color as much in my latest COWs - I want to get better at determing all of those things I tend to neglect because I have an art woodie to take my drawing to color and then I flop for the most part. I'll get off my soap box now....
Peace! D

[vigostar]

wow, I just took a huge gasp of air from all the entries im seeing this week... Its started t look very tasty..
Helzon- looking great so far....!
Corriero- colors look fantastic.,,..
Dixon- love your cute stuff!
Leckronium- That looks awesome, I love it!
Pupil- great idea.. Best idea in my opinion (of course)!
Bluefooted- Gotta love that Fantastical feel!
Salaryman- That is funny as hell!
Dougbot- Wow, your colors are always amazing eyecandy!

Anyways, Im working on my entry.. This will be the first colored entry on CA! I'm a bit nervous.. I just gotta make sure I make that deadline!!! Great work so far guys!

[redehlert]

I found a bit of time to do another version of the Donald. It's replaced my previous entry. I wanted to get a better point of focus and wished to play around with the wing f/x a bit more. Let me know which one looks more appealing - my earlier version is in the ole sketch book (see link below).
Cheers!
D

[Mike Corriero]

Really great entries so far

Redehlert , Fozzy, Vigo @ Thanks guys

I updated my entry, some minor additions and details, also added a description

[AmishCommy]

salaryman - you got my vote. I really dig the style.

Helzon - Dude, Linework is freaking HOT!!! Just dont go too crazy with the colors. Also, may want to watch your tangents. The creature's head blends in with the spine. Uless that's intetional, bringing it out just a bit will make the image that much more dynamic. And Bringing the Back leg up a little to break up the tail couldnt hurt either.

[Helzon]

Hey arkady..
thanks dude...I appreciate it man...
working on the simple, monochrome thing..no outrageous colors this time.
and believe it or not dude..I was thinking the very same thing with the tangency of the head as I was working on it....Played with the line thicknesses and even went so far as to try and differentiate it with tone..but alas...I will try and pop it a bit more with some delicate tones.
Cheers!

[arteric]

OK, I blink and I miss about 3 weeks of C.O.W. Great stuff too.

I would love to enter this one (I think it was one of the ideas I posted actually, but I cannot remember so I have to go back and check!)

Damn drawing tablets are back ordered so I have this awsome new computer with all the software I need, and I am still trying to paint with a mouse. FRUSTRATION!

Anyway, if I don't make this weeks I will be back. I WILL BE BACK! "I WILL KILL HIM!"

love and kisses

Eric

[BlkCelebration]

Great submissions so far! MIKECORRIERO's entry is kickin'.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v141/depecheboy/sueno901.jpg

The Chupa-Sueños:
Originating from Sinaloa, Mexico, this microscopic creature enters through the ear and sucks the dreams of young children every night until they become teenagers. The Chupa-Sueños can only sustain itself on "pure" dreams, therefore limiting its victims to children.

[vaughany_boy]

alucinor esum.
A legendary beast that sustains itself on the dreams of humans. This creature approaches a target in the dead of night and ingests it's subconsious thought while they sleep. This animal can survive on both good and bad dreams and interestingly, every dream they ingest has a physical effect on the creature. As such, an Esum that eats good dreams will become a happy looking, cute creature, one with a taste for nightmares will become a horrific monster. It has been theorised that the creature also effects future dreams of the victim. The link that it uses to take the dream energy also gives the person an image of the creature that can reveal itself in future dreams, giving more opportunies for the creature to feed. This animal does not kill of harm the victim in any physical way, and everyone has a unique apprearance that is ever changing. A very cunning beast, they have also been known use spiritual "Dream Catchers" To prevent excess dreams escaping.

http://img76.echo.cx/img76/5396/dreameater21vj.jpg

[Negrotuerto]

Excellent entries until now guys!
My favorites:

MIKECORRIERO: Vivid colors, excellent design
Redehlert: Love the concept and design
Helzon: Great pencils! great design! Paint it man! :bounce: Seriously, you have an excellent design and pencils, now go to the next level.. render it
If I show you my 10 first personal renders it would make you laugh. Use the color wheel to add shadows and light, paint a dark backgorund color and start to add lights, brush 50% or 30%, and maybe a little smugde tool and it's finished..
Here is the color Wheel shit.. I'm going to make it more extensive in the future Color Whell shit (http://www.carloscabrera.com.ar/images/ca_foro/sirena-tut.jpg)

Nice entries everyone!,
Damn!! I did not have time to make my concept, :[ maybe the next week! :confident

PACE

[Carnifex]

btw redehlert i think you should mirror the creature.would look better imo compositionwise.
helzon-sweet man.but those greens don't fit quite. they look like shadows and ruin the pencil shadows.oh and add some colour on the eyes to make them stand out more.

