C.O.W. - #090: Summer Plague - Voting!

[Fozzybar]

ROUND #090 VOTING

Topic: Summer Plague

Deadline for the voting: Wednesday, 11th July 2007

Posting thread (closed):
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=100329


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OK - before voting/posting read this!!!

1. Please give c&c or a reason why you voted for the image!

2. Feel free to comment on any or all entries, the artists will appreciate it!

3. No voting for your own entry!!! If a participants votes for his own entry, every member has the right to call him a stupid lame moron in this thread! And i will delete his/her vote anyway...

[Fozzybar]

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artist: sickelsick
concept:
this creature is called the "parachute fly" due to the shape of its body. the concave structure of its body causes air to push the creature around as if it was flying (but in reality it has no wings). its tail (contains its vital organs) is used like a rutter for boats. it swings it left to right to pull the weight of the body in the direction it wishes to go.
the fly is also known as a "summer swarm" because it must absorb chlorofluorocarbon to live, which is found in air conditioning units from cars to homes. this is when the plague begins, since there is so much air conditioning in the summer, they follow the wind currents to the origin and nest inside of it. when the airconditioning unit is turned on, all of the flies are blown out of
the vents, into the room.
since their body is virtually weightless, it follows the direciton of the air.
the parachute fly is harmless. but when they fly in packs of approximatly a few million, thats where the trouble starts.
when in his car, this human
seems to be getting attacked, but actually he is panicking, which increases his breathing,which directs the flow of air towards
his nose and mouth causing asphixiation. if he simply held his breath, the parachute flies will slowly settle.


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artist: Sovereign
concept:


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artist: kingkostas
concept:
The needle is attached to the general base of Birdibos brain and when Birdibos detect its victim, a signal goes to the general base and then the curve needle act as a paralization tool (inside the needle there are some organic mechanism that produces a paralizing liquid)


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artist: electric goat
concept:
These creatures come from a planet where the food source is only available during the summer. To come out of hibernation, temperatures must reach 90 degrees. The warmer weather also allows for the geyser like vents of this planet to expell the gas and liquid they need to survive. This substance is chemically similar to the refrigerant in most air cooling devices. They were transported here by mistake and have been living off our a/c units for the last ten years. Mostly home air conditioning units as it's body and mouth(on top of head) are rectangular in shape. These creatures are mischievous by nature and have a peculiar way of entertaining themselves. They will seek out barbecues, parties or any gathering where open beer bottles lie about and urinate in them. Why beer bottles? Well, on their home world there exists a small creature that has a bottle-like head which houses it's brain and the fluid it floats in. When they urinate into this "bottle" a chemical reaction occurs that causes the little creature to explode, which they really get a kick out of. After arriving on earth they were very dissapointed to find that this combustion does not occur when urinating in our beer bottles. However, they quickly realized that their wiz accelerates the effects of the alcohol (and dumbass-ness) which provides them enough entertainment to keep them happy.
If you've ever wondered why that third or fourth sip didn't taste quite right or how you got so hammered off of two beers, these guys could be to blame. So keep your drinks close and watch that a/c. Sleeping in a hot room and piss in your beer = summer plague.


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artist: stoph
concept:


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artist: fughi from yuggoth
concept:
In Summer,the Northern Quilts of Tau Ceti Beta are getting dry.Very dry.
The Doldens' colonys are left,the wadis are full of dust and the Summer Plague begins.
In search of water,the Doldens dig themselves out of the soil,the plant change to kind of
animal and the colony wanders towards the Polar Regions.
The journey is hard and only the tough will survive.
The nights reach temperature of 53°C and the days are much warmer.
Every little drop of water in avaiblity will be sucked of by wandering doldens.
Remember,Mankind konsists 70% of water.Don't sleep without guard or alarm installation,
or wake up 70% lighter!


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artist: peppi
concept:
The Moronic Mammoth Moth is a notedly bothersome and redundant life form. Every summer, around the middle of July, billions upon billions of these giant insects hatch and darken the skies in enormous swarms, hampering air traffic. Aside from that, these animals are completely harmless. They do not seem to care about humans or anything else for that matter, including food, which is why they die of starvation after just three days. In this respect they are very much like short-lived seasonal pigeons, only much, much louder.


