C.O.W. - #013: Cloud Dweller

[Fozzybar]

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


Round #013

Topic:
Cloud Dweller

Deadline:
11.05.2005




- 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!

[Fozzybar]

The winner will pick the topic for the next round from now on...(by looking in the topic-ideas thread), maybe this will motivate you lazy asses to punch even more great entries out of your brains...

bluefooted picked the topic for this round as she was the winner of the last round (Dream/Nightmare Eater).

[vaughany_boy]

The winner will pick the topic for the next round from now on
nice idea.

[S.C. Watson]

Oooh! I like this one! :}

[Crow]

What a coincedence, I was just practicing painting clouds yesterday...

I think I need a better tinfoil hat to block the conceptart satellites from reading my mind.

[Xpose]

I was thinking flying whale but it's been done before =\

[Uziel]

Xpose: why not? There can be 1000 ways to paint a flying whale

[Phuzion]

I saw this topic and immediately started on an idea I've been kicking around. I guess I just needed the extra motivation:

In the distant future, when the mega-fauna have again evolved from the lesser creatures, you will no longer be worried about the seagulls' droppings on your head.

The Titan Caelum Balaena absorbs hydrogen gas from the air around it and stores the gas in several large, external glands on its back and in its throat, allowing it to keep afloat. It feeds on flocks of birds, and maybe the occassional unlucky skydiver. Their only real enemy is a lightning storm, as the lightning bolts could ignite the hydrogen gas, and then you have charbroiled TCB for a year.

[edit] okay, had some more time to put into this. Just some noodling here and there, but I think over all it reads better and there's more consistancy.

http://www.artdl.com/Posts/TCB02.jpg

That was fun :) damn clouds... pain in the ass

-Daniel

[edit] Okay, so I'm not really willing to lose the lines entirely, only because that throws it into a different style of illustration, and one that I'm not really suuuuper fond of, which is completely rendered. Also, I just love lines. However! I agree that they needed to be lightened, mainly in terms of weight, but I also got rid of a lot of sketchy marks... so yeah, I hope it looks better :) Thanks for the heads up guys!

[Carnifex]

hmm i'm not sure if i will participate on this one.though the topic is interesting i can't get much out of it.
nice pic daniel. i'd get rid of the black lines on the creature though-it doesn't at all fit the rest of the pic.

[leckronium]

Phuzion - awesome pic man! This is the kind of stuff I had in mind when I suggested it in the topics forum. I'll kinda agree with Carnifex though. I wouldn't say get rid of the line but is there a way to lighten it? Because I do like your linework it's just a little too harsh right now. :^^:

[nephilim]

hey all,

These cloud dwellers travel the philotic pathways, the clouds of thought.

http://onfinite.com/libraries/445293/057.jpg

Mike

[Crow]

nephilim-nice painting, but the actual creatures get overpowered, especially the one in the hair, by her face. Maybe make them larger, and more detailed, focusing more on them then her. The one in the psychic energy/hair is too well hidden.

[Rusty]

http://www.akujin.net//WIP/2005page-57.jpg

A few details to add and im still refining tha description.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
These titanic lifeforms are in fact plants that grow to mammoth size and can live for thousands of years.After 100 years firmly planted to the earth they detach and float to a height of 3000 metres and higher.By this age its hydrogen producing sack-like body measures 6-9 metres diameter,the long sinewy tendrils it slowly develops only after it has detached.The main body reaches full size after 300 years and can measure 30-40 metres diameter,and its tendrils fully grown can measure up to 150-220 metres long!.Feeds on both sunlight and anything unfortunate enough to fly into its mass of tendrils which acts like a huge net.Rather than drawing food to its huge mouth it digests its victim where they lay entangled by excreting an highly acidic liquid through small openings and breaking down the creature on the spot,absorbing the liquifying remains.They illuminate brilliant bright colors in the night sky,some accounts of groups of tens of thousands lighting up the night have been reported.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


..Jace

[Fozzybar]

Maybe make them larger, and more detailed, focusing more on them then her.

RRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIGHT!

Focus is creature design!

[shadoman]

Rusty - Damn that is cool. I was going in a similar direction. I am still going to but I will change my design up a bit. Nice so far.
Phuzion - The lighting on that is sweet. Yeah, clouds are a bitch, but yours look nice, especially those shadows on them.

[mert_yavasca]

Last night, I was looking for some references about sky, and I Found it. Real cloud dweller. It catched an airbus. :P :dur: :wink:
cloud dweller (http://www.transportgiant.com/images/st/Airbus.jpg)
Anyway, Cloud Dweller is a nice topic. See u. Good luck to everyone.

[bluefooted]

Phuzion - holy shit! I must have been mind-linked to you because I drew pretty much that exact thing last night :o Your's kicks mine's butt, though. Really like it - keep the lines.

[Hideyoshi]

That's great, Rusty! Lighting is pro for sure!
Phuzion: very cool! Could still have some extra work though...
Agree with the line issue, imo you should consider changing that... :confident

[nephilim]

alright i'll bust out a new one focusing on creature design. Good work everyone.

Mike

[xia]

Rusty?!!! Bro!!!! Great to see you here!!! Wohoo!
Great looking man! Freaking wicked.

Phuzion>>Good to see you too bro.

It's like sketchbooks reunion over here. :P This round is going to be REAL BRUTAL...whao!

