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pallanoph β€” Unwavering Gaze

Published: 2010-07-20 02:16:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 10789; Favourites: 429; Downloads: 0
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Description I refer to these beasts quite humorously as my "Winged Horse Aberrations." They may have started out as just that, but have acquired a style all their own. As such, they are in need of a proper species name, and as of today I still haven't had any luck in thinking up one. Go figure. For those of you unfamiliar with this charming face, you can find the original version here:

Most of my frontal view sketches of these creatures left something to be desired, so when this finally occurred one day while taking a breather I was quite pleased. (How long will that feeling last, I wonder?) The eyes seem better placed (forward facing) and larger, as vision is their keenest sense. Also, I've received comments on that "beak," which is not a beak at all but a flexible, pointed lip. This helps in making the face sleekly aerodynamic. (Plus, it's awesome. )

Of course, I've yet to properly integrate their body feathers into their anatomy, as feathers are the most drastically altering of all body covers. (Ever seen a bird without feathers? Exactly.) Once I have that down, these creatures should be looking considerably smoother.

Naturally, if you have any comments, suggestions, critiques, etc., I'd be more than happy to hear them!

Graphite sketch tinted in Photoshop, 5x11"

Species Β© April Schumacher
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Comments: 61

esil-aisa-96 [2011-07-01 19:13:23 +0000 UTC]

i love it!!!!!!!

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Psyartista9 [2010-08-03 00:54:08 +0000 UTC]

Lovely! Mystically intense.

I've pondered a species name for your concept for about 20 seconds but I came up with 'Equavian' (equine + avian) ... what do you think?

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pallanoph In reply to Psyartista9 [2010-08-04 04:23:49 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

Hmm! I'd thought of something similar at some point, but then became distracted and dropped it. I think I may have to tweak around with that word combo and see if I can come up with something along those lines.

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Psyartista9 In reply to pallanoph [2010-08-04 12:46:15 +0000 UTC]

That's cool. I hope you don't feel that I've pushed the name upon you ... I'd love to see what you come up with!

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pallanoph In reply to Psyartista9 [2010-08-04 22:01:10 +0000 UTC]

No worries! I just need to do more thinking on it when my head feels a bit clearer.

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Psyartista9 In reply to pallanoph [2010-08-05 02:07:29 +0000 UTC]



Clearer? Aren't brain-storms supposed to be good things.

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MissPaperJoker [2010-07-28 12:01:47 +0000 UTC]

Somehow I thought of a thestral (out of Harry Potter) when I saw this.
Anyway, I really like the design. His features are amazing. The mouth (whatΒ΄s the correct word for that in english for a horse thing?XD) is really cool like this and his gaze kinda scares me o.Γ΄

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JEAikman [2010-07-24 12:55:14 +0000 UTC]

aww he looks so amazing I love the feathers

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LancerMoo [2010-07-24 12:29:07 +0000 UTC]

Why is everything you do so awesome ;D

The narrow, streamlined head, the triangular snout tipped with just that subtle hint of a "beak", ears standing tall and alert, and enlarged, hawk-like eyes really provide a great sense of this creature's demeanor. It looks so fierce, wild, and free - and yet, somehow intelligent and proud, almost like it doesn't think very highly of you. Like it's looking you right in the eye, raising it's crest as if to issue a challenge, saying: "Come closer, if you dare..."

You know, I really think that's what I love so much about your designs. They're so obviously alien, yet at the same time, there's a great amount of subtlety and... "restraint"? inherent in the design choices you make. I really envy that, haha. D:

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pallanoph In reply to LancerMoo [2010-07-26 03:06:35 +0000 UTC]

*shuffles feet and looks embarrassed*

And I think you've spot on nailed exactly what I was hoping to convey! It's a very superior sort of glance, I know I wouldn't be one to look such a beast in the eye!

I'm glad to hear that, too! I had my wild and crazy design days in years past until I decided it wasn't quite my thing.

And thank you!!!

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AdeleLorienne [2010-07-21 18:30:58 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful eyes! Very haunting. ^__^;

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pallanoph In reply to AdeleLorienne [2010-07-23 20:00:48 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, dear! The eyes do sort of frighten me, hehe.

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Yu-Ominae666 [2010-07-21 17:56:35 +0000 UTC]

it's amazing

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dwuff [2010-07-21 14:29:01 +0000 UTC]

Loving it, I think you could work these into a story!

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VeneSinine [2010-07-21 14:13:22 +0000 UTC]

Awesome ;o
I love it.

