C.O.W. #150 Lich Dragon Boss Monster -- Posting WIPs thread

[Michael Jaecks]

For more infos and details about the rules go here:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=110879


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Round #150 Lich Dragon Boss Monster

Topic:
Lich Dragon Boss Monster

Creature Description: Lich Dragon Boss Monster -- For those unfamilliar with the term, a Lich is a powerful mage or wizard that has used arcane, forbidden and powerful magic to cheat and survive a natural death. Their visual appearance takes on decrepit, undead qualities. Corpse-like, thin, withered, or skeletal. Their skin can appear white and drained of blood or dark as tanned leather. They display the characteristics of rot, decay and evil.

A Lich Dragon, then would be a dragon which has used powerful magic to cheat a natural death. I've tacked on the phrase "Boss Monster" to give you some idea of how powerful your design should look. Despite it's withered, undead appearance, it is still massive, formidible, magical and evil. It should look more powerful than an animated corpse or skeletal dragon. Make it glow with magic and crackle with power. Any player character that would have to face this thing at the end of an advanced video game level is going to have to work really hard to defeat your design and level-up.

This creature should still follow the rules in terms of being a part of a species. Please no outfits, armor, accessories, staves, etc. Any dragon of sufficient power could make themselves a Lich Dragon. Yours could be one of many or one of few in the world.


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Deadline:
Friday July 31th

Finals go here: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=164054

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
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[Rabies]

awesome :3

[Lilly Wolf]

well i'm a huge wow fan so lich and dragon fits pretty well.... i'm a newbie here but i think i'll take a stab at it

[volscalkur]

This has got to be about the freakin sweetest topic yet!!
Thanks MJ! You da man!
Can't wait to get started!!
Should be a pretty awesome round! Looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with!

[Michael Jaecks]

Cool! I guess I don't know WoW that well; I'm more familliar with D&D and Paizo Pathfinder. Undead dragons are nothing new, but the point is to make something new out of a classic idea that excites people.

I got a couple of e-mails from a friend today who basically chewed me out for posting this topic this particular week because he's already got so much work on his plate. I take that as a ringing endorsement.

Have fun with it and really try to push your design into territory you have not seen before.

[Michael Jaecks]

I want you guys to check out this link:

http://artorder.blogspot.com/2009/07...n-line-up.html

If you are not already aware of Art Order, you should be. Jon Schindehette is the Senior Art Director for Dungeons and Dragons by Wizards of the Coast. Art Order is his blog. In addition to sharing really great advice about the gaming, illustration and Fantasy Art industries, Jon also runs some really terrific bi-weekly art challenges, not unlike the ones you find on ConceptArt.org. They're run a little differently, often with some really incredible guest judges, and prize packages which can include Dungeons and Dragons products... and sometimes, even, publishing opportunities. There's a really great opportunity for folks to compete and get some exposure both to the online community at large as well as some important art directors and artists who follow Jon's blog. Well worth checking out as a resource on it's own.

But I am also making a point of sharing Jon's last round, the Earthquake Dragon Challenge, because I want you to see the amazing breadth and variety of the entries people submitted. There are a great number of different directions people took the idea of an "Earthquake Dragon." I really want folks here (especially the new people) to look through the entries and find some inspiration through observation. There are so many different ways you can design your new Lich Dragon Boss Monster, and I hope seeing the great variety in the "Earthquake Dragons" will really spur new and interesting ideas in you.

[Mighty5cent]

Hi all. I participated in a few COWs a looong time ago, and decided to give it a whirl again this week. This is more of a design sketch than a WIP, as I plan on doing a completely new pose and setting, but this is what I've got so far...

Also, thanks a lot for the Art Order link. Very inspiring stuff!

Big scythe like claws and magic that has kept him alive through countless battle wounds.

[mediaslave]

Guess we can't recycle old submissions eh? hahah

[Michael Jaecks]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmNope. No recycling old entries.

[scorge]

I'm not sure if I can draw another dragon right now and I probably should stay away from undead for a little while since "Undead with two heads" is still pretty recent, but thanks for the link MJ! Awesome stuff.
A little too tied up with the newborn entry anyway. Good luck to all in this round!

