C.O.W. - #039: Small, Medium, Big - 3 Species Helping Each Other To Survive

[Fozzybar]

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


Round #039

Topic:
Small, Medium, Big - 3 Species Helping Each Other To Survive

Deadline:
Friday, 24th March 2006




- 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]

thx to JakkaS for the topic!

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

- No individual Characters! 3 species which live in a symbiosis.
- All 3 creatures must be shown in 1 image (interacting or presentation style, doesn't matter)
- if not obvious post a description how the symbiosis works

[Nexus]

Hmmm, this is going to be a tough one. Not only do we have to come up with an original creature we have to come up with three. And they all have to interact with each other in a creative way. Jakkas great topic but this one is going to take some serious thought. I'll do my brainstorm later, too many ideas for this one as it is.

[imp_pixel]

I think this is a cool idea. I'm still disappointed in my last entry, since I had some other ideas but rushed to get one of them at the end...don't think I did a good enough rendering. Will be taking my time with this one and am looking forward to what everyone's going to come up with.

[Legato]

We need at least one parasite that attaches and 'enhances' a male's reproductive system as a means of furthering the attractiveness of the first party, and heightening the chances of its own genetic expansion :D

[Hookswords]

An interesting proposal. This will produce some very profound images. The variables are wide open with restrictions that make you really think

[Nexus]

Ok, once again it's time for my weekly brainstorm. I think we all know this one is gonna be a mindbender. Three creature designs and they all have to work in concert with each other. Now I wouldnt worry about tackling the creatures individually, they'll design themselves after the idea behind them is handled. The first thing to address is how they help each other to survive. In the natural world there are many forms of symbiosm. However in this case it has to be the form of symbiosm known as mutualism. In a mutalistic relationship all the involved organisms benefit from the relationship. Keep in mind that they dont even have to be aware of each other but they do need each other. Sharks are barely aware of the service lampreys provide (parasite removal) but they benefit greatly from the union. So I think the best way to go about it would be to have a host organism. This will be the large creature. It can perform a number of functions from providing protection to providing a home for its symbionts. But it seems logical that it would perform a function in relation to its size. Now generally symbiotic relationships involve two organisms. Throwing a third creature in the mix provides a bit of a challenge. Now both of these remaining organisms could live on the host organism, live off some biological product of the host organism, etc. However they have to provide some function for each other. It doesnt have to be a web relationship, in that they help each other directly. It can be unilateral, as in the big one helps the medium which helps the small or some variation thereof. Really I cant say anything too specific about this one at the moment because its such an open topic. But I think that this line of thought should at least be a start. Remember the concept ( especially with this one) is whats important here not the creatures itself, at least initally. Good luck all, write more when theres time.

[chaosrocks]

dear nexus
I really like to listen to your ideas. I can't help but vault from yours to mine.
I have studied bio (usless degree, but mine) I think the world of sybiosis is much wider than we might think. All things are connected in the web of life. Our task here, as I see it, is to choose three of those interconnected entities and portray them, with a visual reference to how they are interconnected, belive me ...I haven't a clue as to how to do this. I haven't dreamed up this ecosystem yet.... I really believe that this task will be to dream up a small portion of an interconnected ecosytem....
wow, lets mix world ecological theory in with our COW......can't wait to see what comes of it.
c.rocks

[Nexus]

C.rocks, that's fair enough. Ive taken a Bio class or two in my day so I see where you are coming from. But in terms of ecosystem, that by definition is all the involved animals within a specific environment. Since this is only 3 animals it is closer to symbiosm. I think for this project it should be more of closed loop relationship. Now of course all organisms effect each other in some way by proxy even if its through thousands upon thousands of steps. Ill stick with symbiosm, otherwise it could easily expand into somehting more complex than it was ever intended to be.

[chaosrocks]

Nexus-
you have point there. I tend to see the complexities in a system. I was just trying to broaden the field. which, I admit, was already pretty durn broad. I am still trying to pinpoint a visual image for this. It's not so hard if the large component is Flora. but to make all three fauna is a real challenge

alright ,,,, I know ... more art.. less chat
c.rocks

[hwango]

Just to make sure we're all on the same page, is this:

A helps B, B helps C, C helps A

or

A helps B and C, B helps A and C, C helps A and B

or is either one acceptable?