[brkofdon]

rusty great start! also phuzion the idea is very awesome you could be one of the people i vote for..we'll see....

shall i join this COW do i even have the time for it...i really dont, but i have an idea in my head for one...

maybe ill start one.. hmmm

[leckronium]

http://home.comcast.net/~leckronium/onlinestorage/clouddweller2.jpg

These playful creatures are found mostly in the upper atmosphere where they spend their days chasing airplanes and punching holes in clouds. Less than an inch thick when deflated and light as a feather, the sky tarpins can fly through the air using large feathers that catch updrafts while deflating and inflating to control speed. They have a 360 degree view since their head structure has eyes that stick out on the top and bottom of the head. Flying in the sun can prove to be dangerous since the tarpon needs a moist environment to stay alive. At the end of a hard day of playing, these creatures love to park their long ribbon-like bodies on the edges of clouds and soak up the setting sun. This, in turn, gives us ground creatures a special view when the edges of the clouds appear to glow during sunset. This is the light reflecting off of their silvery irredescent bodies which gives us the phrase every cloud has it's silver lining. :^^:

:painting:

[xia]

shall i join this COW do i even have the time for it...i really dont, but i have an idea in my head for one...


Do it bro! do it! :yayca:

[bluefooted]

Well, I won't have the time this week to re-do my entry (since now its so similar to both Phuzion's and Leckronium's) but I'll put up what I have for now.

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

Mine's a mouth-brooder. I'll post the finished and colored version w/ a description when I get the chance. Cheers!

[leckronium]

YOU COPIED!!!! >:| grrr....haha just kidding :^^:
yeah they do look alike but who cares. From the looks of it we have different ideas so I say go with it! I like what you have so far. I can't wait to see it painted. This just proves that all great minds think alike...am I right?

:painting:

[Carnifex]

or that noone knows how to get something else out of this topic than flying fish.


















:P

[leckronium]

lets see yours... ;)

[J.Mac]

i have been trying to get my idea out of my head but it isn't working. it seems to always come out wrong... if anyone has a method that might help that would be great.

--------
Beatus Deceussus is an organism that travels with air currents. It feeds off of h20 build up in clouds, as it feeds it is producing a by product of hydrogen, this builds up in a large membrane sack causing it to rise and keep afloat within the clouds. since it is less dense then air around, it rarely ever reach the ground. There only danger is a spark or some sort of way to egnite the hydrogen within the membrane sack. (This would be a great site having hundreds of thousands of tiny firecrackers exploding in the sky. it would sound alot like pop-rocks)

These creatures are social animals and use Bioluminescence to communicate to one another, creating an impressive display in the nite sky. They have no real predators in the natural world because of there lack of nutritional value.

Beatus Deceussus is asexual, produces offspring that are genetically identical to itself. These offspring are produced by mitosis.
--------

-Jesse

[nightfend]

http://www.icondream.com/images/cow/cloud_dweller01.jpg

WIND LEVIATHAN --
On the low gravity world of Aelis-6, the Wind Leviathan commands the skies. The Wind Leviathan is a massive creature with a windspan of over 2km in length. But for all of it's size, the Leviathan feeds off of only the smallest and slowest creatures in the sky, which it pulls into it's great maw, where its electrically charged feeding hairs can stun and digest the prey. The Leviathan stays aloft with two hydrogen filled bladders near the back of it's throat. When it needs to descend, it releases some of it's hydrogen and uses it's wing-like fins to glide through the sky. Because of its vast size, many smaller predators fly alongside the massive giant, gliding on the air turbulence it creates.

[Carnifex]

lets see yours... ;)
well i'm not even sure if i'll participate this round because all i can think of is a balloon with a face...and that's what everyone's doing...

[vaughany_boy]

Just done a quick sketch to get some ideas down. I'll do a proper version over the weekend probably.

http://img195.echo.cx/img195/9628/clouddwellerprelimsketch7wj.jpg

Kind of an umbrella thing I guess.

Phuzion: I love your entry the way it is. Fully rendered images are nice but I think the lines work for that pic. You should leave them if you ask me.

Rusty: The lighting on those bulges is awsome.

[Rosco]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/rosco44/cloudsross1.jpg
The Blomper, a highly endangered aerial creature, is an outcast of the evolutionary ladder. With no known purpose, this creature spends its days chasing rainbows. The Aztecs believed this creature was the bringer of great wealth and prosperity. With a cloud-like appearance, the Blomper was lost to civilization for hundreds of years until recently rediscovered in the 20th century by the advent of the airplane. The Blomper is composes of a central brain with a nervous system sprawling outward. The cloud-like exterior is used solely as camouflage yet this creature has no known predators. For movement the Blomper has a simplistic air flow system. It has the ability to suck air in and use its tentacles to direct the flow and movement. As of now, there are only 16 of these creatures known to exist.

[S.C. Watson]

rosco - love it! :tihi:

[Helzon]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/Helzon/HHfinal1.jpg
Shown here in a complex braking maneuver. The Helingen Harpoon opens it's maw to inflate flexible bladders within it's dorsal appendage to create greater surface area and thus produce drag and slow it's forward speed.

Nature quite inevitably makes mistakes. But it is everwise and calculating to create devices by which it may nudge those mistakes off of the stage of life. Thus, the Helingen Harpoon.
Once merely the height and length of a horse, these predators have grown in size in direct proportion to the rise of (nimbo, strato)- cephalopods and cetaceans. Nearly sightless the Harpoon must rely on a "phantom" system of location. Cruising high above its prey, a single Harpoon will release an odorless, colorless gas stored in twin bulbous bladders along it's side. The fine aerosol like particulates descend slowly through the cloud layers to settle across the flesh and hide of it's victims. The electro chemical discharge of the prey excites the particles of gas which radiate back to any Harpoon in the area in shimmering waves. The hunters merely follow the pulse of the creature back to the source and the frenzy begins.

[J.Mac]

well here is what i am doing, i did some thumbnails real quick and i like them alot better, then what i tried earlier....