[redehlert]

Hey Carnifex - that's funny - mirrored is how it is in my sketchbook...I may consider doing that, but my file is in another location....er....at work...so no can do. But I appreciate the thought!
Negro - thanks for the thought, hoss!
BlkCelebration - whoa! tight! One request - that bright spot below the body between the limbs - is it necessary? It draws my eyes to it and then I can't seem to go anywhere else. Just a thought - I'm seriously diggin' how loose it is.
Peace!
D

[Carnifex]

but remember only the creature not the little head at the end of the page.

[Fozzybar]

http://www.kidomatix.com/ca/cow/cow_011_nitemareeater_fozzybar.jpg

PPB#231

The PPB#231 (which means "ParaPsychologyBeing #231" - a norwegian task force of Parapsychologists catalog the beings they encounter during their researches since many years, they don't give names to the beings, just adding the count-number) was spotted with a special technological equipment the Parapsychologist use to make pictures and movies of the outer dimensional beings.

It can be found around sleeping humans...not visible for the human eye, they feed on dreams of humans. The scientists observed that some parts of this being morph into components of the dreams they consume (on the picture you can see a nightmare eating PPB#231, since the disgusting outpours and scary impressions...). So the appearance of this being changes radically depending on the dream the human has. One of the most interesting recording was a PPB#231 feeding on a boys dreams who watched for hours continously the Tele-Tubbies-Show before falling asleep...

The PPB#231 uses some kind of mind-reader tentacles to "read" the dreams and transfer them into consumeable energy-form...

That's my entry for this round...i think there are a few things to work on, but it's 5:45 am and i worked a few hours on it now, my mind is not clear to see the things i could do better, also maybe i won't have time anymore, so i post it as it is, considering to work on it more - or maybe not :)

[strych9ine]

Damn Fozz, that's friggin' wild. I love how the shadow could be the physical embodiment of nightmares creeping toward this thing. Is that starburst on it's head an.. well it looks like, an anus? Because if it is, you rock for slipping such a beautiful anus into your creature's design.

If it's not, just indulge me and tell me it's an anus.

[JeffZNY]

helzon- i see you've added a new WIP. you've talked about playing with values, but what you seem to have done here is simply blurred some areas. i could be wrong, but I think I've noticed this technique in some of your previous entries as well. i don't know what exactly you're trying to achieve, but it doesn't work, and is not the same as adjusting values. you've gotten so much praise here for your linework, blurring it now is just about the worst thing you could do. if the effect you were trying to achieve was to draw the viewer's focus to the head, you could do this by rendering the head with brighter highlights and darker shadows...blurring it is not the best route. you should go back and take a look at the tutorial that dougbot posted a few weeks ago...stick with your original linework and see if some of dougbot's process helps you out. good luck!

[Helzon]

Sorry about the lateness of this reply...
Vigostar ..didn't forget about you man....thanks!!

Negrotuerto : I appreciate the praise man, thank you!....and hope to somehow come close to the value range that you achieved with your siren..last round.

Carnifex : Greens are gone my good man. I was trying to go for a look of a dirty prison floor but alas it was a bit too muddled...thanks for pointing that out.

JeffZNY : No blur...check...was trying to get that camera effect with the depth of field...but instead pulled the WIP and will start from scratch today to establish a better tonal range.
Thanks again to you all for your advice...
Cheers!

[hallo]

Hello folks,

this is my first try at the C.O.W. Hope you like it.

http://www.judithsablowski.de/hosted/notmybiz/files/gallery/3_FilippoBar/DreamEater.jpg
I'm an a hurry, sorry - description to come.

[Fozzybar]

hallo, forget the description...i won't accept a cloud with a hand coming out of it as a serious entry for C.O.W...

Nice face though ;)

[Fozzybar]

Damn Fozz, that's friggin' wild. I love how the shadow could be the physical embodiment of nightmares creeping toward this thing. Is that starburst on it's head an.. well it looks like, an anus? Because if it is, you rock for slipping such a beautiful anus into your creature's design.

If it's not, just indulge me and tell me it's an anus.