[walnut]

I think they should al benefit from eachother, be it actively or passively. Sort of a micro-ecosystem. Well, that's what i think at least.

[Fozzybar]

what walnut said...

[H.H.V.]

This COW really forces you to do something completely original. If you finally find a concept that works, it can't be something else than original.

[Fozzybar]

ok, H.H.V., now all of us are really curious to see your entry ;)

[Nexus]

Wow its only Monday evening but usually there's some sketches or something up by this point ( I know how fast some of you work, speedy bastards). Of course this isnt an easy one. I mean this creatures can help each other survive in ways that dont even exist within sybiosm on this planet. It boggles the mind to think of the thousands of different ways that creatures might interact on an alien world.

[Fozzybar]

i will enter this one...because i already started...yikes...

[Tyranx]

I'm surprised no one has posted anything yet... I may enter this one, but I can't promise anything since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion comes out today! and besides I'm doin an environment.

[Fozzybar]

you know, actually i am glad no one posts his wip, because it's sometimes getting out of hand....and afterwards i am the bad boy, because i didn't take one of artist xy's 10 images he posted to the poll....

[Chuck,mate.]

add intentions to give it a go.
yupe. really did.
but after thinking myself to a coma,
i decided: screw this.
who`s got the time and mental health for this sort of project?!
:)

so here`s a quick little sketch.
i kinda had a direction with it when i started, but now i don`t have the slighest idea what`s what, where, or why.
so don`t ask people.
:P

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/6494/3in11py.jpg

[JakkaS]

First, thx FOZZ for choosing my proposition.
I thought it could be great challenge to us, but now I think its killer theme. Hehe, but I will not give up!

This is what I have for now! Only some silly sketches…

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f209/JakkaS-ws/b4b75bec.jpghttp://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f209/JakkaS-ws/ae3a3145.jpg

[eyesofruby]

Jakkas, I really like the top sketch of the second picture. The winged creature appears more integrated with the big creature. The small creature perched on the nose looks a little odd, primarily because it appears to just be standing there and would probably cause the big creature a bit of trouble manuvering his trunk in the long run. I like the idea of the perched middle creature, but maybe you could find a different way to incorporate the small creature, or scale him down so that if he did ride on the trunk of the large creature, he would be less of a burden.

Other than that, I really like the direction you're heading.

[GatorKyle]

Those are good sketches Jakkas. I really like the little creatures' heads on the bottom of the left hand page. I don't think I am going to be able to do one this week, too much work to do, but I am going to try to get some concepts done.

[Pixelestial]

All I had time for this week was a speed painting, and I don't know if the concept is terribly original :P , but here it is:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/Ekhidna/mutualism.jpg
The papal scoutbird (1) feeds exclusively on larderbug larvae, but it's not strong enough to break into their termite-like nests.

The giant bear snail (2) uses its clawed pseudopods to tear apart larderbug nests, but it has two problems: it can't climb the trees where the nests hang, and it can't withstand the larderbug bites long enough to eat its fill.

Dorwigs (3) are tiny blood-sucking parasites, but their spines are so poisonous that few hosts can survive long enough for the dorwigs to mature and reproduce.

How they work together to survive:
Put simply, the three species would starve without each others' help.

The scoutbird flies ahead to find a larderbug hive. Once it finds one, it leads the bear snail to it and uses its serrated beak to knock it out of the tree. The bear snail rips the nest apart so both it and the scoutbird can eat the juicy larderbug larvae.

Normally, the bear snail would be forced away by the larderbug soldiers' vicious bites. This is where dorwigs play their part: the bear snail is not only immune to dorwig poison, but it also stores the toxin within its own body. This toxin discourages the larderbugs from biting or kills them outright, so the bear snail and scoutbird can eat in peace.

[redehlert]

jakkas - yo so crazy! nice ideas...tough project. :)

[Nexus]

Hurray WIPs. Ill be honest one of the most interesting things about CoW is watching the progression of the work. Fozzy is right that sometimes it gets a little out of hand but 2 or 3 WIPs are fine as long as they replace each other.