--------
WIP

http://www.mdx5.com/conceptart.org/thumbs001.JPG

--------

now that i look at them i like the floating sack with boobs more.

-Jesse

[arteric]

I have missed far too many C.O.W.s... I need to get back on track. If it wasn't for this darn day job and a steady pay check I'd be ALL OVER THIS!

Soon, oh so soon you shall feel the wrath of my new drawing tablet and shake before it's awsome might.

Until then, kisses!

Eric

[croovman]

great looking stuff so far.
my concept is finished, I just hope I'll have enough time to finish the actual drawing, because I have a test right before the deadline.

-stav

[OxCreative]

Hi all, i won't be entering this time....after doing the draft and playing with my new wacom i realised i have even more uni work that i thought :nohope:

I will hopefully be intering in a few weeks when uni finishes, oregano and leckronium....great entries!!

[Ostrander]

I have missed far too many C.O.W.s... I need to get back on track. If it wasn't for this darn day job and a steady pay check I'd be ALL OVER THIS!

I hear ya Arteric, I have a day job doing product design and packaging, and a family and I just bought a house that I'm in the process of moving into (I've been looking for the past 2 1/2 months and finally bought one yesterday, weeeee!). So, I've had a pretty crazy schedual and I still try to squeeze the time in on these C.O.W's, at least an hour a night when I can.

I guess I'm just trying to give you some motivation to jump back in. Hope to see your stuff soon.

peace,
G

[young paddy1]

the moment i looked at the topic I thought, there's gonna be a ruck load of flying fish/whales/stingrays/squid, or possibly jelly fish so what was the first thing I drew a world war four geneticaly enhanced fish/squid/electric eel/lobster cross. :p

Stealthed skin and a top speed of over mach 2 allow the Eastern Autocratic Government's 'sky prowler' to take the vast majority of fighter jets out of the sky with consumate ease. The jet engines are modified gills with directional squid like jets internally coated with carbon based lobster like carapace. The fuel is made by ingesting large amounts of water vapour with its ram scoop mouth and using electricity (generated by electric eel muscle cells) to split the water into Hydrogen and Oxygen which are burnt together to give propulsion. The carbon for it's skin coating and heat shielding comes from jet fuel and smog.

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

[S.C. Watson]

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1115507669.jpg
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1115508789.jpg

[Mike Corriero]

OREGANO/Shane - dont have much time to crit, but I just wanna say, I love it ;)
small suggestion- perhaps lightning coming from the beast striking the hot air balloon, unless that would clash with the creatures purpose.

nice work

[vaughany_boy]

http://img93.echo.cx/img93/7084/clouddwellerscene9vi.jpg
I'm hoping to get time this evening to do a final version of the second sketch as well. Description to come.

Oregano: It's just awsome! The concept itself is intriguing and the picture shows the scale really effectively. The composition just fits perfectly with the sun and small patch of open sky. I like the way the clouds look almost like mountains and the lighting on the creature's upper fins.

Oh the feelings of inadequacy...

just having a go at the underside, my brother: "Why's that tent got a C*ck?" :nohope:

[Uziel]

Oregano,nightfend and Rusty love yours...

I like the surrealistic feel of flying fish but i guess it too predictable.

[Fozzybar]

J2XA
If you are aiming for a creature which looks like an ufo, then work more on the creature-look...currently it just looks like an ufo...therefore not at the level of going to the poll...

[Fozzybar]

Uziel
DOesn't your creature just look like an ordinary lionfish???

[liam.c]

wow really great ones !this ends the 11th?

[Jaded]

I'm not good enough to post here yet but here are some observations

Oregano and Phuzion are my favorites so far
Phuzion those clouds are AWESOME

I agree why all the flying fish?

[brokk]

Oregano: cool story and image!
nightfend: that creature is awesome, this is my favorite entry this week! one thing I dont get though, are those things on the side of the head the eyes? because they look hollow, like holes. This is a great image and a great concept.
Helzon: looking good on the values, you've been practicing tones it seems. Keep up the good work man, I would like to see this image painted.

[Carnifex]

http://www.renderosity.com/photos/ArtistArticle11736.jpg
The Cloud Dweller
Is a microscopic insect,about the size of a water flea,that lives in the waterdrops of which clouds consists. Because it only has a lifespan of about one hour,it reproduces incredibly fast (every 5 minutes). No male specimen is needed for this. Clouds full of them will become more concrete over time and are often referred to as "fluffy cotton balls of death".
-------
my fav so far is oreganos.dramatic image,wonderful. only crits are that there's some indefinable white spot in front of the creature and that you spelled your guide once "uthiel" and once "utheil":)

[S.C. Watson]

my fav so far is oreganos.dramatic image,wonderful. only crits are that there's some indefinable white spot in front of the creature and that you spelled your guide once "uthiel" and once "utheil":)

White spot = hole, as in "see thru" :P

Misspelling = bloody hell :upset:

[Carnifex]

doesn't read as "see-through" because the area behind the creature in that spot is much darker (from the surrounding area to see atleast)

[Mike Corriero]

So far I have my eye on two submissions that are my favorites.
I'm really hoping I'll get mine done in time, been so busy with work lately and tryin not to push it..
we shall see..

[possessed]

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/70a7343e25.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

Name: Heavens guile
Size: ranges from 40 cm to 3 m
Habitat: upper atmosphere, always found in or near a cloud
Notice: we haven't been able to capture one of these creatures.

These strange creatures come in a variety of shapes and sizes but there is one aspect they all seem to share. All guilers have a set of limbs evolved specifically to create a cumulus. The bulbs on these limbs are semi-permeable and covered in hundreds of small openings. From these bulbs they spray a liquid which upon contact with the air forms an instant cloud around the creature. It is still unknown if guilers need to feed but the real mystery is how these creatures can stay aloft.

