C.O.W. - #032: Xmas Creature

[Fozzybar]

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


Round #032

Topic:
Xmas Creature

Choose one of the sub topics for your entry:

1. It Came From The Chimney

2. Stocking Surprise

3. Santa Hunter

4. Santa Claws - stay away from a Santa with claws!!! Do a creature related to xmas with claws...

5. Santa's Sledge Pulling Creature - please no reindeer :)


Deadline:
Tuesday, 27th December 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]

There were many good topics in the suggestion thread and i thought it would be nice to have a broad spectrum of topics to choose from, so everyone can choose one which appeals to him most...

Still there will be only 1 winner for this round...so here are the topics once again:

Choose on eof this topics for your xmas-creature:

1. It Came From The Chimney

2. Stocking Surprise

3. Santa Hunter

4. Santa Claws - stay away from a Santa with claws!!! Do a creature related to xmas with claws...

5. Santa's Sledge Pulling Creature - please no reindeer :)


If not obvious add the topic when posting your entry...

And i think it's a good idea not to make a mutated Santa or something like that, try to create a creature which could be added to the christmas scenery but doesn't have similarities to reindeers, Santa, elves or the Grinch...

[JakkaS]

At last....:thinking:
I thing, I make ...Santa Claws

[redehlert]

Yehaw! It's On!

[silentkitty]

Fun. I think I'm gonna go with "Stocking Surprise". :needle:

[possessed]

Santa Hunter is just too cool.

[cgfuller64]

Wip, sled to come....any helpful comments welcome..
Thanx,
Chad

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c188/cgfuller64/xmascreaturecopy.jpg

[pr0ph3t]

can we do more than one? as in one for each subtopic?

[Thoras]

Hey ya’ll, just dropped by to wish happy holidays to ya’ll; hope you see all yer families and that stuff, and that santa brings everything you asked for. See ya when I see ya.

[silentkitty]

..I think I had a little too much free time on my hands today. :P I'll probably be tweaking it as the week goes along, description will be coming soon.

I went with "Stocking Surprise", if it's not obvious. ;p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/silentkitty/stockingsurprise.jpg
This critter is known as the "candy worm" by people indigenous to the area that it dwells in, because of its somewhat festive coloring. It makes its home in any dry, warm place that it can find, often migrating from spot to spot under the cover of night. During the christmas season, one of its favorite habitats, of course, is nestled within stockings hung above a nice warm fireplace, where it settles in until disturbed by a greedy hand reaching for the toys it has made into its nest.

[Zeitwolf]

silentkitty
the teddy is scary *fear*

[Fozzybar]

can we do more than one? as in one for each subtopic?

you can do as many as you want but only one entry will go to the poll, so if you do more than one add a note which one is the entry for this round...

[pr0ph3t]

gotcha

nice one silentkitty

hope i don't get one of those in my stocking

I guess santa has a plan this year, why keep giving coal to all the naughty children, when he can just kill them off?


merry christmas to everyone

[Fozzybar]

I will be gone for 1 week...heading off tomorrow, so i don't know if i will visit the site until then...i will be back next week, i guess right in time to close this thread and set up the new one...maybe a topic related to the turn of the year...

Don't make a mess while i am away ;)

So merry xmas, hanuka and whatever you are celebrating for the next days!

See you then!

[silentkitty]

Later Fozzy, have a good holiday. :meow:

[JakkaS]

Merry Xmas Fozzy.
(There is no emoticon for Xmas... only that :angel: )

[romance]

Have a great one Fozzy. Watch out for reindeer droppings.

[masque]

http://www.metrocast.net/~chipartist/ImagePost/XmasStalkling.jpg
The Christmas Stalkling subsists almost entirely on goodies unwittingly stuffed down its throat during the holiday season, and occasionally the fingers of over-indulgent wassailers.

____________________________________
Best wishes to all for a very happy holiday!

[Sundance]

very cute masque!

[pr0ph3t]

masque thats awesome!!! merry xmas fozz have a great one,,, that goes for all of the rest fo you too

[Bennett]

Bahahahaha "over-indulgent wassailers"...

I walways wondered the meaning of that song...