[Lilly Wolf]

hey again
here is my concept sketch not really a wip just yet need to design the bugger first
wasnt going for the traditional dragon head so he looks a bit more like a dinosaur unfortunately imo I shall fix that
he's half flesh half bone... you'd be too if you were undead and wondering around all those years

crit welcome

[meganite]

Going with the arcana theme, I'm going to make a dragon that's not QUITE undead... he has a large cut on his neck and maybe elsewhere that looks like it should have killed him. But instead it's glowing with a sickly light. He might have some arcane markings somewhere on him, to keep the enchantments in place. His eyes will also be glowing with an unholy light. Not sure yet whether to do a closeup of the face and do super-foreshortening with the body, or to do a profile angle like I usually do. Here's a couple of thumbs that I'm pretty happy with. I'm liking the profile one best. The other one is more dynamic possibly, but I tend to screw those up, and it doesn't show that much of the body.



For the final, remind me to look at ref.

EDIT: There, a combination. That looks pretty badass, don't it?

[tandy1000]

Hi guys last week was my first cow but hopefully I can stay closer to the brief this week. Great topic Michael!

[sepu]

it is sooooo kickass subject
will do my best

[njoo]

Heya, here's my entry for Cow 150, it was hard to come up with much description for this topic because it was pretty specific

C/C welcome~! I might come back to this later if I have more time

Desc: *WIP*

[tandy1000]

Wow njoo very nice , I also thought about the babyback ribs ribcage where the bones are sticking out, you pulled it off very well. Kick ass man, you should do a tutorial on your style lol.

[meganite]

Woah, creepy Njoo. Lotsa spikes. Lotsa eyes. He seems like almost some strange demonic combination of dragons rather than a single dragon who has used arcane powers to escape death. But it's creepy in a sort of Anime style, proud and noble in its own way sort of. Miyazaki might be proud...?

[darkly]

k I'm only doing this because you asked for it .

njoo: I don't have much to crit on, but I'm not sure how I feel about the background being a less opaque close up of the dragon. I think the bg would look better as just some textured environment stuff. And if you have an outline around the whole dragon, maybe try varying your line wait a bit. This should also help to pop it out from the background more. Other than that great work. Tough competition!

edit: Also, njoo, just checked out your website/online portfolio and have to admit, I feel a little strange giving you advice, but hey that's why we're all here I guess. Great work!!!

[MoHog]

Got to say I was skeptical at first due to the amount of imagery/lore that has already been built around this kind of beastie...
That said my first sketch turned out to be great fun, so good call as always MJ - thanks for the topic



beginnings of the sketch, will continue with the hind quarters
c/c are always welcome - any suggestions on taking graphite into digital (maintaining the linework into a paint)

njoo: you've been busy lately, as per usual very inspiring work. The cell-shading style seems to be working a treat

[pixel cheetah]

Mighty5cent: not bad, bit too static IMO

Lilly wolf: bit confusing, use black to emphasize the important parts

tandy1000: looks nice but bit too small, hard to see the details

meganite: looks promising!

njoo: truly kick a@Ss dragon! I second the demand for a detailed WIP!!!

MoHog: good start!

[sepu]

WIPWIPWIP

[thesaint]

Wow, this will be awesome. I'm in.

[LORD M]

Very cool WIP, guys!


Thought I would post my WIP.








Edit:

I have now read a bit more on Liches, and will make it more skeletal-like. Foolish I was.

[lunascythedragon]

wip 2

[lunascythedragon]

LORD M: looking forward to the finished one, love the head so far

my WIP so far

[Gominoid]

Awesome topic!
This is a lot like the undead frost wyrm from Warcraft:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiP8fAZ4lZk

Look at the frozen landscape, it's a cool idea because corpses are better preserved with cold.

[Razorleaf]

Sepu, I just love the head of yours. Its not your typical dragon head, its got kindof an alien influence going on there.

[Myriell]

I was working on this since hours now. But there's still a hell lot of work to do...

But I love the topic and couldn't resist joining in..

[volscalkur]

Awesome stuff going on here already!

Thanks for the Art Order link! I agree, very inspirational stuff on there!
(What I wouldn’t do to work for Wizards some day!)

So I started sketching out a scribbly dragon to get the basic look and anatomy down, for my final I’ll be going with a different pose. I absolutely love this topic! Did I mention that already? I hope I can do the vision in my head justice!

My dragon is going to be a member of an ancient race of dragons who use powerful earth magic to keep themselves alive long past their normal lifespan. It is going to have vines and roots holding together it’s mummified flesh and skeleton with some sort of earthy magical energy emanating from it. This particular race also has strong necromantic abilities and can summon dead creatures from the earth to obey their commands so that’s why I have added smaller skeletons.

C&C much appreciated as always!

[Razorleaf]

Here's my idea, any crits on composition are welcome!