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HOULY1970 — The Ship Eater

Published: 2007-10-23 20:08:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 10240; Favourites: 317; Downloads: 173
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Description This is a drawing of an immature Ship Eater, luring a Pirate to his doom.

Ship eaters can grow to enormous sizes and have developed a unique way to bring their prey to them.

Using their spike like lure they impale a victim to use as bait. Much like an angler fish would do.

This started when superstitious Island natives would sacrifice virgins to these monsters that would often suck down their canoes in a single mouthful. The monstrous fishes soon realized that they could use this bait tactic to lure in even bigger prey.

Laying in wait and waving their seductive lure around, they were then able to catch the attentions of pirates and other ships that cruised the coastal waters.

Thinking these maidens were in fact mermaids, the pirates would come close enough to seal their fate without suspecting what lay in wait for them. Making it too late for them to defend themselves once the attack started.

The few ships that survived such attacks grew wise and often sent a newer crew member to investigate .... Much to the amusement and delight of his heartless fellows.

( EDIT )

They switched things around a bit since I last wanted to edit something and before I noticed where the edit button was, it was time to head off to do some errands before heading home.

First off I want to dedicate this to Jessica Douglas. This came from a dream that she had, and described to me ... Leading me to envision my own version of the beast. Secondly I love how she comes up with fantastical creatures and describes them as if she were an explorer discovering them herself for the first time. I tried to emulate that.

Secondly I drew this on a sheet of paper that was tea stained by me and the poltergeist of a little girl that died in my house a long time ago.

I sketched it in pencil lightly then shaded it with a Bistre conte crayon along with a sanguine conte for mid tones and a china white one for highlights. ENJOY.
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Comments: 138

HOULY1970 In reply to ??? [2017-03-29 23:54:32 +0000 UTC]

You already did and Yes !!! haha

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CelestiaTheFilly [2013-09-29 09:24:54 +0000 UTC]

poor lady

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a96fred [2013-04-06 19:34:17 +0000 UTC]

I like it, mystical and a bit eerie. Straight out of a pirate's tale.

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jjjetplain [2011-10-29 01:05:52 +0000 UTC]

thats pretty cool

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Beldrin [2010-08-21 13:21:38 +0000 UTC]

Awersome idea

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NataliaRa [2009-08-29 11:37:58 +0000 UTC]

Just one word "wonderful"

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HOULY1970 In reply to NataliaRa [2009-10-16 19:27:52 +0000 UTC]

Just three words ...

Thank You Natalia.

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NataliaRa In reply to HOULY1970 [2009-10-16 19:55:26 +0000 UTC]

You welcome

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Excalibur-T005 [2009-06-27 20:24:09 +0000 UTC]

Wow, seems like the pirates would be just as likely to get speared on those gnarly-fraggin' teeth as on the spike.

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HOULY1970 In reply to Excalibur-T005 [2009-06-30 18:59:40 +0000 UTC]

The spike's just for the bait ... most certainly it'll inhale it's victims in it's huge maw.

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Excalibur-T005 In reply to HOULY1970 [2009-07-01 02:21:45 +0000 UTC]

Still... The prey might get stuck on those teeth and wind up rotting their... Any smaller predators that showed up to scavenge would probably get eaten by the big bugger...

That thing would make some dentist either rich or dead.

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HOULY1970 In reply to Excalibur-T005 [2009-07-01 13:39:29 +0000 UTC]

I don't know ... I'm thinking maybe smaller predators like sharks might effectively act as cleaning systems for the big beast ... Like I've seen small fish cleaning parasites and bits of leftovers drom the jaws of groupers and other fish.

Plus bear in mind my depiction is of a juvenile ship eater ... A full grown one .. well could take down a ship.

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Excalibur-T005 In reply to HOULY1970 [2009-07-01 21:14:22 +0000 UTC]

Hmmm... Well, Great Whites have been known to scavenge whale carcasses, but it seems like a 20-foot shark would be a pretty tempting target for one of these things.

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HOULY1970 In reply to Excalibur-T005 [2009-07-02 14:53:34 +0000 UTC]

True I suppose ... I was thinking of smaller sharks man sized or smaller ... I'm thinking the larger ones might well avoid the ship eaters whom are lazy lay in wait type predators that wouldn't actively chase down their prey.

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Excalibur-T005 In reply to HOULY1970 [2009-07-02 17:40:49 +0000 UTC]

Well, the problem is that a lot of the small sharks usually hang out around reefs and stuff, not out in the open ocean... hey, here's an idea! This thing could have sort of a resident population of fish following it around, like a whole ecosystem supported by the presence of that one animal. Sharks to scavenge off of its scraps, remoras that follow the sharks, still more fish that make a habit of eating the scraps of sharks, possibly even some fish that feed off of the Ship-Eater itself like certain species of piranha do - just taking small bites, and allowing the animal to heal before feeding again from the same spot.

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HOULY1970 In reply to Excalibur-T005 [2009-07-06 14:44:53 +0000 UTC]

Sounds like a great idea. Plus the adults of these things would be as large as a ship themselves and probably wouldn't even notice other creatures nibbling on it ... if they could even get through the thing's skin ... but I can imagine the barnacles and growth that would cover parts of the monster. and yeah different scavengers that would stick near in hopes of an easy meal.

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Excalibur-T005 In reply to HOULY1970 [2009-07-06 18:37:47 +0000 UTC]

Exactly. Bad for sailors, good for the ecosystem in general.

