C.O.W. - #038: Portal Opener

[Fozzybar]

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


Round #038

Topic:
Portal Opener

Deadline:
Sunday, 19th February 2006




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

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

Post your creature for this week!

[Fozzybar]

thanx to Snarfevs for the suggestion!

It's a rather open topic, so go wild...

Oh and:

- no human/humanoid design

- no character

- state your WIPS and finals if it's not obvious

[Tyranx]

:x Gotta flex my creative muscle for dis one! :muscle:

[Sady]

Yog-Sothoth ia! Ia!

*hides*

[Hookswords]

- no character


What do you mean by that?

[nathonicus]

Yog-Sothoth ia! Ia!
"We have no business calling in such things from outside, and only very wicked peaple and very wicked cults ever try to." -- Dr. H. Armitage

[Fozzybar]

What do you mean by that?

i mean, that the creature should be some sort of species which generally opens portals for whatever purpose...but not something like a guard dog with the name Tony which opens portals in the name of Zeus...you know?

[silentkitty]

i mean, that the creature should be some sort of species which generally opens portals for whatever purpose...but not something like a guard dog with the name Tony which opens portals in the name of Zeus...you know?

...awww. *starts over* :sadcheerleader:

; P

[chaosrocks]

thanks for the explanation...I don't play many games and all my gamer cronies were less than helpfull, so I can go with the fantasy literature explaination originally thought of, there's there's not a long tradition of "portal guardians" that I should understand ?
thanks
C.rocks

[meeatu]

(right eyes twitching) gah ... gotta think

[Nexus]

Ok, everyone thus far seems to be stumped or at least lacking ideas for the moment. Let's get the synapses firing. Ok so it's a creature, obviously. Also it has some sort of inherent power to create portals. The title is "Portal Opener" but if you take that literally that's just the same as door opener or gate opener, neither of which is very interesting. No, no it has to be something that creates portals. Alright so creature that creates portals. Ok, but how? And for what purpose? Does it create them through magic, advanced technology, or some natural energy it possesses? Why does it create them? Perhaps it hunts this way, warping from portal to portal, making it the quickest predator ever. Maybe it's the servant of some vastly powerful being who uses it to transport troops from battlefield to battlefield. The possibilities are limitless for this thing guys. Just nail down why it creates portals and how it creates portals. Think of how animals in real life function. They have certain attributes that allow them some pretty amazing abilities. What organs, protrusions, or other device would create a portal? Come up with a little story and the thing will almost create itself. Hoped this stirred up some ideas for someone. Good luck all and I can't wait to see your submissions.

[theshunzun]

that was some inspiring creativitiy, Nexus. Thanks!

[Pawige]

Does it disturb you as much as it does me that the goatse guy immediately springs to mind?

[theshunzun]

the what???

[artiphats]

ok here is my idea: the creature has a very large "mouth", which is actually the portal that it's masters use to go through. The creature is very old, and has been the slave of the evil ones who trapped and enslaved it countless ages ago. The mouth is huge, surrounded by teeth, and its limbs chained. Mouth is also kept open, chains pull the jaws in different directions. Also, the portal is activated when the evil ones introduce the fumes of an ancient herbal combination to the creatures nose.

Off I go to render now, what do you guys think, sound any good so far?

[Demiurgic]

ok here is my idea: the creature has a very large "mouth", which is actually the portal that it's masters use to go through. The creature is very old, and has been the slave of the evil ones who trapped and enslaved it countless ages ago. The mouth is huge, surrounded by teeth, and its limbs chained. Mouth is also kept open, chains pull the jaws in different directions. Also, the portal is activated when the evil ones introduce the fumes of an ancient herbal combination to the creatures nose.

Off I go to render now, what do you guys think, sound any good so far?
Sounds bit more like a character to me... i guess. From what I understand by "no characters" is that it shouldn't be a single being or creature, it has to be just an example of a normal member of the speicies, tho you can make the speicies itself as abnormal as you like. What I am thinking anyways...

[ceberae]

http://www.logoesque.com/blink/Nun.jpg

Concept: Nehebkau.
Description: A nehebkau can be found roaming the southern deserts easily enough from miles away, its giant horns a dead giveaway among the endless sands. On its back it carries a portal to other worlds. One must approach it with a destination in mind; otherwise it will choose a world for you. Little is known about the origin of these serpents, aside from the fact that it is unwise to bother one when it’s shedding its skin: the portal may lead you to a place no mortal would want to be in, regardless of what world you chose. Some believe, that nehebkau is really everywhere and nowhere at once, and the serpent that greats you is the very same one that sees you on the way out.

[Jonoy]

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a134/jonoy/Portalopener7.jpg
I had seen the disgusting looking creature in Halicor's laboratory every time I had been there, cowering in the corner and shivering in fear; wether of Halicor or the stranger that was invading its home.
I knew the portal had to be in the laboroatory, more than once I had hidden beneath his stairs watching and waiting for the moment he would use it but never had I seen him do so. Yet he would disappear from his laboratory for days on end with that sickly looking creature still cowering in the corner, the stitched mass of scar-tissue running vertical down its belly oozing pus and ichor.
Had I not felt a brief moment of pity for the grotesque animal and cleaned up its filth I would never have seen the pseudopod trailing into the wound, nor tried to pull it clear as I cleaned away the goo. At the mearest tug upon it the creature had begun unlacing the stitching and to my initial disgust, had opened the wound in its belly wide, emmiting a gastly pale blue light thru-out the room and across my face. Echoing ripples of light danced into an impossible distance within that cavity while the surface rippled around the edges like a shaken mirror...
And to think that the portal had been under my nose from the very beginning...

[Nexus]

Ceberae, what medium do you use to do your sketches? Is that conte' crayon? Looks good by the way.

[artiphats]

Sounds bit more like a character to me... i guess. From what I understand by "no characters" is that it shouldn't be a single being or creature, it has to be just an example of a normal member of the speicies, tho you can make the speicies itself as abnormal as you like. What I am thinking anyways...


Hmm, I dont think it sounds like a character at all. I didnt say it was the only one, although if it were unique in its universe I dont think that would prevent it from being a creature either. It could be the last of its species. The vision I have that is kinda spidery like, actually. A creature who, when stimulated as I stated above, does something special- in this case opens a portal.

Look at Jonoy's sketch. It looks like a creature and is described as one, and also opens its mouth to open the portal. (Guess we were on the same thought-process Jonoy).

[Jonoy]

Oops! sorry, wasn't trying to rip your idea, I hadn't read your description.
I'll try to make it more obvious as I go along that the portal is an incision (make the stitching clearer) in the creature and emphasise the small mouth above it.

[Liviu B.]

@ceberae: keep going with yours! very homogenous and straightforward look. keep at it.
@jonoy: so far it looks cool, like something out of an old comic book. I'm curious about your approach on your human-creature relationship
@nexus: I personally prefer #1, its got cool design, a good sense of 3dimensionality and good integration of the portal concept.
I'll try my hand at this one too. Later guys

[Fozzybar]

yeah, 1 looks cool...and the one which looks most like a creature...

[MichaelMotion]

Here's my final
C.O.W. - #038: Portal Opener
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a48/-Michael-/038_PortalOpener.jpg
BottomSpecie that creates the illusion of a portal to another dimension, think noone's (other bottom creatures) falling for this one.. Guess that's why these species are extinct.

[Liviu B.]

I'm thinking... you should've somehow made that obvious..?

[Hookswords]

Does it disturb you as much as it does me that the goatse guy immediately springs to mind?

Deeply disturbing that that's the first thing in your mind at any time for anything. That said, I do understand your point of reference. *shudders* I feel a animated gif coming on.

[asoir]

Jonoy..You're taking the piss! That must have been inspired by goatse! *shiver*

[Jonoy]

Whilst I have seen that deeply disturbing footage, it was Clive Barker (and to a lesser extent the mutant prophet in Total Recall) that was on my mind...lol!

[flatliner]

Jonoy..You're taking the piss! That must have been inspired by goatse! *shiver*

Should I be glad that I do'nt know what 'goatse' is?

[Erilaz]

An early pencil sketch before I get to work with the wacom.
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/1182/038wip1hn.jpg

WIP work:
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6732/cow038wip0026hm.jpg
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/8279/cow038wip0030vl.jpg

The Subterranean Rift Beetle
This species of beetle are only found in the caverns below the surface of the moon T7A18 in the inner northern spiral. Their life cycle is vast for an insect, and they mate perhaps 10 time during that exisitence. Their name comes from the fact that their breeding technique is unique from any creature across the known galaxy. Rift Beetles have no visible sexual organs, and are hermaphrodites. A pair breeds by aligning themselves on the walls or stalagmites of the caves, then opening a dimensional rift to each others organs via a displacement gland resting in a cavity between their spiral shell whorls. Impregnation can occur in either the current or an alternate dimensional field.
The side effect to this rift sex is dimensional disturbance between the two breeding beetles. Any object or creature that has the misfortune of walking between a pair of mating Rift Beetles will find themselves somewhere else entirely.
Harvesting the beetles' glands has gleaned some promising results. By tuning the DNA of the Rift Beetle to particular cloned offspring, it is possible to predict where a mating gland rift will take you. Further investigation is required.
SIDE NOTE: Don't walk into a cavern during mating season. You will die. Or at least BITS of you will.