YES, YES, IT'S AN ANUS, YEAH STRYCHIE, THAT'S IT, AN ANUS!!! Now go and leave this thread, don't read further...bye!



















...to all: it's not an anus on his head, though there's one on his back, where the human is stuck - hell i even don't know if it's an anus at all...

[young paddy1]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/youngpaddy1/dreamsheep.jpg

an hourish of faffing with a big pink thing with some fluff on it which turned into a sheep.

After they've been counted into a dream by an insomniac brain trying to get to sleep, the dream muncher sheep just chews down on the communal field of dream generated grass, it constantly gives off a mixture of brokendown visions and illusions, which will meld together to become a future dream. :D

fozzy, absolutely love it, a true living nightmare. >:D

[strych9ine]

tease...

[0kelvin]

http://www.whereismyeyeball.com/images/CA/COW/COW11.jpg

Transcript of the 2028 educational film Dreamfeeder: Miracle of Science

DR SCIENCE
Well hello Billy, I didn't see you there. I'm glad you're here, because today we're going to talk about Dreamfeeders.

BILLY
Oh boy Dr. Science, that sounds swell! But what's a Dreamfeeder?

DR SCIENCE
Good question Billy! The Dreamfeeder is a miracle creature designed by the government using highly advanced science! Using all the latest advances in genetic engineering and neurobiology, or "brain science" to the layperson, the government created this wonder of man's ingenuity to make your life worth living again!

You see, when the liberals began the Great Riots of 2012, nearly tearing apart the moral fabric of this great country we live in, the government knew they had to do something drastic. So they invoked the 36th Amendment and created the Dreamfeeder! Order was restored, and mankind has enjoyed a golden age of productivity and prosperity ever since!

BILLY
How does it work?

DR SCIENCE
Good question Billy! The Dreamfeeder comes into your house at night, while you sleep, through the hatch installed in every home. Remember Billy, removing or otherwise obstructing the hatch is a federal offense! They then climb into your bed and begin to suckle on an area of your forehead we scientists refer to as your "Mind Teat." Through this the Dreamfeeder sucks out all of your wasteful thoughts and unproductive emotions, such as ambition, lust, anger, sadness, humour, hope, and most importantly, love! You are left to wake up in a state of wonderfully productive complacency. All thanks to our friend, the Dreamfeeder!

BILLY
Wow Dr. Science, Dreamfeeders are cool! Where can I learn more about them?

DR SCIENCE
Now Billy, that sounds an awful lot like curiosity which is not one of the six state-sanctioned emotions. You wouldn’t want me to alert the Regulator Squad, would you?

BILLY
No sir!

TOGETHER
Hahaha! *wink*




0kelvin

[Craig Houghton]

http://img23.echo.cx/img23/5837/thedreameater800x600adj28uk.jpg

The Dream-Eater

This disturbingly common creature frequents his victims with ease and regularity. Those with chronic nightmares may do well to keep their windows shut. You see, when this critter unfurls his feeding tube and dangles it about, the little glowing fingers do a dance upon the brow. He feeds upon the very best of dreams, like sugarplums and games, but in their stead he leaves the worst, like hopelessness and pain.

-Craig Houghton

[Edit] I re-hosted the image file. After visiting a friends monitor I realized mine has been set far too dark. I've readjusted the entry to make it closer to what I wanted in the first place.

[Carnifex]

0kelvin-i think you've outdone yourself this time. great rendering and hilarious description! the only thing i'd work more on is the hair that lies on the pillow(if it is hair) bc atm it looks like a puddle of blood.

[Sapphire]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Sapphire8400/eaterrestfulcolor2.jpg

Although dreams can be the source of inspiration, creativity and hidden passions, they can also manifest as terrible nightmares. This creature is a Dream Guardian; each human being has their own personal guardian that takes on a special form for each individual. When he feeds, catching our dreams, we have a deep, restful sleep. Sometimes the creature can become too active, and this is when writer's and artist's block appears, and sometimes they are driven from their post, leaving nightmares to flood the mind.

[Sok N. Wett]

That's so cool Sarah, I'm glad you finished it....ahhh I couldn't get mine done for this round, had the concept and had no coloring ability so I just gave up on it during the weekend. Maybe next round. Good luck everyone!!!

