ART WAR 4 | 2D | War of the Elements | Parasite of the Earth | joezhong98

This is my first time doing an entree for a challenge/contest this big. I hope to learn from everyone, and further develop my skills.

Description:
Those who live on/in the earth are its children and parasite. They grow stronger and stronger as their mother weaken, but they will never let the earth die as they were inseparable.

Progress:

final concept sketch 2 final to last render.jpg4200x2800 419 KB

This parasite is a tiny almost transparent little guy with a big appetite. It lives underground sapping away the earth's energy/magic, as more energy is eaten the stronger it becomes. It would continue to do so until it was ready for the next stage of its transformation.

Here the sketch for its next stage, the sentinel form, which is what I am going to focus on developing. In this stage, it basically forms a giant moving cocoon with the earth around it to protect itself from any potential threat.

After more exploration of the ideas and looking at reference, I decided to go with the ideas of 1 and 2. Creating a more anchored down cocoon/pupa stage with a slender tower-like silhouette or one with a heavier build. Mainly taking the idea from crabs or mantises.

reference.jpg4200x2800 705 KB

Thank you, I kind of feeling good about the second design on the bottom as well. It most likely would be the one I am going to continue the concept with. Also, no, they are not done traditionally, it was just a texture brush.

Here's a sketch exploring some of the different designs that could be done while having a similar silhouette. There are definitely many more ideas in my mind that haven't been explored or I don't really have a clear idea of how to incorporate it into the general design.

sentinel form sktch 3.jpg4200x2800 530 KB

comparison chart.jpg2800x4200 390 KB

School started again and stuffs got a bit of hectic, but I eventually got time to work on this a bit more. Still trying to stop myself from over detailing sketches, doesn't seem to be successful. Ended up spending way more times than I expect. But I think I finally got the idea I want.
Since the design itself was immobile and wasn't make to do much other than being intimidating and huge. There isn't much I could do to create a dynamic attacking pose and defending pose of some sort. So instead of just crushing people with its weight, I decided to go a bit off to the magical route. Since it saps magic out of the earth, at first I was thinking of a giant laser beam. However, later on, I kind of remember it is a geomancy bug that creat it's pupa/cocoon out of the earth. And that's basically what I did and it was the one that sticks to my mind the most.

final concept sketch.jpg4200x2800 473 KB

I had been contemplating about the composition of the final idea lately and had gone through many more sketches. In the end, I am still decided to stick with comp 3 and further modify it.

final concept sketch 2.jpg4200x2800 334 KB

Still battling with many other projects that are happening at the same time. Not much this time just the line art to refine some of the details with and without the yellow background.

final concept sketch 2 line.jpg4200x2800 537 KB

final concept sketch 2 line 2.jpg4200x2800 450 KB

Layed down most of the groundwork for coloring and shadows. I hope to finish rendering and do some more passes before the time runs out.

final concept sketch 2 before render.jpg4200x2800 397 KB

Here is the final render for this piece. I understand there were many places that could be improved and I had many more to learn. Thank you to those that had seen my post and followed me on this journey.

final concept sketch 2 final to last render.jpg4200x2800 419 KB