Sorry for the long speal, but i was just trying to firm the idea in my head.:teeth:

[Jonoy]

Should I be glad that I do'nt know what 'goatse' is?Ahhhhh, the awesome might of the search-engine is what you don't need right now, I can assure you of that.

[redehlert]

interesting topic....should be some fun entries on this one.

[Hookswords]

This is the final, I will have to try no lines next time.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5343/portalwip3ay.jpg

The Void Wraith. Known by many other names...the void reaver, the world eater, its kind has struck fear into beings on hundreds of planes. By nature it does not normally bother with beings as small and pointless as our kind. Only when starved and low on the energy it needs to shift through planes will it devour a planets most miniscule life forms. Its appetite can only be truely quenched by feasting upon demons. A demon hunter. Often they hunt solo, though they are known to hunt in packs for larger prey. Its long serpentine body is its main transportation device when on land. It also uses this like a boa or anaconda to entangle its prey.It is capable of of standing on its three bladed arms to psition itself or to strike with its snake like body. The two upper arms are used as its main attack weapon, while the lower is a secondary as well as a finishing weapon. Its venomous stinger subdues its prey to turn its lifeforce into food and energy. The orbs are its device for traveling through planes. Its body produces them through time. The bigger the wraith gets the more it needs to guide its massive body through time and space. Multiple brain centers provide control and sight in different directions.

[Jonoy]

Is a simian or a primate 'humanoid'?
(no, I'm not intentionally trying to be fecicious...)

[depleteD]

that is an awesome topic

[Chuck,mate.]

Wow.
Between this "goatse" guy,
Child molesting clergy,
Iraqis filming themselves beheading a guy with a hand-saw,
18 blonde girls who call their being DPd by 2 black cocks a "movie career",
Millions of morons burning cars buildings and other people because someone drew a caricature of their prophet ("how dare you depict us as murderous violent terrorists?! We'll fucking kill you and burn your family, mother fucker!..")
And Britney spears,
I think it's safe to say Humanity turned out to be a huge glorious flippin` success.
Yup.
The future never looked brighter.

[Jonoy]

"...Happiness is a warm handgun mumma..."
j/k
coincidentally, you will find all of those things at stileproject.com...
...and briteny as well lol

[Chuck,mate.]

"...Happiness is a warm handgun mumma..."
j/k
coincidentally, you will find all of those things at stileproject.com...
...and briteny as well lol

i fail to see the humor in that.
actually it`s really really really sad.
:nohope:

[Jonoy]

the joke is that if the world is so bad a warm hand gun can fix it
but that it really won't fix it at all.
(the line is from the beatles song.)

[Nexus]

Hey this thread got all pessimistic all of a sudden. And that says alot coming from me as I'm the originator of the glass is half empty. This thread is about Portal Creatures guys, let's drop the negativity and put up something relavent.

[Erilaz]

How did all this conversation start anyway? I want more artwork dammit! :teeth:

[Chuck,mate.]

the joke is that if the world is so bad a warm hand gun can fix it
but that it really won't fix it at all.
(the line is from the beatles song.)


i was refering to this:
"coincidentally, you will find all of those things at stileproject.com...
...and briteny as well lol"

[Jonoy]

ah, then; indeed you are right.
It is a sad, messed up site.

[Fozzybar]

ok, peeps, if you want to talk about different topics than COW related stuf do it in the lounge where it belongs...

and Jonoy primates are allowed of course, since they are part of the fauna as interpreted by the COW rules...but the more you give em human attributes the more you're going to be rejected...that's it ;)

[JakkaS]

FINAL
------------
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/01293d65.jpg

Mortaris - Seeds of Orpheus.
Fragments of description from Aristu's Guide Book of Lower Levels of Hell.
"... This creature can give u a hope or you can curse it... "

"...I think this beast escaped from some kind of astral plane or maybe straight from hell. This is
definitely a predator, but it does not eat flash or bones. This monster feeds on human's life energy. It can suck whole life from the victim, but it takes a lot of time. How does it make that? First, I want to say it's very disgusting image. The beast falls down on the chest of the human. Then it injects a drug into victim's body, straight into human's mouth. Drug is working very fast and the body and mind go into a some kind of coma. But,... and this is the most interesting part..., when human is in coma, Mortaris opens a portal. This portal has connection to the astral plane, sometimes it is hell, but sometimes it is heaven. When the portal is opened, human's soul must go into it. When the soul's journey begins, beast can start to drain the victim's life energy. When the human is in the astral plane, he can talk to dead souls, angels or devils. Therefore, this journey can be very pleasant but also can break your spirit. Of course it doesn't matter, because usually, after a few hours, Mortaris can suck out all humans energy, and the body and mind dies..."

"... I have read some information about a some dark sect, were using these creatures in the "Seeds of
Orpheus" rituals. Their priests can go across the portal to hell and then return. Sometimes they die. They just cannot or don't want to come back. They say the only thing you have to do, when you are connected, is to remember that you WANT TO GO BACK, to your material plane..."

[Nexus]

Hmm does it seem to anyone else like there's less participation this round than last round? Or is it just because it's only Tuesday? Or perhaps this topic is a bit of a stumper? This is only my second C.O.W. so I don't know how things usually go.

Jonoy: Good color choice for the creature and excellent lighting. Is the portal going to be so blindingly white or are you going to tint it a different hue?

Jakkas: As always, excellent creature design. I'm real curious as to how it's large singular eye opens portals and the signifance of that prehensile tail choking that unfortunate person. I'm guessing it's a psychic predator, a psychovore if you will, that uses some sort of portal energy to feed off it's victims mind waves or thoughts.

Hookswords: That thing has real potential. Especially if it's going to be composed of that pure neon blue and white energy, I could definitely see that working well. I noticed its claws vaguely resemble hookswords, way to work your screename into your creature.

Erilaz: The concept behind the rift beetle is great, really creative. I like the creature design and its simplicity but it could use some texture of some kind if you're not already planning on it. Also make sure to depict two beetles and the portal, much better image than a single beetle.

Michael Motion: I'm gonna have to agree with Liviu B. It really does need a portal in there somewhere. If that tail is a magic portal creator then have it rending open timespace. Other than that good job, reminds me of the Scylla monster from the Odyssey.

Ceberae: You just have a knack for this. I'm really hoping you have time to lay some color into those awesome drawings before the week is out.

[artiphats]

probably just early in the week. I'm in though. I inked my design this morning on a blank envelope while waiting for a client to show up at our meeting. I'll be finishing this one up and also the current EOW over the next few days.

Im sure there will be a lot of entries by the deadline. By the way, Nexus, cool design so far.

[Liviu B.]

I'm on it too but I dont think I'll post my wips, no time really :)

[misledtomisery]

here's my wip....a sort of fish/floater creature that feeds off creatures on the negative material plane, able to gate in and out at will. a "phasefish" if you will...huh..

http://misledtomisery.com/forums/portalrgh.jpg

[vigostar]

i love that sketch Jakkas! this is such a cool topic.. i wish i had time for it!

[Jonoy]

Jonoy: Good color choice for the creature and excellent lighting. Is the portal going to be so blindingly white or are you going to tint it a different hue?

Blue hue but alota white too... swirly lightning effects n tha like...

[Nexus]

Nice, Jonoy that looks good. Instead of a dark center to the portal though Id go with a really light one. Otherwise it takes on the appearance of a large throat.

[Standing]

Aaaaargh - MisledtoMisery - I think that we must have been channeling each other or something. That looks just like my final sketch!!!:$
Back to the drawing board! *sigh*
Here are my wips for a chuckle.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/stan23/thumbs12w.jpg

[shadoman]

Standing, those are great sketches. I especially love numbers 2-5. Don't trash them.

[Hookswords]

Hookswords: That thing has real potential. Especially if it's going to be composed of that pure neon blue and white energy, I could definitely see that working well. I noticed its claws vaguely resemble hookswords, way to work your screename into your creature.



Do you mean having the entire body composed of energy? That is a thought I hadnt considered if that is what you mean. I was thinking of a hard carpace like armor mixed with a snake like texture. I was going to give it markings...you know....like blotches. I was toying with the idea of having these blotches act as batteries for the energy it needs to warp, so some would show that energy like feel. Please feel free to expand on your thoughts, I'm open. Thanks for the claw love. I used mantis arms as a reference and added the crescents for some flavor.

[Nexus]

Mmm, gotta love that deadly flavor. Yes my initial thought from your WIP was that it was going to be composed entirely of white energy with neon blue shapes to define its forms. However the carapace idea sounds good also, I too went along the carapace route with my creature. So, either compose him entirely of energy or go with a carapaced body but be sure to give him some depressions within the shell to house energy spots. Or give him some protrusions that the energy comes from. Either way make it obvious that it has some kind of mechanism that enables its warp travel.

