willow Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I've been thinking more and more about this topic lately, partly because they're a pretty popular concept but also because I've been lowkey trying to develop my own species of sorts But I find myself wondering, what is it about this creature makes it original? not so much because I want to make a super cool thing that everyone wants though. so let's talk about original species. Likes/dislikes about them? Favorite species? Anything. my favorite species is probably sergals tbh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I have three, but only two would fit in the furry fandom. You probably remember the Vulca, the other is the Cernuns. I try to combine different things that are not often combined in one species or take a new take on a known principe (that's the Angli, mainly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagged Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Eh, to each of their own. The reason I'm a furry is that because I like the artworks of the others. Not that I could create my own. So I am content with non-OC characters. Also, Sergals are cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newt Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I like seeing people come up with unique and interesting creatures; however, I often see artists flesh out their original species and subsequently only use them for drawings. I fail to see the point in that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewge Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I mean, when I think of 'original species', I think of stuff from video games, movies, and books. Dragons, gryphons, chimeras, etc. One of my personal favourites are wyverns from the Warcraft universe *^* If you're talking about specifically within this fandom... Well, they can be neat if they're done well. The only ones I can think of that immediately come to mind would be citras and sergals, which I find kind of boring, to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vae Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Newt said: I like seeing people come up with unique and interesting creatures; however, I often see artists flesh out their original species and subsequently only use them for drawings. I fail to see the point in that. Because some people like arting more than worldbuilding? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love worldbuilding. But sometimes you don't want to write a story or put in a shitload of effort to undertake a new personal project. Sometimes you just want to look at something in visual form because it looks neat. Speaking of which, I like my redesign koops / skittle lizards. They're a species I created solely because I like the design, but damn if I don't have fun drawing them. Edited January 29, 2016 by Vae 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newt Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, Vae said: Because some people like arting more than worldbuilding? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love worldbuilding. But sometimes you don't want to write a story or put in a shitload of effort to undertake a new personal project. Sometimes you just want to look at something in visual form because it looks neat. That isn't what I said. Why add a bunch of background detail to a species that you're only planning on drawing? The details (such as worldbuilding around the species) that don't have to do with the creature's appearance become completely irrelevant. Edited January 29, 2016 by Newt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Ahhh this is my type of thread. I make ''original'' species and I find that particularly satisfying, being able to look at my creation and say ''I came up with that, I'm its maker''. I try my best to make my species both aesthetically pleasing and original. Their design doesn't need anything too crazy, just a lil' something for them to become slightly more unique. There is a crapload of lore behind my oldest species too but I've burned out of inspiration at the moment so I'm just making a few sketches here and there I might as well shamelessly advertise my babies: 1) Nisten. Feline/goat inspired. Distinguishing features: reddish skin, three markings on both temples 2) Dravaan. Shark/dolphin/triceratops inspired. Distinguishing feature: them triceratops-like things they have on their heads, weird ears similar to those seen in the Dragonball series 3) Thurmar (also shortened to 'Mar). Lizard/eastern dragon inspired. Distinguishing features: sharp cornered/square and protruding chin in males, protruding nostrils, saw shaped ears 4) My favourite, the sirani. Lizard/bovine inspired. Distinguishing features: sharp cornered/square chin in males, vanilla/beige coloured skin 5) Unnamed. Mantis inspired. Distinguishing features: very wide hips, overall bug like appearance, shorter than the human average There's more art of all of my species but a good chunk is NSFW for mild and in some cases provocative nudity and only one for actual porn All species have in common the fact that they're furless and have skin only (except for hair 'n hairs in species 1-4) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilishlyHandsome49 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) Hmm, Amiir's and Vae's post actually brings up a question. @willow we can talk about species we've created as well, right? Cause I have 2 that I've made that I'd like to bring up Edited January 30, 2016 by DevilishlyHandsome49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 13 hours ago, Newt said: I like seeing people come up with unique and interesting creatures; however, I often see artists flesh out their original species and subsequently only use them for drawings. I fail to see the point in that. I spend so much time worldbuilding I basically do not have art of the species at all But I do know the molecule structure of Vulca, the recipe to a traditional angli mushroom stew and the exact date of the Cernuns next celebration. I fail to see the point in that too, but i think world building is relaxing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newt Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) 20 hours ago, Newt said: That isn't what I said. Why add a bunch of background detail to a species that you're only planning on drawing? The details (such as worldbuilding around the species) that don't have to do with the creature's appearance become completely irrelevant. Reading comprehension skills, y'all. 9 hours ago, Caledonian said: I spend so much time worldbuilding I basically do not have art of the species at all But I do know the molecule structure of Vulca, the recipe to a traditional angli mushroom stew and the exact date of the Cernuns next celebration. I fail to see the point in that too, but i think world building is relaxing Which is fine, but why should anyone else on an art site care about your submitted original species' world details and dietary habits (etc.) if you're only using the species as a subject for drawing? Edited January 30, 2016 by Newt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 15 minutes ago, Newt said: Reading comprehension skills, y'all. Which is fine, but why should anyone else on an art site care about your submitted original species' world details and dietary habits (etc.) if you're only using the species as a subject for drawing? I have worldbuilders syndrom, various authors have that most notably tolkien. I try to write a story, thats not up on any sites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewalk Surfboard Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Original