EDIT: fixed typo, thnx Helzon

[Skuli]

Cool topic, hope I'll have time to do one.. though I probably wont :(
just had to say, Oregano! amazing piece of work! I love it, and I have to disagree with you Carnifex, at least I immideatly(spelling?:S) read it as "see through"

[vaughany_boy]

White spot = hole, as in "see thru"
That's what I saw it as anyway.

[Carnifex]

still think it's abit too bright.irritates me. :bashful:

[fungi]

you irritate me carnifex. oregano dont listen to the idiot.

[kyliegirl]

http://kylielangton.com/concepts/rhumarh.jpg


Pygmy Rhumarh
size- 5-15cm
habitat- Planet Nethius inside cumulonimbus clouds, young Rhumarh can be found inside stratus and stratocumulus clouds.

The Rhumarh is one of the smallest known dragon species found on Nethius, not being discovered until 30 years after humans settled on the planet, the creature never touches the ground. Little is known about the Rhumarh, but seems to be a food source for the gauntus, a giant whale like species which dominates the skies. The Rhumarh live in large masses of colonies numbering from 1000 to 15,000 in each, living in the skies with clouds for their cover. Their size, unique colouring and ability to hide is why they were not discovered so soon.

Their breeding season is unique, with no solid ground to support their eggs, they drop the eggs from the sky inside a strange mucus type stick in the shape of a bullet, as the bullet type sack drops at a fast speed, the outside dries and frail white hairs from the bullet shaped sack part and spread out like an umbrella, causing the egg to float down gently for the last thousand meters. The eggs at this stage now look like the seeds of dandelions so their prescence is unnoticed. The young Rhumarh which hatch from these eggs are no bigger than 1cm and make their journey up to the skies for cloud coverage.

It is guessed the Rhumarh feed on the water which is formed in the clouds, and also feed on the pollen which raises into the sky.

Adult Rhumarh live over 56,000 feet above land inside cumulonimbus clouds. The young when born make their way 8000 feet towards stratus and stratuscumulus clouds where it is more gentle for their frail form. Their wings shaped like a butterflies wings, but are tougher than a grasshopers. Making them ideal to fly to higher altitudes as they grow.

[leckronium]

picture updated above :^^:

[Crow]

Well, here's my entry. I'm not really too thrilled with the way it turned out, I still need to keep practicing digital painting. As for the concept, this is a Caelum Floater, found in the upper troposphere (from about 2km to 17km above the surface of the earth). Essentially a large bladder filled with a mix of methane, hellium and hydrogen, it floats among the clouds and rides air currents. Below its sack body is a web that terminates in individual tentacles. It uses the web as a net to catch birds, and the webs markings are used with identification. For reproduction, the new floater grows out of it's asexual parent. One floater will spawn about 5-7 new floaters in it's lifetime. The one pictured here has two young floaters still attached to it's upperbody.

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/52808e219a.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

[OLSEN]

Excellent work all.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/ksm_olsen/CloudDweller.jpg

The one eyed Octoturtle, also known as the "cloud dweller" due to the cloud like exo-baleen it appears to float upon, was first spotted in the waters north of japan in 2045. Some claim it to be of alien origin, but the only known facts about it is that it's huge, fairly friendly, and tastes like chicken.

[Fozzybar]

aaaahhhh...damn you OLSEN....my sketch just looks like your creature....well i will post it anyway...sigh... :$ :teeth:

[kyliegirl]

added picture and a little more info :) . excellent work everyone, some creative work around :D

[Phuzion]

Olsen, you make me want to redo mine! Punk! But here I am away from home and not getting back till the due date :(

Really nice work man.

Great work so far all around! Rusty, you Badass MoFo you :P

[Mike Corriero]

bah.. im pushin to get this done.. i hope i make it, only really started coloring today =/ :dur:
work is eating up most of my time. I have a painting sitting there for this, so i really wanna finish it.

[Carnifex]

i'm just starting over completely from scratch...damn :$
(i'll leave this version up incase i don't make it though)

[Carnifex]

redid the piece...hope it doesn't look too unfinished.
oh,just noticed fungi said something to me.
well you irritate me to,idiot.
why you pick one me?

[redehlert]

I'm now wearin' Depends® cuz I've shat my shorts way too many times due to the good work I've witnessed here for COW 13. Curse my eyes! I'm gonna go now..... :nohope:
Cheers!
D

[BlkCelebration]

Ok, got this one done in time!

So many great entries again!

http://9doublebass.homestead.com/files/newart/nuve.jpg

Guamuchil:
These huge creatures spend their life travelling accross the skies in search for the perfect cloud to....die on. When the Guamuchil finds its spot, it rests there until its time comes. As seen in the image above this fellow is on his last days. The once mighty trees on top of its back that served as a habitat for several species are all but withered away. The giant flower on its tail is loosing its petals one by one. The dark coloration on its body will slowly cover the body of the creature, when this happens the Guamuchil has perished.

These docile giants don't die in vain however...
Once a Guamuchil has perished, Its massive body turns into rain. It will continue to rain for eight days and seven nights. It is said that once a Guamuchil dies the drought ends.

[redehlert]

Does anyone have a tissue?
BlkC - that's a dope concept, bro.
Cheers,
D

[0kelvin]

you irritate me carnifex. oregano dont listen to the idiot.

Little bit uncalled for, don't you think?


Oregano and BlkCelebration, mega-kickass stuff.

I'm really excited about mine this round. It's one of the best looking pictures I've done, and nobody has taken my idea yet! Just needs a bit more work.



