Carturian Strut
Mike Corriero -- Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 10:58 AM This was done for the dazzling prancer topic over at CGHUB, for Creature Planets. It's not really much of a prancer but it was fun to paint and design. I kind of imagined it taking a wide galloping strut kind of like komodo dragons or other large lizards while running at half speed.
These creatures are omnivores that feed primarily on the carturia grape plant to which the Carturian Strut's name derives. They obtain a toxin from these grapes and are capable of channeling a potent dye to their feathered shoulder blades.
Carturian Struts prance around with a wide galloping strut. The bright colorful feathers are used in both mating displays and to ward off larger predators, warning them that their blood and flesh are poisonous.
Updated * March 24th 2010
These sketches are the beginning of a personal project, though I'm not sure when and if I'll have the time to ever finish it.
This was a sketch for CGHUB Creature Planets: Flight of the Dying Swiftwings. Though I didn't get a chance to produce the final image.
Reader Comments (9)
Damn dude... Amazing! Your lines are so thin and well done. Everything is so well defined... The flying one is my favorite.
Mike, the top image is really sortuv boxy and uninteresting to me... it's really flat and somehow has an overall blah quality for me, really lackluster.
Now that I've been an asshole about that, let me continue on to say that ALL of the other pics... all this personal project stuffs... Absolutely beautiful. Top fucking drawer, mate. These are so smartly-informed, skillfully and confidently rendered, and lovingly explored. Love 'em Love 'em Love 'em. When you finally publish a book of this project, I will be the first to demand a signed copy. These are who I want to be when I grow up.
Great job, you super-genius!
these are incredible, your penmanship reminds me of some of my favorite Japanese artists, really unique for a western artist. Keep it up man.
have you tried keeping a lot of your pen work showing through on a painting over? I see a lot of manga that does that very well and it could cool to see you attempt it.
Thanks for the comments, crits, compliments guys..
I used to work in watercolor, pen and colored pencil before digital came along. Maybe I'll have to adopt a digital painting process similar to that and see how it works out.
The swiftwings look vaguely inspried by the Anatomy of Banshees from Avatar. :O
Your penwork is amazing. I'm always inspired when you post.
wow mike wild stuff...
so cool that I can spot your work a mile away now
that's a good thing sir :)
now that I look at the carturian strut creature.. I can see how boring it is, and flat in areas.. it gets me frustrated lol. I think I was happy with it for a day or two.
Anonymous - about the swift wings, you think so? maybe because of the crest and 4 wings, though that's more from birds, terosaurs etc..I'm sure on some level of subconsciousness.
Vinod - Thanks, working in pen and pencil...just sketching out ideas is the most fun.
Scott - Thanks man, I think to some extent I myself can see the similarities of how I draw, though I'm still frustrated when producing more detailed finished color pieces.
All of them are awesome!