Semester 2 :D

After a long deserved Christmas Break it is FINALLY time to get stuck in again!

This Semester i plan to take my creature design further by continuing on with my crazy creations but to select some and work on them in more detail. Considering their life cycles, how they look as a baby through to adulthood, how they survive, eat, sleep, and also considering gender and their differences in appearance if any.

Whilst doing this i will be researching existing creatures in both films and games and acting as a Critique. I will pull apart some of the creatures you may be familiar with which look great on the big screen but when its design as a creature is taken into consideration you will be left with a different view...

"Yeah... But does it actually work?"

I aim to look into why these creatures don't work, what is it about their design that when actually put into a real life situation they would fail. I will also use my knowledge of anatomy to further back my argument.
As i said in my  First Semester i want to create believable creatures that could actually work as a design and not just a concept and further my knowledge of creature design.

I aim to prove that my creatures are not just pretty drawings on a page, but a well thought through design and that i have considered exactly what that creatures purpose is and how it survives in its world.
Along the way i will continue developing Traditional and Digital Art skills and will possibly touch on my 3D skills in Maya. But for now all of the above is my plan of action!

Semester 1 Complete!

Since my previous post, i have completed the design process for the Great Crested Bird (see Creature Development) and i have also put the finished concept in my Creature Gallery.

From this process i have learnt the importance of planning and attention to detail in a creatures design. Considering - how its feathers look? what colours are best? what kind of pupil does it have in its eye? does it fit in it environment? all important in discovering the right design path and creating a successful creature.

This first semester i feel my approach to creature design has been enhanced greatly. Starting with importance of structure (anatomy and musculature), my research into verisimilitude and overcoming a players disbelief, considering evolution and details as to how that creature lives, feeds and moves and finally the importance of the right texture - feathers, scales etc must look believable as the viewer can relate to existing animals.

My contextual visits also played there part in a new way of gathering inspiration and provided an insight into how other artists and designers work. The Zoo visit was of particular relevance to myself as i could study first hand animals in their environment and how they move and behave.

I believe my research into creating believable creatures this semester has provided me with the necessary foundations to further my creature design process next semester.

The Great Crested Bird...

After sketching, sketching and morrrre sketching :D i have selected one of my favourites to take that bit further on its design path.

It is a cross between a Secretary Bird and a Frilled Lizard.

The males have a highly colourful head piece which they use to threaten an approaching enemy and those with the biggest and most colourful head pieces are more attractive to the females.
They have a huge 2 meter wing span, long avian legs, a feathery scale covered body and feeds on insects and small fish. The Great Crested Bird can usually be spotted around the shallow shores of lakes and rivers.

Below are some experimental pieces helping me develop this creature...

I am finding that developing key areas of the creature helps me discover new ways of designing thus making my design process stronger,

Further Understanding

Today i have completed my Literature and Contextual Reviews for this first semester. The aim of my reviews was to discover how to make you, my audience believe my creatures could actually exist by creating verisimilitude (the appearance of truth).

I discovered the importance of anatomy and musculature in my designs and without a strong structural base its audience will start to doubt its existence. I also learnt to consider every little detail in a creatures design...
            What is its Purpose?
            How has its Evolved to Survive?
            How does it Hunt and Eat?
            What are the differences between the Males and Females?

All of the above are just a selection of factors to consider in the creature design process.

On top of all that, considering a players first reactions to a design...
Can the player approach and interact with the creature?
Should the player prepare for an attack? 
So the Psychology must also be taken into account.

The process of researching, reading, visiting places and writing these reviews have truly enhanced my knowledge and understanding of creature design, and bare all in mind when designing.

I have also added a new page to my Blog, Creature Sketches as i have previously said i have been working mainly in my sketch book recently and i have selected a few to share with you...

Take a look and enjoy!

The Gentle Giant

Recently i have been working mainly in my sketchbook creating creatures of all forms which is why my updates have been a little sparse. A few weeks ago myself and my fellow MA's went on a contextual visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park (see Research section).

I found a particular piece inspiring and with my creative eye, i spotted potential. I took a photograph of this piece (above) and took it into photoshop to show you exactly what i could see in my head.

I saw the large muscular structure of a giant, first i saw a Gorilla, but as i developed this creature i began to see a sloth like animal of huge proportions. Although he looks intimidating he is far from it. He is the Gentle Giant of the forest.

Although at first i couldn't see the Sculpture Park being beneficial to myself, i was obviously wrong. Seeing an abstract sculpture clearly proved inspiring.

Don't Panic!

I am still here!

I realise it has been a while since my last post. I have been working a lot in my sketch book recently producing new rough sketches of creatures which i will be posting on here in time. It was also my birthday last week, so its safe to say i have been celebrating with friends and family... but this is no excuse!

Its down to serious work from now... wheres my pencil???

Creature Developing in process!

Since my 'Crit' session last week i have been producing some rough quick sketches of creature ideas that could live on this new world.

This is one i have quickly sketched in Photoshop today, i was inspired to create a snake/panther combo, which i have also mutated and given it 6 legs, so far this is how it looks.
I have published this as i have also experimented with different colours of the same creature to play around with what suits best. This was another quick experiment that i will be continuing to take through my designs as the colour can dramatically change the creatures feel and overall appearance.