[Brynn_Metheney]

Welcome to the Creature Planets, the CG HUB challenge of exploring worlds beyond our own!

Topic #45 :: July 6th 2011
Organism: "The Rhuni"
Planet: Eliza - Yep, we're still here!

Deadline: Monday, July 18th 2011 - 11:59p.m. [PST]

--> IWCA Requirements – The IWCA wants you to depict a Rhuni in its natural habitat.

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


Bioform Overview
High above the atolls of Eliza, lives a large flying filter feeder commonly known as the Rhuni. This large creature soars on the strong winds and thermal updrafts of the planet looking for small organisms that inhabit the upper stratosphere. They tend to follow hurricane storms looking for food that’s been cast up into the air from the sea and surrounding landmasses. The Rhuni is one of the few creatures that can navigate these storms with ease. They are can be very temperamental and so little is known about their behavior.

Bioform Notes
Type: Aerial Filter Feeder – Omnivore.
Habitat: Upper Stratosphere.
Social: It is believed they might gather to breed.
Temperment: Aggressive
Activity Cycle: Active
Metabolism: Constant
Resperation: Feathered Gills - Also processes crude lungs.
Reproductive: Unknown

Physiological Notes:
Size: Medium/Large - Goat sized.
Morphology: Symmetrical - bilateral
Skeletal: Exoskeleton
Epidermal: Pale Blue tortoise-like scales. White Striped markings along the length of the body.
Limbs: 4 jointed limbs + two adapted for flying.
Location of Senses: Decentralized on the body
Primary sense: Taste
Secondary sense: Smell/Sight - Eyes are limited in their vision because of a protective shell that covers the outside.

Other Notes:
This creature processes an amazing sense of taste. They can locate their prey from miles away just by sampling the air.


Good Luck! And remember to have fun!

--------------------------------------

“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

--------------------------------------------------------------

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

Also, check out the rules on Plagiarism - HERE -

[Keenir2]

this is going to be fun; an interesting creature (they all are, granted)

Originally Posted by Brynn_Metheney

Limbs: 4 jointed limbs + two adapted for flying.

*mind goes to work*
(i just hope my scanner can be fixed; if not, that's okay)

[Keenir2]

Originally Posted by Brynn_Metheney

Topic #45 :: July 6th 2011
Organism: "The Rhuni"
Planet: Eliza - Yep, we're still here!

I hope you can take part in this round.

[Didzis]

Cool, been waiting for the new comp.

[Moai]

I do believe I shall participate in this one!

[choo]

Real ruff preliminary sketch.

Group of them coming together to mate/feed or whatever. The big ones aren't very nice to little ones.

[monsterzero]

OKAY. THAT'S IT. I'm going to finally participate in one of these instead of just lurking. To officially celebrate this, I made a minty fresh, shiny new account.

But that's besides the point, onto the artwork.

I figured it'd be best to design the beast before actually placing it in an environment, so without further ado here goes nothin':



I wanted something aerodynamic that looked like it could really cut through the air and withstand high winds and harsh storms.

Although my preferred drawing style is more graphic/stylized/"cartoony", for the final image I'm gonna try to step out of my comfort zone and do something more painterly with realistic(ish) lighting sources and all that jazz.

I hope I'm doing this right, ahaha. I'm probably irrationally nervous.

[Aims]

Originally Posted by monsterzero

Although my preferred drawing style is more graphic/stylized/"cartoony", for the final image I'm gonna try to step out of my comfort zone and do something more painterly with realistic(ish) lighting sources and all that jazz.

looking really nice in this graphics style... looking forward to see finished and in 'realistic cartoony' style

[choo]

started to paint. Experimenting with a crisper look.

For this I've been using a lot of overlay, color, and Hue/Saturation selections- a lot less time consuming than actually going through and repainting sections when the tone or value is off. ) The main guy is my primary focus right now because I'm using him to figure out the bells and whistles for my original concept of
a big, armored, flying catfish tadpole )

[natzuurjk]

Wanted to say, really great sketchs all around.

Choo:Really, really love your piece! My humble suggestion would be to control that saturation a bit more (it's a bit one note across canvas) and it'll make that creature pop!

Mine so far, this thing has changed so many times haha but i'm sticking with this itteration for now. Originally referenced tadpoles, tortoises, turtles, bats, fish, even lizard reptiles.

Essentially I wanted to emphasis the badassness it would take for a creature to withstand a hurricane. The idea is that on Eliza the hurricanes are very electrically charged ( a rare thing on earth, usually associated with the most powerful storms) and that certain small bugs and such call these electrical behemoths home. The Rhuni feeds on these by navigating these storms with there big and highly developed mouths.

Anyway here it is, got to fix some sloppiness, etc:

[Daitengu]

A quick orthographic of my creature as well as some little diagrams showing the netlike material it uses to filter out its food from the air as well as the organ it uses to taste the locate its prey.

[Brynn_Metheney]

Excellent work everyone!

Didzis - That is a great angle you've got there! Lovely start! Can't wait to see more!

choo - Excellent! I love the way you've handled the mouth and the angle is just great! Looking forward to the finish!

monsterzero - Glad to have you participate! Nice start! You might consider making the taste sense more apparent as it is the creature's primary sense.

Daitengu - Wonderful studies! Good job in taking the time to explore your creature!

natzuurjk - Great start! You might try and make the creature look a little more suited for flight.

Great job so far everyone!

[Aims]

really nice work guys.
Here is my concept.

[Ogi-G]

Great ideas all around, keep a close eye on the deadline and give it a final push

Looking forward to the finals

[Blindrat]

Looking great folks, can't wait to see them finalized.
Here is something I managed to sketch up during my break today for this.