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artist: busterbam
concept:
The Summer Plague of what have come to be known as 'Damnedeliars' occurs every summer in the northern hemisphere. Alien meteor showers bring seeds which once embedded in the earth germinate and grow to become what look like normal dandelion weeds. As they mature, like the common dandelion, their globe of fine filament or 'clock' is distributed by the wind or blown by unsuspecting children. On landing the young seedlings detach from their parachutes and burrow, eating as they go, into whatever they land on whether it be soil, animal or human. If unattended and the seedlings are allowed to germinate and grow then severe health problems can arise and even death.


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artist: YIIT
concept:
To: SAVAL Group - Internal Affairs Division
Subject: Incident No: 32123 Weapon Research - Type :B
Suspect: Doctor Ariel Sagie
Occurance Date: 06.09.2114 - 18:40
Occurance Place: Diar System - Planet No: 04 "Hibiscus"
To Whom it may concern;
As of 06.09.2114 Saval Group Diar Weapon Research Facility on planet Hibiscus has been lost to an hostile "test subject". The Security Base has received a distress signal at 17:03 from Doctor Sagie's Lab.My continous attempts to reach Doctor Sagie was met with no response. 2 teams of troopers and 1 team of Contemination Unit has not reported.
I reached at the B sector at 17:30 and made contact with "Hostile Test subject".The conventional weapons we have here has been no use.HE grenades seemed to work at first; then I understood they werent working either.The Test subject or subjects are sluggish hexagonal creatures, resabling a sea star found on the waters of Planeta Tera.This creature seems to grow incredibly rapid and regenerate damage made with conventional weapons. It joins with its kind to form a larger organism,without stopping constantly growing in numbers and dimensions.Its saliva corrodes flesh and metal.However durable plastic material seems to withstand this effect.Its movement speed seems to increase as it grows in size.
Our current situation seems hopeless. Me and my men are retreating to the wast dunes of hibiscus through the F Gate- East.We have Supplies for 5 days maybe 1 week if the wounded dont survive.This is the current situation of Diar Weapon Research Facility at 18:38
Sector A: Lost
Sector B: Lost
Sector C: Lost
Sector D: Lost
Sector E: Lost
Sector F: Retreating...
KIA: 354
Wounded: 52
Alive: 38
Luitenant Major Goam Hagerciev


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artist: hammajamma
concept:
The natives of Abigibe, a remote island, are familiar with a little creature known to them as the "Aiki Takui" (Summer Plague). About the size of a domestic house cat, the Aiki Takui are nearly a complete mystery. During the summer the island of Abigibe is completely overrun by these little omnivores. The Aiki Takui, like a swarm of locusts, eat everything in their path, whether that be animal, vegetable or human.
The Aiki Takui are difficult to kill with a row of poisonous spikes on their back, that they raise when threatened.


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artist: Moai
concept: Sauromander
Now a legally protected species and a successful tourist attraction, the Sauromander is in many ways a flagship species for Pogonoro. Tens of thousands of tourists flock to the small nation at the beginning of its Summer rainy season to see the baby Sauromanders wriggle out of the ground almost at the same moment in one of the great spectacles of nature. The Sauromander was not always so well-loved, however, as indicated by its local, colloquial name: araroco, the "Summer Plague."
Sauromanders are small (two feet in length when fully grown) herbivores, adapted for moist and heavily-vegetated environments. Though included with frogs and salamanders in the amphibian class, Sauromanders are of an evolutionarily distinct lineage and are not closely related to any extant species. This evolutionary distance is expressed in the large claws and hard beak, both unique among amphibians. As both an avid burrower and a generalist vegetarian, eating everything from leaves to fruits to nuts, both of these unique adaptations are put to good use. In addition to the beak and claws, the Sauromander has several other noticeable features. Its brightly-colored skin is mostly a ploy, an attempt to convince predators that it is poisonous and not good eating. In fact, the flesh of infant Sauromanders is slightly toxic, but all that remains in the adult sauromander is a slightly sour taste to the flesh, and poses no actual danger to hungry predators. The Sauromander's head features a noticeable bulge, which houses its large olfactory organs, and several antenna-like feelers, useful for feeling around in dark burrows or underbrush.
One of the most notable characteristics of the Sauromander, and what earned it the ire of Pogonoran farmers, is its strange life-cycle. During the Winter, Pogonoro's climate cools and dries, becoming inhospitable to the Sauromander. To ensure the survival of the species, the Sauromanders mate and bury huge numbers of eggs, and then most perish. When spring comes around and the soil begins to warm, the eggs hatch, and the infant Sauromanders begin the larval, burrowing phase of their existence. In this form, they pose a threat to the root systems of crops. With the onset of Summer and the rains, however, the young Sauromanders emerge from the ground en masse. Open air and sunlight cause the release of growth hormones, and the Sauromanders reach their full adult size in just a few weeks, with a corresponding increase in appetite. In the past, this spelled disaster for Pogonoran farmers, who would sometimes loose their entire crops to the ravenous creatures. So, in an effort to save their livelihoods, the farmers ran an extermination campaign against the Sauromanders, nearly driving the unique creatures to extinction.
What the farmers did not understand is that each species plays a part in the infinitely complex check-and-balance system of nature. Without the Sauromanders to eat them, weeds flourished, causing just as much damage to the crops as the Sauromanders themselves. Just before the species vanished altogether, it was placed under protective legislation, and the populations slowly recovered. A number of techniques were invented to protect crops from the hungry little beasts. One of the most successful was to place large piles of bitterfruit between the rows of crops. Sauromanders are typically not picky eaters, but the bitterfruit, which ripens around the same time the creatures emerge from the ground and is nigh inedible to humans, seems to be an irresistible treat to the small amphibians. With the Sauromanders glutted on bitterfruit, damage to crops went down sharply. This, and the incoming tourist dollars from rich Americans and Europeans, ensured the Sauromander's survival.