0kelvin

[OLSEN]

Phuzion, thanks, glad you like it. Damn, it will be hard to decide whos to vote for... lots of good stuff.. but BlkCelebrations description almost made me cry, so I just might vote for that one.... it made me so sad, poor Guamuchil is gonna die. :(

[redehlert]

The passive-aggressive nature of the immense Welkin Short Horn is akin to that of a heffer post tipping. If you've done this before, you know what I mean. Their intake air ports around the orifice allow constant intake of nutrients and necessary gases to keep it aloft and in momentum. Momentum is achieved by the pair of propulsion ducts and various 'sails' situated around the body. The pair of weighted udders act as ballast for the helium-filled Welkin. These udders are filled with half-n-half (half condensed water and half 'milk') which is released in order to gain altitude. When released, this liquid descends like manna from heaven to nourish the triple tall heavy-foam latte consumers of the planet Starbucks.

http://www.cognitionstudio.com/conceptart/redehlert_cow13.jpg

Cheers,
D
[all traditional yummy goodness minus labels]

[Mike Corriero]

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1115876365.jpg
Para-Tis
"Hypoxia", or a reduction in the oxygen level of either the air or water an animal breathes, is one environmental stress that has important effects on bodily functions. Hypoxia is the main stress that all animals, including humans, encounter at high altitudes...In general, animals respond to hypoxic stress either by reducing their metabolism, and thereby reducing their oxygen demand, or by improving the body's ability to transport oxygen to increase oxygen supply." -Genotypic and Phenotypic Strategies to Chronic Hypoxia http://www.wmrs.edu/oldweb/hypoxia/symposium.htm

Para- Tis have evolved from cold blooded animals, relatives include reptiles, as well as certain species of bird. The Para-Tis is capable of living at extreme high altitudes by means of increasing its ability to intake Oxygen in a rather low oxygen environment through ways of evolved organs. It's large nostril cavity and cranial cavity assist in this intake of oxygen. Its cold blooded ancestry allows it to take the harsh cold of the high altitudes in which it lives.
Para-Tis are capable of gliding through the clouded regions in which it lives by a mixture of gases to create "hydrogen" in sack filled organs below its neck, chest and pelvis regions. These creatures can be found living among the Snowy Leaf sky trees, given their name due to their leaves being pure white and during the fall..it appears to be snowing white leaves from the sky.

[Mike Corriero]

BlkCelebration- really nice story and background to the creature.. i think the work could be stronger, but thats still an awesome story ;) kinda reminds me of a miyazaki type tale.

[0kelvin]

http://www.whereismyeyeball.com/images/CA/COW/Cow13.jpg

Totems

Living high above the clouds in the branches of Er Tiego, the Western Pillar Tree, most Totems live their entire lives without seeing the ground up close (and those unfortunate ones that do usually only see it for the brief second before they hit it). They are born in the tree and die in the tree. The Totems spend much of their time sitting and enjoying the view, as the low oxygen at such an altitude prevents any strenuous physical activity. They are excellent climbers, and have an extra set of small arms to perform tasks such as feeding or foraging while their climbing arms hold onto a branch. Long, fine hairs cover their prehensile tail that the Totem will let dangle into passing clouds. The hair on the tail absorbs condensation from the cloud and the Totem is able to sustain themselves solely on the moisture from sucking on their own wet tail.

One of the Totem's oddest behaviours is occasionally one will fashion a crude fishing pole and sit on a branch for hours, as if waiting for a fish to bite. Scientists haven't been able to explain this quirk, as even a simple minded creature like the Totem should be able to realise fish can't fly.



0kelvin

[BlkCelebration]

Thanks for all the possitive feedback guys!

redehlert: lovin' the concept behind yours funny stuff there. i like the close ups of the different areas. I dont know that I'd drink some of that liquid if I knew where it came from. :nohope:

0kelvin: The perspective on this one is great, really gives a great sense of height.

OLSEN: woah, thanks for considering me, your piece kicks ass, very polished.

MIKECORRIERO: thanks, I was trying to compensate for the lack of polish, like the one in your piece :confident The concept behind it is very well thought out (the bit with the explanation of Hypoxia was a great touch). the creature is very well rendered and looks like it can glide through the clouds with ease.

[Carnifex]

0kelvin-damn you're making it hard for me to decide. the part in the end is hilarious.:D
blkcelebration-i love the dreamlike quality and story behind it.it's almost like out of a children's book.lovely.

[Sapphire]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Sapphire8400/StormDweller2.jpg

The “Jiao”, as it has been called during sightings in East Asia, has remained an unexplained phenomenon for countless years. Sightings have been reported worldwide of this creature, which has mistakenly been identified as a strange object called “ball lightning”:

"Not many people get to see ball lightning, but those who do never forget it. Imagine a glowing orb suddenly materializing in front of you, possibly sizzling or exuding a bluish mist and an acrid smell. The globe may be larger than a beach ball and dart through the air, perhaps hovering occasionally as if considering its next move. The ball may also roll or bounce along the ground, climb utility poles, and skitter along power lines. As it travels, the fiery sphere may destroy electrical equipment, ignite fires, and even singe animals or people." http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20020209/bob8.asp


The Jiao’s anatomy is constructed of organic materials transformed by the energy of lightning into airborne, polymer filaments. This fusion of organic material and excited electrons then coils up (much in the same way that DNA condenses prior to cell division), packing a large amount of expendable energy in a relatively small space. A thin membrane forms the skin of the creature, which coagulates around the base material during the first moments of conception. This organic material has insulating properties, which allow the Jiao to collect, store and build up a vast amount of energy used for motion and procreation during its short lifespan. During the course of a storm or any other heightened electrical activity in the atmosphere, the Jiao grows and lengthens through the sky, collecting the released energy given off by lightning bolts. It uses this to propel itself from one collection of clouds to the next, and can even be seen making contact with the ground at times, as pent-up energy is released from its body.

