C.O.W. - #006: Digger Creature

[Fozzybar]

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


Round #006

Topic:
Digger Creature

Deadline:
14.03.2005




- for any questions or help go here:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37512

note: The deadline won't be EXACTLY after a week...it can last up to 24 hours more, i am human and have to work also, you know ;)

Post your creature for this week!

[coondoggle]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/goosezilla/sandycolor.jpg

The Sand Swilling Castle Fiend:
Indiginous to deserts across the globe (Language may vary with location).
The sensitive skin of this creature prevents it from living a diurnal lifestyle and owning beach front property. Salt and sun kills these fleshy creatures quite easily. To combat this they shovel themselves under the sand where they can stay moist and cool during the day. After foraging each night the Castle Fiend builds elaborate structures in the sand before day breaks. The structures help it fend of the heat. The more sand the better! The intricacy of the structural design is very important as well, for you see the ladies love a phat pad and are attracted to the coolest areas in the sand. The female won't see her mate's lair until the evening, so she spends all day burrowing, searching for cool napping areas. If a male can keep her in his lair until evening it is a good sign! Though when they emerge at night the male may be dissappointed to find his female rejects the decor of her would be home.

One note on anatomy:
Protruding eye stalks peek above the sand at the slightest disturbance, always on the alert for danger. Walking among these animals during the day is like an amusing game of peek a boo. Desert children often throw things near Castle Fiends to see who can get the closest without arrousing one. *ahem* Rather, having the creature poke it's eyes above the ground.

One more note:
Desert children are excellent sources of tiny Castle Fiend sized plastic shovels and pails.

[magicgoo]

This little guy is a xenopod, a distant and ancient relative of the armadillo and sloth. He has boney forearm plates that help hip to dig through the soil where he can find delicious ants and termites. He has a very long snout to hold his long tongue, which is perfect for licking up insects. He also has a boney jaw and chin for packing the earth tightly around his tunneled home under the ground. He's generally harmless, but very shy, and may try to backhand and claw his predators if they get too close. He's approximately 4 feet hight at the shoulder.

Please don't frighten him! >:{

http://www.everythinggoodwastaken.com/resume/cow-006-xenopod.jpg

[Dougbot]

Whoa, 2 great cow's already! Coondoggle, show me how you got that coloring effect tomorrow at work. Mine might be a wip (I think I read we can alter them until the due date). I've been so busy I'm not sure I'll have time to revisit it.

http://www.dougbot.com/forum/COW06.jpg

The Rotwood Burrower lives around the perimeter of the Yunogoth Jungle. It's on omnivore that feeds off of batanka grub, roots and nutrients in the soil. The soil is passed through the tubes on it's body. Nutrients are pulled from that soil as it passes through the burrowers body. Then is expelled behind it, covering most of the tunnel it had just created. This way predators can't catch them from behind.

Rotwood Burrowers are about the size of a large dog, and have nasty tempers. Think warthog or wolverine. Usually though they avoid settlers, and contact with them rarely ends in death of either party involved.

[Matt Dixon]

Doug and I appear to have been thinking along similar lines... :[

http://www.vortex.plus.com/COW06.jpg

The Rocksnapper's natural habitat is the barren surface of the planet Subtarboria. This wasteland of low mountains and parched earth is ravaged by dust storms and high winds, but conceals a surprisingly diverse ecosystem of fungi and invertebrates in the water-soaked substrata of porous rock a few feet below the surface. The creature uses it's powerful foreclaws and beak to smash it's way through the stony soil and rock on the surface to feed on the rich subterranean food source.

It's spiny back and collar protect it from predators while it's head is below ground, and the Rocksnapper has evolved hindclaws of different sizes to help it retain traction in the debris of gravel and shattered stone that surround it.

Interesting Rocksnapper fact 1 : The creature intentionally ingests a certain amount of soil and rock when feeding, which is 'digested' to help strengthen it's tough carapace and claws.

Interesting Rocksnapper fact 2 : Despite it's rugged appearance, the clouds of fine dust that blow constantly across the surface of Subtarboria mean the creature's hard extremeties are polished to a glass-like finish.

Interesting Rocksnapper fact 3 : Wind blowing through the Rocksnapper's spines produces a low, reverberating hum which the creature appears to be able to control by moving it's head and spine. Research into the Rocksnapper's 'song' as a means of communication have been inconclusive.

[fungi]

lol damn, i also have the same sort of idea as doug. to tell you the truth i really dont like my pic, but im gonna post it anyway. cant be bothered to do another.

http://www.misterfungi.com/sketches/digger2.jpg

Bone Backed Jelly Tunneller

The bone backed jelly tunneller is well known for its hugely venomous underbelly. that being its only defence mechanism apart from its rock like shell which covers its main bodily muscle. the huge muscle spans the whole length of the creatures body and is used to power its rock crunching teeth mounted just above its "mouth". the mouth itself has rows and rows of black teeth designed to chew up dirt and smaller rocks. dirt being its main food (it also likes to eat plant roots) it chews it up and sucks out all of the moisture and nutrients before passing it out its tail, thus covering its tracks. the venomous slime which covers its underbelly not also provides a defence but also a lubrication for its body to pass through the ground smoothly. the venom itself will almost certainly kill you if you happen to eat it but is quite harmless to the touch.

