Critter Creation

[Asila]

Well, I've been wanting to start a thread like this, so that I would have a reason to go back to critter creating. The reason I'm much better at drawing creatures than anything else is that, once upon a time, making up new creatures, or putting a slightly different spin on existing ones, was all I did. But for a few years now, I haven't been inventing very many creatures at all.

But that's starting to change, so I'm going to post all new creatures (and even not-quite-so-original ones) here.

Today, though, I'm only posting the collab that Pan and I were working on last night, since I don't have time to photograph and upload anything else and I wanted Pan to have access to this picture so that she could put it on her Deviantart account if she wants to.

Anyway, here it is! The creature was all me and the demon girl was all Pan.
((This is the link for the larger image, if anyone wants to see it. i41.tinypic.com/33jjuwj.jpg ))



And now I would like to say that I think Pan's style and mine look absolutely wonderful together! They look as though they were drawn by one hand, instead of two. And this pair looks so striking together...

Now, a question for Pan before I begin to try and pen in the line art. Is the eye on the left bandaged? I just wanted to make sure, because I thought the lines were more hair until I looked at it more closely when I got home.

[Seven]

To begin with, this picture is so cool! *Is now REALLY envious she didn't get to spend the night with the three of you....or see Asila off on Saturday, for that matter.* You guys did such a fantastic job of collaboration, such as how the demoness and the creature are in what looks like perfect proportion to each other (I know that doesn't seem like a big deal, but I know it's trickier than it seems) and how they both have really similar eye structures.

About the Creature: What can I say? It looks so cute and fluffy and sleek! I love how you did its mane and tail, the mane looking all flowy, yet kind of spiked, and how that same quality also reappears in the very end of the creature's tail. The tail itself is lots of fun; the lines and movement of the tail actually makes it seem similar to a rat's tail as well. So Asila, may I ask if this creature is supposed to be the combination of any group of animals, or if it was inspired by another legendary creature, or is it entirely original?

About the Demoness: Aww, Pan, she's so cute! I love her almost smug, seductive expression. And her ears...but I just love ears. Her pose is uber cute as well, adding to her seductive, demoness quality. And she has such cute little bat-like wings. She's adorable and her outfit is awesome as well. Oh, did I mention the fun flowy ribbon? Yeah, that's awesome too!


I have to say, all these little creatures you invent and draw are starting to make me envious. I think I might have to try my hand at them as well because they look like they are too much fun!

[Asila]

This creature is an original one. And it took me at least three times longer to draw than Pan's demoness took her, because I had to keep switching up features until I was content with the look. And then I still changed the nose again when I got home. So there was much erasing and much time spent staring at the image while trying to think of what to do next.

Of course, part of the problem was that I had no idea what I was going to do when I started. Pan just told me that I should draw a mount so that she could draw someone on it, and so my struggle with the creature began. All I knew for sure was that I didn't want it to be horse based because, honestly, I'm all done with ponies for a while.

And just for clarification, this creature has the body and legs of a dragon/dinosaur...actually, that's all I can identify. Everything else is too much of a blend. I don't even know if it's nose is more cat-like or dog-like. It is going to have scales where it doesn't have fur, though, and the tail was inspired by that of a kangaroo rat.

...You know, my creature actually looks a bit like the Australian jerboa. *amused* www.abc.net.au/reslib/200712/r210584_808154.jpg

Oh my gosh, Seven, if you decide to start inventing creatures you had better post them in this thread! It would be fun to have someone invent creatures with me!

[Seven]

Aww, you shouldn't feel bad about taking a bit longer than Pan, Asila. For one thing, I think it would be more difficult to draw the creature since every time you draw a critter, it has a new and unique body shape long with other things, meaning you have no actual thing to go off of. Whereas with Pan and myself, we've been drawing humanoids for a while, and though they vary, once you have the technique down, doing the actual body is pretty similar, more or less.

But it really looks so great! Are you going to color it? If so, I can't wait to see what color scheme you pick out for the fur and scales and everything. *grins* Yes, it is quite cute, and I can see the similarities to the Jerboa.

*sighs in mock weariness* Alright, alright, if you insist, I'll get back to drawing--and who knows? perhaps some critters will show up...

[Asila]

Hmm, I think the reason it took me so long to learn to draw well is that I never really settled on one style. I get bored easily. The good news, though, is that I now find it easier to draw almost anything because, chances are, I've drawn something similar before.

