C.O.W. - #098: Storm Bringer - Voting!

[Fozzybar]

ROUND #098 VOTING

Topic: Storm Bringer

Deadline for the voting: Sunday, 23rd September 2007

Posting thread (closed):
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=105776


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OK - before voting/posting read this!!!

1. Please give c&c or a reason why you voted for the image!

2. Feel free to comment on any or all entries, the artists will appreciate it!

3. No voting for your own entry!!! If a participants votes for his own entry, every member has the right to call him a stupid lame moron in this thread! And i will delete his/her vote anyway...

[Fozzybar]

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artist: WhtTigress
concept: Lightning Deer
The Lightning Deer as it is commonly called due to its glowing antlers and its ability to bring storm to it is a nocturnal creature that lives in unforested areas. When rain is needed this deer forms into herds and causes a chemical reaction to occur in its antlers. This chemical reaction heats the surrounding air and causes a low pressure area to be formed around it. This invariably brings storm fronts into the area. The antlers of this animal are highly prized, although an attack by one of these deer when the antlers are activated can cause third degree burns and be extremely painful anywhere the antlers make contact with skin. It is an amazing fact that more fires are not caused by this creature, but it seems that the deer can control the chemical reaction enough to ensure it does not burn its food source.


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artist: Greenjack
concept:
The Stormbringer lives in the upper atmosphere where the rapid movement of it's carbon fibre based exoskeleton builds up a massive electrical charge. In descending through clouds this can often result in ionisation of the atmosphere and electical storms as the massive charge contained in the creatures body dissipates to earth.


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artist: nuru
concept: Cumulus Impala
Cumulous Impala wander the seas in herds. They are more elemental beings than creatures of flesh and blood. Each deer naturally produces boiling clouds and crackling lightning as part of their defence against predators. This produces a cumulative effect- the more Impala you have in one place, the more ferocious the storm they produce.
In the past small fishing villages made sacrificial offerings to the Impala, but they are so rarely seen by human eyes, that the practice has almost been forgotten.


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artist: walnut
concept:
Each summer the mighty poseidon rises out of the Atlantic trenches to spread its offspring to the four winds. In its ascent it accumulates oxygen within its body which allows it to rise several hundreds of meters above the sea surface. A medium-sized poseidon can easily cause significant disturbances in ocean currents and atmospheric conditions, giving way to hurricane and cataclysm. Once it has cast its spores in the air the creatures dies from exhaustion and collapses in on itself.
Many spores reach land and are often inhaled by humans. Scientist have found out that the spores have negative behavioral effects and some theories go as far as saying most of human strife, war and dissension is triggered by poseidon sporae.


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artist: Lord Edwin
concept:
Slowly making it's way across great plains, the Storm-Bringer quickly generates great cloud covers with it's super-charged mass. It entices lightning from the clouds to give it energy and to direct at fleeing animals in it's path. As it moves over plants and animals alike, it absorbs their parts with its acidic underside or lifts them from the ground with it's tentacles to eat within it's great, hot maw. Once satiated, the Storm-Bringer crawls under the plains to rest for months before rising again.


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artist: Mike Corriero
concept: Coouldliate
In ancient times these mythical and evil creatures were first awoken by the Bahal cult, an order of outcast wizards or warlocks as some have come to be known. Using their dark arts for evil deeds and waging wars against their elders they tapped into magic that was forbidden and brought the skies to life. They awoke the Coouldliates from among the clouds, the dark angry skies filled with rage and destructive powers.
Present day: The Cooudliate lay dormant for a while but every now and then they pop up to remind those wizards lurking and walking among us as business men, athletes, homeless, politicians, artists and farmers that they are still strong and alive. To mortal eyes they appear as natural forces of nature but to the wizards and warlocks they are a living intellect, a devil breed of elements who feed on devastation and mass destruction gone out of control.


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artist: Gorromog
concept:
The storm bringer is one of the last of natures demons, today is searches for sea cities were it can lay waste to buildings and harness the souls of the dead.


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artist: Lenorekitty
concept:
The Storm Bringer is a “Storm Bringer” purely by accident. This little creature collects in swarms to mate and begin its life cycle again while in turn creating what could be described as a storm. These creatures prefer dry flat land where they burrow deep into the soil where they feed on a type of fungus. The Females will also lay her “clutch” or eggs here about 16 ft below the surface. Males are more common than females and only burrow about 6 inches beneath the soil. Once air and ground temperatures reach a high of about 102 – 112 degrees the Storm Bringers will begin to vibrate their belly plates. These tiny plates coat the entire underside of the creature in the millions. The vibration of the plates not only sounds like a train coming at you but provide a magnetic charge opposite to the ground so the creature can begin to “levitate”. About 600,000 Storm Bringers have been counted in the last mating ritual. The Pure force of these creatures producing a magnetic charge will create a burst of air upward into the sky. They ride this “wave” of hot ground air up into the cooler air of the troposphere thus creating massive thunderheads and clouds around the animals. Bioluminescence is the method the males use to attract females. Putting on a light show up and down their bodies while they twist and turn around in the sky the males will light up the darkened clouds and try to attract a mate. When a male grabs a female’s attention they will “spit” out a mixture of this chemical or his Bioluminescence into the sky. The Chemical ignites with the magnetic charge created by the animals and ends up as a quick burst of light or electricity. All the While the Storm Bringers are releasing waste as they fly creating a “rain” of excrement.