[Dougbot]

Matt that's awesome. That head and eye are so friggin cool! Fungi your insane. That piece is way super cool. Excellent work.

[JoBeSu]

Ok here is mine...The story part is not my strongest skill :\
But here it is :bashful:

The Double warted digger worm" is a hard-working digger that spends most time of the day and night digging maze like tunnel systems ,Gladly under smaller towns where they look for foad soaked into the ground from pubs and resaurants...they dont mind some beer spill from the pubs, Intoxicated they love to play around in their mazes, Which sometimes leads to copulating with the opposite sex. Joy of the day is when they can look upp from the ground and enjoy some sunshine after a good meal...or other activity.
They are nearly blind which make them look sleepy but they rarely sleeps, they are very hyperactive creatures.

http://jobesu.se/ForumPost/Digger.jpg

/Joel

[coondoggle]

I love it Jobesu! The teeny hind legs and the tusks and buck teeth are adorable!

[sone_one]

heres mine... ill post the information on it later...

http://members.chello.at/sone_one/digger-rat-01-2.jpg

[edit]...

Tunnel Rat

first to be heard of during vietnam war, scientists got very excited bout the rumors, mistaking it as the existence of a new creature.
about 30 years later, now a strange animal has been spotted on madagaskar island. dedicated to the embarrassing fault of the 70ties its been named tunnel rat (lat. specus rattus).

its about 4 times the size of its relatives the house rats (lat. rattus rattus) and living in wide tunnels, it digs below the surface, which fact explains its been spotted that late. its diet probably mostly consists of maggots and worms (lat. vermis).

scientists are still about to explore this newly found animal and its habitat.

[Pixeldragoon]

http://img26.exs.cx/img26/2541/creature2cq.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Air's mine.

He's got shells like an armadillo to prevent scratches, a tail to balance if he gets up on hind legs, and monster claws for getting through the earth and gravel. His schnoz is strealined so he is aerodynamic. Why it helps in digging is beyond me.

[Scarn]

I'm gonna try something new this round - and if It works, I may keep doing it this way ( let me know what you think ).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/Scarn/COW6.jpg

Ships Log: Captain Sam Solar:

"Caretaker of Emaruul" :: As I made my way towards the 'Hell Horse Nebula Science Space Station', or the H2.N.S3, I took a short detour through the woods of Emaruul, hoping to catch a glimpse of the three setting suns, but my timing was far too early and I arrived mid-day. My little adventure was nearly wasted until I spotted a 'Caretaker' planting some forest extensions in a nearby field. Usually these giant creatures are busy deep within the forests gathering sick or dying plant life onto its back, nurturing them back to proper health. I took a few documental pictures with my robo-cam to be sure people would believe my story, and so that I could remember such an experience through my greying years. I read somewhere that the large drill-like structure in the middle of the Caretaker could be created from the sick plant's roots as they grow stronger, that tiny arms inside the inner ring adjust and form the roots into the tightly wound drill, so that when the time came for them to be re-planted, the Emaruul Caretaker could then wedge them deep into the ground, stronger than ever. Perhaps these trees I saw in the middle used to be sickly? It would be a good assumption. I will have to show my new images to the scientists at H2.N.S3, I'm sure they'll love to study them for further understanding of the worlds around us.

[JeffZNY]

JoBeSu- I love it! Tons of personality...definitely the early frontrunner for my vote, though truthfully pretty much every entry has been kick ass so far.

Here's mine:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/JeffZNY/digger.jpg

Alas, what horror the flames of passion hath wrought! The love-child of a drunken coal miner and a hideously seductive ogre, the tragic hybrid Orthranx is a walking advertisement for the morning after pill. Taunted by the human community for his horrific face, and shunned by the ogre clan for his dashing good looks and stellar dental hygiene, Orthranx lives a lonely existence in the Earth's very womb, passing the days by compulsively digging a labyrinth of tunnels right underneath our feet. Responsible for more cave-ins than a natural disaster, time and time again Orthranx has enacted his vengeance upon those who would drive him underground. But who is the true villain here? The tortured monster, the cruel society, or the inebriated artist who concocted it all?

[rev]

http://www.perpetualdejavu.com/picuploads/grub2.jpg
DESCIMATION GRUB

This newly discovered grub takes "root" in soil and sucks all of the nutrients out. Once it has exhausted one area it moves on to more fertile areas, descimating vast amounts of land. It has unusually well developed appendages, which allow to to travel much more ease than previously discovered grubs ever have.


and no i couldnt think of a good name :P

[Johann de Venecia]

Cool entries from everyone :} Here's my critter...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/deceptant/devenecia111.jpg

Though it resembles an overgrown house spider, the wandering root is really just a plant. This transient root tree spends its life tirelessly digging tunnels deep within the earth. Using it's tough, slithering tendrils, it burrows underground in a constant search for its food source Cummingtonite (it actually exists!), a rare mineral found miles below the crust. It resurfaces once a year to absorb sunlight, about the time when the bud found in the center of its body blossoms. The bud is essential for energy storage. For a full week the wandering root will bask in the sunlight allowing the bud to recharge before it can begin its year-long subterranean trek.