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/wassail.htm

Merry xmas and shit

[redehlert]

oooh....aphex twin for 'bennett'....nice holiday choice. :)
here's a little wip i whipped up last night. happy ho y'all!
i'm not going to get a chance to finish this freak, so fozzy....take or don't take to voting....no harm no foul. holiday magic and work has gotten the best of me...............
http://www.cognitionstudio.com/conceptart/cow32_wipDec22.jpg
cheers!
d

[Eric Lofgren]

[Edit] updated with color. And thanks for the feedback, Mike :)


A wip of a Chimney Tube Worm. This is it's pupal stage. It's very similar to dragonlfy larvae (I think), that encase themselves in little twigs and pebbles that stick to it's body with a secretion. In this case, the Chimney Worm egg finds purchase in an existing tube structure, such as a chimeny. It subsists on a diet of carbonized ash and wood and the occasional soot covered chimeny sweep. Given it's unique living accommodations it's body is pliable enough to allow it to create a flue that runs through it's entire body allowing chimney smoke to pass through. This can also act as camofluage as well. It's a very rare creature, though, as it's pupal stage lasts for a single year and to develop into a mature adult it requires a large meal of protein enriched red polyester and black vinyl. Once consumed, it enters into it's final stage as a winged adult and flys away. Otherwise it dries up and becomes nothing more than the ash and wood bits that it lives within.

The most uniqe aspect of the Chimney Tube Worm is it's maw, which features four very plaible yet strong tentacles that are coverd in razor sharp teeth. When it has a meal in it's mouth the creature can rake it's teeth very quickly back and forth and up and down on its prey reducing it to pulp in seconds. The protein material quickly gets absorbed by the body of the worm and waste is expelled as a powdery like substance that mingles with the smoke and ash. It also has a single rudimentary eye housed near the center of each tenticle as well.

To capture it's prey, the worm wraps the two toes at the end of each tenticle around the lip at the top of the chimeny and qucikly pulls itself out of the chimney and right onto the prey. It quikly wraps it's tenticles around the victim and sucks it into it's mouth. Where it immediately begins to render it's meal into a puly mass. Once satisfied, the worm flattens its body and quickly slides it's back down into the chimeny and waits.

http://www.ericlofgren.net/eric/chimney_tube_worm.jpg

I was most of the way throguh this design when I realized the chimeny creature should probably have been designed to come out the fireplace and not the top. Whatever the case, here's my design so far. Any comments are encouraged :)

[nephilim]

very cool eric, neat design. Although is Santa reborn every year? that would be cool. cant wait to see it colored. The only crit i have is that the creature seems to end at the chimney top, perhaps if you hinted at its long abdomen(in the illustration itself) that might help.

its actually a caddisfly larvae your thinking of, the dragonfly larvae doesnt coat itself with stuff(although some species might i guess), it is a voracious predator though, some are known to even eat small minnows or tadpoles!!!


mike

[romance]

Here's my rather hasty entry. Decided to try a different approach in both presentation and technique. Enjoy.

Edit: Hey Fozzy, could you put the non-ad version of my entry up to the poll. Thx

http://www.artofromance.ca/ca/projects/COW/santa_claws_ad.jpg
http://www.artofromance.ca/ca/projects/COW/santa_claws.jpg

The Dirt Sloth (also known a Santa Claws).

This creature can be found in temperate zones all over the Earth. It dwells within the ground, hunting earthworms, grubs, and the occasional mole. In the wild, they have been known only to surface during wet conditions.

Over recent years, the Dirt Sloth has been raised by breeders and have overcome their need to dwell underground and their low-tolerance to sunlight. Breeders are still trying to produce Dirt Sloth's that are less tempered.

Bred Dirt Sloth's are sold all year-round as multi-purpose utility 'pets', as their extremely sharp claws and handle-like horns make them wonderful cutting 'tools'. Their sales rise during the Christmas season as consumers use them for cutting Christmas trees, carving turkeys and hams, opening gift boxes, frightening naughty children, and making cranberry sauce (note: creature does not make cranberry sauce with its claws).

Ethical concerns have been raised about the use of this creature as a tool and product. Even protests have been held in front of petstores selling the creatures. Although, the protests don't last long, as petstore owners often threaten the protesters with angry Dirt Sloths.