[ceberae]

Why oh why did goatse get mentioned? My god, does that bring back an image forever ingrained in my mind…

Jonoy: great creature, I love the little hands-for-irises, very creepy.

Nexus: I use felt tip pens (drawing pens). I like to use ink because I tend to smudge my drawings. Not to say that I have given up on pencils, but the inks look far neater when I do sketches.
For your Warp Predator, I actually like the first version best: clean, nice and sleek. I think that if you wanted to add texture to the design, you should either distribute it more strategically (ie, think what you want the viewer to look at first) or work on your lighting (using the lightning from his claws as the main source, you could have some deep dramatic shadows). The reason why I like the first is because the line work is done in such a way that it brings my attention immediately to his “face” and my eyes have somewhere to rest. It’s a great concept! Carry on :P

MichaelMotion: I agree that the portal opening should be a bit more obvious. Perhaps, some interesting design on the end of the tail would help. Or capture the creature in the moment of opening the portal.

Liviu B: thanks, I’ve changed the design about a bit. Hopefully I will have a WIP update by tomorrow. (too bad you don’t have time to participate. The more the merrier)

Erilaz: interesting idea. I wonder if you could have two of the creatures to show, rather than tell, the process of creating the portal? Just a thought.

Hookswords: cool creature (snakes!)

JakkaS: Does it open the portal into the person’s mind? (for some reason I had a “Twilight Zone” theme music moment there)

Misledtomisery and Standing: you guys are definitely on the same wavelength here. Somehow, that seems appropriate for the topic ;)

[theshunzun]

damn, some good stuff floatin' about here.

[Jonoy]

'blue and green should not be seen'... some old artist proverb but it never stopped me... I like 3.
also, I'm thinking to put a liquidish reflective surface over the opening (ripple around the pseudopod trailing onto the opening) plenty of time to toy with it yet...
@ceberae- thnx, I am hoping they don't look like little peeps trying to escape though (waving their hands 'help!help!')

[Keng]

Second one Nexus. Like you said, it has a more organic feel to it.

[Erilaz]

I'm torn between 1 and 2 Nexus. The second one feels a little more funky in colour, but i'm enjoying the simplicity of the other.

[Mike Corriero]

http://pratt.edu/~mcorrier/portfolio/portalweaver-web1.jpg
The Portal Weaver:

Just the SKETCH - final is posted on the later pages

[Simon Boxer]

Awesome concept, Mike. Wish I thought of it - can really see it as a believable creature.

http://www.cognitiondesigns.com.au/other/COWportalsbox15feb06.jpg

Ocean Portallus

One of many ocean oddities, this creature is a very intricate type of resonance tube. It's a 'hollow' creature, growing up to about 25cm in length, that can emit sound at will from millions of separate spots on its 'skin' (both inside and out). Because it has the ability to create so many different sound sources, it propels itself (and steers) by harmonising certain combinations and getting forced through low pressure zones created. This also allows it to seemingly teleport while moving at full velocity. To do so, it arranges the high intensity sound waves in such a way to create a small 'portal', allowing it to easily escape prey. Alternatively, in dire circumstances this feature can be haphazardly used to inflict aural and internal damage to organs, or even as a way to kamikaze.

[Erilaz]

Damn... nice mike...
cognition.sb: Really like the ocean concept.

Still going... need to touch up a lot! It feels a little stagnant. I may need to alter the other beetle more so there are obvious differences. Bugs are bugs however, so I don't want them to be too different!

It's actually twice this res, but for sanity's sake:
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6905/cow038wip0041fq.jpg

[Chuck,mate.]

C.O.W. - #038: Portal Opener

Carmine Spinner
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7154/portalopenersmall1ys.jpg

this intelligent creature exist in one of the many parallel universes, living in small groups.
floating in mid-air due to a very low gravity pull it feeds on peripatetic energy
pockets.
the "Carmine Spinner"`s name derives from its unique ability to rotate around it`s axis in varying speeds. as this marvelous creature gets close to the speed of light and then pass it, it becomes pure energy, all its matter reach a plasma phase and the Spinner turns into an open portal to other dimensions and parallel universes, "ripping" a hole in the space-time continuum.
then other CSs travel through it to visit and explore other worlds.

[Jonoy]

@chuck,mate- now this I really like.
Cool idea and lovely render that covers the brief in that it shows a clear description of the creature and by virtue of the composition (foreground, mid-ground, background), shows its ability to open portals. I learn much from the artists on this site n hope other aspirants like myself do also.

[Chuck,mate.]

jonoy - thank you. i mean it.
i spent about 6 hours on this one, and i do appreciate the kind words.

b.t.w. i also made an animated gif that shows the actuall metamorphosis of this creature (static, spining, gaining speed, becoming a portal) but it didn`t turn out as good as i hoped for, plus it got pretty big in size, so i didn`t post it.
i think the idea is more or less apparent in the final image,though.
:)

[Hookswords]

Its a toss up between two and three. Two makes it look like the whole body is getting into the warp. Like it is starting to turn to particles or something. Three has a nice feel as a creature's color scheme.

[artiphats]

ballpoint pen sketch:
http://www.houseofscion.com/artwork/env-portal.jpg

first color block in:
http://www.houseofscion.com/artwork/wip-portal.jpg

Final description and image to follow.

[Nexus]

Well, damn I thought I was in the running for a little bit there. Then Chuck, mate posted something. That's a cool critter Chuck, as always. I'm imagining it's kind of like an air jellfish in the way it moves and I can totally see it spinning up to create a portal. Eh, maybe Chuck will be busy next week and I'll stand a chance.

[walnut]

Pretty neat idea Chuck. I can already picture that creature moving.
MikeC: Looking good again, but i have a question: you wouldn't happen to be inspired by Perdido Street Station on this, would you?

I'm going to do as Standing did and post some several ideas, as i can't really choose between them. Here you go:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/walberg/portal-opener.jpg

[Nexus]

Walnut, Id say take the head off the bottom left one and tranfer it onto the twisted tentacle body of the top right one.

[Mike Corriero]

Cognition , Erilaz, Walnut - Thanks

Walnut@- I don't even know what Perdido Street Station is.. ??

[Stephan_R]

pulling my first idea as I have another :) great job so far all .. hopfully ill get mine up soon! Chuck.Mate you have my vote so far.

[Nexus]

Cognition I'm having a little trouble grasping what exactly your creature looks like. I see what appears to be a distorted moon jellyfish and perhaps its spinning some sort of vortex around itself whilst trying to escape into some sort of undersea cave. But so much is going on in between the rock outcroppings, giant fish, and all the motion from the creature that I can't really discern what it looks like or even where it ends and the rest of the image begins. Plus before I read the description I thought it was a big fish that shot whirlpools out of its mouth. The fish is too large of an element. I like the idea though and it could definitely work it's just hard to read. Maybe showcase the creature not in the act of using its ability and then have another one that is. Much like Chuck, mate's. Also that fish has got to dominate less of the image, it's too much.

[ceberae]

Updated WIP on page 1.

Awesome concept, Chuck,Mate! Great colours. The only thing that bothers me is the foreground element. It looks a bit distructing to me.

[Nexus]

Nice update Ceberae, the mood you've set is excellent. As long as that portal gets a little brighter and you throw some stronger highlights here and there which im sure youre working on it should give guys like Chuck and Mike a run for their money.

[Thefultron]

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/thefultron/portalopener.jpg

This my second C.O.W.
he turned out grimmer than I'd hoped for. I was going for friendly.
NOTES* I played around with textures and lighting a lot more than with my previous works.

[depleteD]

Chuck-sweet idea man,
Cerebrae- I liked your initial sketch more man. Still killer work.

Ah some great ideas here. I'm about 2/3s done mine right now. Ill post when I'm finished. I'm focusing on my idea and function of my drawing more now. In previous challenges I just drew to prac drawing. But now i realize the opportunity to practise my thinking as well. Looking forward to more entries in this thread. :)

[Pawige]

Oh boy, oh boy! Never participated in one of these weekly challenges, and quite frankly, it's very intimidating to be comparing myself to most of you.

Updated
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/v110/Pawige/PortalOpener2.jpg

The Oortaj are strange creatures, looking like a nightmare cross between an ape and an insect. They breath magic, rather than oxygen. A spongy growth along the inner arms and chest is filled with dense capillary beds, where much of the inhaled magical energy is stored.

The diet of this beast consists mainly of hapless adventurers. Two of the Oortaj will work in tandem to connect a portal to something other than the endless nether, creating a brilliantly shimmering silver sheet of portacular power.

The average adventurer, blinded by a lust for bread (not the kind made of flour) and breasts (also not the kind made of flour), will rush headlong into any portal he spots, assuming it will somehow take him closer towards his ultimate goal (adventurers are not often renowned for their intellect). Sensing the disturbance in the portal, a hibernating Oortaj will wake and instantly cut blood flow to the flesh generating the portal.

Adventurers, cleanly cloven in two, make a very nutritious (not to mention tasty, with a bit of salt) meal for a pair of hungry Oortaj.

