I'm starting on a project to create a book with illustrations of some of the world's most illusive beasts. The book will not be based predominently on either fact or myth, but will be artistic in it's choice of representation. I will research a number of eye-witness accounts and look at past artist representations for the design of each beast.

I hope to sell the book on Lulu. I've wanted an excuse to create some illustrations of some cryptids for a long time.

Please nominate which crypids you'd most like to see featured. The nominees will later go into a poll. I'm looking to select about ten different ones. I will not be including known real animals, such as the Tasmian Tiger for example.

Check out some of my conceptual doodles throughout the topic and tell me what you think too.

-chupacabra

-loch ness monster

-yeti

-mothman

-giant sloth

just a few suggestions

Mothman, Batman, Owlman, Superman
Nessie, Bessie, Ogopogo, He'sanoshow
Chupacabra, Batboy, Bigfoot, Chupa-canyougetmea-cabra

Well I always like reading about "Black Dogs", but I don't generally have a fave cryptid.

Chupcabra, Mothman, Bloop

Well if myth is ok Unicorns would be my choice.

Dont froget the Dover Demon (one of the coolest of all cryptids besides the chupacabra).

Ooh, you should do the Riverside Bridge Monster!

Thanx for all the suggestions!

Chupa's would have been FIRST on my list and it seems everyone here loves them too!

Anyway, i basically don't want to include any animal that has a pretty definate appearance - like Unicorns. As in, we all have a pretty unchangable idea of what they look like, real or not.

I've started work on the chupa with a load of real animal references and eye witness descriptions. Struggling with what to do with the body so far, but i'm sure i'll work it out.

I was gunna do Nessie, but i might pick a lesser known lake monster.

I'm also suprised the Jersy Devil has not been mentioned. And i rather like Kelpies too.

What about Mothman.....

Gef the talking mongoose

Funny enough Hajime, I was going to suggest the Jersey Devil, before you posted your last response! Also, possibly the Kappa or Redcap for a suggestion? Gotta think outside of the crypto box.....

I've done about 3 small pages of chupa concept scribbles, and here's my favourite so far. I definately want it more realistic, but it seems it's been a while since i've drawn real beasts! So! i'm going to the natural history museum on Thursday to do some real animal studies, which should open my eyes a bit.

But anyway, concept...

The Piasa "bird" of Illinois woud be an interesting cryptid to discuss. Though the indians called it a bird, their drawings of it resemble classic European dragon! According to the journals of French explorers, the indians were terrified of the creature and absolutely refused to enter its territory. Some of the legends about it suggest a very intelligent creature that allied itself with one tribe and snatched up the cheifs of the opposing tribes in battle. There are still occasional reports of large unknown flying creatures in this area.

The Chupacabra. And the Lake Champlain monster.

Mothman, is a personal favorite. Kelpie, or Snallygaster.

I'll add Mokele Mbembe, Allghoi Khorkoi, The Dragons, Megalania Prisca, Megalodon, Sea Serpents and The Loveland Frogman...

If you have time, you can add Blue Tiger and the Thylacines, and of course, the Ogopogo!

Hey guys, I'll be visiting Lake Okanagan real soon, in fact, I'm going to live there in the area for some time, I'll be in Kelowna or Penticton, I'll see if I can get something about Ogopogo, that'll be a treat for us all!!

Anyone here lives on the area?

THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!

Hmm, I forgot the name of it, it is a big worm. Deathworm? Something like that. Whatever it was, I thought it was pretty cool.

Well put me down for Kelpies then. And Each Uisge too! In fact, any Celtic Scottish mythy beastie.




shai Huluud?

My fave would have to be my old pal Footy. He's given us soooooooo much debate and intrigue over the years, he would have to be #1....I know he's #1 in MY heart.

I grew up very close to Kelowna and swam in lake Okanogan many times, very nice lake and very deep. The summers are awsome there you'll be at the lake alot,so make sure you take your camera.

One of many Chupa head concepts.

Click to view attachment

Dune rules! It got better with each book!

I would have to say Bigfoot.


Lapiche

The Tar Monster!




Oh wait, that was Scooby-Doo.

I like the Jersey Devil, Spring-Heeled Jack, and Mothman the best.

You'll enjoy that part of BC, it's really pretty. (I live about 4 hours away from the Okanagan)... If you have a choice, live nearer to Pentictin... Kelowna is a little odd... it's cool and real pretty country, but I've always found the people to be a little insular. It could just be my perception though, or maybe I needed a shower or something, hard to tell .