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artist: llothcat
concept:
An early case for mistaken identity, Aztec faithful once thought the greater feathered flatworm to be Quetzalcoatl when it washed ashore ahead of the category 5 typhoon. The rare creature is now known as the storm bringer.


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artist: Simonstalenhag
concept:
The Stormbringer was first discovered by Dr Jangus Lee, who in his obsessive quest to find these animals, where caught in a storm only to witness the animals perform their marvelous mating ritual in the deep core of the hurricane. Lee thought that the animals was drawn to the storm, but further studies have shown that it is in fact the storm that is attracted to the animals.
Tests have shown that the Stormbringer can manipulate the composition of it's surrounding atmosphere. When they gather in large numbers, their combined efforts can indeed alter the weather, even creating a full hurricane, and some believes that the Stormbringer charges it's body with electricity from the lighting in the storm only to discharge it in the calm weather in eye of the storm, as part of the animals mating ritual.
Animal tracks made of fulgurite have been found on breeding sites, supporting this theory.


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artist: Thalion
concept: Aquila Fulguris
The storm is coming... Aquila Fulguris, Eagle-Lighting, herald of gods' wrath, legendary creature which brings thunders, appeared above the village. When the ancients felt the hot air full of humidity, which in their conviction was a breath of the beast, they known that in the few hours Aquila Fulguris and the pour will come. The Ancients thought that this animal was a gigantic bird, an eagle send by Zeus, but the truth is different... The beast was a 30 metres long reptile, probably some kind of rare wyvern. Creature causes the storm using the fumes from its breath. During the flight, electricity appears at the ends of wings and it accumulates in the strange horns on animal's head and tail. Aquila Fulguris uses this energy to create giant spark- lighting. This ability makes it enormously powerful and successful hunter which gets always what it want. It inhabits the top of the big mountains in Greece. The beast was the bad omen for ancient people, it is said that when someone will see the creature, that means that the terrible cataclysm is coming.


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artist: Lander
concept:
The greatest of the small beast of the word is the Storm Bringer. No bigger than a cat it has the power of the greatest tempest.
Beeing one of evoultions side steps it has the power to bring the powers of nature to your doorstep. If you ever happen to meet one in your back yard. Don't offend it or it might be the end of your neighbourhood.


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artist: VegasMike
concept: The Great Banta
This creature normally resides in the polar regions of planets. It uses airsack-like lungs throughout its body for lift and to support its massive frame...They feed on airborne zooplankton and the occasional flying animal. In its quest for the most abundant plankton it will often traverse the jet streams to the south...upon arriving in the warmer climates the cold air surrounding the creature and updrafts created by its flight cause the formation of cumulonimbus clouds charged with electricity. These conditions produce some of the most violent thunderstorms imaginable with high winds, frequent lightning and tornadoes. Needless to say this great beast plays an important role in planetary atmospheric conditions.


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artist: muleskinner
concept: Storm Serpents
These gaseous creatures are completely bound to the atmosphere and reside at different altitudes depending on it's state at the time. When dormant or resting they are almost transparent and ribbon like using just enough energy to navigate thermals and stay inside the protective home of Cirrus formations furthest from the planet. When active, these creatures swell to enormous size like writhing battleships in the darkening clouds. This mix of Serpent and Global activity is conducive to some of the most incredibly violent storms and spectacular light shows a massive storm can offer.


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artist: alice_
concept:
Despite being worshipped as enigmatic alien overlords (no doubt because of their brain like appearance and huge size) the Storm Bringers are incredibly stupid creatures, drifting aimlessly around the ocean sucking up anything in their path, stirring up huge storms in their wake.


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artist: JakkaS
concept: Mourner
There is one legend describing this creature... An old fisherman has seen that animal crying for the lost female which was killed by some poachers. They were laughing and happy from their trophy. But when the male has start his song .....howling....crying....suddenly the weather has change and the great storm has come. Huge waves and thunders have sink poacher's bout. They say that sea gods love these creatures and everyone who will try to hurt them will be punish.