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Shirisaya [2010-07-21 04:23:49 +0000 UTC]

I think it can see into my soul...which is why this is a great drawing

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rostridge [2010-07-21 01:17:22 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful concept and execution! It has a very Wayne Barlowe feel.

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irunwithwolves [2010-07-21 00:54:25 +0000 UTC]

woa! thats so neat! i like the idea of horse and bird combind instead of just a horse with wings like a pegasus... it kind of reminds me of a Thestral from harry potter because of the almost skelatal appearance in the profile sketch... very good

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whisperinghearts [2010-07-21 00:04:09 +0000 UTC]

EPIC.

But, given I know a good amount about bird structures, perhaps you want to research what eagles and such look like from the front. This looks too mammal-like, meaning human or primate or dog, and less like a flying creature.

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Ashzoi In reply to whisperinghearts [2010-07-23 18:33:44 +0000 UTC]

I'd suggest checking out her other picture, which is linked in thumbnail form in the description. It gives a much better sense of the creature as an avian type.

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whisperinghearts In reply to Ashzoi [2010-07-24 18:44:13 +0000 UTC]

Oh, I did. I do find that it looks like a flying creature from both this image and the full-body side image.

I just know that our wonderful enjoys critiques about anatomy, so I was obliging.

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MistingWolf [2010-07-20 23:12:32 +0000 UTC]

Oh, wow, that looks nice in the front view! I suppose it was hard for me to tell that the eyes are forward-facing in the profile drawing, but now it's so obvious!

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pallanoph In reply to MistingWolf [2010-07-23 20:00:05 +0000 UTC]

Hooray! I still wonder if the brows should be a bit lower over the eyes or that some of the angles should be adjusted, but it is getting somewhere.

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MistingWolf In reply to pallanoph [2010-07-23 23:30:45 +0000 UTC]

It'll look even more spectacular when you get all of your adjustments done!

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MissDudette [2010-07-20 21:55:10 +0000 UTC]

Gah, these are cool creatures. ^^

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YOB [2010-07-20 19:26:49 +0000 UTC]

awesome but it would make me grin if i saw him doing a flehmen with the teeth

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pallanoph In reply to YOB [2010-07-23 19:54:10 +0000 UTC]

Ahahaha! I have to draw that now...

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mollyart2010 [2010-07-20 16:17:12 +0000 UTC]

yes! frontal views are tricky, i wonder why they are so hard.....

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DawnSentinel [2010-07-20 15:45:54 +0000 UTC]

It's like a predatory equine... Creepy

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pallanoph In reply to DawnSentinel [2010-07-23 19:53:49 +0000 UTC]

It is, more or less. With a good dose of bird thrown in!

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DawnSentinel In reply to pallanoph [2010-07-24 00:10:41 +0000 UTC]

Hawk, more specifically XD

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AzureInfinity [2010-07-20 15:09:31 +0000 UTC]

Keenan? Might be a good name, I think.

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Narkya [2010-07-20 12:40:16 +0000 UTC]

You are one of the only persons I know that can make a species look believable, cuddly, cute, dangerous, trusting, afraid,... I'm not quite sure whether I'd like seeing this one in real life or not, but I tend towards "not". It seems to be a predator of some sorts.

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pallanoph In reply to Narkya [2010-07-23 19:53:29 +0000 UTC]

Ah, why thanks very much! I'm glad that's coming across.

I have to confess I'd be afraid of this beast if I were to have to encounter it. It's predatory, all right, but its favorite prey are large ground-dwelling herbivores. I don't reckon it would know what to make of a human, to be honest, though it would certainly be curious.

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Narkya In reply to pallanoph [2010-07-24 11:11:34 +0000 UTC]

Sounds as if you wouldn't want it to surprise you while picking herbs... I hope it wouldn't be too fast figuring out that humans can be eaten, too. But curiosity can be good and peaceful as well, I guess the first encounter should happen when it's not hungry!

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Jasqreate [2010-07-20 12:30:59 +0000 UTC]

Oh it's so beautiful!

I really love your fluffy portrait sketches. <3

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The-Mighty-Charlie [2010-07-20 12:26:46 +0000 UTC]

Oh my gosh!!!! These totally kick the feathers off of Pegasas!! Beautiful work!!

