C.O.W. #159 -- Bloody, Buggery, Curly-Headed Bloodsuckers of Portsmouth -- WIPs

[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 #159 Bloody, Buggery, Curly-Headed Bloodsuckers of Portsmouth!

Topic:
Bloody, Buggery, Curly-Headed Bloodsuckers of Portsmouth

Creature Description: Bloody, Buggery, Curly-Headed Bloodsuckers of Portsmouth-- In 1527, King Henry VIII constructed Southsea Castle in Portsmouth, England. Henry had built the castle with moneys from the dissolution of the monasteries of England, following his break with the Catholic Church. During the construction of Southsea Castle, and unbeknownst to Henry and his court, a terrific nest of undead, aquatic horrors were awoken and stirred. They would lie dormant in the sludge and waters off Southsea Castle for another 18 years, gathering strength by feeding off the offal of the sea, having slumbered beneath the new foundation of Southsea Castle for centuries. On October the 31st, 1545, Henry would return to Southsea to admire his naval ships in advance of an attack he had planned against the French Naval Fleet. During a dinner at the castle, when the full moon had reached its peak in the sky Henry and his court witnessed a horror unlike any in recorded history. Around the shores of Southsea Castle a great, roiling school of sea monsters broke the surface of the water, swam out en masse to Henry's vice-flagship, the Mary Rose, boarded it, razed the ship, killed all 500 sailors and crew on board, and sank the Mary Rose into the sea. The creatures disappeared into the sea and were never seen again. Bodies recovered from the massacre revealed vampire-like bite marks on each of the victims around the necks, armpits and ankles. Descriptions of the creatures appearance varied greatly, but most described them as vaguely human-sized and gaunt, with shiny, pale, hideous skin, and each bore a great, voluminous, curly mane of dark, oily hair. Some witnesses described them as 'fish-men'. Others thought they looked more serpentine with limbs. Upon realizing the extent of the massacre the creatures had caused to his Navy, Henry was said to have exclaimed "Bloody, buggery, curly-headed bloodsuckers!!" Although few in Henry's court would speak of their belief openly, many viewed this unspeakable attack as God's vengence for the dissolution of the Catholic monasteries and the use of the funds garnished from said dissolution in building Southsea Castle.

All right. Well, that's a pretty lengthy brief. A few words about this historical device. We're still looking for new, interesting, exciting creature design. I'm not really looking for something that looks typical of antiquity or mythology. Remember that often in literature, descriptions of creatures like this can be vague because the author or witnesses never really got a good look at what they were describing. Think for a moment if you had witnessed an attack by HR Giger's Xenomorph Alien (from the movies) but only had a chance to see the creature for 5-10 seconds. Would you be able to give a clear description? So let's keep in mind that we're designing this creature, in keeping with the brief, yes, but also trying to put forward something new and exciting. We're looking for something aquatic, pale, about the size of a man, but not strictly humanoid, vampiric, undead, with a big huge mane of dark curly hair or fur, and a taste for blood.

Deadline:
Saturday October 31th 2009-- HALLOWEEN!

Finals go here: http://="http://www.conceptart.org/f...d.php?t=172118

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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[evolvingeye]

awesome

[gnilrE]

yikes,twising my brain over ''not human like'' rule versius the human sized fish-''men''

if i get a decent idea, that wont look like crap i migth even try to parcipiate

[Duman]

I really love the background story, and it should lead to some really amazing creatures. But, well, It is due on halloween. I have seen some previous christmas, easter and halloween creatures with very obvious holiday tie in the COW.
Is it a tradition to have the creatures tied to the holidays they fall on?

[Michael Jaecks]

Originally Posted by gnilrE

yikes,twising my brain over ''not human like'' rule versius the human sized fish-''men''

if i get a decent idea, that wont look like crap i migth even try to parcipiate

Maybe it's a weird semantic thing with the way we American's use the English language. I've never quite thought about it in this way before, but perhaps that's were we sometimes get tripped up with the humanoid rule.

Are you familliar with HP Lovecraft's "Deep Ones" creatures? I would loosely describe them as 'fish-men' ...but at the same time they have been portrayed with very different anatomical proportions than real human beings... more like heavy ogres, trolls, muscular, top heavy, deformed, hunched, even crippled.

Here's another example. The word 'organgutan' is translated to mean 'tree people.' But they're definitely not people. There's figurative use and literal use, and I guess I should have been more careful writing the text.

Taking inspiration from the anatomical proportions of the lower primates still qualifies as a 'creature.' But if the proportions of the anatomy start to look like a real human being in a costume, were back into humanoid/character territory.

Does that make sense?

[Michael Jaecks]

Originally Posted by Duman

I really love the background story, and it should lead to some really amazing creatures. But, well, It is due on halloween. I have seen some previous christmas, easter and halloween creatures with very obvious holiday tie in the COW.
Is it a tradition to have the creatures tied to the holidays they fall on?

If it happens to time itself well, then sometimes yes. I wouldn't make it a rule. I didn't do an easter creature this year, for instance. We may or may not take advantage of the Christmas holiday, I'm not sure. Halloween seems like a pretty natural tie in for this activity, however.