People still suck, though.

As for colors...I think my creature is going to be varying shades of dark teal with a mostly-white mane and tail. And I want to color Pan's demoness with pale green skin (like jade! *drools*) and black hair, since I love Elphaba and think her look rocks. And she'll have red eyes, because red eyes would look brilliant against green skin. The creature with have shiny solid black eyes. And the demoness' clothing will be dark purple shot through with ruby red accents. And the membrane of the wings will be very similar.

And that would be the plan, so far.

And, once again, don't forget to post any critters you may draw here! Otherwise I will have to stab you.

Now, I will post the monster I was drawing. Since you wanted me too.


I inverted the colors so that you would get a better feel for what it would look like when it's finished. Everything in the picture is going to be very dark, except for the creature's glowing white eyes, the light in a few of the windows of the town, and the light of the moon that highlights the clouds, even though the moon itself can not be seen. The creature will have the texture of melted candlewax, but will be mostly a blob of shadow with few features. And all of this will be done in the style of old woodblock prints. When I finally get around to it, that is.

[Pan]

yes every thing on the left is bandaged and have fun with it!

I also have to agear with you that our stays look amazing together!! We do more pics!

[Asila]

I thought so. I just wanted to make sure.

And yes, we should do more pics! Perhaps next time, you could draw your person and I could draw a little creature friend/pet.

[Seven]

First, I must comment on Asila's amazing creature. For it is amazing! *giggles* (I feel like Charlotte right now... Be afraid.) It's so cool! I love how you even put in a town below it to give the perspective of it being huge! It makes it seem that much more realistic and cool! It kind of reminds me of Ctuhulu from Lovecraft as well (it's probably its mouth that is reminding me of that...) And the part you described as candle wax....*grins* Yeah, it looks like that, though I'm sure it doesn't necessarily feel like that to anyone who is caught underneath it.

In fact, the melting part makes it seem malliable, and like its enveloping and consuming the houses with acid and digestive fluids--as if it can eat things like a squid or an octopus! Though it also seems to have some sort of wing or fin thing going on on its side? Just decorative, or do you have any insights you might share with us, artist?

It's so pretty....and it's cute. Yes, cute. I want one. Thought it looks like it would kill me. And the way you described how the final product should turn out...only makes it sound cooler. Though I like your idea of inverting the colors of the sketch. It looks so cool that way, and it makes it stand out even more! Great job Asila--is there nothing you can't do?



______________________________________________________


Well, here it is, my first critter creation!



I guess I'm fairly pleased with it, since I haven't really done this before. I just thought I'd give it a shot. Of course, there's no way it's as pretty or as cool as Asila's, and I had to fall back on my human-drawing stuff immediately by drawing the mask. There's also one more thing. As I was drawing it, I kept having the sense of deja vu until I looked back through my sketch book and found this:


(Sorry it's not really clear, though the man's face is the only relevant part to the critter.)

In which I realized the striking similarities and decided to emphasize them even more on the creature. Since in this picture, I had always thought of the man as not being human, but rather some sort of spirit-thingy that a peoples worshiped. The picture was supposed to be the creature in human form and something like a high priestess. In any case, that got my mind running, and I ended up even more inspired by this critter since its unintentional connection.

The creature (which I haven't named yet), has a false face, the human-like mask, which on one hand protects its real head/face. But on the other, it also serves as something symbolic--it's tie to humans, and more so, the ability to don the mask fully and transform itself, as can be seen in the second. The human face helps distract from the only partially visible face, which are its blue eyes beneath the "chin." Other parts correlate between each other--such as the furry main (should be brownish in color), which on one half is the fur on the real head, and on the other is the hair on the man. Though I didn't get a chance to color it, the markings on the mask should be similar to the one on the human's face. (In other words, the mask would be red and white.) Oh, and the wings would be white.

The only thing that displeased me is that I didn't just want this creature to be just a serpent thing, I wanted it to have some sort of legs. But I couldn't figure out a way to manage that and look right, so I left it as is. I might have to rework it later. But then I also think it looks fairly good as is, and I might just corrupt it with the addition of legs. After all, I doubt it really needs feathery wings, a serpentine body AND legs. That might just be silly. Though, in my defense, I guess I originally thought of it as having more of a one headed hydra shape--or a have legs the way Chinese dragons do.