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Scratchpost-Keychain [2009-05-16 15:50:23 +0000 UTC]

wow. amazing story and seriously cool picture. tell the little dead girl she did an awesome job helping.

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HOULY1970 In reply to Scratchpost-Keychain [2009-06-03 17:57:00 +0000 UTC]

Thanks.

I told her and she flopped around until her head fell off.

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Scratchpost-Keychain In reply to HOULY1970 [2009-06-08 02:01:33 +0000 UTC]

well of course, it's only right that it would. i think that probably adds to her "spectral" beauty.

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HOULY1970 In reply to Scratchpost-Keychain [2009-06-10 12:23:42 +0000 UTC]

haha

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meihua [2008-12-25 06:59:00 +0000 UTC]

wow that is disgustingly fantastic!

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HOULY1970 In reply to meihua [2009-01-02 03:39:20 +0000 UTC]

Better than fantastically disgusting huh ? haha THANKS

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bear48 [2008-06-07 01:58:17 +0000 UTC]

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HOULY1970 In reply to bear48 [2008-06-12 18:08:46 +0000 UTC]

haha

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Pagan-Inspiration [2008-05-16 14:12:20 +0000 UTC]

Holy cow, it looks like a giant tadpole from Hell. D: Great concept though, I love how you made it look like an angler fish relative, but with a twist.

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HOULY1970 In reply to Pagan-Inspiration [2008-06-12 20:33:50 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Meagan Tadpole from Hell haha Cute.

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Mystik-Rider [2008-04-05 13:42:27 +0000 UTC]

You're wonderful work have been featured in my journal [link]

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HOULY1970 In reply to Mystik-Rider [2008-06-27 20:23:12 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Anne You rock !!!

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Mystik-Rider In reply to HOULY1970 [2008-06-28 15:32:09 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome my friend! It is such a great piece, I love it!

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Mystik-Rider [2008-03-08 12:05:32 +0000 UTC]

Stunning piece of work! I really enjoy the story behind that best!

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HOULY1970 In reply to Mystik-Rider [2008-07-02 17:21:28 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Anne

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MJBivouac [2008-03-02 17:26:12 +0000 UTC]

This is one of your best pieces. Love the old map look to it. Here be Monsters!
MJB

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HOULY1970 In reply to MJBivouac [2008-07-02 17:44:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Man. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

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vtglassartist [2008-02-19 00:23:41 +0000 UTC]

This came out really well, John. I had been thinking about doing some more sailing, but after looking at this, I'm not so sure. Who knows what sort of monster is lurking right below the surface?

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HOULY1970 In reply to vtglassartist [2008-02-19 14:34:33 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Justin.

I liked working on the tea stained paper. It gives the drawing an antique feel.

I live a couple minutes away from lake Memphremagog where they say there's a lake monster. I can remember when I was a kid you could be out in a boat and see claerly down to a depth of around 15' ... now if you can see 1 or 2 feet you're lucky. I don't swim much in the lake anymore ... having something bump into your leg is just freaky since you can't really tell what it was.

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vtglassartist In reply to HOULY1970 [2008-02-20 20:26:53 +0000 UTC]

I know what you mean about Lake Memphremagog. The water is just so much cleaner at Willoughby or Crystal. Good beaches, too.

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HOULY1970 In reply to vtglassartist [2008-02-21 16:07:10 +0000 UTC]

It used to be clear. Too many boats these days if you ask me. If they'd cut all motorboat traffic for several years I bet it'd clear back up a lot.

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vtglassartist In reply to HOULY1970 [2008-02-22 04:13:19 +0000 UTC]

That would help a lot. Cutting back on the amount of dumping and improper sewers draining into the lake would make a big difference, too.

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HOULY1970 In reply to vtglassartist [2008-02-22 14:31:44 +0000 UTC]

I agree. We've had problems with blue/green algae here and they've passed bylaws where all lakefront properties need to have trees planted between the lakeshore and the people's lawns. I guess it has a lot to do with the rich folks using too much chemicals on their lawns and I know some of the older places have sewage run off issues like you've mentioned as well.

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JWiesner [2008-01-27 18:24:42 +0000 UTC]

So bitter! O_O

Made me laugh... in a way.

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HOULY1970 In reply to JWiesner [2008-02-14 19:05:03 +0000 UTC]

As long as it made you laugh Judith, then my work is done

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JWiesner In reply to HOULY1970 [2008-02-14 21:00:17 +0000 UTC]

Yes, well, it has a black sense of humor. So it hit mine. :]

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HOULY1970 In reply to JWiesner [2008-02-15 01:33:24 +0000 UTC]

Haha I know what you mean

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gibsart [2008-01-21 23:40:52 +0000 UTC]

That's horrible but brilliant,Crikey as if there weren't enough beasties to be worrying about already ! Great work and gallery mate !

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HOULY1970 In reply to gibsart [2008-02-15 14:36:04 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Martin

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gibsart In reply to HOULY1970 [2008-02-15 17:45:49 +0000 UTC]

You're most welcome.

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eleventhdistrict [2008-01-19 20:59:57 +0000 UTC]

I like

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HOULY1970 In reply to eleventhdistrict [2008-02-15 15:28:38 +0000 UTC]

Thanks John

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density-tmr [2008-01-13 18:10:38 +0000 UTC]

Hi

I have featured this deviation in my journal as a thumbnail because I like it and want my watchers to see it.

If you object to your work being displayed in this manor - I have every respect for you and will remove it as soon as I receive a note from you asking me to remove it.

Keep up the really great work.

Andy

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