[redehlert]

HAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAAHahaahhhahahaaaaa.....

hah!
nice one rob.
cheers!
d

[young paddy1]

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

The 'stocking filler' is the larval stage of the 'roof stalker', it is completely vegetarian at this stage of its life and survives best inside the christmas stockings of families where the parents haven't realised, fruit and nuts are not presents. The 'stockiing filler' is inserted into the christmas stocking a year before it matures, being the only item of clothing hardly anybody washes, the soft egg case will sit in a linen closet or airing cupboard keeping warm allowing the 'stockiing filler' to develop. Aroused by the placing of the stocking over a hot fire and after having eaten the fruity bounty and occasional stuffed animal put inside its temporary home, the 'stockiing filler' will eventually make its way outside and up onto the roof.

[romance]

Thanks Red,

Love the eyebrows on yours. They should actually be called eye beards.

Can't wait to see the final.


As for all the other entries so far - well done and a happy holidays.

[redehlert]

Thanks Rob! I think it might be considered too 'humanoid' so I might be doing another set of sketches, but wanted to put something up for fun for now.

Hey YoungPaddy1 - nice entry, although I find the background way too distracting from your creature. The background is very nicely handled, almost like a blurred photograph that doesn't exactly interact well with the more painterly remaining elements. also, lighting is a bit wonky - if light is coming from the upper right, then shouldn't the lamp and the creature cast respective shadows onto the wall and mantle? I'd also love to see if you could suggest a fuzzy stocking to differentiate your textures. Food for thought....and a good challenge.
[EDIT - ya know....the more I look at that wall pattern, the more it reminds me of some A. Mucha work. Ever look at his stuff - amazing artist. So....my question is this (I'm being direct) did you lift that or is it a study or is it coincidence?]
Just my two cents.

Cheers!
D

[redehlert]

Wip, sled to come....any helpful comments welcome..
Thanx,Chad
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c188/cgfuller64/xmascreaturecopy.jpg

Hey Chad!
I didn't see anyone giving up any thoughts to you here. Hope you don't mind a few things that have come to my mind. I think I understand your creature's shape, but it may be worth while to step back from the beauty of your textures (fur looks like fur, feathers are looking like feathers) and work on the bone structure and gesture of your creature. It looks taut and ready to pull a sleigh (which is great), but adding more definition to the body to convey the musculature will greatly improve your creature. Also, wings need to look like they actually belong (e.g. attach and blend) to your creature's body. For the head, I dig a profile but find much more creative prowess is expressed when the artist delivers a 3/4 view or top down/oblique view, etc. Do you think you have that in you? Lastly, lighting: hopefully you won't have that huge white splash on the ground because it is getting the most attention right now. Maybe instead of a lantern (which could bop this poor critter in the face) the horn(s) glow (if you're playin' on the rudolph theme) or maybe ya just forego the lantern and just play with the light of the moon to create a more dramatic beast. Finally, the pose: like I said above, it looks ready to pull a sleigh and I would love to see a more dramatic head pose, but now I also think I'd love to see something other than the static 2D lateral pose. I hope this finds you well - never easy to go out on a limb and make suggestions.
All the best!
Dave

[Uziel]

Merry Christmas guys!!

Santa Hunter:
Due to severe child trauma this Yeti will never rest until it has killed Santa. Fortunatly for S. Claus there are a lot of fake santa's on the street.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/jarrafatti2/santacr.jpg

[JakkaS]

Ho-Ho-Ho Birdie
Santa Claws [....more Santa than Claws..hehe....]
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/COW32_b.jpg
Still WIP...I will add text later.
BTW, thx for comments and critics in COW#31. I didn’t have time to thank you. So…Thank You! :]

[Dominus]

Jakkas, the bird ideea is simply awsome! :yayca:

here is my fast contribution to this thread, the santa hunter :devil:

oh, and merry christmas everyone!

http://img281.imageshack.us/img281/6006/ren4qb.jpg

[grey]

stocking surprise (w/a slightly different take on the stockings . . . )
http://www.greystudio.com/ca/COW32stocking_surprise.jpg
freudian squid these twisted creatures came into existence in the late sixties, on one fateful night when Santa ate a few 'special' brownies left out for him by the young Hunter S Thompson. St. Nick had a really bad trip, and the 'squid were born in the resulting psychic turmoil, haunting the dark corners and back alleys of Xmas Town ever since. Though viciously ill tempered and known for their love of reindeer flesh, they are poor hunters as the 'click-clack' of their high heels usually give them away. What their appearance says about the psyche of Mr. Claus, however, has been the subject of many aspiring psychiatrist's PHD research.