Jakkas- I like the first aquatic creature the most so far and of the two versions below I like the first one. Although I will say I like second version of the flying creature minus the bat wings.

Soulweaver- The concept seems fairly sound and I sure wish you had time to do a finished piece. I was especially enjoying the bear snail design.

[inkerton]

I like these topics that require thinking. They might not get the most entries, but I think they bring about some of the COW's best concepts.

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

Frosty Mimic

Red-tailed Polwogger – a small amphibious creature. Its flippers are small and weak, but it is a powerful swimmer due to its long flat tail which is splayed and webbed at the tip. It feeds mostly on fish and insects, but will also scavenge for carrion when food is scarce.

Sabre-toothed Tetrapus – a bizarre and highly territorial creature that typically inhabits small shallow ponds. Its diet consists mostly of algae, but they are also known to drag in and eat animals that come to their ponds to drink. The tetrapus is also amphibious, but it leaves the water only during cold winters to avoid being frozen alive. Its movement on land is awkward, but it is still adept at ensnaring creatures with its long spindly tentacles.

Twigglet – this oddly-shaped mammal lives in heavily wooded areas, where it is well camouflaged by the wood-like appearance of its fur. It can hold perfectly still for hours on end, waiting for small rodents and other prey to pass within reach of its long, stick-like arms.

These three normally solitary species have been sighted teaming up in recect and particularly harsh winters, presumably because working together increases the chances that each will be fed. Certain strangely coincidental features have led them to covering themselves in snow and mimicing snowmen, providing them with perfect camouflage for suburban winter landscapes. In this state, their main prey is bullies and jerks, the kind of people who enjoy cruelly destroying things loved by children. When one approaches, the tetrapus will spring its tentacles from the snow and entrap its prey as all three species attack and devour it. Evolutionary scientists are baffled by this behavior, but some religious groups have put forth a theory to explain it - that these "frosties," as they are sometimes called, are actually serving as a sort of divine litmus test by weeding a number of the wicked out from the population.

[Nexus]

Plate these are some odd little creatures. I feel of the three that the top left one is most interesting. Will you be sticking to this stylized simplistic feel or will you bend the design towards a more naturalistic representational approach?

[inkerton]

Thanks, Nexus. I'll probably keep the designs pretty simple and stylized like this, partly because it's what I'm better at, and partly because of time constraints - showing them in action will take a bit more sketching than this, and I have classes and homework to do on every day up until the deadline. But even with the simple designs, I'm hoping to render it all to the best of my ability.

[Jonoy]

No time this week; 3 assignments due tomorrow and heaps of maya modelling/rigging to do...eep!

Great theme I thought, gunna have to do it in my own time just for the concept though.
Keep them coming everyone!

[Lewis]

Chuck,mate > Work it out plz, looks good so far
JaKKas > Cant wait to see ur finished piece!
Soulweaver > Like the story behind it, the piece itself isnt astonashing but serves ur explenation well
Plate > Gimme the explenation!!

Heres my entry

Despite being so strong and big, the Emul (Horses Taurus) was having a hard time. They were an often targeted prey for carnivores. This was a very unpleasant situation for the Emul, until they joined forces with the Sandsnake (Thamnophis Desertus). The Sandsnake would offer protection for the Emul.
Through evolution their organs got attached to each other, so the Sandsnake would focus primarily on defense, while the Emul could graze safely and thus feeding the Sandsnake as well.
Still, the fragile organs and snake on top of the back were an easy target for birds, so the Sandsnake developed a stone like structure to protect itself.
One problem remained, and these were the little bugs and parasites infecting the organs inside the Snakes house.
This is where a third party joined the alliance, the Bugbird (Avis Redrum). This little bird can navigate safely on the Emuls and Sandsnakes bodies, while picking off parasites and such. On top of that the Bugbird has got an excellent eye for danger and a fortified house for life.
The three combined forces are now called Sixeyes (Trio combinius).

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2528/finito2mc.jpg

[Chuck,mate.]

lewis - naaaaaaa.... i`m no match to Jakkas over there. forget it.
but thank you.
:)

[Thefultron]

I like Plate's entry, It's got ZAZ!