[vigostar]

WOW, people are up and running early on this weeks COW..! Great work so far... Hey, JEff... I was orginally going to do something along the same lines.. thank god i didnt!!! I actually think that I'll be done with mine as well today!! Wow, Im ahead of the game also.. Must be alignment of the stars or something!

[arteric]

OK, so I JUST found this weeks contest subject (I had to do a search, have we stopped posting links to the NEW C.O.W. in the previous weeks version?)

I have seen it for all of 5 seconds and there are half a dozen that put me to shame.... make me want to go crawl into a corner and cry for mommy.

But I shall redouble my efforts to create something cool, until then...

"The Other Threads Can't Compare to C.O.W.!" :wink:

[Uziel]

Here's mine...enjoy

Giant Rockdigger
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/jarrafatti/rockdiggerfinalcopy2.jpg
This creature lives in the rocky deserts of AlTh'yr. It has a massive forhead and metallic teeth to dig its way thru sand and rock. It feeds on everything that crosses its path (minerals,other underground creatures, miners, younger Rockdiggers). Waiting in its labarynth of tunnels (depth: 10-95m) it can pick up movement with its sensitive membranes behind the eyes. It has hollow tubes running around the membrane area to amplify the smallest vibration.

Mankind succeeded only once to kill an adult G.Rockdigger, using a small nuclear weapon. The specimen was estimated to be over 325 years old. Scientists believe they can become at least 400 years old. They also assume that to attract female rockdiggers the male hits solid rock at full speed causing local earthquakes...

[leckronium]

http://home.comcast.net/~leckronium/onlinestorage/diggercreature4.jpg

The Spade-billed Platysaurus was a creature that roamed the earth during the time of the dinosaurs. Archaeologists have only discovered bits and pieces such as plates and claws near what is now the Grand Canyon. It is thought that this creature may have been responsible for digging the start of this well known landmark while searching for meals. It's bill was used just like a shovel to start holes and move large amounts of dirt quickly along with its claws and a questionable horn protruding from its lower jaw. The plates on the tail could have been used to loosen rock walls or large dirt mounds.

The Platysaurus didn't have very many enemies since it spent most of its time in the ground out of harms way. It is thought that this creature had an obsession with digging. Sometimes digging for no apparent reason for days. According to some archaeologists, it is said to have dug so deep that it would become trapped and have to survive on seeping groundwater and insects and worms until it could dig its way to another place.

:painting:

[Salvadorcoran]

jeebus... I'm having a flash-back of kevin bacon...scary..... uhh its clearing up ....I see ....Tremmors... :nohope:

~ORCO~

[Uziel]

Just to bring up good old stuff including digger creatures: Dune (1984)->this movie is as old as i am... Tremors(1990)...

http://www.darklands.cx/~kodisoa/Children_of_Dune/Children_of_Dune__Worm_Snack.jpg
http://members.tripod.com/larry.may/images/worm2a.jpg
http://www.lonepinefilmfestival.org/images/TREMORS%20WORM.jpg
http://www.haikosfilmlexikon.de/horror/st/tremors.jpg

Now back to COW sorry for the intermezzo...

[coondoggle]

Man, Tremors was so good! Especially in the sequels when they grew legs and ran around like little balls of cuteness.

http://www.parmaq.com/kitbuilding/Images/tremors2side.jpg

[grimmy]

http://www.trevorgrimshaw.com/uploads/hairlessmole2.jpg

i like blind stuff for some reason. if you ever saw the movie " cheap fast and out of control " , i basically just ripped off the hairless more rats in that movie. if you haven’t seen it check it out. A very interesting film that I think would appeal to you if you have obsessive and or inquisitive natures.

or, i mean, if you up at 1am drawing pictures of hairless mole rats in jazzercise outfits.

[flaptraps]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/flaptraps/wormdigger.jpg

This guy is known as a green lumpy. Despite it's furious look and killer instinct it moves at a alarming slow rate by lofting it's fat head and rapper like grill through the depths of the earth. Dragging itself like a dead person would drag itself, if a dead person could drag itself, itself would drag,. . . . drag. You can find this creature digging from Malbone ND, to somplace in China... usually it doesn't make it there but i just made up a spot for it to go for the story.

Fun Fact: you may think those chubby things on the side are like legs, however they are legs, . . . and there chubby.

Fun Fact: Malbone ND isn't a real place, I made it up.

Fun Fact: Malbone ND IS a real place, I just lied to you.

[vigostar]

Well, heres my entry.. I tried something a bit different this time.. hope you guys like it..