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kalmanen [2010-07-20 12:25:56 +0000 UTC]

Aerodynamic lip How awesome. Your imagination with this kind of things is just amazing. Although, I think the slightly curved nose doesn't show quite good on this one as it does on the full pic; I'm trying to corner what it is that does make this one look more straight.
It's either the eyes (maybe they're looking a bit too much up, ie. in the other pic the eyes seem to be a bit more deeper in the head and the space over them would be more clearly over them) or just the nostril placement (too close? so the nasal bone looks 'too' straight).
The cheekbones and mouth are executed very well, the mouth goes long enough and the cheeks are quite horse-like, just like in the earlier piece The ears could turn straight to front, like horses do. I'm sure this... winged horse has very good hearing abilities.
In all, wonderful work once again and I can't wait too see more of your sketchings!

(But I am kinda disappointed this wasn't the noph-from-front sketch! )

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pallanoph In reply to kalmanen [2010-07-23 19:46:00 +0000 UTC]

Bahaha, I thought that things could be a lot more interesting with that head shape, minus having an actual beak. I know what you mean about that curved shape not showing up here, too. But I'm trying to think whether or not they should have anywhere between straight/curved profiles, and which might be more functional, if either. *thinks too much*

Baaawwww, thankies, dear! You're always too kind...

(I know, I need to draw that one up still! )

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kalmanen In reply to pallanoph [2010-07-23 23:14:28 +0000 UTC]

Yes you do. Less thinking, more art

You're most welcome Your art never stops amazing me

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zephyrwolfen [2010-07-20 11:48:05 +0000 UTC]

Absolutely beautiful - I adore those piercing eyes, and the way the feathers blend smoothly wit the rest of the creature is amazing

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pallanoph In reply to zephyrwolfen [2010-07-23 17:50:02 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I love feathers, but there's something about drawing them that sort of stumps me. Too much detail and it's all wrong, too little and no one has any idea of what they're looking at. Still gotta find the happy medium.

I had a whole lot of fun with the eyes... potentially the best I've drawn yet!

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Al-Asparagus [2010-07-20 10:31:11 +0000 UTC]

The most beautiful form of pegasus I never seen

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StephanieY [2010-07-20 09:46:18 +0000 UTC]

neat-o

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Lykouros [2010-07-20 06:31:20 +0000 UTC]

Cool new creature, I hope you can find a suitable name for them; I somehow didn't realize they don't already have one o_O

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pallanoph In reply to Lykouros [2010-07-23 17:48:51 +0000 UTC]

Almost every species I own (just a few, I guess) that aren't pallanophs are unnamed. It's pretty dreadful of me!

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Ashzoi [2010-07-20 03:42:57 +0000 UTC]

Oh, April. I think this is one of my favorites of yours. I'm not entirely sure why. Those eyes are so piercing, yet comforting somehow... like this creature is inviting one to get close and relaxed. And in that sense, I don't know whether to be suspicious or delighted .
Feather covering is tricky, especially with flying types with more appendages. It might be fun to do a lot of down feathers, which I'd imagine are easier and fun to draw (fluff!). Or scattered coverts. Or maybe some additional primary and secondary feathers along the limbs . Though, with equine anatomy, I'm not sure how that would be particularly useful to flight. Hmm...

I love love love the crest/mane in this species. For that reason I'm inclined to think of a name similar to a Cockatoo. Or if you want something Latin and pretty, Pluma means Feather. For something quite literal, I believe Volaticus means flying... so you could do Hippo-Volaticus . But Volaticus on it's own sounds pretty epic as well! (If you don't take that name I surely will)

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pallanoph In reply to Ashzoi [2010-07-23 17:48:19 +0000 UTC]

Awww, thanks Ashley! I'm super glad you can see that in those eyes, too! (This is probably one creature I'd find it impossible to make eye contact with, despite how much I'd like to! )

It totally is tricky. I'm thinking of really dense coverts to give a smoother feel, dense enough to sort of smooth the edges and to allow the legs to merge a little better with the body when folded in flight. (I wonder if I can even draw that properly!!!)

Dammmmmnnnn.... "Volaticus" does sound pretty neat. Like a word I can play around with! *starts messing with words*

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Horsehuggingdragon [2010-07-20 03:28:36 +0000 UTC]

the detail in your graphite sketches is so refreshing!
Just by reading the bits that you've written on this species, i find that i'm falling in love with them their design is rather intriguing, and i hope to see more and read more about them in the near future!

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pallanoph In reply to Horsehuggingdragon [2010-07-23 17:37:51 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! These critters are my "side species" experiment, more or less, something for me to fiddle with when I'm not working on the pallanophs. Hopefully I'll have some more solid info on these beasties at some point!

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