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artist: skekTec
concept:
Normally a tree dweller, in the intense summer days this creature comes down from the high forests to forage for dead bodies. The back of the creature is extremely sensitive, like a farm pig, to sunburn. To counter this it searches for bodies (preferably fresh due to the fact it is a herbavore), fills the body with a kind of phlegmy sap and skewers it to its back. Unfortunately this 'sap' produces a chemical reaction which spawns an airborn toxin.
Whole towns have been eradicated by this 'toxic air' or plague. To combat this plague, in the hottest summers people try to guard their cemeteries and burn the dead.


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[Fozzybar]

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artist: Trashy
concept: Kalaria Bee-Mosquito
This deadly species of bees is a worldwide threat and is linked to thousands of deaths every year. In fact, they have been linked to more deaths in the recent years then even from the mosquito. Unlike most bee’s, these species are bloodsuckers and have no stingers and they also have no queen bee’s. They are considered a cross between both bee’s and mosquitos. They also have a bad habit of transmitting diseases. What makes this species far deadlier is its offspring can become infected before birth. Unlike mosquito’s that are never born infected, thousands of Kalaria Bee-mosquito eggs are likely infected with a deadly disease.
The Kalaria bee was originally a rare species of bees inhabiting the dense forests of the Amazon. Due to recent renovations it is believed that this caused these bees to spread. Know one would have expected these bees to spread so fast however and populate areas at such an increasing rate.
The Kalaria bee-mosquito almost always appears around summer and is considered most active during that time of the year. While most bugs prefer to stay out of the heat the Kalaria bee-mosquito bathes in it. They are also very well known for staying in humid areas and near water to lay their eggs.
The Kalaria bee-mosquito is almost the size of the common honeybee, but is quite ghastly looking. The bees are almost like flying hairy tumors and have fang like teeth that leave quite an after itch. They are also very silent and hard to hear when flying.
During the summer the Kalaria bee-mosquito will construct also a “Breeding Nest”. At it’s complete state it is roughly the size of a football. One wouldn’t be to far off by saying it looks like a pulsing organ. The nest itself is built from a secretion that comes from the bee’s abdomen. This nest is built almost always on grass and in a very warm spot directly in sunlight. For roughly three weeks these flies will fill their nests and mate with each other. A single nest can hold up to 600 bee-mosquito’s! There have been some instances where people have stepped on these nests. The bees are extremely aggressive in these three weeks and have been known to nearly kill its helpless victims.
Recent reports show that nearly 95% of these flies are almost always infected at birth now. These flies also derive their name from a new strand of Malaria called “Kalaria”. Kalaria is a far deadlier version of Malaria and is quickly spreading throughout countries.
Many call this disease and these species of bee’s the “Summer Plaque”.