There lies an ancient myth of a warlock named Arotraz. Myth has it that this evil warlock once tormented the small town of Slaughtersville. He would kidnap the residents of this small town in order to create his evil spells which he thought would give him enternal life. The towns people eventually captured this evil warlock and sentenced him to life of solitude in the "hole with no name" to live out the rest of his life. Rumor has it that every 9 years he would summon the digging creature named "the digger" that would escavate dead bodies. It is told that for every body the creature dug up it would give him one more day of life. The digging creature is controlled by the "mask of darkenss". This mask allows the warlock to have complete control of this creature. March 27th is the date for the next rising of the creature. so, make sure you pay attention to the graves of your loved ones. Visit them. Please! Make sure that they are there. And if they are not.. Let all your fellow CA'ers know. That he's Back!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/vigostar/vigo.jpg

[Helzon]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/Helzon/ProspectorSubmit.jpg

Think you have a mother lode in your back yard? Always wondered if crude oil and other precious gems were but a few feet away?...Would you like to live the life you always wanted? But the thought of back breaking work while fighting heat stroke and muscle fatigue can't quite motivate you....well Dust Mite Industries L.L.C. are proud to present "L'il Prospector®"!
Our motto: "Easier Living through re-engineered and behavior controlled Bio-technology!"
Here are just some of the incredible features you can expect when you order your L'il Prospector®:
Compact size: L'il Prospector® is only the size of a Great Dane and merely a tenth of the weight, so even the little lady can help. It also comes with a great built in E-Z carry handle along the spine.
Earth Moving Power: The L'il Prospector® is equipped with naturally occuring carbide nails that need no sharpening and yet plow through the toughest stone and rock, but gentle enough not to burst or tear underground sewer pipes or electrical lines. It can also strip mine a football field size patch of earth in merely an afternoon.
Programmable Memory Sacs: L'il Prospector® will naturally find any precious mineral or sediment..but for those that really want to fine tune their searching potential...The L'il Prospector® can be gently stimulated by a customized Dust Mite Industries stun gun (optional and may be seperately billed) to hone in on specific gems, metals and precious stones....."they really think it tickles"~claims Harvinia Terwiggins...of Pockhick AK.
But best of all, The L'il Prospector® comes with not one but two! glow-in the-dark super strong membranal pouches to haul your treasures back to the surface and right to your back door...
So call now! 1-888-DIG-DEEP...our operators are standing by...Sorry No Checks or C.O.D's...Limit 1 per family.....Not available in CA, OR, or IA...
"L'il Prospector®" is sold "as is" and the buyer will hold Dust Mite Industries and its subsidiaries harmless in the unlikely event that the "L'il Prospector®" destroys adjacent properties, civil and federal, is disabled due to repeated shocks, or becomes psychotically violent, resulting in buyer's death and/or dismemberment (full or partial). All mass infestations will be upon the buyer to remediate.

[Helzon]

This weeks entries are frickin incredible!! My hat's off to all of you!!...

JoBeSu: Dude...first..thanks for the vote last round!...and I have to say...your creature rocks!...Nearly pissed myself laughing...the personality in your piece speaks for itself and your talent!...

Fungi: dude...I could only wish to get to the level you have achieved in rendering with color...i'm stupified every time I scope your entry..

Coondoggle, MattDixon, dougbot, lukavi,...each of you at once make this board the most enjoyable and simultaneously frustrating (artistically speaking)...because your originality and presentation are friggin magnificent...
And if I forgot anyone....(my mind is a sieve)....I apologize..and let me say that you add to the rich, full flavored experience that is C.O.W...:)
On a side note:...arteric...I want to thank you for the investment of time you put in to critique each of us that enter. Your balanced approach of both praise and improvement show that you care...and not just cheerlead...

[xia]

Dougbot said I have to post or he will poop on my desk.

Name:MONTUCKET
Origin: Ruby Dust Jungle, Hell

Discription:
-The Montucket is cursed with bad hearing and vision. This digging boar from Hell is sensitive to light, so it usually hunts at night. It uses it’s tendrils to feel vibration from above it. A dense system of nerves travel through the tendrils into the Montuckets thick body. Even the slightest vibration from above is felt. For over a hundred feet the Montucket can detect and identify its prey. This is helped in part by its amazing olfactory system.

-The tendrils also are filled with poison tip spines. When they burst out of the ground and grab its prey, poison spreads through the victim’s body causing paralysis.

-Its strong front arms are tipped with titanium like claws, allowing it to dig through heavy and dense dirt and stone. The mid legs help propel the Montucket through the ground. They also serve as support for its bulky midsection.

Fun Fact: Due to Xia's illiteracy, Dougbot helps me translate my Dumb English discription to good readable English discription.

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/images/speedpainting122.jpg

[Fozzybar]

Gravedigger Mole

Found under the earth in areas around cemeteries, this mole feeds by the buried corpses...it smells like carrion and has no natural enemies because of that...scientists are not sure about the little spikes on their backs, but they assume that they are some sort of a sense organ to locate dead organisms...

http://www.kidomatix.com/ca/cow/cow_006_diggercreature_fozzybar.jpg



Great entries so far!!! Keep it up! >:D

[Xpose]

Alright I'm done... I think lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/xpose/drawings/cashousfinished.jpg

What has four eyes, has razor sharp claws, and hairy all over? Yep it's your mother..... ok time to get down to business the Cashous is an animal unlike any other. It has two sets of eyes, yet still it cannot see so well. Instead of seeing the way we do it sees variations in heat to get around as well as using it's amazing sense of smell to hunt it's little prey. It spends 80% of it's time underground in passage ways it's dug searching for grub worms and other insects. If one could fit into one these passage ways they would most definitely get lost in the labyrinth it calls home. It was once said that if there is a way to dig to china the Cashous would be the one to do it.