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artist: Sellis
concept:
Not so long ago an eccentric millionaire obsessed with the mystery of the 'Bermuda Triangle' saw fit to fund his own expedition to this baffling location and try and uncover the disappearances that have confused many for generations. Unfortunately, like many before, the ship he was on experienced navigational problem due to the massive electromagnetic storms that are found in that area. This resulted in the crew and the millionaire being stranded on the archipelago that lay beneath the thick fog. After days of being stranded they came upon the USS Cyclops, the ship that went missing in 1918 along with one of the Grumman aircraft from flight 19 that went missing during WW2. However; their eyes were transfixed on something far more amazing. The reason for the electromagnetic storms...............................
As of yet unnamed this massive reptile has tiny eyes and as a substitute uses electromagnetic pulses in order to find others and in doing so charges the clouds and fog with electricity causing a chain reaction that results in huge storms. These creatures have inadvertently caused hundreds to go missing every year but none have ever seen it. Their's a slim chance that these are what Native Americans refer to as the 'Thunderbird' for obvious reasons. However; none have ever returned to tell the tale!


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artist: rubberman
concept:
This creature lives in deserts.
In deserts there is not enough water.
So this creature creates a storm.
And it rains.


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artist: Mj0lnir
concept:
This creature flies high in the skies at night. It hides from daylight and show shapes at the evening.
It spouts lightnings.


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[Fozzybar]

not accepted entries:

All WIPs/sketches/not finished yet/placeholder/yaddayaddayadda images...AND (if not mentioned further) all entries which didn't pass the quality check

gnahz, Sawa
concept missing

longshao, revenebo
sorry men...but for fair judging we need to see the whole body = creature design

White Wolf
Beautiful concept and it hurts to reject this piece, but there is actually no creature design, only ordinary horses...if they had only some new fur coloring with patterns or anything else, but i can only see a 1:1 horse image...sorry

N602
Bummer you didn't response to my question in the posting thread. The image was neat, but the creature is a small insect which would produce micro-storms. The rules asked for the meteorological event, which is the storms we know from our skies





close to rejection:

White Tigress
Same as White Wolf (hmmm both nicks with White...), but you added the glowing antlers, which made difference...





special note:

none

[Fozzybar]

new round is online:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=106412

[Sangmort]

My vote went to MikeC My second would have been Sellis.

[Xol]

Uh... did my entry get disqualified or was there some other reason it got left off the list?
(http://conceptart.org/forums/showpos...&postcount=123)

I don't mean to be precious, but it's just that as it's not just my first post to CA, but really my first post online anywhere, I'd kind of like some feedback - even if it's just to be told what I did wrong.

- Xol
(Not feeling the love...)

[Monika Gruszka]

Thalion - your enry is just breathtaking! the best this week for me

alice_, VegasMike, JakkaS, Sellis - also great

[OldJake666]

Is there a reason mine wasn't even commented on? It's not in the poll nor was it marked as one that didn't make it.
Jake

[Lenorekitty]

....I voted for Vegas Mike because I felt like the description was natural...meaning it could really work without the help of magic or something supernatural...just my preference is all...not to mention the painting is so full of depth....it was tough I'd say Mike C. and Alice were close seconds in my book...I also liked Lord Edwin's concept as well... but I think everyone did a great job too

[Mike Corriero]

Lenore - im guessing because it was photobucket the link gave out as far as hotlinking, so maybe fozzy switched it to a link instead of it showing up as a red x. Just a guess - these things happen.

[Lenorekitty]

I see...should I message him something?...thanx for responding...

[Lander]

Good work everyone.

I wrote some comments I didn't comment everyone. No special reason. I guess. I miss longshao You'd have my vote if it is any comfort.

Lord Edwin- Cool concept and well executed.
MikeCorriero- you have my vote. Dynamic, scary everything you'd expect from a Storm Bringer.
Gorromog- I liked this one. Only It's flippers look weak and bend unaturally for me,
Lenorekitty- pure magic. I have a weakness for massive creatures that fly.
VegasMike- man that is Massive.
alice_ - you are the bringer of nightmares. Very scary
JakkaS- butiful, I'm totally inspired by your pice.
Sellis- I have a problem with it's wings. They look like rubber (to me) else sweet concept and painting.
rubberman- that's just like the Snapper I had as a kid. Vicious but a little to much of a turtle for my liking, (I have a hard time making out how it's legs are connected to the body, Looks like they are comming out of it's shell)

[Chaiface]

Everyone did fantastic however I voted for LenoreKitty for a couple reasons. Even though other creature illustrations are better executed technically Lenore still possess impressive skills with photoshop, espescially for a beginner. You did take the advice of your peers and lighten your painting up a little further which is great, but I think even slightly brighter would make the creatures pop more. I do appriciate that she kept her environment natural which brings me to my second point. I believe she has my favorite concept out of everyone because she put a lot of thought into how the creature would work. Trying to decide how a creature can actually exist in the real world is the hardest part of a designer and she pulls it off well. Referencing real animals is key when it comes to great creature design. It is difficult to find the fine line between referencing and just making something a real animal, but bigger. With a little more photoshop practice you could have a lot of stars under your name, just don't loose the sense of design and detail.