[Eric Lofgren]

stocking surprise (w/a slightly different take on the stockings . . . )
http://www.greystudio.com/ca/COW32stocking_surprise.jpg
freudian squid these twisted creatures came into existence in the late sixties, on one fateful night when Santa ate a few 'special' brownies left out for him by the young Hunter S Thompson. St. Nick had a really bad trip, and the 'squid were born in the resulting psychic turmoil, haunting the dark corners and back alleys of Xmas Town ever since. Though viciously ill tempered and known for their love of reindeer flesh, they are poor hunters as the 'click-clack' of their high heels usually give them away. What their appearance says about the psyche of Mr. Claus, however, has been the subject of many aspiring psychiatrist's PHD research.


buh...buh...buh :x


Good one, Grey :)

[llothcat]

heh..after that one, I already know I don't stand a chance..sooo, just fer fun
http://www.llothcat.com/work/chimney4.jpg

This here thing is actually a "hungry ghost". sometimes it obeys the laws of our dimension, sometimes not. Semi transparent,it looks for the living to drain life from. Usually appearing between the hours of 2359 and 2400 on December 24th, when the magic of that time opens the way to our dimension breifly.

[grey]

thanks Eric - didn't realize yours was updated until I scrolled up, nice one man, very vicious (always a good thing) :^^:

this is turning into a very good thread, looking forward to casting my vote --happy holidays folks!

[cgfuller64]

Dave,
Thank you soooo much. I tried to ask subtlety for help because I had a bad case of artist's block. I can't believe you posted and I missed it. As usual, you are right on the money, my 2D lateral view was a bit of a cop out. I want you to know that I am again impressed with your patience and sincerity with regards to taking time out of what must be a hectic schedule and paying forward a little good karma and an immeasurable amount of artistic insight. I fly to Fargo tomorrow to go to Crookston to meat my biological father and that side of the family. As I am 27 going on fifty I am a bit nervous and I'm not sure what I'll be able to crank out tonight after work, but you'll get all the time and effort I have until I leave as a small token of gratitude for another exemplary demonstration of your faultless devotion to helping those of us who need it. My best wishes to you and yours for the holidays and thank you again for your time.
P.S. Ive got an entry under the challenge arena ....thread= Tribal character. If you have time, your input would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
Gratefully,
Chad

[Trollboy]

wow alot of cool entries here. but grey... whoa... thats amazing and disturbing. Disturbingly amazing even :)
edit: its also my new desktop image

[shadoman]

Grey, that is great!!

[grey]

shadowman - thanks, man!

trollboy - thx, disturbing is always good in my book; I'm proud to know I made it onto your desktop 8)
happy holidays folks!

[Negrotuerto]

Here is my Santa hunter enjoy! :^^:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/negrotuerto/cow32.jpg

Santa Hunter

This horrible creature hides in the snow and waits for an innocent Santa, when Santa sees the poor Tiny Tim (that in fact it is a simple decoy) He descends to leave to little Tim a gift.. In this instant the creature emerges from the snow and it begins hunt to fat Santa.
The Santa hunter have in it back a one scale model house with grass, lights and a fake Tiny Tim. This thing eats only fat Santas, leprechauns, and little fairies.

Happy Xmas!

[Chuck,mate.]

been busy these last couple of days...
too busy.
i finally found some time and finished this CHOW round entry.
hope you`ll dig it.
:)

http://www.myimagehub.com/files/2826/santa_claws_small.jpg
Santa Claws.
got pain?

[redehlert]

some incredibly rich entries! i do believe that i'll be going back to the drawing board to rethink some things...

chad - i'll dive into your challenge arena and track down your work. good luck with meeting your bio padre - i plan on doing that (and meet his family) as well in 2006. it'll be a first time for me too. glad you liked the crits, man....you know i'm just another peep on this forum and there are others waaaaay better than me, so take my two cents and spend em anyway you can.

all the best to y'all this holiday!

cheers,
d

[mert_yavasca]

Chuck,mate and Negrotuerto, wery good pieces. Chuck,mate your creature is looking very harsh. Negrotuerto I love your santa claus.LOL :)))

[Chuck,mate.]