[Scarn]

Wow.. the entries just keep getting better and better! :^^;: 8)

[brokk]

Wow good job everyone, these are some great posts!
Image update. Well I'll try to clean it up or something. I wish it had more detail. I feel sort of stuck on this one, so any help crits comments please if you can spare the time!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/bk7600/nalathianseeder2.jpg

Nalathnian Seeder

The Nalathi people of Gonwanda are an ethnic group native to the Gonwandan region, their main activity is farming. Generations ago the last of their cattle died of plague. Since the Nalathi relied on cattle for food, the sudden shortage caused massive famine.
Luckily, they began to tame large land-dwelling crustacean arthropods, similar to the smaller type lobsters found miles away at sea. These huge creates, nearly the size of two and sometimes three dogs, proved to be a great food source, thus became the new 'cattle'. Lobster ranches quickly developed.
But what is truly special about these animals is their ability to burrow and travel below ground. That's why the Nalathi people use them for farming and seeding the fields, hence their name "seeders". The seeders prepare the soft soils for the different crops to be planted (since the cows had died, doing this personally took too long and was too arduous, the seeders now made the task a much quicker enterprise).
In addition to being food sources and farming aids, the seeders after consumed, leave a hard external shell, which is used by the Nalathi in crafting several different tools, accessories, and furniture, from tables to chairs, to door frames.
The only problem the seeders give the farmers is that they usually tend to burrow and escape their corrals, something the farmers can do little about, except give them chase and round them up!

[Ostrander]

http://rhinohidestudios.com/images/flesh%20digger.jpg
This creature is a rare Flesh Digger. It is only indeginous to Rogue Island and only lives off the blood of crusty sea faring Rogue Islanders. Heavy populations of these creatures live along the Scarborough coastline and can be easily transmitted over a gusty sea-breeze. Once attached to a fleshy Rogue Islander they "Dig" in past the epidermis and under the muscles to make their home. Here the Flesh Digger's lifespan lasts approximatly 48 hours, just enough time to add to the wonderful complexion of the Rogue Island natives.

[Scarn]

ew... that's all I have to say to you glokund. ;)

[Ostrander]

muhahahahahah

[coondoggle]

Cool Gloklund! Good twist on the topic! :)

[Beatnik]

http://zmans.com/sketch/digger_dude.jpg

This is a Desert-native Sandweller. He sleeps at night under the sand when it's cold and only comes out during the day to get his body temperature back up. He uses his front spiked appendages to break up and push away the harder sand clumps and rock and then basically slowly swims through the sand with his lower legs. The feet act as small shovels to push the sand back and move himself further along underground. Beneath his hard protective shell and leathery skin is an enormous air reserve sac that he uses to breathe from when sleeping underground. The Sandweller goes into a sort of hybernation when sleeping to use minimal air so he can exist underground for long periods of time. He loves Frank Sinatra and prefers Pepsi over Coke.

[OddMix]

Very impressive all. You've left me with limited ideas though. I really liked the creature with the shovel. How 'bout something on a microscopic level.

http://home.insightbb.com/~chuck.coleman/digger.jpg

[Hanuka]

please read the rules, oddmix

[0kelvin]

JeffZNY: I think your guy may be a little too humanoid for this activity. There's a rule against human-like creatures, which is of course a judgement call, but a half-human creature would most likely be in violation of this. Just giving you the heads up so that you may want to come up with a backup.

It would be a shame because it's a really good character.



0kelvin

[OddMix]

please read the rules, oddmix

I did read the rules. Which rule do you think I broke?

[rev]

I did read the rules. Which rule do you think I broke?
probably the one where you suppose to spend time on your entry.... i dont think using a bunch of filters could be to terribly time consuming :O

[JeffZNY]

Thanks Okelvin...if I'm disqualified, I'm disqualified, we're all just having some fun anway. For the record, I threw the half-human thing into the description there just on a silly whim...In terms of the character itself, I don't think it's much more humanoid than the C.O.W. cow, but it's no big deal...Great entries this week, wow!

[OddMix]

probably the one where you suppose to spend time on your entry.... i dont think using a bunch of filters could be to terribly time consuming :O

OK, I'm new to conceptart.org but, not to art. I didn't know that by using "a bunch of filters" I was somehow being any less creative. Filters are tools as are the computers you are using to scan and post drawings, paintings, etc(which I also do. Check out my entries in the DSG). And I did spend quite a bit of time experimenting, trying to capture the right effect with those "bunch of filters". I just can't believe you guys are busting my chops over this. To the powers that be disqualify or don't disqualify. I will happily continue to create either way. Peace. :teeth:

[magicgoo]

These are all too good!!!!! ARRGGHHH!!!