A Jiao normally reproduces asexually, but if by a rare occurrence there is another individual in a neighboring cloud, the collision is usually followed with an enormous clap of thunder as genetic material is violently exchanged. Both individuals “die” during this moment, but from the residual energy and material left over, a new Jiao is formed in the womb of the clouds and the cycle begins again. The duration of an average individual’s life is usually no longer than 20 minutes.

[shadoman]

http://www.shawnadomanis.com/images/cow/COW13_CloudDweller.jpg

Tarroquel
This ancient creature lives high up in the earth's atmosphere. To keep them constantly hovering they have pockets of helium in the shells on their back. But to keep the flow of helium in their bodies, they must eat constantly. The helium-filled sacks glow blue when they are full. They eat small birds that fly up through the clouds.

Since the Tarroquel can hover without moving, it has to use its fins and tentacles to maneuver throughout the skies in search of food. In a few thrusts from its large tentacles can push it through the clouds at speeds up to 104MPH. But it makes them very tired. To rest they find a thick rain cloud and nest themselves within.

[leckronium]

Sapphire - Excellent! I remember reading about ball lightning back when I was in school and was amazed at how odd it behaves and how unexplained it still is. Great take on the topic. :D

Everyone deserves an applause this round. Maybe it's the fear of the Almighty Crit Cow's cleaver that's taking everything up a notch. Good to see so many new people too....although some of the regulars haven't shown up yet..hmmm :er:

[Carnifex]

they'll blow us away last-minute style again,i'm sure.

[Fozzybar]

http://www.kidomatix.com/ca/cow/cow_013_clouddweller_fozzybar.jpg

This creature is gliding through the clouds looking for some flying prey crossing his way...it is not picky about its food...birds, other flying creatures or even small planes sometimes.

It uses its arms as giant whips, lashing with them on its prey or using them as tentacles to grab bigger victims. When a prey is hit it falls down, the creature follows it nosediving to catch it in the air...

The creature never goes down to land. It has windsleeves (?) on its back and on the breast, which can be filled with air and heaten up by the creatures organism, so they can float when sleeping or resting. You can see a few of them floating with airfilled bags in the distance...

[shadoman]

Fozzy, that rocks!

[redehlert]

yeah, foz....nicely done.
are you sure we can't vote for more than one this week?

blkC - thanks man....i wouldn't drink from those teets either....but on planet starbuccks, it's all up for grabs.

peace.
d

[vaughany_boy]

I was going to detail a few of my favourite entries so far but I just find myself wanting to congratulate too many people. However, I need to go out, so you will all just have toi be happy in the knowledge that I am very envious and hate you all :wink: :wink:

Hope to finish mine some time tonight, I'm assuming the deadline will be just as flexable as usual...
(please :bashful: )

[possessed]

Fozzy I only see a red X ..
My favorite concept(!) so far is BlkCelebrations' . Makes me want to go to the Guamuchil adoption center :p

[I.was.ink]

Everyone's entries are looking soo good.
You guys made me want to do my own creature.
I'm still working on it, I'll post it a little bit later. :)
I think we need a C.O.W icon to represent!
-ink

[redehlert]

ask and ye shall receive, i.was.ink.....
lookin' forward to your post.

d

[Carnifex]

hey i.was.ink! long time since i saw something from you. looking forward to it aswell.

[Mike Corriero]

when is voting?

[Fozzybar]

Mike, Mike, Mike....my impatient vote-fanatic Mike...usually the poll starts 1 day after the deadline, that means for this round the voting will start on thursday evening Central European Time(May 12)...

[vaughany_boy]

http://img39.echo.cx/img39/7636/clouddwellerfinished2pu.jpg

Sky Hermit.

This species is now believed to have lived for hundreds or even thousands of years in peace, undiscovered by makind. Only now, as the sky above us is thouroughly being filled by craft have sightings of these creatures become common at all. With lifespans of unknown length, Sky Hermits spend their entire lives in the air, never coming to the surface of the planet until they die. It seems improbable that this animal could go unknown for so long, without a single documented corpse or living animal until now but such is the rarity of the species. They can totally control their altitude and movement using a very complex respiratory system. Holes in the muscular tissue along the bones that make up the tent like structure of the animals, are used to inhale and exhale air. This has two functions, movement, using the holes like powerful jets, and respiration. Respiration in the species is quite different to other animals encountered. The air is inhaled and in the fleshy centre of the creature, the small amounts of less dense gases in the air, such as Hydrogen, are extracted and blown out from the large organ hanging under the main body. Oxygen is then used for normal respiration to take place and the unwanted gases and carbon dioxide pumped out of the bone limbs to control movement. The light gases then form a cloud underneath the cone like shape of the creature, creating a cushion that the creature sits on its entire life. By continually controlling the gases in the cushion, the animal can totally control upward or downward movement. The animal's brain is found in the cone shaped mound of tissue on top of the centre of the hermit's body.

The animals do not seem to eat for energy like normal creatures, but occasionally enter a storm cloud. In a spectacular process, not dis-similar to photosynthesis in plants, the creature absorbes an entire bolt of lightning. Somehow, this immense blast of energy does not kill the creature but infact provides it enough energy to live for a hugely long time, not having to find another storm to recharge for weeks or even months.

[Carnifex]

i'd change the colour off the eye(?) thingy-because now it really looks like a huge,fleshy penis.