[Duman]

Originally Posted by Michael Jaecks

If it happens to time itself well, then sometimes yes. I wouldn't make it a rule. I didn't do an easter creature this year, for instance. We may or may not take advantage of the Christmas holiday, I'm not sure. Halloween seems like a pretty natural tie in for this activity, however.

No, I agree, I was just wondering if there was some "official" policy for holiday critters. Should be fun.
Oh, and where the heck did this topic come from? Is there some weird inspiration behind it?
(If only real history was this interesting)

[gnilrE]

Originally Posted by Michael Jaecks

Maybe it's a weird semantic thing with the way we American's use the English language. I've never quite thought about it in this way before, but perhaps that's were we sometimes get tripped up with the humanoid rule.

Are you familliar with HP Lovecraft's "Deep Ones" creatures? I would loosely describe them as 'fish-men' ...but at the same time they have been portrayed with very different anatomical proportions than real human beings... more like heavy ogres, trolls, muscular, top heavy, deformed, hunched, even crippled.

Here's another example. The word 'organgutan' is translated to mean 'tree people.' But they're definitely not people. There's figurative use and literal use, and I guess I should have been more careful writing the text.

Taking inspiration from the anatomical proportions of the lower primates still qualifies as a 'creature.' But if the proportions of the anatomy start to look like a real human being in a costume, were back into humanoid/character territory.

Does that make sense?

ohh, i see. thanks.. already started trying to sketch a fish-man that wont look like a man.. i must have some malfunctionings in my brain

[Harmageddon]

Cool topic M.J.
HAR! Let's get them bloodsucking buggers on d'arr paperr ay?
I started on a bloody bugger like this, although it's probably too human.

first attempt (at 2nd COW): friday 23rd october


update monday 25th october:
changed stuff around . . I got bored by all the tentacles.

Michael J. : thanks for the specific critique, I agree with what you're saying (in the next post ). It's also true that the creature we're looking for is somewhat human in appearance, making it more difficult I guess to stray from humanoid anatomy.
But you're saying ogres, bugbears, that sort of D&D stuff is cool, i.e. 2 arms, 2 legs, just, twisted in a way. Hunched, off proportions, etc.
I like the face on this thing, although it's rather human, so maybe I'll completely change it round and finish this thing as a personal project.

[Michael Jaecks]

Harmageddon: You're on the right track, but think about refining and changing the proportions of the torso. Hunch its back, jut the neck out, bulk up the shoulders, or maybe the forearms. Take a look at the anatomy of a gorilla, an orangutan... or ogres, trolls, ettercaps, kua toa from Dungeons and Dragons, Paizo Pathfinder, etc. Right now your torso is starting to read very 'young male human'... there are plenty of ways to design a creature with an erect or semi-erect spine and not make it look human at all.

I know it's tough, especially when one is building one's skills already. Check out wikipedia for good image references to get you started with any of the ideas above...

[Duman]

Alright, I think this is the direction Im heading in.
Vampire eel. Yeah.
Here are some thumbs, take a look, tell me what you think.
Im leaning towards 1,2 and 7

[Mik2121]

Well, that's quite an specific brief, but I will give it a try as well. Instead of what I did last week (a couple silhouettes and the final drawing all in an hour), I will spend some more time with the silhouettes and basic shapes, etc..

[Mik2121]

I made two silhouettes, but I'm not really sure about either of them. I will do more silhouettes later.

[acb]

undead, aquatic horrors were awoken

damn @_@ ....that sentence made my day cool subject ^(^-^)^

[Coxaman]

This is what i got so far, maybe ill change somethings.

[Nhil]

This topic was too good not to be involved.

Quick sketch of where I'm heading

[Arteater]

here is what I have so far, oops saved it without a layer

[Tom K]

damn, off to a great start already. This is a wickedly awesome topic imma have to get on it soon...maybe tonight...after a few beers and horror flicks.

[DefiledVisions]

All in.

[Edward B]

Sounds kickass!

Edit: a wip

[Nhil]

Changed tack a bit

[mythril_golem]

wow had a lot of fun reading that brief, it actually got the mind racing through options more than when it's just a few words. just a couple of quick sketches, want to try out a lot more, the hair is being a real pain
do you think 38 (the most human looking one) is too human looking?

[ghūl]

going to start this one relatively early this time, be back soon

[Duman]

I think Im going to go with this design.

But I need a more dynamic pose. Im thinking climbing up the side of a boat, or sliming around the deck.

[Paolo13]

just a start

[Josu]

okok i think i have an idea for this, i hope to do it in time

[Draugth]

wow awesome theme, looking forward to this one!

[Matt_B]

What I have so far.

[ghūl]

sick designs mythril_golem, I need to switch mine around so its not too humanoid looking, will post in a bit

[Draugth]

my sketch so far, any ideas about its look? D:

EDIT:
Matt_B that really looks like a bloodsucker man, really good job.

Paolo13 I like his arms.

mythril_golem the third one is sick dude.