[Brynn_Metheney]

Welcome to the Creature Planets, the CG HUB challenge of exploring worlds beyond our own, and the different species living within them.

Topic #19 :: August 25th 2010
Organism: The Speckled Wogudd
Planet: Alfayth

Deadline: Sunday, Sep. 5th 2010 - 11:59p.m. [PST]


Here are the organism's details. Follow them to the best of your ability:

IWCA Requirements: The Intergalactic Wildlife Conservation Alliance – IWCA – is interested in the skeletal characteristics of this species and is requesting studies of both the organism and it’s skeleton.
Please include both a study of the organism's external appearance along with a study of it's skeleton.

Bioform Overview
A lush, hot planet covered in resources, Alfayth has been singled out to provide valuable and exotic goods and resources for intergalactic trade and interests. The planet and its inhabitants are suffering massive habitat and species loss. This medium sized organism burrows beneath the rich soils of the Alfaythian Rainforests, looking for food and seeking shelter. It feeds on just about anything it stumbles across making it a vital scavenger of the ecosystem.

Bio Notes
Type: Omnivorous Scavenger – mostly vegetarian.
Habitat: Tropical Rainforest - Underground
Status: Vulnerable – loss of habitat
Social: Solitary
Temperament: Aggressive
Activity Cycle: Constant
Metabolism: Energetic
Reproductive: Oviparous – Producing 2-4 eggs.

Physiological Notes:
Size: Medium – 16 kg
Morphology: Symmetrical - bilateral
Skeletal: Endoskeleton
Epidermal: Rough, drab green hide.
Limbs: 8 jointed limbs.
Location of Senses: Centralized on the body
Primary sense: Touch
Secondary sense: Smell

Other Notes: This species is endangered and must be studied extensively.The IWCA believes that research such as this is essential and may help in prolonging the existence of this species and ultimately the habitat it belongs to.


“Please don't keep everything secret, working on your image in private only to post it at the very last hour as a surprise. The point of sharing sketches and work in progress material is so everyone can learn from each other, receive crits, compliments and improve their skills in a classroom/workshop like environment. There are no teachers and no students per say, but try to offer help to others when possible. Please be open to receiving crits, and paint-overs or mock ups of your work, as we are all here to participate, have fun, learn, grow and enjoy what each week has to offer.” --Mike Corriero

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If you have questions concerning Creature Planets Rules and Information please refer to this thread.

[arthiccups]

Hi everyone! Here is my progress for this week and my first attempt at Creature Planets. I'd love to hear any feedback you have for me!

Thanks all,
-Sara

[Brynn_Metheney]

@arthiccups - Hey there! Welcome to Creature Planets! Great sketches so far! I love the skeleton study you've done. I think one thing to think about would be the length of the legs on your organism. It seems a bit tall to be a burrower. Most burrowers have a low center of gravity. You might also think about playing with the primary senses more - touch and smell. Wonderful start though! I love the back paws Excited to see more!

[Pierce9]

Your skeleton looks great arthiccups, that's a great stance for a burrower, and having the front appendages up front like that is very alien.

Here's my rough "style sheet", first Creature Planet for me as well let me know what you think.

[tombo]

Hey guys. here is my initial idea. first time ive posted on this site. wat a great site, so many amazing artists. anyway, please crit

[tombo]

heres what ive been working on today. ive finished a painting. not sure wether to call it done or not. anyway, ive taken some screen grabs as the process went along. the images aren't very good quality but the actual image is about 4000 pixels wide. thanks guys

[Brynn_Metheney]

Looking good you two!

@ Pierce9 - Nice sketch! I like the emphasis on the touch factor with the nose. I like your eye proportions too. Make sure you define how those legs are attached to the body as you move forward. Those claws could use some defining as well but I know these is still a sketch...so yeah I think this is a great start and I'm excited to see it develop!