[vaughany_boy]

You're not the first person to say that :\

[Carnifex]

hehe,then you know you should really change it;)

[Mike Corriero]

Mike, Mike, Mike....my impatient vote-fanatic Mike...usually the poll starts 1 day after the deadline, that means for this round the voting will start on thursday evening Central European Time(May 12)...

sorry im all wired up on coffee :teeth:

[cakeypigdog]

hi there, first time in COW for me, been lurking for the last couple of weeks.
love this part of CA. The pacing is just right. there are some amazing entries this week. i am mostly loving phuzions, BlkCelebrations, rusty and bluefooted: hope that one gets coloured. lovely line work! so many top entries.

well heres my effort. i am not 100% happy with it but its bed time and i shant get any more time to play with it...

http://cakeypigdog.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/clouddweller.jpg

These delightful fellows are called squigels. They are magical creatures that live a meditative existence basking in the sunshine atop the clouds. They only rarely venture to earth and even when they do its often under the cover of darkness. Over the years various cultures have mistaken glimpses of these creatures for things as diverse as dragons, angels and even as one mr 'big foot'.

[Sapphire]

leckronium: Thanks a lot! I'm so glad you liked it; your pieces was actually very similar to something I had in mind initially, so I had to change things.

MIKECORRIERO, Phuzion, Rusty, fantastic pieces!! I am lovong the atmospheres in a lot of these entries as well as the creatures.

[I.was.ink]

Cloud Creator
http://www.visiblesurface.com/iwasink/Digital/cloud-creator.jpg

Just as a shepard watches over his sheep, Cloud Creators watch over the skies in an effort to create clouds when they begin to vanish and become scarce. These Creators glide along the skies in search of clouds that need repair. Whenever the clouds become to big to handle and are broken, the Cloud creators rush over and attempt to repair them by thrashing their long tentacles in a very majestic and beautiful performance; thus making thunderous noises that scare many of the inhabitants of the planet.

There has been many occasions when groups of Cloud Creators gather and work at a very rapid speed to restore their precious cloudscapes. When this occurs they become aggressive and over flow the skies with thousands of clouds that build up and create tornados. These violent tornados whip around causing massive havoc to the planet and destroy numerous amounts of clouds.

Once the tornados have died off, they go back to work and begin to restore their creations once again.

-Iwasink

[Mike Corriero]

Lets Vote already








just kiddin fozzy ;) im drinkin coffee again

[fungi]

http://www.misterfungi.com/sketches/skywhaledone.jpg

Aeraepod

The Aeraepod live among the thick sulphur and methane rich clouds of the gas giant planet Terythus VI. The Aeraepod's main food source are the jellyfish like creatures which rise from the oceons of liquid hydrogen to feed upon microscopic creatures at high altitudes. Little is known about the Aeraepod as the planet's strong magnetic energy kills probes as they descend to the oceans below. They are also easy targets for the Aeraepod and are commonly mistaken for prey.

[0kelvin]

Sapphire: Oh man, I am such a sucker for that pseudo-scientific type of description. I love when someone takes something fantastic and makes it seem plausible. I especially like the inclusion of ball lightning. I loved reading about that stuff when I was a kid, and totally forgot about it until you brought it up again.

vaughany_boy: Hehehe, definitely looks like a penis umbrella. Oh well, this week was low on the phallic symbols anyway.

I.was.ink: Although I'd like to get a better look at the creature, I do like the picture and how you refer to clouds as something that can be broken and repaired.



0kelvin

[Ostrander]

Awesome job Fungi! I love it!


Well, it looks like I'm not gonna make it this round due to my moving and all. There's alot of great work this week. Some of the best stuff yet. Nice job everyone!!

I'm hoping to catch up with you guys in the next round...hopefully.

[Craig Houghton]

I'll revise some bits here and there if I have time, but I'd hate to have the door close before submitting, so, here's the legendary buffafloat.

The Buffafloat
A descendant of the long-extinct bison that feeds upon the lilipad-like hydrop plant. The buffafloat, bobbing along since birth, has adapted to store the hydrogen from the hydrop plants in gas bladders under it's hide. Although it can use it's modified split-hoof fins to do some minor navigation, the buffafloat is a gentle creature, and it drifts along with the hydrop pastures. It's adapted a beard particuarly suited to the entanglement of hydrops. It feeds off the trapped plants in it's beard throughout the day.

http://img198.echo.cx/img198/8896/buffafloatcowhoughton4yg.jpg


never enough time :)
-Craig

[Prehistoric]

The Cloud Sculpting Guild was formed years ago by the union of a group of artist and a group of scientists. Their mission was to literally paint the sky. The artists work months in advance to determine the location, size, and shape of their aerial artforms. Then the scientists genetically engineer these tiny creatures, embedding the pertinent information into their simple dna strands, to be released in the air to perform the task of Cloud Sculpting. The tiny Sculptors have two main parts: first the hollow sac which both creates bouyancy and propulsion, and second the tip which sculpts the clouds through an exchange of heat and moisture. The exact methods of the making of these creatures are the Guild's closest guarded secret.

https://home.comcast.net/~zackrubin/cloud_dweller.jpg

[Craig Houghton]

phuzion - love this. linework on the creature doesn't gel perfectly with the soft clouds for me, but it's still beautiful. btw, the letterboxing works well. :)

rusty - they'll graceful and I love the idea of them lighting up the night sky. I'm a bit thrown off by the bottom half of the comp which is a bit empty.

leckronium - the head's a bit confusing for me, but the whole piece is well put together. I like the 'silver lining' part of the descrip.

bluefooted - not sure if you're still planning on coloring it, but that's definitely a cool looking fish. cute kids too

nightfend - that fish looks a bit stiff and bony. I like placement in the comp.

rosco - shading looks a bit confused to me on the tentacles, and in general, it's a bit confusing without grabbing me visually long enough to decipher.