[JakkaS]

JaKKas > Cant wait to see ur finished piece!
Almost done.....:teeth:


Thx guys for comments to my sketches. I have decided to do the first option. This is what I have for now...FINAL
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/2d340c4e.jpg

[Stephan_R]

great Jakkas! Well thought out, i can see already how they work together but I look forward to your explanation.

I've been working on one, this is a fun topic :D

[redehlert]

I really like that Jakkas!!
Cheers!
D

[bumskee]

nice going jakkas, I think you could punch up the highlight smidge on its back. Nice concept and well executed. :) awsome

[Nexus]

Jakkas I like the coloration of the Seelan but the red lips have to go. Make them blue or one of the colors in the main part of its body. They just dont seem to fit. The rest of the creatures are great though.

[Fozzybar]

http://www.kidomatix.com/ca/cow/cow_039_3creatures_fozzybar.jpg

The Firework Symbiosis

This symbiosis of 3 different species is called the Firework Symbiosis, because when they come together they create a wonderful play of colors and light, just like a firework, composed by mother nature.

Small creature: Bogi
The Bogi is an opossum like creature without fur...it will freeze very quickly, so it's reliant on a warmth source...for this purpose the Bogi crawls into the proboscis (trunk) of the Devil Tapir. From there it crawls up to a hollow in the back of the Tapirs body...scientists discovered that this hollow actually is an organ used to emit substances for attracting conspecifics of the opposite gender. Oddly enough it also attracts the Bogis and they crawl until they find the source, the hollow is perfectly matching the Bogis needs: it's warm, good smelling and protecting from predators.
Another interesting thing is that the Devil Tapirs don't attract mates only by smell they also are highly dependent on visual signs from conspecifics. Their organ on the back is glowing slightly to signalise their presence.
Now the Bogi stimulates the organ from inside so intensely that the dim glow changes to a very bright light source in the vastnesses of the wilderness, boosting the mating chances of the Devil Tapir...

Big creature: Devil Tapir
The Devil Tapir got it's name in the past as the native indians saw little creatures coming out of the Tapirs trunk and they thought the Tapir was able to create or produce little demons, so they were afraid of this animal and called it Devil Tapir. Of course the little creatures where nothing else than Bogis.
Male Devil Tapirs are shining in orange light and are slightly larger than the cyan shining females.
However the Devil Tapir is plagued by a parasitic insect which only lives on the skin of this species. It can't get rid of them by own means.

Medium creature: Silver Sparkler
This is where the Silver Sparkler takes part in this phenomenal symbiosis. The Silver Sparkler is a species belonging to the family of birds of paradise. Its plumage is silvery, shining and reflecting like the noble metal.
And it feeds on the parasites which live on the Devil Tapir. So it gets the food from the Tapir and helps in return by freeing the Tapir from this plague.
The Silver Sparkler is looking for the typical orange and cyan light sources when flying high above the ground. It knows where this lights are there is the food.
Strangely the bird knows that the light source - at least in this intensity - is provided by the Bogi. And as if it wants to pay back the little creature it signalises whenever a predator is coming close to the Bogi, so it can hide quickly in the Devil Tapirs body.

Symbiosis
Each creature in this symbiosis has an interesting but not very spectacular appearance. BUT when this 3 life partners come together they create the most beautiful appearance on earth, as if they want to show: diversity comes to its strongest result when acting together.

Nature, i take my hat off to you...

[Nexus]

Well damn I was in a time crunch but I was gonna try.....then Fozzy submitted. Fuck dude, no wonder your the administrator for CoW, kudos to you.

[redehlert]

Awwww....that's awesome, Foz!
Love the Bogi = candle...bougie....nice!

Cheers!
D

[TheDirtSyndicate]

i did a sketch, but probably wont have time to finish it.
its pretty gross too....so i kinda dont WANT to finish it. haha
here's a hint at whats gross : one of the creatures is called a "butt slug"

[Nexus]

Ugh your right Complete, I dont think I want to see that either. Oh the humanity. Wait what possible purpose could a slug that inhabits the ass of another creature serve? Furthermore, how the hell does the other creature rely on a slimy thing interacting with its whale-eye to survive? Ok...i take it back now I have to fuckin see this thing.