@ tombo - Awesome work and Welcome to CGHUB as well as Creature Planets! Glad you joined us! I really like the sketches you started with! Nice process. Think about those eyes. It may not need 6 if its primary senses are touch and smell. Maybe you could add in some of those cool highlights to the final that you had in your side view? It might balance out the colors a bit. Not to mention this is supposed to be a medium sized burrower. Right now, because of the angle, your organism looks to be pretty large. I would try and stick to around pit bull size at the largest. Perhaps you could work more on keeping the animal in the borrow or bring our point of view down to make it seem a little smaller? Great work though, and I'm excited to see more development from you!

Hope I can get in on this round - I can tell it going to be a good one!

[arthiccups]

Thanks Brynn and Pierce9! That's a great point Brynn--does seem a little tall. I think in my head he was shorter overall but I got carried away .

Pierce9, I love what you're doing with the nose/tentacle/lips things!

And Tombo, your painterly effects are just awesome. Gotta love the glowing parts, too!

[tombo]

thanks guys. means alot.
@ Brynn - yh, maybe if i made him blind i could give it a cool edge . yh, i think some blue rim light could help to set him off abit, thanks. I realized after i was nearly done he looked way to big. i think ill just paint another final, with these tips in mind. thanks

@ Arthiccups - cheers love the skeleton uve drawn, looks very believable.

@ Pierce 9 - great concept, looks quite disturbing with that mouth, did u get insiration from that weird mole? lol. looking forward to the final one

[cyl1981]

Hi everyone, saw this activity and am very excited to join in, looking forward to learn more as I go through this one as well.

arthiccups: Like the anatomy diagram, looking forward to your progress

Pierce9: Love the features you gave to the creature, looking forward to your updates ^ ^

tombo: Love your development process, and the design too, keep going

been a bit busy lately, not to mention Starcraft 2 has got me hooked on too, never the less here is my first update, gonna let this one grow as well, gonna play around with it as I go along, all cc welcome ^ ^

[arthiccups]

@ Cyl: Loving the texture and shape of your creature; definitely looks like a scavenger!

Here's my latest version, still trying to stick with a mongoose kind of feel. Added some creepy aye aye-esque digits to aid in his tactile sense as well as a plethora of whiskers.

Also had a thought of doing webbed feet in the hind legs to act as a kind of shovel and a means of pushing loose dirt around while burrowing or creating a den.

Appreciate the feedback, all! Everyone's work is looking awesome. I just love seeing how differently each artist interprets the guidelines!

[madpoint]

Heres a quick WIP I came up with for this challenge, this is not usually my thing so I I figured I'd challenge myself, I like that they have an aggressive temperament so I wanted to capture it leaping out of its burrowed domain at something either from being disturbed or attacking its prey and as it leaps its captured with a scanner breaking down its skeleton anatomy as well as its outer appearance



alot of great stuff from everyone
BrynnThanx alot for this oppurtunity

cyl1981I luv your style can't wait to see the outcome of this creepy thing
tomboGreat work,I like the variety of sketches and followthru and your last image is really good I just think it may be a lil too dark or saturated in some areas like the under belly ect.
Pierce 9 great sketches I like the eggs idea and the squid/platypus look
arthiccups like your sketchwork very clean and your skeletal anatomy, would like to see more detail

Please any C&C are more than welcomed on my stuff

[cyl1981]

Hi everyone, thanx for the cc and the support, learning more as I follow thru everyone's posts

arthiccups: thanx for the support, I like the idea of the various functions placed on the different limbs in your design, keep the idea rolling

madpoint : thanx for liking it , the scanner idea could add nice touch to the mystery of the specie, keep pushing the concept

Here is my latest update, made few adjustments, still playing around with it, all cc welcome

[Brynn_Metheney]

These are looking really awesome everyone! I like how much action I'm seeing in these entries. A quick overall observation: remember that this organism is omnivorous but mostly vegetarian. The insectoid looking critters should try and reference mouthparts that can process flesh as well as plant matter. Also, this is a medium sized life form - try to make it feel as such.

Great work! Looking forward to more development! I can tell this round will turn out awesome.

[Cristian_G]

cyl1981 Awesome work!I like your style.

Pierce9 Cool desing!

tombo great progress!colors looks great.

madpoint Really creepy!I like it.

arthiccupsGreat sketches!I like the skeleton study.