[Lenorekitty]

Aww thank you Chaiface...that really means alot...it was scary going into this with a smigen of experience in digital ...

Lander thanx so much for your compliment....I guess I should have specified ..the original text for those creatures told a length of about 6 inches I think..at least for the males in the image..hehehe...I do appreciate the magicalness though....

heres that text ---> http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f8...bringerdoc.jpg

[Sawa]

uhm, actually mine had a describtion... i just posted it with my first entry:
they collect electric charge with their tentacles under their bodies so the clouds get attracted to them
maybe a bit too short lol?

oh and i voted vor alice_. there are several other entries which i thought of as well, but alices creature looks kinda uncommon which i liked

[llothcat]

voted for alice_

it made me laugh

[Siko_X]

So many great entries!! I was really torn on who to choose but in the end I decided to vote for Mjolnir. The composition lighting and design of the creature all portray the topic very effectively. Others that stood out to me were,
Alice funny idea and great detail and style.
Lander another funny concept with a cool color scheme
and
JakkaS A really great and detailed painting.

[Fozzybar]

Xol, Jake Korbin
read the first sentence:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...73&postcount=3

[Elbereth]

It is difficult choice there are so many great works but finally...

My vote goes to Thalion,imo is the best one,i like this creature and colours are great

[Sellis]

Hi all, my vote went to alice_, totally unique style and because of that it stands out from the rest. Well done.

Others i lurved are:-

MikeC for obvious reasons, truly amazing render.
Jakkas Love your painting technique and your understanding of creature anatomy.
SimonS Still has a huge impact on me, very dramatic. However; maybe could have taken it a little bit further.
Lenorkitty Good bash at Pshop for the first time, keep practicing. Great initial sketch

Thanks

Stu

[White Wolf]

@ fozzybar: Well, I guess I went too classic here... pun accepted and will bring a more designed creature again next time...

My vote goes too Sellis... just for sheer atmosphere and mood...love the color scheme... and it has that classy concept art feeling...

Greetz 2 all

[Chuck,mate.]

Jakkas. all the way. great work.



P.

[JakkaS]

Thanks everyone for comments and votes

As I said before...lots of cool entries.
I had to choose between MikeC and VegasMike. Finally I have vote for VegasMike.

Sellion - Next time show us bigger illustration please. I really wanted vote for u but ...I would like too see more of the creature.

Cheers
Kuba

[JakkaS]

Thx Chuck....I am not sure if u agree but I think head of my creatures looks like on of ur aliens head. I mean...this was my first thought when I have done it Btw, Thx for ur vote

[Chuck,mate.]

Thx Chuck....I am not sure if u agree but I think head of my creatures looks like on of ur aliens head. I mean...this was my first thought when I have done it Btw, Thx for ur vote

really? I don`t see that... but hell - good to inspire and be inspired.
the lighting and colors on that StormBringer of yours just sealed the deal for me, mate.

my second choice would have been Vegasmike. bitchin` sense of awe and scale. kudos.



P.

[muleskinner]

I voted for Simonstalenhag. The composition and atmosphere is superb with that dark, moody feel. This combined with the lumbering forms of the Storm Bringers marching forward had me captivated since I first saw the posting of it.
Fantastic entries and story/descriptions everyone.

[JakkaS]

Chuck - Yeah...these drawings were inspiring as hell !!! Just check this one: http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ad_m-final.jpg

[Cloister]

Had to go for alice! Simple shape, yet extraordinarily original. Fantastic compositional force! This strange saga/creature expands the limits of my imagination. Great work!

[Michael Jaecks]

I agree with Lander. I think Longshao should have been brought to the poll. I would have voted for it. I think it was really well done, and as a resident of the very flat midwestern United States, it really resonated with what thunderstorms, wall clouds, tornados and whatnot look like to me. I think as an entry re: visible creature design vs. atmospherics, there have been many occassions where part of the creature gets cropped out or occluded with part of the environment for pictoral drama. Tyranx leaps to mind. (Explosive, icberg, etc.)

Yeah, that's where my vote lies, even though I can't vote for it.

Liked Mike C and Jakkas and Thalion and Vegas Mike as well. Topics like this always bring out the quality in this crowd. That's for sure.

[Chuck,mate.]

Chuck - Yeah...these drawings were inspiring as hell !!! Just check this one: http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ad_m-final.jpg

brother.....
that one is INTENSE. far better than anything I ever created in my
Alien-Head series. superb work.