[Arri.]

http://img180.exs.cx/img180/8403/cowdiggermonst3um.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

I'dont know if I tell this before but I hate this part. Agggggggh!!!
"Krem Katerpillarous" is a creature that lives in the volcanic land depths. The duration of his life is 38 hours; during this time is digging like a mad to fecundate de female "Krem Katerpillarous"creature.

[0kelvin]

OddMix, the problem with using filters in that fashion is that everyone (at least everyone here) can instantly recognise them and knows how mindless and simple it is. Maybe it takes just as much creativity, but it doesn't take any talent whatsoever. To top it off, they weren't even used well.

Okay, so you can paint, why didn't you?



0kelvin

[Hanuka]

Oddmix: Don't get us wrong. Here at CA.org, there is no bashing of "bad art" and I didn't intend to sound so, but this challenge demands high standards from everyone. And I don't believe you spend nearly as much time on your entry as others did - just because of the simplicity of yours (the use of filters isn't exactly eye-candy).
Judging from your DSG-Entries, I think you could have done a much better job. Didn't want to sound rude. It's just that you can probably do much better :/

The C.O.W. is here to motivate the artists to somewhat set new standards for themselves. I think, every entry should be portofoliio-worthy for the artist. It's not the same as DSG.

hope that makes sense... ah well, my english.

[JeffZNY]

I agree with the ppl who are getting on OddMix's case here, but I'm also impressed with OddMix's response. I'm sure we've all witnessed countless artists exploding over similar comments made on these boards ( \w/ /m\ ), but I think OddMix handled it pretty maturely, and in particular, I liked his conclusion..."I will happily continue to create either way."
OddMix, if you're hooked on the photoshop filters, experiment with putting those filters on layers over your own work, adjusting the settings and opacity to give yourself some good effects and/or textures. Obviously no one is saying what you're doing is completely void of creativity, but no one should ever look at a piece of art and be able to say plainly, "that's a photoshop filter." The idea is to use whatever digital tools are at your disposal to enhance your work...the more subtely you use these tools, the better! Now you know for next time, so no big deal. At least you stayed away from lense flares;)

[Fozzybar]

Hanuka, thanks for your explanation...it hit the nail on the head...

Yes, Oddmix' entry won't be in the poll...i didn't know that there were filters used for this piece...what disturbs me is the fact, that there is no concept behind this creature...

And i also thought about JeffZNY's piece...it is humanoid, yes...but i thought i'll take it to the poll...it was a decision on the edge, but we are not in the army, right? :)

And Arri., yes, you already mentioned that you hate the description part, hehe...

[Crane]

I know I'm not taking part, but I like to watch this, great entrys everyone!
COW is gunna see some of the best pictures around by the end of the year lol.

And I was wondering about Hanuka/oddmix thingy (which his picture is rather good despite the fact its filters, and least it actualyl looks something microscopic, anyway..) I believe Hanuka said this:

Oddmix: Don't get us wrong. Here at CA.org, there is no bashing of "bad art"

Wat about the whole Manky thread? and the poweradmiral dragonwasp so on sig? :wink: :wink:

Love to see who wins this.

[JeffZNY]

Thanks Fozzy...I thought it would be cool as long as it had it's fair share of crazy creature-like characteristics (i.e. one eye, ridiculous ears, horns popping out, etc.)...But in the future I will be sure to stay away from humanoid designs to avoid controversy! Next week my creature will be devoid of limbs! So let it be written, so let it be done!

[Hanuka]

Wat about the whole Manky thread? and the poweradmiral dragonwasp so on sig? :wink: :wink:

Love to see who wins this.


well you got me there. that manky-thing was about more than just bad art (about his attitude, reactions and art theft for example ;) ). but it spiraled somewhat out of control, i admit ;)

nevertheless, i still think there is (and should be) no bashing of "bad art" at CA.

[stormeffex]

nice work so far everyone. here is my entry.

http://stu.aii.edu/~th361/digger.jpg

cave monkey

The six limbed cave monkey spends most of its time underground, building huge caverns to house its huge family. The first two arms are used to dig into the earth and they are sharp claws that are as hard as iron. the next set of arms are long and used to toss the debris out of the way. The legs of this cave monkey attach themselves to the ceiling of the cave and the powerful grip can hold for hours while it's digging. The cave monkey walks with the first two set of arms, leaving the foot to hang in the air, ready to attach to ceilings at an instant.

2

[strych9ine]

Arri, hot damn dude! Those colors are awesome!

[Ostrander]

On the subject of Oddmix's entry, I have to disagree with you Fozzy.

Oddmix' entry won't be in the poll...i didn't know that there were filters used for this piece...what disturbs me is the fact, that there is no concept behind this creature...

If this is the case then you should have eliminated Ari's and dougbots venomous bird entries for example, becuase their descriptions had nothing to do with the subject of "venomous bird". Don't get me wrong I thought those two pieces were fabulous entries, but no where did they suggest that their birds were venomous. So technically speaking they shouldn't have made it to poll either. Now if it where regarding the issue of using filters then I understand completely.
I just think that if Oddmix did go to poll, the votes or lack thereof would reflect the dislike of the use of filters. But to boot him because of his lack of concept isn't right. He still has time to come up with a fitting description before the deadline. :nohope:

[coondoggle]

I'm with Gloklund 100% on this issue.