[Chuck,mate.]

walnut,depleteD,Nexus,ceberae -thanks guys. appreciate it.
:)

[Nexus]

Thanks, Depleted. I kinda liked that sketch too. Although they are nearly identical in body structure there are definitely some things that I changed for the purposed of the story behind the creature. It was my intention for the thing to be predatory from the start and frankly my initial sketch was rather unmenancing. Predators generally have some means of ripping into the flesh of their prey and that thing didnt have a tooth in its entire head and since it didnt have claws, stingers, or ne other deadly attributes it just wouldnt do. So now it's somewhere in between a crab, orca, and whatever the hell else it probably resembles. I'm also working on an environment and multiple views of the thing to be up by saturday. As long as I improved some from last week and get one vote thats not my own I'll be pleased enough.

[Nexus]

Arcturian Xenogeist
The Xenogeist has no planet which it calls home although it inhabits many worlds across the multiverse. The Xenogeist can be thought of as a warp viper. Using antimatter nodes located at the end of head calipers it stretches open momentary holes in the dimensional fabric of a universe to slip into a dimensional limbo, a dimension in between dimensions. As the Xenogeist enters the warp, nodes similar to those located upon its cranium siphon the portal energy back into storage organs for use in creating the next warp. In this way the Xenogeist is never in need of resting to replenish its energy stores as it simply recycles the same warp energy over and over. Generally when hunting, the Xenogeist often will appear suddenly to frighten a creature into running in one direction. Then the Xenogeist will warp quickly in front of the unexpecting creature to swallow it in a single gulp. Xenogeist's possess no legs as they constantly hover and legs would be fairly useless in the incorporeal nether of the dimensional limbo.

Ok, the image is going to be down for a bit. I'm rethinking the color scheme.....again. It just wasnt doing it for me, the blue was too cheery for something like what I'm working with. It'll be back up again later.

[Chuck,mate.]

nexus -
well your creature looks great, very cool design.

here are some crits though (all just pointers, take it or leave it, no need to go crazy)
:)

-it does kinda look like the head of a creature rather than a creature on itself.
-it has an "industrial" feeling, something mechanic, and not quite a living breathing thing.
-the color choices,though really cool, are somewhat "all over the place"...
-there`s hardly any light&shade and that flatten the whole image sort of.
plus there are 3 light sources infront of it - and no indication of them on the actuall creature, they`re not affecting it in any way (no shadows, no strong light)
-the white bg isn`t working for the drawing, but against it. again - flattening it even more.

that`s about it, my 2 cents right there.
hope you won`t take any of my comments the wrong way,
and that it helps in any way.
cheers mate.
:)

[Nexus]

No of course not, Chuck. Trust me after as many years of art critiques and hearing what is not working with my pieces Ive found its better to know than not. Why have a halfass piece just because one couldnt take constructive criticism? So in reply to your comments, this image is simply a placeholder. Just trying to lay out the color scheme and look of the thing. I've decided that yes it is a head for something larger perhaps something serpentine/wormesque. I really dont want it to be a bulky creature, more of a finesse predator, one strike one kill. As far as it looking industrial, Ill see how it looks with the new body then make a decision. I do agree that the creature markings are a bit everywhere. Ill tone them down but I do like the mottled look. Perhaps if I just used it a bit more sparsely and in a slightly different color scheme, toned down a smidge. Also Im aware of the lack of the lighting and lack of strong shadows. Until I figure out what environment Ill be replacing that white bg with I have to leave that issue unresolved for the moment. If the creature is placed in a brightly lit sky environment then of course the shadows will not be so stark regardless of the glowing nodes. However if hes in a dimensional limbo lacking much light then the light reflections would be extremely bright and the whole thing nearly in shadow. Ill take down this image soon and replace it with a version with a body. Thanks again Chuck.

[JakkaS]

UPDATE ON PAGE 1

***


JakkaS: Does it open the portal into the person’s mind? (for some reason I had a “Twilight Zone” theme music moment there)

Something like that.


i love that sketch Jakkas! this is such a cool topic.. i wish i had time for it!
hmmmm, I don't like my sketches. I am sketching because I always forget my ideas Hehehe. But I am glad that you like it. :D



Jakkas: As always, excellent creature design. I'm real curious as to how it's large singular eye opens portals and the signifance of that prehensile tail choking that unfortunate person. I'm guessing it's a psychic predator, a psychovore if you will, that uses some sort of portal energy to feed off it's victims mind waves or thoughts.

Really interesting idea, but this is not what i had in mind.

--------

Mike, maybe I am wrong but something is wrong with yours creature right leg. I think it should be more on the right.

Chuck, give us link to this animation. This might be interesting.
ting.

[Mike Corriero]

http://pratt.edu/~mcorrier/portfolio/portalweaver-final.jpg

The Portal Weaver:
The Portal Weaver travels through dimensions, it lives in a 3-dimensional world but builds its web in the 4th dimension in which it captures it’s prey. This dimension is invisible on planet’s un-like its own and only visible to the Portal Weaver itself, therefore making it easy for it to capture various types of prey ranging from the smallest of mammals to the largest of creatures.
The shock of entering a portal leaves the victim suspended in animation, rendered helpless. Floating in an endless trap of time, frozen in shock and waiting to find out what their fate will be.
The Portal Weaver hops from one dimension to the next checking it’s portals for its next lunch. Usually the Portal Weaver will create a maximum of 8 portals each leading to distinct locations. As quickly as the Portal Weaver can appear, it can disappear staying close to it's invisible portals to retreat whenever it may feel threatened.
A rather intelligent horse sized breed of arachnid unknown to most other than it's victims who live a rather painfully short life. It would be an unlucky hand to have been dealt if you walked through a portal where it's hatch-lings wait to feast on their first meal.

Larger Image can be seen here: HIGH RES. IMAGE (http://features.cgsociety.org/gallerycrits/113084/113084_1140199374.jpg)



Jakkas, I think I know what your talking about, it was a personal preference to make a better silloughette, if the leg was out further it would have caused too much confusion around the arms and head. He's just got the leg positioned inward. ;)

[digitalfly]

Its wings are flikers and create a portal.
When it keeps the portal it's dig his legs and tail into the ground.

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/5184/portal01a3mk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[JakkaS]

Jakkas, I think I know what your talking about, it was a personal preference to make a better silloughette, if the leg was out further it would have caused too much confusion around the arms and head. He's just got the leg positioned inward.
Somehow I knew u say that.

[Stephan_R]

WOW mike and digitalfly :) very quality work there... both believable and great renders. I like how Mike yours is named the weaver and it reminds me of a spider, and digitalfly's looks like violent firework going off... very nice "visual sell" on these.

[Stephan_R]

http://www.steveroyer.com/sketching/cow_38.jpg

These little guys sneak away to visit the creatures on distant planets. The Telfrug is from the planet Pesil, and this one currently has a fascination with birds.

[Mike Corriero]

Stephan R @- just gonna give u a heads up, "he" refers to a single being which would constitute a character, and items like a smoking pipe would also belong to a character rather than a creature. Just pointing it out now incase foz turns it down for voting.

btw thanks for the comment about my final

[Erilaz]

Digitalfly, that is a seriously awesome concept. As soon as I saw it, I got chills. Very nice idea.:teeth:

Mike, love the texture work on this one. The background is stunningly intricate.

Stephan_R, the sweet nature of this one makes me grin! :teeth:

Chuck,mate,The concept looks brilliant. A very believable design.

Great work all of you so far! This week has shown some damn funky designs. I'm glad I joined in this time around!

[Erilaz]

I've actually made this too big, will it still squeeze into the requirements?:x

Click on the smaller image for full resolution:
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9352/cow038wip008sml1eg.jpg
(http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/4541/cow038wip0087yz.jpg)

[Nexus]

Erilaz it just preferred that its at least that size. Its not required to be. Now if you were posting a 3000x3000 pxl sized image then that wouldnt be ok. But yours is well within the requirements.

[Hookswords]

I've posted my latest developments (on page one). Please let me know what you think. I am wide open to suggestions. One thing I am curious about is if the blue highlights on the body come off as too strong, or too bold. Things look different on different monitors and such so...

This is my first formal more finished piece I have posted here. I have to say this was a lot of fun. This group is very helpful and with so many of you being so talented it has pushed me to really give it a go.

[Mike Corriero]

Hookswords- The background creates a bit of distraction between the creature in the foreground. I would simplify the scattered blurred brush effect your using, and maybe lower the contrast of color on the background to bring out the creature more.
I would also reflect some of that blue lighting going on, onto the creatures edges to define the form more and give the creature more dimension and depth. Try not to rely on the black linework to define the edges, let the light bring out the design through one or two light sources.

[Hookswords]

Yeah, getting away from line art will be my biggest hurdle. Do you guys have any tips on process? How to go from a line art sketch to a lineless finished piece? It would be mighty helpful to have some guides here. I will give it a go though Mike, thanks for the tips.