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artist: gunnarsson
concept:
Desert station 34 - emergency recording - 15:47, 27-07-1994
...krrgzzzz...rrzzzz... hello? ..kzzz... I'm calling here today to save a record of the events which have taken place these past few days. I must make it short, Hector is after me... ..krrzzzzffff.... The invasion started 4 days ago. No-one knew where they came from, no-one knew how to fight them. They were so quick... ..kzzzfffzz... They got the kids first. I found Carla, my daughter in bed the morning after they came. her bed was filled with her black sweat, she was half her normal size and all dried out. My dog Hector is infected too, he is a monster. A greyish blur that speeds between dark corners of the kitchen, hiding in the walls. I know he wants to eat me... ..frrzzzzz... Always trying to get me when I'm not looking. He is turning the whole house black with his soot. I think I might have one on me too, but somehow I can't get myself to check. Things seem unreal, like those bad dreams you had when you were a kid. ...rzzz... I am all alone, trying to fight them off. The desert heat is blinding, it's hurting my bones. I think they might have gotten me. ..zzz... I try to fight them off.. ... krrzzzzrrrr... Hector? ...zzzzzztt... WRRAAAAAHH!! ..kzzzzrrrtt... ...zzzz...
creature concept:
"the haze"
No one knows for sure where they came from. Some believe they were water creatures that developed flying abilities, some say that they developed from air-born creatures, most likely dragonflies. In fact we know very little about these creatures at all. Close to 100% of the human population died or killed themselves. The only recording left of those things are the stories of the few survivors, our beloved and forever superior ancestors and a small number of other recordings. We know the invasion started of in the desert areas of USA. these following facts are merely speculations. We think they had the ability to fly extremely fast, due to the two jet-like pipes, which blew out air at an immensely high speed to propel them forward. They probably steered with the four fins and the long rudder-tail. from what our forever superior ancestors told, they attached themselves to their victims eyeballs. We think that they used their long tongues to reach in behind the victims eyeball, and that they distorted and deranged the nerve-system of the brain. This would have caused extreme hallucination and would have led to insanity. We think this is the reason for all the suicides and murders which took place.


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artist: bumskee
concept:
Also known as "summer mist", this small creatures dwell deep in the midst of the jungle. During their mating season, the lump on males' back would swell and spray fruity scented mist to attract opposite sex. the mist is made up of various toxic chemicals and known to cause humans, contagious fever if exposed for long.


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[Fozzybar]

not accepted entries:

All WIPs/sketches/not finished yet/placeholder/yaddayaddayadda images...AND (if not mentioned further) all entries which didn't pass the quality check

the lying prophet
Your creature is an indiviual/character, not a species.

TRUZART
concept?

shardana
yeah a quicky, though nice one. But absolutely no hints to the summer subject killed the poll way



close to rejection:

gunnarsson
The creature was a little bit too "underpresented" in my eyes...there is "only" a lineart which is showing the crature in big and it is very small on the actual image. I guess you are coming from the Character side so your focus was on the guy automatically...besides the concept doesn't tell much about the summer part of the topic...this time you are in, but next time try to concentrate more on the creature and watch out to fulfill the topic

btw generally some entries didn't watch the summer aspect...so you are not alone

bumskee
WHY is this creature called summer plague?



special note:

none

[Michael Jaecks]

I liked Moai and Bumskee really a lot, but Peppi took it this round.

Interesting use of red in all three. I just noticed that commonality between them. Works well for the summer theme on an subtle level.

[dragon4lunch]

bumskee: Yay for your colours and atmosphere. Striking image.

moai: Oh man, oh man, you're getting good! Very strong entry, beauty of a creature. To nitpick: It doesn't scream out "plague" or anything irking or bothersome. One has to read the long text to understand. Whereas...

peppi: Friggin' screams invasion and creepy bothersome presence! You win for execution and topic representation!

[NightMare28]

Great entries all around. Well thought out explanations.

Personally I voted for Bumskee because his explanation was simple, direct and matched his image really well. Very well executed.

The composition in both bumskee's and peppi's read really well and it was really close between the two for me.

[Mydrim]

Voting for Bumskee.

[Michael Jaecks]

Is there a new round on? Can't find the thread if so.

[Fozzybar]

NOW it's on, again i had issues with threads not showing when you're logged in...i hate this...

But here it is now:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=101060

[Sovereign]

Voted for Bumskee. So beautifully presented and solid concept, it even looks fruity!
Close vote though! Also loved Peppi, trashy, moai, kingkostas...

[Supervlieg]

Voted Bumskee for very yummy technique. Props to Peppi, Moai and electric goat.

[fughi from yuggoth]

FUCKING HELL SHIT,IM SO HAPPY TO MAKE IT TO THE POLL!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOZZYBÄR!!

voting later...