[notoriginalmcgoo]

you guys are all really good, ive been coming on this site for a while and finally decided to give it a shot. Recently got back into sketching a bit so here it is, sorry all i have is a camera to take pics of my sketch book.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/notoriginalmcgoo/02022006.jpg

The Lesser Great Horn roams the Sclerian Planes in herds. They traditionally have very poor eyesight. The "Vision Slug" monopolizes on the Great Horns poor eyesight by symbiotically attaching itsself to the Great horn, it taps into the blood stream and central nervous system of the great horn, giving it far superior vision and at the same time getting all the nutrients it needs. The "Horn Stalker Bug" is somewhat inappropriately named, it totally covers the Great Horns body shortly after birth and they grow together, sharing the same blood supply. The Horn Stalker greatly augments the speed and strength of the Great Horn. Rarely are all three animals seen as one, and only about 5% of the time will a great horn have any symbiotic relationship throughout its entire life.

[michamachtlos]

http://private.addcom.de/michamachtlos/TheSaugnäpfe.jpg

[Chuck,mate.]

jakkas - liked your pencil version better. you kinda killed it with the colors...maybe try a different pallete, and perhaps push the contrast in some places. plus add some shading to your guys, juice this puppy up a bit..

fozz - you silly silly man. :) very good concept. loveable. though the sparkler kinda look like a white dove. but i just love "Bogi" there. sweet creature.

lewis - you got a very solid start there. i`m not quite sure what creature does what and to whom. (whom?...is that the proper english..?) but the colors are good.


plate - your creatures are adorable! :) i can only suggest a few highlights here and there.

edit: well, here`s my small contribution. some good stuff going on in this round. i`m in.
:)
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/7024/3creaturessmall6kz.jpg

[eyesofruby]

that looks great, chuck,mate. i really like it's simplicity in the integration of the three creatures. reminds me of this scifi channel ad, where a tall looming figure is coming out of the shadows, but it ends up being three little aliens just standing on each other's shoulders.

[redehlert]

Noooooo!!!

Chuck,mate.....we are kinda on the same page, so I hope you don't mind my entry lookin' a tad similar - mainly your medium "Seeall" is almost exactly my small. I'll try to get my marker sketch scanned in today. BTW, I dig that action.
sheeeeeit.

Cheers!
D

[Fozzybar]

Nexus, redehlert, Chuck,mate.
thanx buddies...i think this round is really a good example for COW because it demands a few thoughts before starting to draw...

[JakkaS]

Hey everyone, thx for crits. As you suggested, I changed mine a bit!
----

Chuck - you killed me! I thought colors are ok, but now....hmmmmmm...:(
BTW, your looks good!
FOZZ - I don’t know what I like better, your style or your sense of humor. Btw, Bogi is great!
Soulweaver - Maybe yours is not terrible original [as you said] but I like it. Painting is great and the giant bear snail too. Imo, this is good concept.

Cheers
Kuba

[imp_pixel]

Wow great entries so far! I haven't had time to work on mine, hopefully I can wrap it up tonight...looks like a few of us were thinking in the same direction.

[scumgrinder]

i hate jakkas.
Jakkas i hate you

[JakkaS]

i hate jakkas.
Jakkas i hate you
Hey...! Long time didn’t saw you here Scumgrinder. You better post something.:needle:

Red - there is one part of LARGE creature that I am afraid of.:perv:

[Stephan_R]

Small: The bullwisp is a tiny creature that lives like a parasite on animals with thick fur. They feed on a single host for their entire lives, until their "baloon-like" abdomen has filled completely with sweat. Once the bullwisp has completed its life-long task of filling its sac, it will seek out a mate located on the host for breeding. Bullwisps cannot fly for very long periods of time once they have filled their sweat-sac, from the sheer weight of the fluid.

Medium: The Spotted hucoon is an extremely lazy animal. It's thick, mangy fur and sweaty skin create a soothing environment for this creatue, pursuading it to lie around in the sun most of its life. Hucoons are known to hitch a ride on larger, more docile creatures that do not mind their presence.