Chuck,mate and Negrotuerto, wery good pieces. Chuck,mate your creature is looking very harsh. Negrotuerto I love your santa claus.LOL :)))

thank you.
didn`t understand what "looking very harsh" means.
appreciate if you could explain.



and also:
http://www.myimagehub.com/files/2826/slay_pull_small.jpg
Santa's Sledge Pulling Creature
(not to be taken to POLE. ha, i crack myself up.)

[mert_yavasca]

I mean it's attacker, looks like tazmania monster.Did I use wrong word (harsh)?
Sorry for my bad english.:)

[young paddy1]

redehlert it was a straight lift off a bit of my parents bedroom wall, it's from these people http://www.flavorleague.com tad expensive for me.

[Chuck,mate.]

I mean it's attacker, looks like tazmania monster.Did I use wrong word (harsh)?
Sorry for my bad english.:)

ho.
well yeah, i guess he is somewhat of an angery type of... thingie.
:^^:
thanks again mert_yavasca.

[Uziel]

Chuck I can imagine a santa with a whip and saying ho ho how in his sled...

[pr0ph3t]

jakkas - awesome creature, the way it is rendered is absolutely beautiful. You say it is a work in progress I think it looks pretty much done already.

Dominus - hahaha, it looks a bit like stranger, but i love the enourmas hulk of the creature, whereas santa is fat this guy is so huge he matches up quite well with muscles.

grey - Your presentation of your creature is quite creative. I like how the stockings are still standing.

Masque - Lovely concept and good follow through with the design. IT is pretty much perfect.

Negrotuerto - Your concepts are always is bizarre but creative and wonderful. And I couldn't stop laughing after I noticed that tiny tim sort of just hanging there.

Eric Lofgen - Great with tghe design and such and you fixed it up pretty nice between the WIP and here, it is pretty small though eh?

silentkitty - that was the first one to catch my eye everything is perfect composition and color wise. Its a very wonderful piece to look at.

cgfuller64 - It looks nice, and I like the textures you are using, but I think you should try to bring them together and unify them a bit more.

uziel - hilarious but it lacks a certain something, it maybe that it is cut off at the bottom I would like to see more of this santa hating yeti. Maybe even do it in comic strip format?

romance - Awesome ad, that texture on your creature reminds me of cotton candy? i can't remember but I want to eat it. And I noticed you said in your ad it can be eaten so... mmmm.

llothcat - i'll get to you later, this monitor is horribly old and burnt out and yours is to dark on mine for me to see. so soon ;)

anybody else i missed I am sorry I will find you...

my creation looms near completion,

[madplanet]

Once again, I see a lot of great and interesting images in this week's contest. I'm sorry for bringing down the curve, but this is fun to do, so here is my stab. I have so far to go...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/madplanet/itcamefromthechimney.jpg

Hidden amongst the broken bricks and deeper crags of the chimney, this creature uses its glowing tongue lure to attract other smaller critters for a late night snack. Of course, once a year it waits and it hopes that some fat slow moving visitor will satisfy its hunger.

[Uziel]

Thnx Prophet. I was also thinking to make a 3frame comic but I'm studying for m exams in Januari so I'm a bit short on time.
Unfortunatly the creature isn't central and perhaps it's too humanoid too to take it to the poll. But I couldn't let this topic slip without saying Merry X-mas to you all.

[Bennett]

My Santa Hunter... Still a WIP, will add some tweaks and description by deadline.

**See later post for final version**

[redehlert]

redehlert it was a straight lift off a bit of my parents bedroom wall, it's from these people http://www.flavorleague.com tad expensive for me.
hey youngpaddy1 - i see! thanks for the confirm. nice site....found the actual imagery on that site (as a pattern): http://www.flavorleague.com/wallpaper/flower-of-love-silk
well, needless to say, it was overpowering your creature....best to tone it down so we enjoy your design more. :)
cheers!
d

[DARIZ]

santa hunter whith claws
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1300/schitza734hf.jpg

he's like: 'Look what i found!!! itz probably Xmas!'
Cheers!