species kinda seem special snowflake-y to me, if that makes any sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willow Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 20 hours ago, DevilishlyHandsome49 said: Hmm, Amiir's and Vae's post actually brings up a question. @willow we can talk about species we've created as well, right? Cause I have 2 that I've made that I'd like to bring up yep! as long as you're taking about original species it's fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GamingGal Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 I think original species are fine.....if they're actually original. Don't slap wings and horns on a wolf and call it your own original species. And don't just create a design either. With an original species, I'm expecting an original appearance, as well as original behaviors, mating rituals, the works. Treat them like you would finding a new species in real life. Study them and document everything that would be of interest. I don't know much about Sergals, but what little I know of them has me putting my stamp of approval on them. The creator did exactly what I would look for, so I see no issue with them claiming the species as their own. Same with the Angel Dragons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GamingGal Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Holy hell the eyes on that Tenrec are creepy. It looks like it's seen some shit. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Let me talk about the Cernuns for a bit, please :3 they started of as goat-centaurs, so centaurs that are part goat instead of horse, but soon I decided that was just not it. I removed a set of legs, only to realise they were just fauns now. Then, suddenly, i came with the idea to base them on unicorns. This type of unicorn: so they have faun like aestics walking in two hooves, but they Are tiny ( about a meter high) and have a horn on their forehead. Light brown pelt and pale skin differ them from traditional satyrs too. They are very intelligent and religious, binfing their existance to a certain type of tree. Every cernun chooses a tree to follow in a stage of their lives. Some may choose the mighty oak and strive to live long and find wisdom, but distance from others. Like there do rarely grow other trees near a full grown oak. Others might choose the healing willow and be more social, as well as flexible and caring. Or apple trees, happy cernuns striving to feed those who are hungry. And so on. Because in looks they might not be very destinguishing i tried to make up for that with their livestyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misomie Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 I love original species~ These are mine of species created by others. I'll post my own original species in a seperate post with a little tidbit of info on how they all interact. I love the lore of species and their make-up and traits and whatnot. August the Dutch Angel Dragon (these guys have a pretty cool backstory and lore if you haven't checked it out yet) Bree the Manokit (these guys are just plain adorable and have cute little species quirks such as not opening their eyes and being unable to swim) Wake the Cri (this is a species that isn't as developed as the two above but they are pretty much the results of experiments of mixing the magical realm with physical, hence the orbs and such) I plan on getting a Sergal next or even another lesser known species. <3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilishlyHandsome49 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 I made 2 original species for a project I'm a part of called Project Nakti Agnata ^Artwork commissioned to me by NihonTD An excerpt from the article I wrote, which includes where they live, their religion, and their religious text: (Full Article) "Agnata are known to have a very calm demeanor and act rationally to different kind of situations. They believe that most conflicts can be solved by either negotiation or peaceful actions. Their behavior spawns from their belief system, where violence is seen as a deplorable act and the only people who perform acts of violence as a way of sport or a first resort to a problem are people who lack good spirits and are filled with darkness. The only time violence is seen as an acceptable act is out of defense, when all other tactics have failed or for hunting, but the animal must be killed with dignity and be blessed" Singhorns ^^The creation of this race actually started out as the subject for a science project I did when I was 13, where we had to make our own species. I made a sculpture for it and everything. Unfortunately, the sculpture didn't hold together (I don't even know if I still have the picture of the original) So, last year I looked back at that project I did and wanted to recreate the species from scratch and give it more depth. That also included making a sculpture for it again. I used a wooden mannequin as the skeletal base, blue clay, black, red, and pink paint, sticks, a conviently shaped pointy stone and uncooked rice as the teeth, fingernails, and toe nails. I'm not a pro at it, so its not the best but I think it was an improvement on how it looked when I was 13. The hands were hard to make so that's why I got a separate wooden hand to show off the detail on how a Singhorn's hand would look, markings and all. An excerpt from the article I wrote: (Full Article) "The behavior of the Singhorns is very complex. While they are calm and collected in solitude and isolation on the islands they inhabit, they are extremely violent and hostile towards newcomers who they think pose a threat, which is why proper research on them has been close to impossible. They will screech at high frequencies as a warning and if that is not heeded, will immediately retrieve their weaponry, which consists of spears made out of stick and sharpened stone and a small shield constructed from carved stone." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakari Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) I've made a ton of species for my rp game I DM, mostly because it started out as a normal tabletop DnD game that grew into something more over the last 12 years due to the distance between players. Narratives will do that to you when you move over 1,000 miles away. I use them only in my art...as far as any normal watcher that's not on DA can tell, but it's because I'm not a writer per-se. I have a ton of world development documents including lists of names and their lineages, evolutionary trees, size charts, species ref sheets, origin stories, items, maps, architecture, landscapes, saved rps, etc, but most watchers never see them...they only see the species sheets or use of the species in my art. I plan on getting into writing starting with comics, I'm a very visual person, but I flail too much to sit and write a story out in story format, I prefer to illustrate. Edited February 2, 2016 by Bakari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinare Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 (edited) I have some, but I don't think they're anything to brag about. They mostly just look alien and because I don't art that well they don't look as cool as some of those things up there -^ It is fun to invent things in my head and at least if I art them badly it's less obvious because it's not a real species so it has no real standards for me to meet (except my own, which are too high for my own good). Edited February 3, 2016 by Kinare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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