The other thing I'm debating is the actual serpentine body. I'm debating whether, unlike regular snakes with scales, if it should have a type of fur. Or just simple scales. Or some sort of mix of both (since it already technically has fur on it's head). I think I like the third idea best, though I'm not sure what would be the best way to do that. A mane? Anyone who has ideas, please do share.

Oh, and the horns were a horrible pain, and I still don't think they look right. *sigh, shrug* I hate symmetry. Though I guess I can always pretend that it's at a very slight angle.

[Asila]

*stares at the pictures for a good twenty minutes with an expression of blank adoration*

*gradually recovers* I love these pictures. I really, REALLY love these pictures. Have I told you I love these pictures? Because I LOVE THESE PICTURES!!!

*recovers enough to speak coherently* Uh, let's pretend that I didn't just behave like a chattering fan girl. Anyway, that picture of the guy with the nifty horns was a favorite of mine even before I knew the story behind the picture. And now that I know the story behind the picture, I want to run off with them both, preserve them forever in golden frames, build a shrine in my room centered around them, and light a hundred candles every night in tribute as I recite hymns/chants that I've spent hours writing and perfecting in my fanatic devotion while wearing a clay replica that I made of that amazing mask. *looks far too serious*

...*feels far too serious* These pictures give me chills. They really do. I feel more inspired by those pictures than I do by anything I've found on Deviantart. Ever. I'm just...They're so...*swoons, over-whelmed by emotion*

I can't explain it. There's something about the wild, timeless intensity of the creatures narrowed eyes, and the way the bristling of it's muzzle gives it such an alien look...like nothing from this world. *love* And the way the expression in the creatures eyes remains even when those eyes are in a human face. And the untold story behind the scene that is taking place between the high priestess and the spirit being...I don't know it, but I feel like I should. As though I'd seen the entire story in a dream that I didn't consciously remember when I woke up, though the impressions and emotions remain. It's such a strange feeling. And such a fascinating one.

Oh, and are you going to shade the mask the exact same way that the colors lie on the creatures face when it's transformed into a human? With some parts being the same color as human skin?

And now that I've gotten some of the fanaticism out of my system, I'll write more...practical? comments. For one, the horns look just fine! They don't match exactly, but I didn't even notice that until you pointed it out! And even then, they're sooo close to exact that you just shouldn't worry about it. The only way you could get them any closer to exact replicas is if you used tracing paper. And I really, REALLY love the shape of the horns. Just so you know.

For two, I don't think that adding legs would make the creature/image seem too unbalanced/cluttered. The wings arc over it's head, so there is plenty of room for legs on the lower half of the picture. Or even in the upper half, for that matter. And I think the Asian dragon-type legs would look amazing. Especially if they're slender, like Haku's.

If you decide to go with with the scale and fur scheme, then a mane would probably be your best bet for transitioning between them. I kind of like the fur idea, too, though. *thinks* What if the creature had the wide, flat scales on it's belly that a snake has and fur on the rest of it's body? That would make a very smooth transition.

****

As for your commentary on my picture...well, I'm glad you like it, even though I think it fails right now. And it's not even a candle to the blazing beacon of your creature! *is about to relapse into that state of fawning worship*

You're right on about the creatures ability to absorb and digest things. Though it's more like a giant amoeba of oozing blackness than an octopus. And the line on it's side was supposed to represent a wing, but I don't know if I'll keep it. When I finished the basic outline of the creature, I just thought it had this hulking, vulture-like look to it so I threw in that line to add to the effect. I'm not entirely sure if I like it, though.

[The Imfamous AKA]

Alright, supply and demand... The crap I've drawn in my Spanish and Poetry classes over the alst two days. Mind you, they're crap and have gotten me quite a few strange looks, but here they are...

This one is the one I drew yesterday in Spanish. With a very frustrating blunt pencil...



And this is the one I drew today in Poetry... The guy next to me seemed very disturbed... (It's not a veyr good pic, the lines are too fine in some places to show up well, sorry)



Well, there they are. Maybe I'll draw another fucked up creature tomorrow. Who knows?

[Asila]

Aka, are you ever going to post a better picture of your incredibly awesome brain creature, or am I going to have to drive down to Chicago armed with a box full of pink silly-string canisters and maul you?

Well, I can't harass Aka adequately because I have finally decided on a style for my fursona pictures. I sketched out one for myself, first, since there was less pressure. It's harder to try and decide on what someone else's creature should look like than it is to decide on one for yourself, so I tried to make things easy on myself and just start with my own fursona.