[pr0ph3t]

santa hunter whith claws
http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/7960/schitza732oj.jpg

he's like: 'Look what i found!!! itz probably Xmas!'
Cheers!


why does this look like this? with all these jpg artifacts and such? did you save it as a low DPI?

[DARIZ]

'''why does this look like this? with all these jpg artifacts and such? did you save it as a low DPI?''
i have changed it but it still looks like crap!
Dariz

[Chuck,mate.]

'''why does this look like this? with all these jpg artifacts and such? did you save it as a low DPI?''
i have changed it but it still looks like crap!
Dariz

hey man,
it`s a very cool piece.
i took the liberty of trying to fix it a bit for you to
post it here as your entry.

i know it doesn`t seem like it improved much, but
i did the best i could.
(of course if you have a better scanned version ,post it.)
hope it`s helping in any way.
cheers mate.

here`s the before:
http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/7960/schitza732oj.jpg

and after:
http://www.myimagehub.com/files/2826/schitza_after.jpg

[pr0ph3t]

good job chuck,mate. DARIZ, is this a piece you scanned in or digitally painted, we can help you get it lookin great in no time at all ;)

[DARIZ]

aaaa...i realy don't now what to say! i know its better to be considered a little bit craizy but i gues im just stupid.:D
I realy realy don't have a better image of the drawing (and itz digitally painted) I've just saved over the file whitout haveing a backup file.
Thank's a lot Chuck! If your afther-version is accepted and if you agree whith that itz like great news. If not the older version itz fine whith me.
Anyway i will try to fix it up myself until deadline i hope.
I'm sorry for the inconvenience.( it'z like my style or smth)
Cheers!
Dariz
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9132/schitza734hf4le.jpg
my version

[pr0ph3t]

THIS IS WIP of the JINGLE KRINGLE

Hopefully I will have time to color it...

http://www.pr0ph3t.com/site/special/jinglekringlebw.jpg

[JakkaS]

Thx pr0ph3t - I wanted to add second bird....but didn't have time :/
This is my final.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/COW32_b.jpg
The Great Animal Encyclopedia of Planet Gobb
Volume 10, Chapter 9 Birds
Ho-Ho-Ho Birdy - i.e. Santa Claws
Everybody heard about it, but no one has ever seen it before. Although, there are a few reliable reports on this creature. These information come from Professor Wigilius, a ornithologist, the only eye-witness. Acording to his claims, the Santa Claws spicies live in distant taiga of Planet Gobb. But it's hard to believe due to his alcohol addiction.
Anyway, it's very hard to come up against this creature because it is very skittish, however it's croak can be easily identified: "Ho...Ho....Ho.............Ho....Ho...Ho".
Red feathers serve only a repelling purpose, but its major weapon is stench. It spurts out stinky liquid from its cloaca. Professor says, these birds have the most stinky and foul excrements in the world... hmmm... maybe even in whole universum! Professor Wigilius calls it tenderly - a Santa's Gift...

Ps. I am poor painter and nobody mention about it...so look at this one..this was the idea of my creature....Santa's head :^^:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/COW32-pomoc.jpg

[pr0ph3t]

dude it is totally amazing. I mean its wonderfully rendered and the concept is very good. Don't be hard on yourself.

I need another few hours on mine.

[grey]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/COW32-pomoc.jpg

aha! I got the obvious bits with red coat & white trim (supergenius that I am) but I didn't make out the face until now. Very cool!

[Trollboy]

So many good ones here. I decided to do one for this thread too. i tried to play around with some different brushes in ps. Still need to practice more.

http://www.stosiak.com/images/art/stuf/cow32_santa_hunter_web.jpg

The Santa Hunter
Very rare, the santa hunter has developed some unique features to lure its prey. The tip of its tail has evolved to resemble a plate of chocolate chip cookies, complete with a glass of milk(The glass of milk is actually a specialized nail, which is filled with a blinding venom that is splashed into the eyes of prey). An adept climber, it often enters houses through the chimney, and hides under tables with its tail above, and waits. It was named the Santa Hunter, as it is most often seen around christmas time, when it attacks unsuspecting parents as they place presents under the tree.
It has also been called Santas Claws, and some believe, probably because if its large ears, that it is a demonic creature summoned by the Easter Bunny.