helzon - awesome hunting technique. i really would love to see this colored. value alone isn't making the creature clear enough to me.

young_paddy - I'm not sure if gobbling up a jet is a great way to dispose of em, but i'd agree that these could be maneuverable. btw. i wonder how the energy cost/output works out the creature still needs to fuel the muscles that generated the volts used to split the h20

oregano - it's beautiful. as far as sheer attraction goes, this is my favorite. i'm a sucker for the drama. when i stare at it for a few moments more I start to dislike some of the highlight squiggles on the clouds. there a bit too hard/overused. also, i'm also not convinced that the creature is built for the skies.

carnifex - we talked about this a bit in the channel. I like the micro idea. I think that if you chopped off the top half of the image, you'd still get the concept across and there wouldn't be such an empty feeling to the upper portion of the comp.

possessed - too many mysteries. i'd rather see the descrip/concept handle the question of food and floating instead of making light of the questions. the cloud generation however, is great.

kyliegirl - in general i'm not crazy about the placement of the elements in the piece. the pygmy is, however, attractive. The wings look too faery-like for my tastes. I say this because they look pretty, but they're paper thin and better suited to a little butterfly body.

crow - i've always heard the term 'floater' used in a different context. :) anyhow, the texturing on the clouds looks interesting, and I like the abstract shapes. the creature however, is just too vague for my tastes.

olsen - I like your twist on the cloud-dweller concept! The eye looks funky to me. it draws a lot of attention, but I'm left wondering what its purpose is.

blkcelebration - "in search for the perfect cloud to....die on" I like that. :) The rain thing is interesting as well. I wish the image was really fleshed out. the stylistic approach helps, but it's not consistent enough for me. the grove throws it off,

redehlert - I like the image better than the descrip. The style of illustration is great. I love it, really. However, the mixed fonts don't really seem to gel, and the blur on the rain looks like such a departure from a natural-medium look, that it distracts.

mikecorriero - I'm glad there are two of these. they make a great pair and I like checking out that head from a different angle. The nose holes are great. however, the sky trees and the ground come off looking too much like a forest for me. if it wasn't for the descrip i'd just assume this is a ground-based env.

okelvin - the creature doesn't seem like he's actually sitting on the branch. there needs to be more of a shadow and his hands don't look like they're conforming to the contours of the branch. I like your take on the concept though.

shadoman - i love that head and the whiskers. I imagine they'd have to eat a hell of a lot of birds though. I don't like the texture by the flippers, but I love the rendering on the creature.

fozzy - This is definitely the most graceful intestine-based creature, ever. ;) The curves are beautiful, and I like the deflated/inflated sack idea. I think the clouds look a bit flat even if you wanted them to be secondary

vaughany_boy - I like the unique feeding technique. and, I like that it's an umbrella in a storm. I do wish the rendering had some more hard edges and detail.

cakeypigdog - this is different. I wonder though if this might as well be any creature at all relaxing on a cloud and not something that is specifically a cloud-dweller.

i.was.ink. - the idea of an agressive creature stirring up a tornado is rather cool, and the movement works in this respect. However, the creature is difficult to read.

fungi - I think this might be from the same genus/family as the lava eater ;) great detailing. also, you can really feel that thing reaching up to grab the jellyfish. so far though, it looks like a water-based creature thrown skyward.

prehistoric - I like the idea of the sculpting guild, but I'm not too crazy about the idea of a creature that's been designed etc. I say this only because it looks rather vehicle-ish. I'd rather that you kept the basic concept but made these look more organic.

whew, done. ;)
-Craig

[Sapphire]

none for me, Craig? ;)

0kelvin: I'm glad you like the description! Ball lightning is crazy stuff, I enjoyed having the opportunity to play with that as a concept.

fungi: that is such an incredibly aethestically pleasing piece. The colors just vibrate off one another, and the creature is beautifully detailed. (You are a master of color!) I can't wait to see the description you have.

[Carnifex]

thanx for the comment craig.i love that your creature really feels like it has air(whatever) in his sacks.looks like it might burst any minute.

fungi,i agree with craig on the water-creature-in-air issue.paint in some more clouds.:)(or better defined ones.i see abit of some in the bg,but they're not recognizable enough)

edit: changed mine according to craig's crit.better?

[croovman]

eek! I haven't had time to finish, how much time do I have? :$

[Carnifex]

about 12 hours if i'm correct...?

[kyliegirl]

MIKECORRIERO- I always expect an awesome image from you :) brilliant design yet again

shadoman- interesting design O_o

Fozzybar- very creative, i love the whole whip like arms :)

fungi - freaky creature, id hate to be flying around that thing when its hungry. awesome as always :)

Craig Houghton- thx for the crits :) . I like the buffafloat, wouldnt its tongue dry out rather fast tho ? :tihi:

[Fozzybar]

eek! I haven't had time to finish, how much time do I have? :$

a few hours, not sure when exactly...the deadline is actually over...no matter where you are on earth :)

So hurry!!!

[S.C. Watson]

can we vote now?




when's the new topic?





has voting started yet?





is the new topic posted?





can we vote now?





:P

[Fozzybar]

foz slaps oregano

[Mike Corriero]

hey Craig- Thanks for the crit. I had actually purposely tried to give this a ground/sky feel, for one, so that there was something more interesting than just clouds to look at. Also to give the feeling that these creatures kind of live in thier own world where no one sees them running through this sky based forest. I would hope that people wouldnt look at this as a ground environment, because of the soft fluffy like edges of the clouds and the fact that these things arent touching the ground/clouds and also that they have wing/feet..

edit- btw- FOZZY lets vote!!!! :bashful: :wink:

[Fozzybar]

voting is on:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=477993