I drew these on a bored day while visiting JJ in Chicago quite some time ago. I finally got my hands on his sktechbook again to scan them in. Looks like my new scanner doesn't like pencil much. I need to fuss with the settings some, I think. But you can see them well enough.
First, a little reference on firecats. The appearance of firecats has evolved a bit. I made them tundra critters in the first place without really putting serious thought into what that would mean. But for quite some time I've had the notion that although they're furred like a snow leopard, or siberian tiger, the basic body structure would be closer to that of a cheetah, because living in a flat environment, where they have to run to live, they need to be built for it. So all recent versions of firecats have been longer in the legs, and leaner in the torso. But you put the ridiculously thick fur they have on top of that, and they still don't look very lean. So just for fun, I drew a little reference. A male firecat with his full winter coat, and the same male firecat, shaved bald. Scrawny, isn't he?
http://bladespark.topcities.com/art/firefurless.jpg
And while I was thinking about firecats in their native habitat, I decided to draw up one of the herbivores of Sithia. Sitha version one was a nameless and boring world, but once again when I actually did some thinking, I came up with some fun stuff. The kind of place that results in things like firecats and Ssifith has to be a harsh kind of place, and so Sitha became a cold yet very volcanic hell world. And even the herbivores are pretty darned formidible. A young Siffith might manage to carry one of these off, if he was lucky, but those antlers aren't just for show, and the leap on back and bite neck trick that terrestrial felines favor doesn't work on this fellow.
http://bladespark.topcities.com/art/sithiathing.jpg
And lastly some sillyness, that shows the proper scale between jackals and firecats, among other things.
http://bladespark.topcities.com/art/cuteliver.jpg
First, a little reference on firecats. The appearance of firecats has evolved a bit. I made them tundra critters in the first place without really putting serious thought into what that would mean. But for quite some time I've had the notion that although they're furred like a snow leopard, or siberian tiger, the basic body structure would be closer to that of a cheetah, because living in a flat environment, where they have to run to live, they need to be built for it. So all recent versions of firecats have been longer in the legs, and leaner in the torso. But you put the ridiculously thick fur they have on top of that, and they still don't look very lean. So just for fun, I drew a little reference. A male firecat with his full winter coat, and the same male firecat, shaved bald. Scrawny, isn't he?
http://bladespark.topcities.com/art/firefurless.jpg
And while I was thinking about firecats in their native habitat, I decided to draw up one of the herbivores of Sithia. Sitha version one was a nameless and boring world, but once again when I actually did some thinking, I came up with some fun stuff. The kind of place that results in things like firecats and Ssifith has to be a harsh kind of place, and so Sitha became a cold yet very volcanic hell world. And even the herbivores are pretty darned formidible. A young Siffith might manage to carry one of these off, if he was lucky, but those antlers aren't just for show, and the leap on back and bite neck trick that terrestrial felines favor doesn't work on this fellow.
http://bladespark.topcities.com/art/sithiathing.jpg
And lastly some sillyness, that shows the proper scale between jackals and firecats, among other things.
http://bladespark.topcities.com/art/cuteliver.jpg
no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 03:57 am (UTC)But then I am probably biased, as I am Finnish, and likely rode reindeer in a past ancestral life---most likely naked whilst slapping myself with saplings, drunk on too much vodka, brandishing a knife, and bellowing louder than a pregnant moose all through the night in the frigid, dark winter woods...
And all that just on a Thursday! ;D
no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 03:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 04:13 am (UTC)Sorry, just feeling SLIGHTLY random tonight. And well... Finns ARE quite insane so it seemed appropriate... don't hate me just because I am absolutely mad. ^_^
I have to mention, you seem to spend about as much time as I do on crafting the whole environment for your beasties. It's about the only good thing I can apply my five-year science degree to that benefits me directly. ;D Do you construct any sort of 'bible' or encyclopedia for your material, even just as reference for yourself? I started doing that once; I should probably do it more often, though my memory for such things seems to retain a lot of its clarity over time.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 04:15 am (UTC)http://freespace.starforge.co.uk/index.php/The_Overclan_Federation
So I'd say the answer is "Yes."
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Date: 2006-08-11 04:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 04:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 04:24 am (UTC)Reading other peoples' works (when I have time *eyeroll*) is much easier. ;D
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Date: 2006-08-11 04:28 am (UTC)We have an irc chat if you ever feel like killing some time talking, too.
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Date: 2006-08-11 05:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 05:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 05:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 05:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 03:42 pm (UTC)