03-01-2024 |10 Minute Drawing

Watch MJ draw Grand Beast of Earth version 4 in this 10 minute drawing session.

#artist #mjmunoz #fantasy #monster #storyovereverything

What do you think of the results?

Look out for a 10 Minute Writing video next!

Watch the process below!

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Blending Biome-Specific Animals to Design My Earth Guardian Kaiju

Rewritten from transcript by Claude AI

As a fantasy creator, I love sharing my concept development process for the giant beasts that will feature in my fictional world. In this 10-minute drawing session on February 1st, 2024, I tackle the fourth attempt at visualizing the Earth Grand Beast, an ancient kaiju-like entity embodying the spirit and power of the land.

After previously exploring cattle, goat and canine characteristics, I started sketching a creature combining aspects of bulls, giraffes, horses and lizards. The goal was to fuse recognizable earthbound animals into a chimeric being that could believably serve as a mythical guardian.

However, I quickly realized my preliminary design drifted too far into dinosaur territory. While interesting, it didn’t align with the primal earth elemental essence I envisioned. So I scrapped those reptilian features and reverted to the drawing board.

One recurring motif I keep mulling over is the inclusion of horns. They feel thematically appropriate for a beast representing the rugged majesty of stone and soil. But I acknowledge that aesthetic touch alone won’t crack the code of this creative challenge.

I believe the key lies in finding that perfect symbolic amalgamation of earthen animals that communicates both the stability and ferocity of the land itself. Each Grand Beast needs to instantly evoke its domain through smart species sampling. So for this earthen entity, perhaps I’ll draw more from thick-hided megafauna like rhinos, elephants and hippopotamuses.

Of course, nailing these core creature concepts early is crucial to later developing richer stories and worlds around them. The clearer I can render these mighty protectors in my mind and on the page, the more realistic they’ll feel once dropped into my epic fantasy tales.

I still have plenty of imaginative excavation left to unearth this particular beast’s true form. But I’m determined to keep sketching and playing until that eureka moment strikes. Iteration unlocks innovation, after all.

Let me know what you think of my earth guardian kaiju design progress so far! I’m always eager for feedback or suggestions from fellow creature art enthusiasts. Brainstorming these behemoths is even better with others weighing in.

Be sure to check out more of my concept art and storytelling experiments on my website. And stay tuned for the next drawing session to see which version of this titanic terrestrial finally emerges!