[Nexus]

I have a tip. Ok, first make sure you've got you lights and darks mapped out. Forms are defined by the play of lights and darks not lines in reality. So find your light source and start laying in where the deepest shadows will be and then move on to light areas, maybe even throwing in a highlight here and there. Once you have everything roughed in with the colors your happy with and making sure your light source is correct you can go back and use similar colors but darker to define around forms. Look at Chuck,mate's creature, he has used deep red to define the spines of the thing. He didnt use flat black and thusly its more believable. Just make sure not to use the same line width around the whole creature. That makes it really flat. Vary it up a little. Where there are highlights and lighter spots dont use a line or make it very subtle. Where there are darks go ahead and define those a little more. Alot of it is just practice and using your artist's intuition. I'm no pro but I have learned a few things in the 16 plus years since I started drawing.

[Mike Corriero]

Not the best image, but I had made a tutorial a while ago, It goes from a quick line work sketch to just color, light and value.
You can overlay the base colors on top of the line work in the beginning by making a "multiply" layer and keeping your sketch on a separate layer. Once you get half way through and your design is becoming more defined and visible through lighting, you can lower the opacity of your sketch to about 50% or so and continue to lay color on top of a new layer. This way you can keep it true to the original line work design without loosing the likeness of the sketch.
http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=52822 Hope it helps in some small way.

[Erilaz]

Erilaz it just preferred that its at least that size. Its not required to be. Now if you were posting a 3000x3000 pxl sized image then that wouldnt be ok. But yours is well within the requirements.

Thanks Nexus. Here's the full res:
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/4541/cow038wip0087yz.jpg
The Subterranean Rift Beetle
This species of beetle are only found in the caverns below the surface of the moon T7A18 in the inner northern spiral. Their life cycle is vast for an insect, and they mate perhaps 10 time during that exisitence. Their name comes from the fact that their breeding technique is unique from any creature across the known galaxy. Rift Beetles have no visible sexual organs, and are hermaphrodites. A pair breeds by aligning themselves on the walls or stalagmites of the caves, then opening a dimensional rift to each others organs via a displacement gland resting in a cavity between their spiral shell whorls. Impregnation can occur in either the current or an alternate dimensional field.
The side effect to this rift sex is dimensional disturbance between the two breeding beetles. Any object or creature that has the misfortune of walking between a pair of mating Rift Beetles will find themselves somewhere else entirely.
Harvesting the beetles' glands has gleaned some promising results. By tuning the DNA of the Rift Beetle to particular cloned offspring, it is possible to predict where a mating gland rift will take you. Further investigation is required.
SIDE NOTE: Don't walk into a cavern during mating season. You will die. Or at least BITS of you will.



Can anyone suggest improvements? It the contrast of values too dim? Should I add extra texture to the creatures? If i'm going to do this, I might as well get the most out of it before the deadline! :teeth:

[Mike Corriero]

Erilaz- Personally, I don't see a need for the two creatures. With the way the composition is laid out and the creatures exact in size and pose, you could just crop the Image in half and show just one of the creatures unless the two are needed to create the portal.
It's just my personal preference because the composition is pretty much symmetrical right now, as if just duplicating one side and flipping it. If that's what you were going for, than I would say to maybe spice up the background a bit and define the portal creation that is taking place. Then maybe use the light from the portal to bring out a little more definition & color on the creatures themselves.

[Hookswords]

thanks for the tips guys. I might have to fudge this one a bit, but the next I will try that order of operations. What are your feelings on the use of dodge and burn tools for this sort of work?

[Erilaz]

Erilaz- Personally, I don't see a need for the two creatures. With the way the composition is laid out and the creatures exact in size and pose, you could just crop the Image in half and show just one of the creatures unless the two are needed to create the portal.
It's just my personal preference because the composition is pretty much symmetrical right now, as if just duplicating one side and flipping it. If that's what you were going for, than I would say to maybe spice up the background a bit and define the portal creation that is taking place. Then maybe use the light from the portal to bring out a little more definition & color on the creatures themselves.

Mike, sorry, I should have reposted my description on this version. Two creatures are required for the portal to work. It's a breeding mechansim. I was actually aiming for them not to be too symmetrical, but the alignment required by the portal process makes it necessary. I may have to alter the other beetle more to demonstrate they are actually different. Although I repainted the second beetle, it was based on the first so the "Flip" effect is probably quite prominent. Thanks for pointing that out! From your answer it seems like the portal creation doesn't seem obvious... I'll try and remedy that.

I'll post the description again in the above post!

[Erilaz]

What are your feelings on the use of dodge and burn tools for this sort of work?

I've heard dodge and burn seem to generally be considered a no-no Hookswords. I personally think it's okay to use them to touch up grey values, but not where colour is involved. I try to emulate traditional painting where I can.

[Tyranx]

http://st73.startlogic.com/~tyranxco/images/example01.jpg

I went ahead and pointed out the most important things, I hope you don't mind ;), cool creature concept, although the presentation could be better.

keep it up the good work, you'll get there!

[Erilaz]

I went ahead and pointed out the most important things, I hope you don't mind ;), cool creature concept, although the presentation could be better.

keep it up the good work, you'll get there!

Thanks Tyranx! I'll take those suggestions on board. I've got the weekend to fix up this guy, so hopefully i'll come out with a more pleasing result by sunday!

[Mike Corriero]

thanks for the tips guys. I might have to fudge this one a bit, but the next I will try that order of operations. What are your feelings on the use of dodge and burn tools for this sort of work?
I'd say stay away from them. Once you become more comfortable with digital painting and just painting forms in general play around with them, but most artist don't use them if at all, at the very minimum.

[Mike Corriero]

From your answer it seems like the portal creation doesn't seem obvious... I'll try and remedy that.

Yea, at first I didn't really even see a portal of any sort, and just figured the roundish lighted area in the middle was meant to be it. So maybe try adding something to make that more obvious.

[Tyranx]

Very cool creature you got there Mike! very original looking

[ceberae]

Updated with final on page 1. I figure this is as done as I can get it this week. It can look a bit too dark on some monitors.

depleteD: yeah, I hate when that happens :P Hopefully the final will change your mind.

Pawige: haha, hilarious description (good thing I’ve finished my drink before reading it)

Mike C: great work. The textures in particular are beautiful.

digitalfly: interesting concept. As a personal preference, I think the creature itself would have benefited from being a bit more refined since it’s the focus of this exercise.

Stephan_R: so cute.

Hookswords: I’m not sure if it’s the best shade of green to go with the shade of blue you’re using. The colours seem to clash a bit. As for the dodge/burn tool, though it seems like an easy fix, it’s a bit too unpredictable, I think.

[Mike Corriero]

Tyranx thanks- congrats on ur win for the White Skinned Dragon Eater

Ceberae- Thanks man, I like your pencil design work.

[depleteD]

Ah cerebrea I thought you were done. Looking forward to seeing your final.

So I focused more on the idea as much as the painting this time.
http://people.uleth.ca/~andrew.melnychukosee/portolio/portal%20opener.jpg

Chulyen Pheonix.
A genetic anomoly of the pheonix. Much like an albino of any species. The difference between the two is that the portal opener turns to dusts and the skeleton slowly melts into a puddle which then clumps up to form an egg and incubates in the ashes. This attribute of its rebirth leaves it vunerable to exploitation.

West coast tribes of Canada would revere this bird. It would fly into lodges and eat the the mushrooms that were lain on the table. Resembling a raven the
tribes would bow before it. The psylocin from the mushrooms would dope the bird and take away its ability to fly away. Unable to process the poison
from its system, it would stay in the hall and eat the food the native canadians would provide to it. When it eventually died from old age,
the extravagant death would awe the tribe and the elders. One wise elder came fourth; swirled the melting Portal Opener's skeleton to speeding up the melting process and stoping the formation of the egg. By interupting the rebirth process a portal would form in the swirling ashes and liquid bone. This was a portal to the afterlife.

It was a time of need in the tribe, a dispute had broken between the elders of who should lead after the death of the tribes matriarch.
The serendipity of the pheonix opener's death gave the tribe the opportunity to consult their ansestors.

When drastic disputes would arise, tribes on the west coast of canada would place a large offering of mushrooms to attract
a portal opener. They would decorate it with cerimonial attire and it would stay until death would come. The ritual would be performed in secrecy to consult the dead and avoid unessessary contamination of the two interacting planes of existence.

ANd there you go, comments and crits always welcome.

[Simon Boxer]

Gettin some interesting concepts out of this round...

Jakkas - awesome work as par usual

Stephen R - Such a great picture, very quirky. Shame it's more a character than creature, but as an illustration I think it's sweet.

depleteD - Love the backstory and the illustrations are brilliant (I really got pulled into the concept). Very well done.

[pvpham]

Heylo. This is my second COW, whoever thought of these weekly things is awesome. One of the reasons I like it is because it forces me take to a polished piece (or at least pretty close to it). I have this habit of not finishing drawings hopefully this will change things. Also it's really cool to see what other people come up with given the same task, esp with such talented people on this forum.