My vote for cryptid? Ummm... I have to go with my friend Footie.

Imps!

HAJime, your artwork is beautiful, it shows you have a lot of skill, especially with the subtle but well developed details (The Chupacabras fangs for instance) and are not afraid to be flexible with your style (The two chupa pictures are stylishly quite different, the first being quite Science Fictionish and the second resembling more a mythological creature). I would love to help with the book any way possible, as I am currently pursuing my own book project, filled with illustrations like youyrs and would love to see how yours pans out. I would certainly want to buy it if I saw it in a book store and I think many other people would too.

If you would please consider doing two of my favourite beasties, the Burrunjor of Australia, or the Man Eating Algae in Kaikoura, New Zealand I would be stoked. I have written topics about both.

Good luck with the book, I am positive it will be an incredible acheivment!

my Choices..

The Mothman
The Nessie
The Mongolian Death Worm
The chupacabra
The British big cats...like the Big Cats of Exmoor
The Krakken
The Mokele-mbembe
The Caspian Tiger
The Abominable Snowman aka The Yeti
The Thunderbird
The Yowie

British big cats doesn't really pass the rules, because they are already set images.

I'd like to see the following in art, please:
Nessie
Chupacabra
The Jersey Devil
Werewolf
Mothman.

You're a good artist. I wish I could post my art online. -.-

Great chuppy pic!

My list:

Nessie, or Champ, Chessie, etc.
Cupppicabra (chuppies)
Mokole-memebre
Thunderbird
Mothman
Jersey Devil
Bigfoot/Yeti (ya gotta have the monkey in there, or else the reviewers will whine...)

Gotta go with the local favorite: The Dogman among other names(essentially some type of bipedal canid). Below is a minimized still-frame from an animation sequence I did which will also be used in book due out later this year.

The Aswang(philipino shape shifter type vampire monster)
The Ropen/pterosaur seen alot in papau new guiney
Mothman
Jersey devil
Dogman
Chupacabra
Goatman
Duende/leprechaun

I guess you should do bigfoot too but its been done so many times its kinda boring.

If he doesn't do bigfoot I wouldn't mind at all. Theres barely anything you can do with the bigfoot concept, and even if you do manage to do somthing with it thats vaguely original, it will have been done a million times before so I would actually prefer it to not be in actually.

I would have to say...

~ Sasquatch (Although I do agree with undeadskeptic; I really can't see anything too original coming out of bigfoot...)

~ The Thunderbird

~ The Jersey Devil

~ The Honey Island Swamp Monster

Just because they are my favorites at the moment....best of luck with the book!

-Beast of Bray Road
-Trunko
-Phantom cats

id like to see aome good tiger sloth drawings... not to commen a name but ya

Ooooo, Trunko, forgot him. I vote Trunko too.

I think that either Chupacabra or Mothman for the ones most people have heard of but I also like the Huldra and the Bhargest.

I think that either Chupacabra or Mothman for the ones most people have heard of but I also like the Huldra and the Bhargest. sorry for double posting.

I hear an echo.

Jersey Devil plzzzzzzz........i would love to see (good)drawings of him!!!!!!
Chupacabra
Werewolf
Bunyip
Dover Demon
Hodag
Loveland Frog
Piasa Bird
Mothman
Trunko

BTW those Chuppy pics are awsome
Oh yea and IMHO no Bigfoot.He's way overdone.Everyone already knows wat he looks like

I like mothman, owlman, trunko, mokele mbeme, ahool, dover demon, kongamoto, trunko, champ, the lochness monster, loveland frogmen, thunderbirds, the mngwa, tokoloshe, jersey devil, almas, mongolian death worm and the yeti. What a list i have!

I don't think there should be any ape-men in ur book.Maybe one of the lesser-known ones,like almas,but no bigfoot or yeti or the Skunk Ape.If they're in theer i won't even read that part

Id like to see a rakshasha a indian werewolf mammoths dino reminants and a aswang a philopineo vampire

Have you made any more drawings yet?If so it would be cool to see them.Especially any more chuppy ones

The beast of Gevauden.

Wow! People are still posting in this??

Thanks for all your input. I will definately make a point of working on this project further... I haven't touched it much, if at all, recently.

It sounds like an awesome book.Definitely work on it further.Oh and you should post updates on the illustrations(your artwork is sweet )