Large: Valascian Bobble'ers have an extremely short life span, in which they search for a mate before eventually dying. They are large, pourous creatures with very poor eyesight and exist mainly in desert areas so they can easily spot another Valascian Bobble'er on the horizon. These obese animals are welcome hosts to spotted hucoons because it allows the them to quickly devour any parasites such as "tickle nats" or "bullwisps" as the hucoons scratch them from their fur.

http://www.steveroyer.com/sketching/cow_39.jpg

[redehlert]

lol...yeah...which part!?!
;)

[CG Square-Briggs]

Wow . . . Jakkas that is incredible. Same with Stephan_R, redehlert, Chuck,mate . . . I was thinking of doing something for this, but I'm gunshy now. Only got 2 days, I'll see what I can come up with. I'm such a newbie here. Nice to meet all you peoples on the internets by the way.

[redehlert]

don't be gunshy, m8!
give it a go.
and thanks....tis just a quik markie
cheers!
d

ps. scumgrinder!!!!!

[inkerton]

Jakkas, Fozzy, Chuck, Stephen_R - all great looking entries. And I look forward to seeing the rendered version of that bizarre thing in redehlert's.

I've updated mine above with the (nearly) finished versions of my creatures and their individual descriptions. It's only about the halfway point for me, though - I still need to draw and describe the ridiculous way they work together. :)

[JakkaS]

Stephan_R - Excellent work m8! I really like the design and the execution.
Red - Try to guess :devil:

[brokk]

Great entries guys!

EDIT: Image update
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/bk7600/cownwest6.jpg
Watching Totems

In the desert world of Ra' Kau, three species of animals have developed a strange social relation that permits a unique behaviour phenomenon to occur between them. On sunset, they group with one another to form a pilar similar to Earth's "Totem Poles".
Their eyes begin to glow when this phenomenon occurs. Since these species are not harmful to each other, it is believed that they guard their common territories in this way, warding off potential trespassers.

[JakkaS]

Hey Broken. Original idea. Maybe you should make the glowing more intensive.

[Trashy]

*huff* I really tried hard yesterday to make the deadline on this one. Well, here is my very first entry on COW. Hi everybody! I'm not sure if I'm supposed to post the final version here so let me know if I need to change that. I written the description pretty fast so there might be some errors.

EDIT Updated piece up! FINAL VERSION


Doctor Jordan's log : Day ten on planet Nias
Creatures: Magria, Choblo, Seca

This is the tenth and last day of my stay on the planet Nias. The planet itself is full of bacteria and parasite organisms. The planet by nature is a very humid.
I have on record many interesting species, but one in particular or should I say three have caught my attention. These three creatures I have found have attached themselves to eachother as a means for longer survival. I’ll name them by size.
The first creature is the Magria. It looks quite like an elephant and is roughly the size of one. It only has two large feet that are deformed. These legs at first seem like they would make travelling awfully hard but they are very flexible bending in many directions. The Magria can run quite fast like a human being would on two legs and the feet suite going over the bacteria like planes on Nias well.
The second creature is the Choblo. Very much like a parasite organism, it attaches itself to other species. It is particularly the most aggressive of the three species yet it is completely blind.
The third creature, the Seca is the smallest of the creatures. It creates rock like formations around its slithery body as a means of protecting itself. It has a large eye at the end of its body.

I think I know why these species are connected like this after successfully capturing one with the help of other scientist's and comrades.
Since the Choblo is blind it attaches itself to the Magria. The Choblo by itself can’t hunt. The Magria catches the food with its long snout and feeds it to Choblo. The Magria has a very small mouth so any food that were to be eaten would have to be very small. The Choblo mashes down the food with its sharp maw and swallows all the large portions of the food. Anything left over the Magria sucks up with it’s snout in the choblo's mouth. The Seca act’s more like a scout. Its other tip of the Seca is very sharp and has penatrated into the Choblo’s intestinal tract feeding on some of the food using the other ends of it's body. It is possible that it communicates to the Choble’s by sending electro-shockwaves through its body. It does this to alert the Choblo on any near by prey and the Choblo lets out a loud shriek to also alert the Magria.
By connecting together these creatures survive longer then any other creature I’ve found here on this planet. *End Log*

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/TrashCaretaker/TheSpeciesProject.jpg

[imp_pixel]

