parasited mushroom guy

**Enimael** · June 15th, 2012, 09:09 AM

hey folks,

I have an unfinished version of this around since a couple of months. Finally got to work on it, which to me is a good way to learn 1) rendering 2) anatomy 3) using textures.

As you can see, I am not that far into the painting, but since I have to stop now, I want to get some feedback of you guys.

Please tell me even the most obvious errors I am doing, so I can fix them and grow artistically.

Cheers,
Flo

**arenhaus** · June 15th, 2012, 09:45 AM

You ought to study 1) anatomy of bones and muscles and 2) decomposition of corpses. You are guessing way, way too much instead of researching your subject.

That in addition to the usual basics of structural drawing, perspective, composition and lighting.

**Velocity Kendall** · June 15th, 2012, 01:36 PM

really neat idea, i love the concept a lot, youve got to love cordycepts right? but why is he an angry zombie?
wouldnt it make more sense if he was a corpse?

**Enimael** · June 18th, 2012, 04:14 AM

hi folks,
@arenhaus: I had a lot of reference to look at, but atm my photoshop skills are not sufficient to adequatly illustrate the ideas I have. do you have some more tips on how to illustrate skin etc better? (like using lighter greys or something)
"structural drawing, perspective, composition and lighting" these are all things I want to learn. I will start the whole thing from scratch with doing linework first, try to figur out the major masses bevor I block in the shapes, maybe that will get me a better result.
@Velocity Kendall: yup I really thing it is just such a creepy idea, but at the same time it seems like a plausible source for a zombie apocalypse ^^
he is angry to push the sense of danger more and to not make him look dead. my idea was, that the fungus actually uses the host to spread the spores through the saliva into another victim, while the host is still alive. he can't keep the host alive but control his movement in order to spread the fungus. with that being said, the mushroom would have to grow pretty fast in order to be that big before the host dies of dehydration, but then again, it is art

cheers,
Flo

**Velocity Kendall** · June 18th, 2012, 10:35 AM

remember the mushroom fruiting body's purpose is to spread the spores on air currents.

i love the idea that the zombie infection is a fungal parasite like cordycepts that takes over the hosts mind though.

**Enimael** · June 19th, 2012, 02:44 PM

hi velocity,

yeah that snail thing is pretty cool too. That bird just eats the eyes of the snail? that I didn't remember, I thought it eats the whole thing, but that's just brutal^^

the air current thing is not totally correct I believe. I think that there are cordycepts that want to get eaten by other animals (birds, cattle, etc.) or was that a issue concerning something else but the idea behind the design? anyways I made some more sketches concerning the concept. Had some great feedback by brent hollowell (awesome dude), which helped me a lot. But still, my skills are lacking, so I did more anatomy stuff these days, and try to get the basics (drawing shapes, painting the form) right. do you (velocity or anybody) have some critics on some obvious beginners-mistakes on my work? would love to here some, since thats the only way to improve.

cheers,
flo

**Enimael** · June 27th, 2012, 11:16 AM

hey there folks,

just a quick update, put some work in the anatomy and pose aaaaand bunch of other things :>

whaddayathink?

cheers,
flo

**Enimael** · July 5th, 2012, 11:40 AM

Still WIP, still seeking critique, still...

Cheers,
Flo

**bish0p2004** · July 5th, 2012, 09:31 PM

I think the rendering is good in some parts, like the belt.

However, I think the anatomy (like arenhaus stated above) needs work. That left arm is shaped wrong...it's bending. The right arm is too short. The torso also looks awkward.

I would definitely go and do some anatomy studies.

Anyways, as mentioned, I see a lot of potential, you already have a decent rendering style in my opinion.

Good luck

**sone_one** · July 5th, 2012, 10:43 PM

i wouldnt worry to much about anatomy and presentation yet. to me the concept is not working well as it is presented... you got 2 threats... the zombie and the fungi. zombies are dangerous and fungi can be too (probably at least to zombies.. or not)... it cant be read. is it about dangerous fungi infecting corpses (possibly the living...*shudders*), or zombies and the fungi are just decoration to spice up a pretty sucked-dry zombie representation?

dont split the focus of your design... either zombie or fungi... 2 threats are too much to digest.

**Enimael** · July 6th, 2012, 04:46 AM

hey there,

bish0p2004: thanks for the kind words, much appreciated. yeah my anatomy needs work. I am allready reffing a lot when doing the human figure, but it still doesnt come out right. will do more studies

sone_one: thanks for the critique, if it is not clear I have to work on the concept more.

**Enimael** · July 10th, 2012, 07:50 AM

hey guys,
after getting so much awesome feedback I decided to do a series of sketches and come up with something more thought out. Here is the lineart of the sketch I liked the most and some rough coloring.

Any critic is much appreciated, be it on technique, basics, concept, etc.

Cheers,
Flo