But it wasn't easy. I erased and re-drew so many lines and forms on two sketchbook pages that I had to tear them out, and nearly wore out a third before things started looking right to me. But now that I've decided on exactly what style I want to employ, the rest should be easier.

Here's the sketch, though the picture is by no means finished. I just wanted everyone to see what they could look forward too. Or dread. *shrugs*


((Larger image. i43.tinypic.com/5000vm.jpg))

*giggles* It just wouldn't be me without the spaz element! Don't you just hate it when people try to trick you?

I was toying a bit with my paint program. In case anyone was wondering.

And now, an attempt at coherency! Here we have a lynx/bat/dragon. With random feathers. Since that's kind of what I got when I combined all of my favorite features. As seen in this picture, everyone's creature is going to have an expression that I think suits them ((Raise your hand if you can raise one eyebrow! I can, but I seem to get many surprised reactions from people when I do. Which is strange, because I thought it was a common ability...)). There will also be accessories involved (such as the strange bangle-necklace with the bat pendant and the knee-high sock on my fursona's only visible hind leg. *is entering a knee-high sock-wearing phase*) and everyone's fursona will reflect that person's favorite color in some fashion.

Rojo, if you don't tell me what you're favorite color is, I'm going to assume it's red. Since that's what your name says. ;D Which is fine by me, since red is my all-time favorite color.

And if I remember correctly, Serena's favorite color is purple, Aka's favorite color is green, and Pan's favorite color is pink. If I didn't remember correctly, let me know!

I also know what everyone's favorite animal is by now (except for Rojo *shakes her fist at him* If you do favor a specific type of creature, let me know! Otherwise, you'll have to be happy with what I'm beginning to dream up.), and what everyone's tastes are.

Hopefully, I'll start posting finished pictures soon! I'm really looking forward to this.

P.S. Aka, I think you're going to be up next. I have a very cool idea for your creature...*scheming*

[Pan]

its so cute!! I love all of the different animal that it looks like went into this!

[Asila]

*grins* She's a lynx-bat-dragon. With bird somewhere in her lineage. ;D

[Seven]

((God, I don't really know where to begin, considering everything that seems to be posted in the past couple days! I'll try to do my best, but I fear I won't be able to do a half-adequate job, so I ask everyone's pardon in advance!))

1. Replies to Asila:
I am flabbergasted from all your comments and I really don't know how to reply. I admit i was fairly happy with that pair of pictures, but you give me WAY too much credit! They're not that good that you should be so...fangirlish....
But thank you anyways. I'll have to save changing your mind about your over appraisal of them later though.

As for the Chinese Dragon legs...I actually tried to do that for a bit, but they still didn't seem to look right. *sighs* I'll have to redraw it later and try to think of a way of fixing it. (Maybe I can make up a pathetic excuse like "The legs are retractable! lol." ) As for the mask, yes they should have more of less the same colorings as the man's face...except I was thinking it would only be in red and white. I thought about doing 'skin tone', until I realized that there are so many shades of skin tone in the world, and considering its true form is a creature, the skin tone it takes could very fluctuate upon the skin tone of the peoples in the area. (I.E., he wouldn't be whitish in Africa.) But then again, I might yet decide against that thought as well. In either case, I thought just leaving it red and white would be more symbolic and pretty, sort of the way butterfly wings also, in their strange way, depict a face of some sort, though not in the exactness of any one creature. I had the same general idea when doing the creature's mask.

2. On Aka's Freaky Awesome stuff:
Aka, I still had no freaking idea you could do that. I mean....* hands on head with a twitchy look* You....don't....draw....EVER! hOW THE HELL DID YOU GET SO GOOD!? *shakes her*

*ehem*

Like everyone else, I do regret the fact that the pictures are kidn of dark, the lines show up a bit lightly, and they're on lined paper. (You should really take loose leaf computer paper to class from now on!) Other than that, they look amazing. I love the texture of the claw and I simply love the concept of the crazy brain...thing. As I said before, you should do nifty macabre painting stuff.

3. Asila's Awesome Furry Persona:
OMG OMG OMG!!! THAT IS SO COOL-CUTE!!! *squeals/shrieks* I am now officially stealing you--erm, your furry avatar. *shifty eyes* Maybe you too. *yoinks* ...You're still so adorable.