There is still time for Oddmix's entry and so what if Oddmix used filters. Filters are just tools. It is up to the artist how they want to use them.

*edit*
Oddmix put in the effort to join in and that rocks.

[arteric]

http://tinypic.com/27x7ut

[coondoggle]

Hehehehe. Rad Arteric!

[Hanuka]

you're a genius arteric. haha what an eyecatcher! that got my vote. :yayca:

[Fozzybar]

On the subject of Oddmix's entry, I have to disagree with you Fozzy.

Oddmix' entry won't be in the poll...i didn't know that there were filters used for this piece...what disturbs me is the fact, that there is no concept behind this creature...

If this is the case then you should have eliminated Ari's and dougbots venomous bird entries for example, becuase their descriptions had nothing to do with the subject of "venomous bird". Don't get me wrong I thought those two pieces were fabulous entries, but no where did they suggest that their birds were venomous. So technically speaking they shouldn't have made it to poll either. Now if it where regarding the issue of using filters then I understand completely.
I just think that if Oddmix did go to poll, the votes or lack thereof would reflect the dislike of the use of filters. But to boot him because of his lack of concept isn't right. He still has time to come up with a fitting description before the deadline. :nohope:

Well...

1.
+ Arri.'s and dougbots entries were recognizable birds...
- You can't tell what Oddmix creature is without knowing the topic

2.
+ They invested time and effort in their concept
- I can't see any special thoughts for Oddmix' creatures concept

3.
+ They invested time and effort in the execution
- Oddmix' entry looks like done in 10 minutes

4.
+ You're right their concept hasn't exactly a relation to the "venomous" topic, but they at least had a concept and wrote it down!
- In Oddmix' case I don't know about the concept and there is no description which could enlighten me


I don't want to discourage anybody here, but i WON'T allow this thread getting a low quality level of entries like it happened to the DSG!!! I know how beautiful the entries were at the beginning of DSG, though the artists had only 1 hour to work on their entries...It was amazing, inspiring and motivating...people met in the irc-channel and were waiting impatiently for the topic-announcement...they grabbed their pencils and worked right on their entries...after one hour they posted amazing art...currently every kid, who can hold a pencil, posts his crap on the dsg and it's mostly not worth to look in the threads (no offense here, just a little exaggeration - i know there are still some gems hidden...edit: actually i just looked in some of the newer threads, and it seems that the quality is much better recently :), but you got the point)...

I don't want that this happens to C.O.W....we have an excaptional quality level on the entries yet compared to any activities at ca.org or other art-forums...keeping the rules tight and pushing us to better results every week is the key! Members like you (Gloklund), Arri., Matt Dixon, Dougbot, arteric, Jull, fungi, Scarn, leckronium, Scarn, JeffZNY, lukavi and the others i forgot to mention, who post regularly, comment and crit are the key...not to forget arterics weekly Giant-Comment-Post :)

So, what i want to say is, don't feel offended when i decide not to take an entry to the poll...take it as a correction for the sake of this activity, which is a wonderful part of any artist who feels dedicated to the "creature"-theme...And i also appreciate it VERY much that you post your opinion about this Gloklund and condoogle, since we are here to optimize the process and i am not the God of this activity...my opinion is just as worthy as yours...

I would like to see other artists gathering for activities which are related to their favorite topic like E.O.W. (environment of the week), B.O.W. (bot of the week) etc...

I am still open for your views regarding this topic...let's share our views and opinions...

:confident

[Uziel]

Amen
Fozzy has spoken...

OddMix's entry could as wel have been an anal parasite. And on a microscopical level almost all micro organisms that move, swim...but it was a good idea.

Don't worry Oddmix next time better, we are all here to learn.

About
E.O.W. (environment of the week), B.O.W. (bot of the week)
I think the possibilities and variations are more limited but why not...

[brokk]

Woa hey enviornment of the week, that could be awesome.
How cool would it be if Feng Zhu made a few entries? You know he's into enviornments with heavy perspective big time.

[Hanuka]

E.O.W. would be teh pwn4g3! \w/

do it! :yayca:

[leckronium]

I think a B.O.W. or E.O.W. would be awesome. The only downside would be that it might be hard to participate in all of them and we might lose some people in the C.O.W. from week to week.

I think a great idea would be to employ our regulars with full time jobs doing art for CA.O!!!!! Wouldn't that be cool? Then we could become our own university.:teeth: (actually the only reason I say that is because I'm currently looking for a full-time job. :^^;: ) My hats off to those who work full weeks and still manage to get in really nice illustrations.

:yayca:

[Scarn]

Yah, or maybe a humanoid of the week. :grandpa: woot.

[S.C. Watson]

Oh, dear god. You won. Period. I don't care what anyone else says. THAT was freaking hysterical. It caught me *so* off guard (was reading the oddmix thing...)

