Facehugger Dissection

[FowlerIllus]

I've been wanting to try this one for a long time.

I am a full time medical illustrator working parttime as a freelance concept artist/scifi-fantasy illustrator. I've finally had a chance to blend the two worlds here

We used to do detailed illustrations of human cadavers in MedIllus graduate school. The goal was to find creative ways to show the anatomy clearly. The images had to be very realistic, but things were inconofied to a large degree so that the anatomy is easier to understand.

It was a lot of fun applying this practice to a fictional creature. Coming up with believable tissues and organ systems was a very interesting challenge - all while trying to keep the function of the creature in mind. The final goal is to have something informative and believably while being strangely beautiful (if not a bit gross).

What creature would be more fitting than everyone's favorite parasite? A fun homage to the Alien movies.

Comments are most welcome. Thanks for looking!

[N A Johnson]

Well done! I love it.

[Dahami]

How did you manage to cut it open without the acid blood destroying the whole lab? And exactly what is the pH of that blood, anyway?

I like the idea of showing anatomy clearly while still maintaining a realistic style. This is why painting and illustration trumps photography for certain purposes. The painter can show exactly what he wishes to make things clear and understandable, while the photographer is at the mercy of the light, and other practical limitations.

[village idiot]

I love this picture so much. the colouring and flecks of light are just beautiful. More please

[bhaskarrac]

Wow! That little drop of honey/blood/gasoline/whatever kept my attention for a while. Great rendering and concept.

[Andr-X]

Great!!!!

[Sketch_Artist]

Very cool! I love this movie

[phrozac]

Totally awesome! I would love this to the end of days if this became the first in a series of Hollywood monster dissections. What a great idea, blending your profession and your passion to create something so novel and unique. Great job!

[Pavel Sokov]

Very cool! What is that drop? It is very interesting either way.

I especially love the lungs (I assume the lungs) and the little black texture on them. Whoever first designed that creature would of loved to have you on the team!

[Hamsta]

Pretty sure the "drop" is an egg. You know, the kind shoved down your throat to be incubated before the embryo bursts out of your chest.

My favorite part is the lighting on the tail, the cool lighting from below, and the warm color on the inside from the subsurface scattering.

[Seaport]

Very cool

[FowlerIllus]

Thanks so much for the great comments everyone. Hamsta is right. I had intended for that little orb to be an egg. I thought something really membranous and semitransparent fit the style of the creature, but it might be a bit unclear. Thanks also to Hamsta and everyone else for their kind review of the rendering. I had a lot of fun with it (icky, organic things are always the most fun, aren't they?)

Phrozac - you read my mind. I intended this as a demonstration of concept just in case anyone in the entertainment industry needs an anatomical illustration as part of a creature design. With the right client, it would be a dream project.

I must confess, I have no idea what the pH of Alien blood is. I'd say somewhere between medium and extra spicy

[Rynox]

Truly awesome!

Xenomorph cadaver next please?