[RaneValderez]

http://storage.msn.com/x1pk64-9H0OKxRn3ukKXU6l0Zu4Ny9kkgDRi79_7aVlC7IaLmy2j1ZODj dkz3wKSPv065dEhsT5mg_ZXDP1IWnL2BEIixg6EbwMvzziAwaN nUIO1rWcY4o0qA

Simply Called The Carniverous, after Ambrose Bierce's Definition in the Devils Dictionary, "Addicted to devouring the timorous vegitarian, his hiers and assigns."(pg23) This creature travels and lives with families for generations to feed off of their dreams and leave them with feeling of dread that spread across days until the children become teenagers, eventually causing the horrible and unescapable disease known as teen angst.

[AckPoopFart]

hallo, forget the description...i won't accept a cloud with a hand coming out of it as a serious entry for C.O.W...

Nice face though ;)

Great reply if you don't ever want this guy to post again. How about a more descriptive/constructive reason why you will not allow this as an entry. Might motivate the guy to post another attempt.

[Ostrander]

http://rhinohidestudios.com/images/eod.jpg

Dapadula, the Eater of Dreams and Nightmares. A glutton for fresh images, ideas and emotions that occur during certain stages of one's sleep. Seen here perusing a menu for a tasty mind morsel of maybe a dreamy damsel or a terror filled adolescent in mid-slumber.

[Mike Corriero]

Glocklund- That made me smile
I started to think about a table with a family behind him and the kids all looking terrified. Nice Render

[Stokes]

Ralph Ellington *AkA Dream Eater* *AkA Whoopie Dropper*

This freaky sucker feeds off of our intimate sexual dreams. As if stealing some of our favorite dreams wasnt bad enough, the sick bastard replaces them with a steamy threesome dream starring Whoopie Goldberg, Carla from Cheers, and yourself. If you've allready had this dream then I'm afraid either youv'e been a victim of Ralph Ellington's evil ploy or your name is Ted Danson. Either way, Im sorry. :x

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/DrDocker/StokesDreamEater.jpg

[0kelvin]

Thanks Carni! You're right about the hair. I'll probably fix that up before I put it into my portfolio.

Nice one Sarah. I like that yours is one of the only ones that looks like it exists in the dream world. Love the the shimmering threads and the swirly clouds. I'd actually like to see more clouds, to fill up a little of the black space.

I think anyone who didn't draw someone getting their head sucked on should get an automatic vote. We're so predictable!



0kelvin

[Sapphire]

Thanks Sok and 0kelvin! I really appreciate the comments. As strongbad would say... "thaaanks for cheering me ooon!"

0kelvin, I agree with Carnifex, you really made a leap of improvement somewhere around the time of your dragon thread entry. Whatever you're doing, keep at it!

[Fozzybar]

Great reply if you don't ever want this guy to post again. How about a more descriptive/constructive reason why you will not allow this as an entry. Might motivate the guy to post another attempt.

Yeah, AckPoopfart! I am not your nanny and i won't repeat everything ten times...hallo send me a nice pm and i sent him a nice reply...

So, if you're made of candy floss avoid coming to this thread, i am trying to do justice for everyone over here, i won't achieve this goal ever, because there are always people thinking there are things to change...

A few entries of members who parcipitated here were rejected also before, they took it as a step for the sake of this activity and posted an entry for the next round, which was fine regarding the rules and the quality standards...so it depends on how you're taking things...

Btw there are 2 entries (croovman, possessed), which i wouldn't take to the poll, if it weren't there first times here. Next time i won't accept an entry, which is looking unfinished from these two...!

Now i feel like a nanny again... :mouse:

[Fozzybar]

As for RaneValderez, i am not sure how to feel about his entry...i looked at his sketchbook and it seems that he is just at the beginning of creating art, so maybe i will accept it...

And that's an argument i am always following, i looked at croovman's images on deviantart and they all have nice line-art but his coloring is always rushed and ruins the drawing...so i think he HAS the ability of doing a better rendering, but doesn't invest enough effort or time to this step...

possessed's entry also looks a little like done in a short time, though i have no chance to judge his effort/abilities, since i didn't see any other artwork from him...

So i always try to judge the entries by looking at the abilites of each member, this is the only chance to make a fair decision, after all it's only vague, but can you give me any hint how to do this better?

[Uziel]

Keep up the good work Fozzy. After all it's also about improving our skillz.
I'm ready for C.O.W. #12

PS: IDM #1 could use some more entries...
so go draw a kick-ass tank.

[Fozzybar]

thank you Uziel!

Voting is on:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=464831