Creature design is a specialization only for those with a true love for nature and the will to educate themselves. But for those who don’t, it’s also a really fun exercise to do when you just feel like doing ‘something else’.
Knowing where to go when you want to become a self-taught artist isn’t easy. Some people choose to base all their knowledge on one artist or one course. I recommend though to look up several artists. Learn to see things in different perspectives, and see what fits you best at that time.
Locomotion is key to understand the anatomy of an animal properly. You can’t draw an interesting and believable pose without understanding the way the animal moves. You also can’t understand the way an animal moves without understanding its anatomy. These day’s we’re a lucky bunch because current technology allows us to see animals in slow motion. Allow me to introduce you to some of the best videos out there!
Creature design is a relatively small, bur flourishing field. Up to roughly 20 years ago, you needed a giant library to be able to make effective designs, and information on the subject was very hard to get. That is different now in the age of the internet. We have all the information at our fingertips. But too much choice can be overwhelming too. So how do you effectively gather resources for your creature designs?