They way you spliced together a lynx, a bat, and a dragon just looks so nice! I wasn't sure how you were intending to pull off the bat wings, but it turned out so well! And I just love her spines and her slightly more dragon-like bottom. Everything about your furry persona is just so beautiful looking. And your expression is so bad-ass, I love it! The picture seems to tell an interesting story. I am now curious about the whole "You're not a Vampire" scenario with the little reptilian critter. His cape it cute. *chuckles* I hope you don't decide to eat him.

That, and I am jealous of your eyebrow-raising talent. I can't do that...only half-assed thing where I try to squint one eye so one eyebrow seems higher than the other...

As for colors...yes, my favorite color is violet (especially in the blue-violet tones) and greens. However, by undying fear is that purples can look kind of girly...especially considering your furries are rather adorable, I feel skittish about ending up really girly looking....like that pink fox. *shudders* (I have to be the 'tough' tomgeek after all....) Though I trust you to not to do that to me, I felt I had to express my worries. That...and I guess I also wanted to know that you don't necessarily have to pick favorite colors for the creatures... Just what you think would look best. Or rather, how you envision us. *shrugs*

Anyways, how could you possibly imply that we might end up dreading our furries after posting this! It's so amazing, and now I feel all excited about the rest that you'll be doing!

[Asila]

1.)You won't be able to dissuade me from loving those pictures any less, Seven! They inspire me. So there.

Well, hopefully you'll be able to decide on something for the picture. Because I really would like to see it in color. I'm sure the spirit would look as dreamy in creature form as he does in his human form with some color to add intensity to those spectacular eyes!

And the mask will look good no matter what. Because masks are just amazing.

3.) *grins* I'm glad you like it. My fursona definitely caused me enough trouble. Trying to decide how the wings would lie required some planning, and I'm still not entirely content with the result, but I'm pretty close. I think I just have to alter the shape of a few lines and then I'll be happy enough with them. And yes, I had to have some kind of bad-ass expression on my fursona. I know that very few people ever see that side of me, but it's more real than the front I usually employ. And it wouldn't feel like me unless it looked as though it could possibly eat you.

The snake creature is just part of a silly idea I had. I wanted to have my fursona arching her eyebrow at something, since having her simply arc her eyebrow at the viewer wouldn't work as well with my personality. I don't use that expression to look cool. I use it to express cynicism or amused disbelief. So then I was thinking of having some kind of cute vampire-poser involved, since my fascination with vampires is a bit ridiculous. I get way to excited when someone jokes about being a vampire. Even though I'm a incredibly disgusted with the Twilight craze and don't want to like vampires because of it. But I do. Despite myself. Originally, the snake was going to be a will o' the wisp, trying to lead me astray. But the poor little creature would have gotten frustrated, since glowing balls of light just aren't interesting enough, and so it would have donned a cape and fake fangs to get my attention. But glowing balls of light are difficult to portray, especially since these pictures are only going to have a very simple background if they have one at all, so I decided to just tie fake fangs and a cape on a cute woodland critter. The idea of being tricked is still there, but not it's not the cute little snake that's trying to trick me, it's the individual that put the fangs and the cape on the snake. I was going to put a sign that said "Vampires, this way!" With an arrow pointing in the snakes direction, and some kind of looming figure leaping out of the background (since I've clearly waltzed right into the trap), but it's an idea that I'm still toying with. But don't you just love the way the snake seems to be thinking "DON'T SPEAR ME!!!" *more grinning*

Aw, don't be jealous! Raising one eyebrow isn't such a great 'talent'. Raising both eyebrows gets pretty much the same point across. It just seems strange to me that so many people can't do it...

Don't worry so much about color! Jeez, I never thought that pink fox would traumatize you, too! Really, though, in most cases I'm going for naturalistic fur tones, and only accessories and/or eye color will reflect the person's favorite color. In mine, for example, the fursona's eyes will be red (thinks red is the coolest eye color EVER.) and I might echo the color in the necklace and sock as well, but I don't know about that, yet. I do think it's funny that you worry about purple being girly when that is just the base color that I'm going to color MY fursona's fur with. But I'm going to use a red-tinted purple. And I don't think purple is girly at all unless it's used as a pastel. *hates pastel purple with a passion. The way she hates pastel red, a.k.a pink, with a passion.* But black is also going to star in my fursona's fur color-scheme. But the point is that purple can look perfectly hard-core! Especially when I'm the one choosing the color scheme!