Alphabeastiary is
an advanced art challenge. While we encourage people to do the challenge on their own, we will only post pictures of those we feel are of an excellent quality in terms of skill and/or creativity. If you feel you are qualified, please read the rules to find out how this blog will work and how to apply and e-mail us your applications and submissions! We will put them up as we receive them.
Dec 26, 2010
Dec 21, 2010
Dec 19, 2010
E - Epimeliad
In the spirit of the holidays we are taking a break from fierce monsters and terrible man-eating beasts to focus on a more gentle creature for the letter E.
The Epimeliads (or Epimelides) hail from a group of numerous and extremely diverse greek creatures known as nymphs. Nymphs are nature spirits that are connected to a certain creature, place, or even element. They can often be found in valleys, forest groves or beside quiet lakes or streams acting as the guardians of the animals and plants around them.
The Epimeliads , like most nymphs, are depicted as beautiful young women. They are a type of nymph known as the Dryad and are specifically the protectors of apple trees and sheep. When in the form of a young woman the Epimeliad's hair is reportedly pure white, like apple blossoms or lambs wool. They are extremely shy, and have the ability to shape shift quickly from human to apple tree when mortals are close, making a glimpse of them a rarity.
Dec 17, 2010
Short notice reminder
The deadline snuck up on me as well, meant to put one of these up at least a week before the deadline. My apologies.
Anyway, this challnege is due this Sunday, Dec 19th! Hopefully we'll see more submissions, though it's understandable that this is a busy time of year. Thanks!
Dec 16, 2010
Dec 15, 2010
Dec 12, 2010
Dec 8, 2010
Dec 6, 2010
Dec 2, 2010
D- Dobhar-chú
Hailing from the rivers and deep lakes of Ireland comes a monster known as the Dobhar-chu. The name Dobhar-Chu when translated from Celtic literally means "Water-Hound" and is sometimes confused with its close cousin the Pooka (Puca) or "Water-horse."
The Dobhar-Chu has been described differently over time but the general consensus is that it has a very sleek otter like appearance and an enormous dog-like head with fins like a fish. In some versions of the myth the Dobhar-Chu has a fish tail and shark teeth will in others it more like a huge wiry-haired dog with webbed paws.
In every version of the story the Dobhar-chu is a nasty brute you don't want to cross paths with. A maneater that can grow up to seven feet long the beast has been said to overturn small boats and eat the unsuspecting fishermen inside. A Dobhar-Chu might be hard to spot in the water, but it is easy to hear. Emitting a loud shriek that sounds like the scream of a young woman as it draws close to its victims.
Half-Dog and Half-fish this monster had its last reported sighting in 2003 but it's legacy continues in Irish folklore and the enthusiasm of cryptid hunters everywhere.
Info on the Beast!
American Monsters
Wikipedia
This challenge will end Sunday, December 19th, it's an extra long one as well!
Dec 1, 2010
Catoblepas Artist Spotlight
Aside from being cool Matthew's Catoblepas piece shows a truly beautiful grasp of animal anatomy, perspective and color. (Three of the hardest things to get a grasp of) I personally love how her Catoblepas has traits of a real wildebeest but scales that look almost like exposed muscle and spines more at home on a xenomorph then anything else. This piece is just creative with a capital C.
Below you can see two more examples of Pythosblaze magic. You'll come for the insane amount of detail, the incredible pen work and the variety of mediums the artist experiments (and succeeds) with but you will no doubt stay for the monsters.
Seriously look at this thing. It is so cool.Bush Dai-Dai Artist Spotlight
The strong watercolor work hides small details within it, almost telling the whole story of the monsterous succubus in a single image. The style and strong colors also draw to mind the art of the African and South American roots of the Bush Dai-Dai making this piece very raw, tribal and almost primitive.
Below are two more examples of Clair's extraordinary watercolor work. Her images are soft and and show a wonderful knowledge of light and a clear understanding of the female form. Each image seems to hold its own secret story, which is the true hallmark of a successful illustrator.
Nov 30, 2010
Nov 28, 2010
A small mod note
When submitting your entries, please keep your pictures within a 1,000 - 2,000 px limit in width and height, depending on if your image is horizaontal or vertical, or at least under 2MBs in memory size. For one, pictures look so much better when they're a viewable size on most monitors, and for two, we only have so much space. Mostly it's the space. Thank you!
Nov 27, 2010
Nov 25, 2010
Nov 24, 2010
CHALLENGE EXTENDED
We decided that the challenge main due date will end on Wednesday the 1st to make up for the holiday.
The following challenge will be issued that Wednesday and will be 2 1/2 weeks long as well, making the challenges get back to a Sunday - Sunday biweekly schedule (at least until Christmas time which we'll probably muss around with the scheduling again).
Once again, hope so see more submissions! Thanks for all the great work so far, fellas and gals!
Nov 23, 2010
Nov 22, 2010
Nov 20, 2010
Nov 16, 2010
Nov 14, 2010
C- Catoblepas
The Catoblepas or Katoblepon is a rather melancholy monster whose name literally means "Down-looking." or "Heavy-headed". This beast has been mentioned many times in Medieval folklore and the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder first described it in it's home on the Nile river in Ethiopia.
The Catoblepas is about the size of a large horse or bull, it moves very slowly because of the weight of its head and enormous horns which are usually held low to the ground. In some interpretations it has the snout, head and tusks of a wild boar, while in others it has a more cow like appearance.
Although not vicious unless provoked, it has dangerous noxious breath and eyes like a basilisks which are able to turn anyone who looks right at them into stone. The Catoblepas's skin is covered in thick fur and protective scales. It is said to have a heavy mane of hair on its muscular neck and over its eyes. This monster is usually content to graze but if an intruder wanders into its territory its mane will bristle uncovering its eyes and sealing the fate of anyone nearby.
Today it is thought that the Catoblepas might actually have been based on second hand accounts of the Wildebeest or the Gnu which have been greatly exaggerated over time.
Info on the beast!
Wikipedia
Cryptomundo
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