Fantastic! :teeth: :tihi: :P

[JeffZNY]

Probably should save this for the voting poll, but hell, arteric wins, period, exclamation point. There are some beautiful entries this week, and a lot of absolute eye candy, but as far as concepts go, arteric is my hero this week. I'm twice as thankful because he's saved me the agony of debating whether to vote for Arri, JoBeSu, Dougbot, or Dixon before eventually just flipping a coin:)

[magicgoo]

That is soooo creative, arteric! The HTML and pipes kick ass!

Oh, and speaking of BOWs and EOWs, would anybody be interested in a GOW? (Girl of the Week?)

[JeffZNY]

In order for any of these ideas to work, be it girl, environment, robot, whatever, it will require an adminstrator who is as committed to the topic as Fozzy. Someone who will put effort in each week to come up with a creative and inventive topic so the contest doesn't get repetitive, and who will hold all the contestents to a high standard. Fozzy is enthusiastic about C.O.W., which is why it's been such a hit. It might not be so easy to find someone like that, but in theory, these are all great ideas.

[Xpose]

JeffZNY is 100% correct! I like COW because there's so many ways you can take an idea and all of us convey our interpretation. Fozzy is dedicated to this and I think it's very admirable. I don't think another activity like GOW would be such a big hit (just my opinion). Close this bitch and lets start voting lol.

[Hanuka]

btw. where the hell is good ol bengal? :(
but, if theres gonna be more like this - lets keep it down to two or three weekly activities. it will only lower the quality and quantity of entries if there is so much to chose from. there will be weeks with only 1 entry for c.o.w. while g.o.w. gets 40 and the other way around - depending on topics... that would somehow be killing the fun and motivation, i guess.

[redehlert]

Well, gotta start somewhere.
Time Worm:
The time worm, creator of worm holes, is known by space pirates as "Seraph". These fossorial creatures of space blend in with their environment due to the countless eyes seen as stars from a distance. Only when the Seraph prepares to depart one galaxy to go to the next do we understand why space pirates call them Seraph. Their paired claws begin to glow as a bright hot light able to separate the space/time continuim and pass into the next galaxy. This bright light makes the giant time worm appear angelic.
The rip in space takes time to 'heal' thus the worm holes. The mole-like digger claws above their space separating claws allow them to burrow into asteroids and comets to lay their eggs and also scourge for their food. They're also known to be rather pissed when disturbed.

Wish I could have rendered this bad boy up in Photoshop, but then again, the first year wedding anniversary took precedence. :tihi: I did however put in my time. Great work everyone!!
Cheers,
Dave

http://www.cognitionstudio.com/conceptart/redehlert_COW_6.jpg

[Genital Eclipse]

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/xia/images/COW_6.jpg

The Klogor starts out it's life born underground as a small maggot looking larvae.
It then begins to sprout small twig-like monkey tail arms that scoop the surrounding dirt
into it's pucker mouth. The Klogor grub lives directly off the dirt encompassing it's fat
pig bottom body.

The Klogor ages and grows eternally. The Klogor never moves, it's like an obese octopus leather beanbag
that does nothing but scoop kids into it's soft leather abyss. Well, instead of kids it's just dirt
that it suckles down it's pucker mouth.

The Klogor lives on and on until it eats the entire planet it's born on
leaving nothing but cold dark unrelenting star space. It then explodes into millions of small
maggot meteors that travel across the galaxies looking for more brown dirty earth to grow and die
on.

The only known incident of a Klogor dying before devouring the entire planet it resides on comes
from earth. A fairly famous spelunker named Datch McGown accidentally stumbled upon a Klogor
in the early 80's. Datch at the time was raving on sprouts and LSD when he mistaked a Klogor's
genitals for another cavernous route on a spelunking tour. Datch traversed inside the Klogor
not realizing that a Klogor can not sustain life with a little human in the junk. The Klogor
died and Datch was that much more an amazingly chisled man.

[arteric]

My thanks to coodoggle, Hanuak, Oregano, JeffZNY, and magicgoo for the positive comments! You guys made my day (work sucked royally this Monday with people giving me attitude and a hard time.... then logging onto CA.org made me smile.) :teeth:

Can't wait to see how the voting goes on this one.... so many incredible entries (here's hoping I can beat my all time high of 7!)

As for E.O.W.and G.O.W and all the other O.W.'s, they are fine ideas for some other threads, but I for one LOVE C.O.W. The level of quality in here ROCKS, and I plan on sticking around this neck of the woods for quite a while. Fozzy does an incredible job of running the show, and everyone in here is really cool about commenting and working hard on their posts. I feel like I was incredibly lucky to stumble upon this Thread right at the beginning. (Awwww... group hug.)

Anyway, I'd like to see it stay just how it is, and other weekly themes go to other areas. There is plenty of room in this site for all, so let C.O.W. be C.O.W and let the artwork continue!

And the Upside/Downside weekly comments should be coming by Wednesday night or so after the polling begins. Still struggling who to vote for.

-Eric

[Xpose]

I've learned alot and were only on number 6!