Here's my entry. I think I did much better this time around than with the last one. However, I was fairly disappointed in myself because it took me too long. Was going to tie it in with the CHOW and have a metrosexual space pirate explorer charting these species, but ran out of time for that one. Anyways, please let me know what you think. Any tips on speeding up the coloring process would be appreciated. I switched from scanned ink, to scanned pencils, but then I blended in all the lines (time consuming)...

http://www.impudentpixel.com/images/COW18_sized2.jpg

Large: "Gellurian Belt Dweller" - This sizeable creature lives in asteroid belts surrounding gas giants, feeding off the unprocessed elements. It takes in the elements through its ampullae lined with "gills" which are filters to process the materials the Dweller finds delectable. Its natural state when young is quite weak, with the aid of the Kureech, it grows and forms a dense shell which allows it to go closer to gas giants and satisfy is voracious appetite.

Medium: "Kureech" - Vile creatures sometimes termed the "floating space anus" it feeds of the excretions of the Gellurian Belt dweller (processed materials)-but it leaves a magnetized residue that attracts space debris that, over time, forms a formidible shell for the Dweller. They like to eat humans too, by the bye.

Small: "Durgramite" - Typically a tasty treat for asteroid dwelling denizens, it finds refuge in the Gellurian Belt Dweller's ampullae - defending these sensitive organs from the Kureech so they do not become obstructed (which would kill the Dweller). Feeds off dangerous radioactive micro-organisms of gaseous planets that would attach to the body of the Dweller and kill the Kureech--however, this the Durgramite slightly poisonous (space pirate's drug of choice).

[redehlert]

Any tips on speeding up the coloring process would be appreciated. I switched from scanned ink, to scanned pencils, but then I blended in all the lines (time consuming)...

I hear ya! I'm still trying to formulate my rendering "plan".
However you arrive at the image you wish to work up for final (traditional or digital), what I tend to do next is convert everything to grayscale and work up all of my tonal values. Once I'm happy hear, I'll create a duplicate document that will be RGB and start using brushes or a layer set to color and quickly glaze in various hues. Then I'll flatten and do my color from there. I'm still workin' on it and I recently read a tut by Matt Dixon in the jan. issue of 2D artist magazine that had a lot of helpful tips which is similar yet different than what I described above. :)

Cheers!
D

ps. ya did a fine job on yer entry, m8.

[Nexus]

Imp-pixel
Here go and download these tutorials. http://www.carloscabrera.com.ar/tutorials/ They take a bit to watch. But this guy works super fast so maybe you can pick up some tips from him, I know I did. Id say something to consider though is to be sure to start off in greyscale. If you dont have strong values then it wont go anywhere, you can always add color after.

[redehlert]

minor update on mine in my original post.

[Mike Corriero]

Foz- your under obligation to give me time to finish mine, I just started about 20 min. ago







please ^^

[Lewis]

Broken_Spirit, that is one crazycool thoughtoff concept! :yayca:

[redehlert]

did i hear extension?
i'm all over that.
:)

[JakkaS]

Foz- your under obligation to give me time to finish mine, I just started about 20 min. ago







please ^^
C'mon FOZZ, be nice bear and give him some time. :D

[brokk]

did i hear extension?
i'm all over that.

*cough* -extension- *cough*

Um... yeah, I heard extension too. Weird huh? :P

Thanks for the comments JakkaS and Lewis! I'll try and make the glow more intensive.

[Trashy]

Ummm...I think I hear that word extension too ringing inside my brain. If we do have extra time I'm gonna work out some kinks. :^^;:

imp_pixel- man, I remember seeing your design for the giant suicide digger. Thats a real improvement. I think the more you work at it the faster you get at it. It comes gradually over time, I'm still pretty slow too. Great job on that design.

[Mike Corriero]

I'm working on it ;)

[redehlert]

give me an :ae: for extension. :tihi:

[brokk]

image updated, can't wait for next topic.

