a Makrak!

[Zakarian]

hi there. here's another creature concept that i whipped up for my world design concept. its not much but i hope you guys can give some c&c on it so i can improve my skills.

http://www.angelfire.com/crazy/jeiwang/images/makrakweb.jpg

[Yaseck]

The craeture and the ground looks very good. I can even say: very realistic. But the background is not so realistic. This mountain colud be more blured (with little texture) because now looks kina paper-like. The creatures on the montain are too dark. Everywhere in the world there is an air-perspectiv. Of course You can say, that in Your world there is no sucha a thing.

[soupface]

cool concept. the skin (looks walrus like) and shading are really well done.

that being said the mouth is strange. the inside of the beak should look concave, but looks convex (like there's a bubble in its mouth). the head also looks kind of off. its contour on the left side (of the image) looks cut short (like you didn't really consider the three-dimensions of the head, but drew an outline and then filled it in with features). the head also looks flat, like it isn't closer to the viewer than the neck (as, i assume, it should be).

yasek is also right about those hills. may also want to work a bit more on the grass (rather than rely on the pshop brush alone to make grass).

you asked for crits, you got 'em. i like the concept, it's atypical (it's not a violent alien, but a curious, almost beleivable alien species). good stuff.

[rimwalker]

Originally posted by soupface
i like the concept, it's atypical (it's not a violent alien, but a curious, almost believable alien species). good stuff.
I agree. You seem to be getting a lot of crits on the technical aspects of your painting so I'll comment on the design of the alien itself.

First off, very original. It's nice to see someone take the time to think up something that appears to have a natural animal-like behavior. I assume it's a grazer since it has no hands. The beak must be used to shear off plants(?). It would be interesting to read your rational for selecting certain features (antennae, flippers etc.)

My only crit would be the feet; with the spikes radiating out from all sides like that I have a hard time seeing how it could move very fast without tripping itself.

All things considered, I think it's a cool creature design.

[Zakarian]

thanks for pointing out my mistakes guys.:)

but i didnt use the photoshop brush to make the grass:eek: ...i did it using the hard round brush but they do need more work hehe...the inside of the creature's mouth really looks convex, i guess its because i thought it would be lit up by the lighting/ambient lighting. maybe the colour should be more orange, i dunno. as for the left side of the body, i thought it would look like that since its in perpective, well guess i shoulda did some reference. the head was actually supposed to be further away(imagine its profile being something like an 'S' shape), but i guess it didn't show up well enough shoulda went for the shape soupface mentioned. as for the mountains and shadows, i agree it could be more blurred and darker, hehe, but i was afraid i would overdo it so i left it at that(big mistake).

well, i am glad u guys still like my creature design despite the technical issues. i tried to make my creatures as natural as possible, giving it textures found on real animals, lesser protruding bones, stuff like that.
dang, it looks like i am still way below standard...got to practice more.

thanks again for the critiques, that was the best critique i got ever since i started posting. now i can finally trace my mistakes better and hopefully improve myself.:D

[rimwalker]

Oh, don't say you're "way below standard" because you're not. We all have areas we can improve; such is the nature of being human. I think you have the potential to develop this into something really great.

Also, I wanted to commend you on how politely and humbly you accepted the critiques, it refreshing.

[soupface]

zak, it is a good design, go with it.

the head being behind is kinda awkward (i can see it, but wouldn't have automatically thought of it that way). perhaps to make it more obvious, a different perspective should've been taken (more of a profile look, showing the arc of the neck and head).

don't let my crit change your concept. draw what you want, and defend your concept to unfair/incorrect crits.

anyhow, the style reminds me of a book i had that theorised about alien life... wish i'd kept it. oh well.

[Vaarok]

Heheeee.... waddlysaurus thing.

My sister likes it too. Amphibious, yes?