Medaura concept 1by ~Merlkir

Digital Art / Drawings & Paintings / Illustrations / Conceptual

Another concept for the CD Projekt RED portfolio - this time a creature.

Similar to the "kikimore" and "aracha" , a "medaura" is a creature brought into existence by the convergence of astral spheres. (a catastrophic event that created/brought monsters into the Witcher universe)

It shares features of crustaceans and insects, as well as plants.
Originally based on the stick insect (Phasmatodea), I added bits of shrimp and other crustaceans (mostly head and the tail turned into a rear leg) and insects. (colouring and leg anatomy)

I started with something very stick-insecty, like a tree that waits for you to come closer and eats you, digesting you in a disgusting fleshy sack.

I kept the idea of tree/foliage camouflage. I haven't yet decided on the amount of legs, that's why they vary in the sketches. It could be 6 + the rear leg, it could end up being 4 + the rear leg. I've played with the idea of the front 2 legs turning into shorter cleavers it uses to cut up prey before eating it, so that it doesn't have to tear it apart with the mouth branchtacles.

Some of the sketches show the asexual procreation process, where small medauras grow from a rock/tree stump that the adult wears on its back. Small medauras are perhaps very agile and hunt in packs, running prey down. While adult and older medauras grow more stiff and rely on camouflage and brute strength of a surprise attack.
It's not supposed to be entirely realistic, but it should look like evolution aided by mystical explosion could've created it.

These are all creation process sketches and doodles, I have a few more in the sketchbook. I'll be painting one definitive image of a few variations of the creature once I decide on the specifics.