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M0AI — The Green Aura

Published: 2010-01-19 03:41:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 2307; Favourites: 26; Downloads: 135
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Description The Lost One [link] transformed.

You may remember that I created the Lost One as the protagonist for a mostly-imaginary game. One of the central gameplay concepts for this game was that many of the items you equip change your element, powers, and physical form and appearance. Among the most significant of these items are Auras. There are five of them--red, green, blue, black, and white--and each one confers certain strengths and weaknesses, and manifests itself in the character's form in a typical way. The Green Aura confers physical size and strength and imbues the wearer with the powers of the earth element. The physical attributes of the Green Aura are increased muscularity, hypertrophied bone structures (check out those knuckles and cheekbones), jagged and rugged textures and projections, and, of course, a green skin tone.

This gameplay mechanic, as well as the character's appearance, was influenced significantly by the gameplay concepts of Demon's Crest, a SNES game.

I actually did most of the work on this last spring, shortly after I painted the initial form of the Lost One. My interest wandered off to other things before I brought this image to a satisfying finish. Over the past few days I've dusted it off and polished it up, and now I present it to you, around nine months after I started it. The muse is a fickle mistress.
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Comments: 16

Pure-Moneo [2010-01-20 16:05:13 +0000 UTC]

I love the design of this one. The horn-things coming out of his shoulders... the eyes, which look as if they want to say something. Oh and I really like the idea on the (imaginary) video game! Great work!

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M0AI In reply to Pure-Moneo [2010-01-20 20:12:49 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

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commander-salamander [2010-01-19 20:50:07 +0000 UTC]

I like the way that although the Lost One bulks up he doesn't loose his basic build. If you get what I'm saying. The anatomy is very well thought out. The textures are great, and the horns too and the sweet green eyes.

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M0AI In reply to commander-salamander [2010-01-19 22:40:35 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, Salamander! I actually created this image by changing the color of the original lost one and simply painting more mass and texture on top of him. That's why the build is the same.

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Sphenacodon [2010-01-19 12:52:17 +0000 UTC]

He looks like he needs a hug. The details are (as ever) great, and I like how you put expression into what is otherwise an anthropomorphous horned lizard.

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M0AI In reply to Sphenacodon [2010-01-19 22:39:10 +0000 UTC]

Thomastapir compared him to a Stygimoloch, and now you're comparing him to a horned lizard. Funnily, I hadn't anticipated him being interpreted as reptilian, though in hindsight that makes perfect sense.
Thanks! Rest assured he eventually gets a hug.

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Sphenacodon In reply to M0AI [2010-01-19 23:26:57 +0000 UTC]

Well, lizards are associated with the earth, more or less.

Awww...

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M0AI In reply to Sphenacodon [2010-01-20 02:30:16 +0000 UTC]

I think he's just waiting for the right Lebanese synapsid to come along and make him feel better.

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Sphenacodon In reply to M0AI [2010-01-20 23:13:36 +0000 UTC]

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M0AI In reply to Sphenacodon [2010-01-21 06:47:07 +0000 UTC]

Well, that's one thing out of the way.

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thomastapir [2010-01-19 06:12:25 +0000 UTC]

Looks awesome, per usual! This one is especially interesting as a "transformed" version of an existing character that we have available for comparison (in time-lapse, even!). I like the way you bulked up the musculature and bone structure while retaining that underlying sense of a somewhat frail, vulnerable character. I think the sad, soulful eyes go a long way towards achieving that end...The transition of the eyes from red to green, while still retaining that poignant quality, was probably what struck me the most in the transformation sequence.

My favorite part, though, is those rounded and knobby spikes--on the shoulders especially but also on the head, where they take on a Stygimoloch-like appearance. I've been playing around with this idea for a pachycephalosaurian aquatic creature based on a thorny devil, and this just makes me more motivated to do something with it!

Great job...And as always, I love the arms!

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M0AI In reply to thomastapir [2010-01-19 22:49:41 +0000 UTC]

I agree that the eyes are the most important expressive feature for this character. And I'm very glad the personality and the sense of vulnerability carries over. Thanks, Tom!

That Pachycephalosaur creature sounds very cool. Pachycephalosaurs aren't used for creature design inpiration nearly often enough, I say.

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Nightblue-art [2010-01-19 05:17:35 +0000 UTC]

Great shapes as usual. Head is very good, with big soulful eyes. I love the thorny/scaly textures as well.

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M0AI In reply to Nightblue-art [2010-01-19 19:20:54 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, Grace!

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Demonlemon [2010-01-19 04:47:25 +0000 UTC]

great design

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M0AI In reply to Demonlemon [2010-01-19 19:20:42 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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