[masque]

Trollboy, that's a kool kritter, delightfully nasty, and very well painted.

[pr0ph3t]

I have finished...
http://www.pr0ph3t.com/site/special/jinglekringle.jpg

JINGLE KRINGLE (It came from the Chimney)

The Jingle Kringle is a creature which kidnaps bad children in the night. He usually arrives after Santa Claus has left and slides down the chimney. His tail is similar to a rattlesnakes in that it contains several small bones which make a jingle bell like sound. Bad children hiding or staying up waiting for Santa but missed him(because that Santa is one sneaky clever guy) think that he has arrived. But upon entering the living room are surprised to find the Jingle Kringle in his place. The Jingle Kringle then scoops up the child and places him in a hollow pouch in his back, for feasting or spanking later. He supports himself with his forearms while tossing using the second set of forearms which adjoin his main pair at the elbow for grabbing a tasty snack from storage. He can fold and compress to fit in even the smallest chimney(at a reasonable size that is.)

[Bennett]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/jbennett304/COWxmasFIN.jpg

Yuletide Carpet Muncher (Santa Hunter)

The Carpet Muncher stays dormant year round and awakens a week before Christmas to burrow tunnels beneath the floorboards of several homes with lower level dens and family rooms. The life cycle of the Carpet Muncher (up to a century) is unexpectedly long considering it's limited food source (only 1 Santa in the world). As expected, it can go years without a meal, patiently setting traps in many single family homes in anticipation of that fateful moment that gives rise to the next heir to Santa’s sleigh, and thus begins the gestation period of the next generation Carpet Muncher. The relationship between the Muncher and Santa is symbiotic indeed. The larva of the next gen Yuletide Carpet Muncher slowly feeds off of Santa’s Carcass as the previous Muncher dies and becomes host to the new genetically superior offspring.

[inkerton]

Great entries so far, as usual. It's too bad that the busy holiday week has dragged down participation a bit, but there's still a good number of solid pieces here.

Here's my Santa Hunter. From the looks of this thread, it seems that Santa-hunting creatures are quite fond of decoys.

I had a lot of fun with this, but I think I might have gotten a little carried away with my, er, description. I can shorten it if necessary.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c27/Plate11/contest%20entries/santavorefinal.jpg

THE TALE OF THE SANTAVORE

On the night before Christmas, on top of the house
One creature still stirred – sure as hell not a mouse
For this creature was evil in every way
A predator very selective of prey
The mind of this monster had only one track
Turning jolly St. Nick to a seasonal snack
Poor Santa knew not what that night had in store
For that night, Santa met with a starved Santavore

The beast was a festive but terrible sight
With its candy cane antlers and glowing tail-light
The stocking-like legs and its jingle-bell eyes
A sickly green hue and of frightening size
But the worst of its features, without any doubt,
Was the chimney imposter it had for a snout
With this devious decoy it sought to destroy
The purveyor of Christmas-day laughter and joy

Its claws made short work of the real chimneystack
Then it ripped through the roof and crawled in on its back
Hidden under the snow with its trap set and baited
It lay snug in the attic and patiently waited
But it didn’t wait long, for shortly thereafter
Came the clacking of hooves and that signature laughter -
A trio of “Ho” as he landed his sleigh
And Santa stepped out in his jolly old way

With his sack on his back, he approached the big fake
And, as he jumped in, realized his mistake
But the creature lashed out with its tongue made of wreath
And ensnared him with thousands of pine-needle teeth
The children awoke from their sugarplum dreams
To the earsplitting clamor of Santa’s last screams
With a slurp and a gulp, old St. Nick met his end
And the beast bounded off, never witnessed again

From whence had it spawned, this detestable breed?
Pure manifestation of holiday greed?
A monster of holiday lore, long forgotten?
A genetically engineered mascot gone rotten?
We may never know, but it just goes to show
That even great legends can be doomed to woe
But wipe up those tears, and cast off that scowl -
‘Least the Easter Bunny’s still living… for now…

THE END

[redehlert]

Nice one, Plate. Very nice.
Cheers,
D

[inkerton]

Thank you, redehlert.

Maybe I should turn this into a series of illustrations and submit it to some children's book publishers... :needle:

[Fozzybar]

Poll is on:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=58325