HOME | DD
Rode-Egel — Elder Thing
Published: 2014-01-21 15:28:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 26793; Favourites: 794; Downloads: 191
Redirect to original
Description
"Six feet end to end, three and five-tenths feet central diameter, tapering to one foot at each end. Like a barrel with five bulging ridges in place of staves. Lateral breakages, as of thinnish stalks, are at equator in middle of these ridges. In furrows between ridges are curious growths – combs or wings that fold up and spread out like fans. . . which gives almost seven-foot wing spread. Arrangement reminds one of certain monsters of primal myth, especially fabled Elder Things in the Necronomicon."—H.P. Lovecraft, At the Mountains of Madness
Pencil, graphite and ink on paper
(27x35cm/10.6x13.8inch)
Related content
Comments: 129
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This work has to be one of the most powerful and eerie Lovecraft-based drawings ever done. Like some other reviews, I would say that the full texture and design of the creature itself is unique and perfectly executed. I find that the rudimentary legs are really impressive and the twisted tentacles are greatly executed. The frail starfish head really gives a great appearance and suggests that the thing is sick or dying in the blackness of the cave.
The setting itself is perfect. The cave's darkness gives a perfect sense of eeriness. Sure, the shadows are just slightly inaccurate, but the overall creepiness and suggestion is THERE. This is the PERFECT setting to put a dying Elder Thing, because caves - next to the sea - are the scariest freakin' places on Earth! The frightening mood is there - a strange and alien thing dying slowly in the failing light of a shining orb, surrounded by the dank walls of a black cave. WOW. What a great execution.
My least favorite part? The body and wings. I'm sorry, it's probably just me. But go through them quickly.
- The wings - I appreciate a turn from the normal, I really do. But I feel that an overall more fanlike interpretation is the superior to a feathery take. And besides, the quote reads "combs or wings that fold up and spread out like fans", which seems different than the more bird-like look here.
- The body I only dislike because it's bending, implying that it is softer, which is something Elder Things are NOT. It might be just me - maybe because it's sickly, it's softening? I do not know.
But now I'm nitpicking. This is a fantastic work and I hope to see more of it in the future.
BRIAN
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wooow Brian!
Thak you so much for your super critique!
I am very glad you took the time and energy to write your thoughts down.
I really appreciate it.
It was very nice to come to my page and see the critique!
I can relate to all the things you wrote.
I myself am trying to imagine what the sometimes scarcely desribed Lovecraftian creatures could look like.
I am looking at the immense variety of forms and shapes that real earth inhabiting things have.
I chose for the soft body and delicate wings of several sea creatures as a reference.
For me the Elder Things are not the hard barrels I often find portrayed.
I see them as flexible and very agile creatures.
But so everyone has a sight on things.
Thanx so much!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You are most welcome for the critique! I must admit that this pleasant response has brightened my day.
I am sorry, I was not aware of your opinions on the Elder Things/Old Ones. It makes sense that you would like the sea creature look, I actually enjoy that view now that you've brought it to light. And I was just nitpicking about the flexible body - really, I like a new view. It is quite possible that they are flexible, it's just Lovecraft said they were able to survive the depths of the ocean with their toughness. But I agree - they are probably agile and flexible.
I am glad you enjoyed my critique.
BRIAN
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hey!
Loved your critique!
So cool!
It is always wonderful if people take the time and energy to tell you what they think of your work.
And it is even better if they like what they see!
For me the description of living in the depths of oceans and outer space do not necessarily translate into a hard exterior.
As most deep sea creatures are quite soft, so the Elder things could look like that as well.
Sea cucumber, starfish, etc,...
But again, it's my interpretation.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
Oh, wait! It says some parts are hard, others, remarkably flexible. YOU'RE RIGHT!
...and so am I.
WE'RE BOTH RIGHT!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
It totally makes sense. I agree.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
One of the best Elder Thing concept drawings I've encountered. I love the way you reimagined the textures of it's body. You used several planes to present the magnitude of the beast, which gives it a tridimensional look that I liked a lot. Maybe what I liked the most is the texture of the wings because they look like some kind of plant. The style is a little cartoonish, which takes a lot of the impact away from the piece. Since you are playing with light in the drawing, I think the shadows are not very accurate, which renders it flat in some places. There are some shadows where there shouldn't be and there are no shadows where they should. I understand that its not supposed to be realistic but having a bright light depicted in the canvas makes the viewer expect the effect of such light in the drawing. Anyway, I liked the piece enough to take it to my favorites because it's a very original take on the design of this character and the textures are very well imagined and executed. I'd love to watch it in full color. Thanks for sharing your work, it's very beautiful.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hey!
Thanx a lot for the critique!
You described the strong and weak points most elaborately.
It points out where to focus on in the next work.
Glad you like the overall image.
Thanx!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is terribly good, man! Fantastic imagination, the details are great and the way you have done it is masterful!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanx a lot! Glad you like it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
On, quite a lot, my good sir.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Incredible Elder Thing well done without being dirivative on modern ideas like so many do these days! Horrific yet more than monstrous.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
very good. gives me ideas for my next plush an elder thing
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanx so much man!
Glad you like it.
The critique is very much appreciated!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You are welcome! And thank you for saying thank you.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hey!
Thanx for your com(pli)ment!
Glad you like it.
Enjoy!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Duuuuude what the hell is it you use to do this????
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hahaha!
Coffee, some wine or beer (or something stronger) - fineliner / pencils / graphite.
And a fucked up brain.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Hey!
Thanx for the com(pli)ment!
Glad you like it.
Love your work as well!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I love it, but I honestly can't resist calling it "A Japanese schoolgirls dream." But that is more of my problem than yours.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hahaha!
Yeah, a lot of Lovecraftian creatures and monsters would have a rockstar status for that matter.
But are you sure this only counts for Japanese gurrrrls?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
That would be information that I would be happy to pretend not to know.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Holy shit this is amazing!
Its so weird and freaking geniously well done!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hey!
Thanx a lot for the nice com(pli)ment!
WEIRD is good!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
really really cool drawing man, one of teh best elder things ive seen so far on deviantart, i love teh textures!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hey!
Thanx for the com(pli)ment!
I'm a great textures fan myself.
Enjoy!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is incredible and frightening down to every last line.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hey!
Thanx a lot!
Glad you like it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Hey!
Yeah, the subject is a wonderful enigma...
Thanx for the com(pli)ment!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
| Next =>