HookSwords: Cool concept although I think there is too much bright blue. Just from an overall image its a bit strong bright lights all over the image. Maybe reduce the intensity of it in areas which aren't as important to the overall image.


misledtomisery: I didn't quite get your description but the image is awesome. I really like the shape the flowy feel of it.

Standing: I vote number 2! I can't explain why but in my opinion it looks alot better than that others

Chuck Mate: That's a cool concept. You make the impossible sound possible which you gotta give credit to. Also interesting colour palette, I might give the whole saturated colour thing a try.

Walnut: I like the sting-ray-like one. I think the flat top compliments the portal ring. At first glance I like the one on the top right but I think that it is because you detailed it a bit more. IMO, in terms of shape I think the sting ray is better. Can't wait to see what the finished product is.

Mike Corriero: Very cool painting! That thing would scare the crap out of me....huge insects....

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d20/pvpham/2006/060217PortalOpener.jpg
Description:
The Portal Opener is a black substance which exists in the form of a thick liquid. To avoid drying out the PO needs to take refuge within the body of a living creature. The PO has the ability to change shapes and forms which make it potentially dangerous to those who oppose it. Once the PO has you in its grasp it can pull you in and when completely immersed within the strong, thick, and black fluid he can traverse you to worlds you could only imagine. It’s advised to be his friend rather than his enemy.

===============

I chose a bird as the host because I wanted something white, thin, long and kinda elegant looking which would make a nice contrast with the black, bold and harsh feel of the portal opener. It doesn't make the same impact I visualise in my head....it's very frustrating but I'm still satified with it.

Phil

[possessed]

MikeC, my jaw just hit the floor. I was allready impressed by your sketch but this finished version is just amazing. The linework...the colors.. the lighting... man.. a-ma-ZING! Wallpaperized it!

[depleteD]

Cognition- Thanks man.

pvpHam Twisted man, SOlid Rendering, I had troube seeing the face in the chest. Had to look at it for awhile.

Erilaz I agree with tyranx, presentation could be better but excellent idea behind your image. I would try to communicate your idea a bit more in the image. Have something signifing the reproductive process in the extradimensional light maybe?

Walnut good to see you posting those sketches. Some nice variety. But I could tell that they would be related species wise. Are you trying to keep that same head shape look?

Mike-Solid as usual, the only thing I disagree with is in your idea, the 4th dimension is time acctually. Yes I'm a nerd, I nit pick. : P

Jakkas Wow. amazing rendering.

Standing- Great sketches man, looking forward to what you will bring.

DigitalFLy I like your concept man.

StephenR- nice light hearted approach to this topic.


AH shit so many great ideas on this thread. I'm gonna go peep the character thread. I still gotta do that this week. UG!

[digitalfly]

Thanx people for coments and thanx ceberae for advice. I'll continue the story with next pict. I wished to post my 1th pict as soon as I can.
Can you imagine pvpham, I was going to draw a bird with tear up chest. Like pelican. He he! But your black arm is the best!

One more. Is a so necessary to tape a text with little story in a picture?

[MichaelMotion]

A lot of great looking entries on this COW! You guys are very inspiring, thanx for that!

Updated my final on the first page, hope you'll like!

best of luck to all..:teeth:

[walnut]

Thanks for the comment depleteD. They're all variations on the same theme so i guess you could say they're all the same family. And yes, i'm going to run with that type of head. Bad idea?

Stephan R.: Really dig yours! 's Got this idyllic, Magritte-ish feel to it, and it's a fun creaure. I'm afraid the pipe won't go down well with the jury though ...

pvpham: Ah, i'm going with yet another variant now, but i still appreciate the input. Who knows if i still have time i can do two versions? (haha, very funny walnut) I like yours, at first it made me think of an oil disaster victim taking out its revenge on mankind Charles Bronson style. You could make the bird look more elegant by bringing down its back a bit. That'll elongate the neck too. BUt those are just my two cents.

Nexus: Okay, that's another good idea to consider.

MikeC: Perdido Street Station is a novel by the author China Miéville. Very great book, you should definetely check it out. One of the creatures in the book is actually a Weaver, a big dimension-travelling spider, the description of which in the book resembles your idea, give or take some differences. I assume we may be talking about a case of parallel evolution of ideas here?

[Number_6]

http://www.steveroyer.com/sketching/cow_38.jpg

These little guys sneak away to visit the creatures on distant planets. The Telfrug is from the planet Pesil, and this one currently has a fascination with birds.

Wow, even if it doesn't qualify, that's freaking awesome. It's my new desktop background.

[Stephan_R]

Guys I really, really appreciate the comments both positive and negative. I didn't realize that the "creature" had to be so primitive to not have anything customized like the pipe, apologies that I stretched it a bit too far. I just wanted to be true to the idea in my head of a portal opener; something that just liked to open portals like a kid watching a fish bowl.

My favs so far: Mike C, JakkaS, Ceberae, Chuck,Mate and MMotion's made me smile :)

[Mike Corriero]

Hookswords your update is looking much better

Thanks to all those who left me a comment, much appreciated.

Mike C -

[depleteD]

Walnut: Not at all man, was just wondering what kind of variety you were looking for.

[Pawige]

Did a bit of an update on mine, fixed some wonky anatomy and some other misc. stuff.

Nexus: I like the way your entry is shaping up, it's just looking better and better!

Ceberae: Beautiful, great rendering and nice style! But I think it's breaking the rules, as it's a character rather than just a type of creature.

Jonoy: Every time I visit the thread, this's gotten better. The wrinkles on the guy's shirt look a little weird though. I like the portal effect.

MichaelMotion: Hilarious! It makes me think of seedy motels and cheap theme parks.

depleteD: Nice concept there, I like it. Step 3. however, is a little weak, some definition of the ground/table would be nice.

[redehlert]

hey foz....when are you going to reenter the rumble?
been missin' out on your fun and inventive concepts.

cheers!
d

[Pixelestial]

My first C.O.W.! I'm thrilled to be joining your ranks. :yayca:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/Ekhidna/ghent2.jpg

GHENT:
These enigmatic creatures are native to the space around black holes. They live by devouring anything and everything that is pulled their way, ranging from stray spacecrafts to asteroids and planets that have drifted off course -- some say they even prey on light itself. Almost as much mineral as they are animal, they are covered in the front by a calcareous shell, while the rear is coated in a bizarre pearlescent substance that distorts the immense gravitational power of the nearby black hole. The ghent's three "eye"stalks can focus this energy into the toothy maw that dominates its body, forming a portal that disposes of anything the ghent itself does not consume.

So, what happens to the matter that goes through the portal, you ask? It's a mystery to science, but according to myth, it is ground down into the most basic form of energy, the building blocks in the formation of new life and worlds. So, although ghents are forces of absolute destruction, they also have an unwitting hand in the mysteries of creation.

**************************************

I'm not sure I'm completely pleased with the color, but I can't put my finger on what needs changing.... not to mention the poor ghent in the lower right sort of looks like it's exploding rather than creating a portal. :[

[walnut]

OK, here goes:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/walberg/portalopener2.jpg

These quiet and docile creatures are the prime means of personal dimensional travel around the Galaxy these days. Their ancestors were discovered someplace now long forgotten in the Outer Rim, a place where physics can get quite screwy. These creaures had adapted there so well they were capable of hopping through realms as easy as a fish swims in water. They have been modified genetically to serve human (and other intelligent races) purposes. Breeding and training of a portal opener is a pricey enterprise, so only the richest of the rich can afford one. Consequently it's become a huge status symbol to take your portal opener for a walk, preferrably on a planet three parsecs away from your own. Also worth mentioning: they're great with kids, sustain themselves on radio waves (country music is a big fave) and their main mating sound goes something like "floooob".

I'm gonna stop there, i could keep yapping about this. Anyway, hope you like.

depleteD: Not much with this i guess. Mostly i just work from the previous concept, hence all the similarities.

Soulweaver: Good job on your first entry! Hope to see more soon ...

[Erilaz]

Thanks for all the tips guys. Still hammering:
http://www.artfuloddities.com/2D/Sketches/COW/COW038WIP009.jpg

Soulweaver: Awesome! Love the depth and texture.

depleteD: The concept is brilliant. I like the idea of a mythology behind it.

pvpham: Had trouble working out what the hell was going on, but I love the picture regardless!

walnut: Cute design. Great description!

[ceberae]

Pawige: thanks! I’m not sure how it breaks the rules though. Unless I misunderstood: the creature must not be one of a kind, but of a class which opens portals. Nun is basically a way of going from point A to point B: you enter a portal on one world and exit on the other. There’s a Nun on both ends. Perhaps I didn’t word the concept properly? I think I may have overdone it a bit by adding the speculation by the people whose myth I’m telling (ie, all Nuns are one Nun – ha, a silly name). Should I re-word the description?

MichaelMotion: that’s a hilarious concept! It’s great that you looked at it from a completely different angle.