[Goog]

welp, ima gonna comment on everyone's, i've got time . note: im no pro, its just some friendly c&c.

sickelsick: cant see yours

sovereign: A good piece overall, but everything is relatively the same color, the whole piece seems very unsaturated.

kingkostas: great concept, but the coloring seems very doge and burnish, and it is hard to distinguish a light source.

electric goat: very nice peice, especially love the concept art beer bottle

stoph[/B]: fantastic concept

Fughi: great pencils and concept, but the coloring seems rather rushed. Remember form when your coloring.

peppi: I'm speechless, fantastico.

busterbam:cool peice, best concept imo, but the color palette seems a bit bland.

YIIT[/B]: it seems like those guys are just sitting there firing at the orange thing like they're saying," This orange blob plague is only a few feet away trying to kill us, and our bullets are doing nothing.lets just stay here and be cool." Hope that makes sense.

hamma jamma: nice concept and coloring, but the whole thing seems a bit blurry to me.

moai: niiice

skektek: nice job, great piece, only crit is that the shading seems very doge and burnish.

Trashy: a good peice, but it just seems like a regular old bumblebee :/.

gunnarson: good job, is this the only cow piece thats not digital I wonder?

bumskee: this peice is so full of eye candy, I had to vote for you. superbness

Welp thats everyone, sorry if i knocked too many elbows by doing this, i mean no harm .

[Fozzybar]

FUCKING HELL SHIT,IM SO HAPPY TO MAKE IT TO THE POLL!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOZZYBÄR!!

voting later...

hehe...i can see an improvement in your entry...and you?

[BANNED_For_POOPY_PANTS]

I voted for Stoph.. great design, wonderful concept and seriously cute f----g critters!

[Trashy]

peppi- perfect execution man! Pretty much what dragon4lunch said. Love the whole invasion look to the entire piece....their everywhere....RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!! You got my vote!

bumskee- Probably the most unique critter here. That bottom looks incomplete though compared to the top. Tough choice between you and peppi. Your colors are always drool worthy.

gunnarsson- woah, how often do you see something like that...and it's not digital. Pretty neat!

Me...it does look like a regular bumblebee. I get zero points for originality this round...

[sickelsick]

i vote for bumskee because i like the build of the monster. it is beleivable as a plague compared to a lot of the entries. others just look like single creatures to me.

[gunnarsson]

thanks for the words goog and trashy!
my vote went to peppi, for doing huge red insects. they are red. i like it. i liked bumskees too, because that creature is also red. yes.
eventhough fewer contestants then usual, the concepts and illustrations were all good, nice job everyone!
and o yeah, fozzy, thanks for sneaking me in to the poll! only summer reference was that the invasion took place in july, and I'll try my best to focus more on the creature next time!

[Sangmort]

Voted for Trashy.

[RichardPajuelo]

i voted for Electric Goat. No only the colors, the concept is originally, too.
I lost this thread

[fughi from yuggoth]

hehe...i can see an improvement in your entry...and you?

i think i just i just had enough time, more motivation then the other times before and a good idea.but im really happy!
its like scoring goals against eintracht braunschweig (brunswick),if u now what i mean.just on paper,i have many ideas and lots of doodles and stuff,but this competition here is very tough,and with my few knowlegde of PS and my sucking mouse i have hard way to walk.til august i have 4 weeks left without work,then i get a job til end of august.in october start to study.during all the freetime i'll try to make it to the poll 1 or 2 times,because i like this competition very much.

i'll do voting tomorrow,sorry for all the spamming,im drunk right now

[Cwn Annwn]

It was close between bumskee and peppi, but peppi won out. Her piece screams summer plague. Huge insectoid summer plague!

[Fozzybar]

I think peppi is a guy...

[Cwn Annwn]

I think peppi is a guy...

oh...er..oops. *his*

[electric goat]

sickelsick - i think you mis-voted. i read in your post that you voted for bumskee but it actually went to me. i like votes but only if i deserve them of course. maybe captain fozzy can fix that.

[nickzorn]

I voted Skektek. Can't put my finger on it, but his style really appeals to me, and i like the idea of hordes of those guys ripping up graves all summer.

Wish I could have finished mine, I just ran out of time. Maybe next time.

[bumskee]

peppi for me!

[fughi from yuggoth]

votet for peppi because of the funniest description i read in COW til today :-D

stoph and yiit are the number 3 and 2 in my favorisation.
the plague aspect is recognizeable in most works,but for me i have a problem with the summer aspect.most only take mating seasons or stuff,but don't take the summer itself for reason of the plague.

[Stephan_R]

Had to vote for the Bumskee, the colors get me every time... and there's something creepy yet organic about it that makes it feel like a true nightmarish pest.

Peppi, you're a strong second for me...and for what it's worth your character in the polycount battle was my favorite.