[walnut]

One of the most fun challenges to date i have to say, but i fear i've procrastinated a bit too much and this rickety excuse for a picture'll have to do.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/walberg/threeinone.jpg

"Zathul’s Stonetoads live in the Black Marches of Rithuonia. They are known for their extreme lethargy and can often stay on the same rock for months on end. Stonetoads attract Amoebal Leeches that crawl on the toad’s back where they’re safe from predators and feed on the mucus and parasites toad skin is rife with. The leeches in turn secrete a nectar-like fluid which keeps the toad cool and moist. This nectar in its turn attracts suckergnats, a harmless and very tasty - though it doesn’t seem that way - sort of overgrown mosquito. Suckergnats are also quite safe in the presence of the Stonetoad. Any creature trying to catch them for lunch quickly becomes the toad’s lunch instead."

[Mike Corriero]

I'm pushing.. going going.. going.. pushing.. contuing to work.. its coming along 70% done

Edit: I'm making up for the delay by saving progress shots that I will post in-case peeps are interested.

[Nexus]

Ooh ooh me me...Im interested...post those bitches.

[redehlert]

I'm out....gonna enjoy the evening with my wife. :)
Happy entries everyone!
Foz....I deleted my entry.

Cheers!
Dave

[Mike Corriero]

:bashful: getting there 90%
apologies foz if ur waiting on me

[Mike Corriero]

OK
I wasted enough time, I'm going to call this done FOR NOW and I'll continue with it in my free time because there was more I wanted to add. A tutorial/step by step process shots will be posted with the more finalized version when I have time - most likely in the FF section


http://pratt.edu/~mcorrier/portfolio/Simbiosisis.jpg

Simbiosisis -

Large: The Walker aka. Rocky shelled Mamacrab.
The walker is a crustacean that provides the transportation for the Water Sprout. The walker is basically defenseless and moves slowly along the oceans bottom looking for dead fish to feed on. It's extremely thick hard shell makes the walker a slow mover and vulnerable to predators.

Medium: The Water Sprout.
The sprout attach's its tentacle-like routes to the shell of the walker becoming a part of the creature. The Water sprout is like a living water plant much like a sea urchin which is incapable of movements like swimming or walking but it is very much alive. This critter uses the walker for transportation and in return it caches small fish and feeds its companion in order to keep it's home on the move.

Small: Shocking bullets aka. silly fish.
These small bulbous fish stay within close proximity to the walker and sprout and in return for scraps which are minimal and only a tiny portion of nutrients are of importance to the bullets, the silly fish provide protection for these two creatures. An invisible pulse of electricity is sent out around the 3 creatures if danger is near. The sprout and walker are immune to these pulses of painful electric energy.








THANKS for waiting

[Trashy]

Nexus- Wow! Those tutorials are very neat. I think I remember seeing the alien. The Vampire is new though. Cool stuff!

Updated my piece from last post, thats the final version. What a cool exsperience doing this. Count me in on all other COWS too. Rock on everyone :teeth:

[Mike Corriero]

As promised: Simbiosisis Tutorial (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=793862#post793862)

[inkerton]

Woah, gorgeous piece, Mike! Great creatures, and thanks for the tutorial.

My final is up on page one. Finally.

[Fozzybar]

closed....and the replay shows.....it shows....MIKE...iiiiiiiiiiiissss......IIIINNNNN!!! !!!!

[Saise]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/Saise/vidanova1.jpg

Large: Hroog - Hroog is an large, fast predator with enormous muscle power and sharp fangs. It have fantastic smell sense and could move very fast, but it is absolutely idiotic. It is more stupid than primitive life form, like ameba or my little bro. But...

Medium: Oozee - Oozee produce toxic vapors that paralyze and slowly kills an enemy. But as you can see, lonely Oozee is easy prey to anything... it is slow, near unmoveable, and in fact, it doesn't have any senses. So he join on the Hroogs Back, with special hormons deliver antidote for his posion to Hroog, and help Hroog with paralizing enemy or just produce cloud of vapors to hide himself and Joined Hroog...

Small: Volprok - And this is time for something really. Volproks are weak, don't have fangs or poison, so they don't have any chance to prevail alone. But Volproks are very smart. Volprok join the Hroog Body and gain control with special enzimes and hormons over hroog body... When oozee, hroog and volprok create one being, this being is fas, smart and dangerous.

[Fozzybar]

...and also Saise is in ;)

here is the poll:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64403