JakkaS: beautiful rendering. Don’t forget the description ;)

depleteD: it’s complete for COW, I may do something else to it when I have the time (I’m not too crazy about the almost pitch-black background, or the horns, they need something extra…) You have a very elaborate concept and background story going for your entry. Very well thought out!

Pvpham: very interesting. The black on white contrast adds a certain grotesque feeling to the design.

walnut: I love the sort of innocent expression it seems to have. I wonder if these creatures ever… malfunction?

Soulweaver: beautiful colours and rendering of the creatures. The only bone I have to pick with presentation is that the in the background I see strokes that seem to be too noticeable, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that – it’s just they don’t seem to follow any pattern or describing any shape, while being noticeable at the same time. I’m not sure if I’m phrasing this right. Smoothing them out would be one possible solution.

Erilaz: I wonder if you could extend the spiral of the portal to connect to each creature. Kind of like a subtle “S” or “?” shape light going from one shell to the portal and from the other to the portal. Could be a way to extenuate that both creatures are making this portal.

Wow, so many awesome entries. Choices, choices!

[redehlert]

wow! nice job, jakkas. i do enjoy your colors. :)
personally i hate it when i'm walkin' around in the nude and i get a face plant from a beastie like this.
my only thoughts:
1. give the dude some clothing/gear lol
2. when this thing jumps on the guy, it'd be sweet to see those claws getting purchase/digging in on the skin so we have a sense of how it stays in place while singin' "Stuck on You"..... ;)

cheers!
d


I think its finished, but maby you have some crits.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/b2af35a5.jpg

[Pawige]

Ceberae: I just reread it, I think it's just because you refer to the creature as simply "Nun," rather than "a Nun." Probably no big deal but Mike warned Stephen_R that he might get DQed for the same thing.

[Erilaz]

I'm to wrapping it up. I'm labouring WAY too much on this, with little result.
http://www.artfuloddities.com/2D/Sketches/COW/COW038b.jpg

[Mike Corriero]

I think Ceberae should be ok, its foz's decision but I had pointed out Stephan_R's more because of the pipe and he referred to the creature as an individual more so than a species.
It's always a difficult thing to understand but I was just giving him a heads up in the off chance that it might not be taken to poll, although I don't have the final say I didn't want to see his hard work not have a chance at the voting poll.

[Erilaz]

That is really starting to look damn good Nexus.

[young paddy1]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/youngpaddy1/portalopener2.jpg

This grassland creature feeds soley on the energy given off by phasing through alternate universes, however the other animals of the plain are more interested in a meatier meal. The portal openers' oly real defence apart from flailing wildy is to use its light pink feeding node to produce a portal in flux (basically a quantum cuisinart) at the point in space the predator exists.

[Nexus]

Thanks, Erilaz. That makes my day.

[TheDirtSyndicate]

the knubler:
when the knubler reaches the age of 15, he quickly realizes that his urine has the ability to open portals. the knubler pictured here's first portal opened in a very unfortunate place....

http://www.complete2.com/conceptart.org/knubler_comp_01.jpg

[pr0ph3t]

i am just in awe of some of these, nexus, jakkas and several others, complete2 I almost felll off my chair laughing, hilarious concept and drawing. depelteD, wonderful concept, I really got into it while reading and the art is fabulous. as for me, I am taking an elongiated break from C.O.W. to experiment, :)

[depleteD]

Complete2-rofl. hahaha

[depleteD]

thx prophet :) you should experiment in the C.O.W :)

[Jonoy]

@complete2- hilarious; looked at the picture n laughed, read the text and cacked!

[Fozzybar]

hey foz....when are you going to reenter the rumble?
been missin' out on your fun and inventive concepts.

thanx for the kind words, reddy...but currently i am kinda busy with work and all this stuff...portal opener was one of the topics recently i liked to do an entry for, but well....

Stephan_R
With the update of your description i will take your entry to the poll...still reminding of a character with the pipe but you won't be the first with an entry making it to the polls by breaking one or more rules...the quality of your artwork covers all flaws regarding the rules...*foz-plays-special-rule-joker* ;)

MIKECORRIERO
thanx Mike for the head up...it's good to know that there are regulars who support me and help newcomers... :)

[walnut]

ceberae: Yes they malfunction, but only when they get a little confused about the location they're supposed to connect to.

complete2: So what's the life expecatncy of these knublers?

[Hookswords]

Hookswords your update is looking much better


Do you mean the lines or no lines? I'm trying to work on a no lines version I can be happy with, but if it doesnt turn out then it will be a lined entry for this run.

[Pixelestial]

Ceberae - Thanks for the input! I went back and smoothed it out some... those brushstrokes were a bit distracting.

[Standing]

Hi Guys - love the entries so far - good turnout for this thread.

'Portis Cleavii' - These 'slugs' as they are known by pilots and engineers are a result of genetic manipulation of a benign and ancient creature. The existance of slugs is the basis of man's ability to travel through space. The leading edge of their nose, or 'prow' creates temporal rifts, allowing slugs to pass through huge distances of space in tiny increments of time. The energy released by this fission is the food source of the Portis and is absorbed through the porous skull.
Through genetic manipulation, the Portis has been bred to enormous sizes. An interstellar cruiser, or other large vessel is shackled to the back of a Portis, and, pushing it forward, is able to fly through the temporal rift created by the Portis' passage.
The tiny, vestigial arms were bred onto the creature's belly and made very sensitive to prevent it from alighting on planets or asteroids as they were wont to do before being used in this commercial application.
Viva Portis!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/stan23/portal_opener.jpg

Jakkas - that's top!

[Stephan_R]

Standing and Complete2... those are awesome :) Really made me smile to see them. I think Complete's description is the funnest of all. Standing yours looks so believably fleshy, and I really enjoy the stars behind him... tranquil.

Foz dude you're the man, thanks.. I'll try and make my description a bit more interesting today. There's such quality artwork here, it's great to be involved... I'll try and stick closer to the rules from here on.

[Orion9282]

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/Orion9282/Orion9282PortalOpener.jpg

Hi all, first time posting... hope you like!

The text for the Portal Opener reads as follows:
Creature of the Week #38 : Portal Opener

In the wild, the portal opener is docile. Evolution has
given him a portal located in the end of his tail which
is utilized for small nuts, it’s main food source.

More intelligent species on this planet (human-like)
have learned to sedate the portal opener and harvest
their abilities. On their own the portals are not powerful,
but when combined they can open portals large enough
to be utilized by the human-like inhabitants.

[Orion9282]

Sorry for the duplicate post, but I thought the combined image was small... so here they are separated:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/Orion9282/Orion9282PortalOpener2.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/Orion9282/Orion9282PortalOpener3.jpg

Sorry again!

[Fozzybar]

Orion9282
wow, welcome, man...what a great first entry!!!

[JakkaS]

Orion9282, great entry!

[artkitty]

Lots of cool stuff this time!
I dig the presentation Orion :3

Before I chicken out here's my guy:

http://fern.junglestudio.com/art2006/portalmonsta.jpg

The portal opener draws nourishment from the super-dense matter sucked in through the wormhole it generates right above its gaping maw. The matter condenses in the embryonic portal opener in the belly brooding pouch. Once this embryo achieves enough mass it will spawn its own portal, sucking in the parent and starting the process anew.

[Nexus]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/imagenexus/pcfcopyF.jpg

--Begin Transmission--

Arcturian Xenogeist

A predator of incomprable deadly power and cunning. The first Xenogeist evidence was disovered on a small planetoid in orbit around Arcturus. What few field notes could be collected from the grizzly holocaust scene were puzzling at best. However, the research crew were able to glean a few details about the nature of the beast before they met a swift and unexpected end. The Xenogeist possesses the ability to stretch temporary interdimensional portals. Based on observations, the Xenogeist utilizes anti-matter nodes located at the end of protrusions along the skull to breach the dimensional fabric and slip into an alternate reality, one in between the previous dimension and the creature's destination. The researchers speculated that this dimensional limbo might be the Xenogeist's true home. As the Xenogeist leaves a portal, nodes similar to the cranial nodes siphon the energy sustaining the exit portal and transfer it back into the organism's body. In this way it is believed that the Xenogeist expends very little energy and actually recycles the same warp energy over and over. Strangely enough the Xenogeist feeds on organic matter although its metabolic and digestive systems are still a mystery. The first recording of the Xenogeist found it portaling in unexpectedly behind its prey to panic it in the opposite direction. At this point the Xenogeist warped quickly in front of the frightened animal and swallowed it whole. Such a devious intellect is a cause of great concern for the multiverse and its inhabitants. Beware the region surrounding Arcturus.

-- End Transmission--

The Xenogeist depicted above is in transit between dimensions, hence the motion blur.

[ceberae]

Pawige: Thank you for your help. I re-worded the description a bit, to be on the safe side. Essentially the same, just a few changes. And I changed the name: the old one cracked me up waaaaay too much (a desert dwelling... nun :D)

Nexus: great to see the design evolving! I like this version even more. If I had to crit, then I'd say the green wash background is a bit distracting in some areas, particularly in the area under the creature. I think the reason is that that particular area is relatively high contrast (ei, it goes from really dark to fairly bright green) and thus attracts attention away from the creature. It's a great design, particularly it was interesting to see it change from one to the next.

artkitty: awesome concept. Bizarre, but awesome!

Orion9282: great creature, awesome presentation.

complete2 and Standing: both great entries!

[Chuck,mate.]

ho man....
what a collection of amazing art work.
kudos ppl. you`re all LOCO.
:yayca:

these forums don`t work too well lately, and i couldn`t reply to
all you guys properly.
so 10x for the really kind words everyone, and hope to see a poll
for this round a.s.a.p.
:)
cheers.

Looking good from everyone. Here is my one went with more of a Portal been a door rather than anything to do with dimensions.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/mekese2000/portally1.jpg

The Portal maker is a crawling vine that when there is enough branches rap themselves around each other to make a portal. At the back a thin bio membrane forms that can produce any colors to attract insects into the Portal. There they are consumed for this is a portal of no return.

[pvpham]

Holy Crap! There are soo many brillant entries.....it's going to be difficult to choose one.

[flatliner]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/flatliner684/portalopener.jpg

Portal Opener

The Portal Opener can be found on some of the larger gas planets, swimming through their vast seas. Over thousands of years it developed a unique way of traveling the great distance between feeding grounds. When required, the creature is capable of releaseing a large burst of energy from its tail, which starts a chain reaction with the surrounding gasses. The result is a brief but stable wormhole that connects the two points.

[romance]

Here's my final crapola

http://www.artofromance.ca/ca/projects/COW/portal.jpg

The Maggot-Eyed Carrion Feeder

Brought in by the Xanians to clean up the dead of war. The Xanians, an alien race (or better yet, army), take over planets in hope of harvesting planetary resources. They are sensative to specific bacteria that fester on corpses, so they avoid the dead, and release hundreds of thousands of Maggot-Eyed Carrion Feeder to 'clean up' the mess before they land.

Maggot-Eyed Carrion Feeders are extremely social, except when they are feeding. If there are other Feeders in their 'harvest' zone, they will collect their food and then portal to a "personal plane * " to eat solitarily.

The Feeders, released in thousands, were able to clean up the dead off the surface of Earth in weeks. The survivors of the war are either held as captives, in hiding, or serving in the Resistance.

* a section is time and space reserved solely for a single Maggot-Eyed Carrion Feeder.

[Mike Corriero]

very cool romance

[Nexus]

Wow, there are so many entries this week. The deadline is still a bit off and already there are around 24 entries I think. If a few more show up we'll have even more than last week. The C.O.W. forum has really evolved from what I've seen in the past. Good job everyone.

[romance]

Thanks Mike, really like yours. I think you may have this weeks winner, though Standing, JakkaS, and Orion9282 will be tough competition.

-Rob

[Hookswords]

I've done daily sketch groups and things of the sort in the past, but I have to say this has been my best experience so far. I look forward to more great fun on this forum. Great work everyone.

[digitalfly]

There is a portal opener Fetterblood.
A stalkers who jorneys between the parallel worlds use this creture.
It's creature claps a stalker's wrist and suck the blood. After this stalker dropes the Fetterblood on the ground and the bug begin to flap the wings.
Between this wings generated a uknown field. The portal is open.
Stalker has to feed the Fetterblood by blood because the portal opens only for one DNA code that got the Fetterblood.
It's like simbiosis.

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/4514/portalbug1c9ip.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/4210/portal01b9nm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Nexus]

Hmmm, excellent first entry Orion. Much better than my first attempt last week. However, just a couple crits. There's not much definition between the claws on the front right foot. Gives it the appearance that the claws are fused together. Also I'd say darken the shadow underneath his body and arms a little bit, he seems like hes not quite sitting on the broken containment unit. Other than that all I can say is wow and I really hope you enter again next week.

[Mike Corriero]

Thanks Mike, really like yours. I think you may have this weeks winner, though Standing, JakkaS, and Orion9282 will be tough competition.

-Rob

Well shit, you got me blushing :bashful: thanks. It's definitely going to be an interesting round. I used this round to take a little more time because I wanted to get an extra image to enter for Expose 4 and C.O.W. generally helps to push your abilities with the great competition and drive from all the others participating.

Mike C -

[misledtomisery]

my final. amazing work to romance and standing off the top of my head, and overall nice drawings to everyone. orion i feel has the best designed creature portal open-er. very nice.

http://misledtomisery.com/forums/portalpost.jpg

belluna
These highly intelligent creatures roam the outer planes of existence, and travel dimensions through self made portals. Ranging to size of a large cow, these floating creatures feed off negative matter, such as shadows, and therefore frequently gate to the negative material plane for food. Fishlike in appearance, these floaters use psionic abilities for almost everything. Portals are created from a fifth "eye" on top of it's head, this eye is sought after for creation of teleportation and gating items and scrolls.

[_Urchin_]

http://home.att.net/~laurie.franks/stuff/fungiform.jpg

Here goes...even if I'm not on the same level as the folks here yet, I think it will be good practice for me to participate eh? My creature is the "Fungiform Annelidae" It's a segmented wormy type thing that burrows through the soil building up a static charge stored in the fringes of pilli down its sides. When it finds a good spot, it sends up its tentacles that have mushroom-like nodes at the end. When prey steps inside the ring of nodes it activates the teleport which sends the prey directly to the stomach, hence the creature has no need of a mouth. The teleport phenomena led to the superstition of keeping outside "faerie rings" in the forest to avoid being carried off by the wee folk.

[JakkaS]

Thanks Mike, really like yours. I think you may have this weeks winner, though Standing, JakkaS, and Orion9282 will be tough competition.

-Rob

You forget to mention about yourself. :D
BTW, nice design Rob.


wow! nice job, jakkas. i do enjoy your colors.
personally i hate it when i'm walkin' around in the nude and i get a face plant from a beastie like this.
my only thoughts:
1. give the dude some clothing/gear lol
2. when this thing jumps on the guy, it'd be sweet to see those claws getting purchase/digging in on the skin so we have a sense of how it stays in place while singin' "Stuck on You".....

cheers!
d

Thanks for crits. I have to consider it.

[JakkaS]

FINAL on page one!
Red, he is dressed right now! Especially for you. Hehe.

Cheers!
Kuba

[Nexus]

Hmmm, this forum isn't closed yet, odd. I thought the due date time had come and gone already. Eh, guess I'm just itchin' for the next creature assignment. Eagerly awaiting your decision Fozzy.

[redehlert]

jakkas - way better now, bud! :)
romance - helluva great and (yick!) image.
mike c - wow. i love it.
orion2982 - sweet - great story too!
complete2 - omg! i love the originality there.
i've actually enjoyed a good lot of the entries, these are the ones that stood out. :)
foz - i hear ya bud...i'm in the same boat.
cheers and happy voting!
d

[redehlert]

hey foz - i didn't touch my avatar name and my star is gone. :( i just want to belong....hahhaaha

[depleteD]

romance that is atop notch creature design

[Fl3wk]

When does the next one start? Tuesday?

[Orion9282]

Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback, I'm still pretty new to this realm of design and I hope to keep competing. All feedback is welcome, I think that the talent in these forums is so high and so demanding that everyone benefits. There are lots of great designs, it'll be a close race this time around!

Now for the individual responses (I tried to keep them short):

fozzybar - Thanks!
jakkas - Thanks!
Nexus - Thanks for the feedback, I'm always trying to get better! I agree with you, I think my monitor's contrast is up too high, making what I thought was black (or darker) not black enough. Also, I like the energy in your piece, lots of movement; it really catches the eye.
romance - holy crap that's gross... nice work!
digitalfly - also gross... Very awesome!
misledtomisery Very flattering! Your creature is one of the most unique!
redehlert - Thanks!

[Mike Corriero]

Usually after Foz has been hittin the bottle a little hard it takes him a couple days to focus and get back on track, he usually doesn't close and go to vote until 24 hours after the actual deadline :P

[Mike Corriero]

Foz you drunk muppet, whats the next topic? lol
Fuzzy wuzzy winter Bunny?

[theshunzun]

how 'bout nuzzy kuzzy silly buzzy? you friggin uhzzy.

[theshunzun]

hey...that drinking habit can work to my advantage

hooray for al-key-hawl

[romance]

I could have sworn I posted this before, but it didin't show up - forum probs?

Anyhoo,


C.O.W. generally helps to push your abilities with the great competition and drive from all the others participating.

Mike, I don't think anybody could have said it better. I'm glad someone feels the same way about the weeklies as I do.

Also, thanks JakkaS, DepleteD, Dave, and Orion9282

I've also edited mine. It was mentioned to me by our Masque that it looked like a flaccid penis (not his exact words), so I removed the drool in hopes to eliminate the penal-ity of it. I might add something else to it if time permits.

Cheers,

-Rob

[GratefulDread]

Holy crap everything is just so freakin awesome!!! I dont even know what to say. except whats the next topic so i can post my garbage next to all your beautiful work and feel like crap?

[Fozzybar]

poll is on:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=62053