Peri practices monster design.

[Perihelion]

Okay, so I did this painting:

In the process of this, I realized that I suck at monster design and want to get better at it. Specifically, I think I want an aesthetic that's more creepy and unsettling than hulking and gross and generically Lovecraftian or Giger, and I'm not sure how to do that yet. I'm gonna start trying to draw some monsters every day. I'd appreciate feedback on the designs and how to make them better or more creative. Here's today's:

 

[coyotecraft]

I've got a book that says horror is playing with people's expectations. Putting eyes were eyes don't go. You expect to see a head on shoulders, but not twisted backwards or replaced with some non-head thing like a tentacle. You expect arms and legs to bend one way not the other ect.
IMO, when you use human features you're partly toying with someone's empathy if it looks painful or unhealthy.

The rock with human flesh is disturbing. But it doesn't look alive or dangerous.

 

[Xilef]

I've got a book that says horror is playing with people's expectations. Putting eyes were eyes don't go. You expect to see a head on shoulders, but not twisted backwards or replaced with some non-head thing like a tentacle. You expect arms and legs to bend one way not the other ect.
IMO, when you use human features you're partly toying with someone's empathy if it looks painful or unhealthy.

The rock with human flesh is disturbing. But it doesn't look alive or dangerous.

I have a contact who is a consultor for game studios for psychological experiences and she specialises in horror games particularly, she said it's about making people feel uncomfortable, putting them in the uncanny valley on purpose, part of that is playing with expectations, so putting teeth on what should be a friendly creature (See 5 Nights at Freddy's for an excellent example of teeth on what should be friendly), eyes where eyes shouldn't go is a normal one for horror (I like the FFIX Hecteyes as a simple example of weird things with too many eyes)


I think Giger works by making mechanical objects into organic ones, so even his Alien design looks like it could have been a robot made of metal, but instead it is organic.

This is one of my favourite Giger pieces


Using sex as a means to make people uncomfortable is another one, sex is considered one of those warm, safe things so making it the opposite is an easy way to make a horrific monster (Giger has a number of chilling art-pieces that do exactly this, but he focuses on penetration more than anything else). Games like Silent Hill do this one as well for their monsters, but they write it into the narrative (Pyramid head's introduction is a rather obvious one).
Even in Left 4 Dead 2 the Spitter was made 10x more disturbing by just painting a pink thong onto the texture - linky - Valve commentary discusses how this simple change made the Spitter way more creepy.

 

[coyotecraft]

John Kenn? He's kinda all teeth and sunken white eyes. I thought his work looked creepy until someone put funny captions to everything. Now I just see cute and pathetic monsters who just want attention.
I don't know. With the right lighting you can make ordinary things look creepy. Just keeping something partially hidden and unseen. Suggesting there's more than what meets the eye. Omission of details; again toying with someone's expectations. A creature with no face can be eerie.

 

[Perihelion]

Thanks for the input, guys! I'll keep the tips in mind.

Anyway, I did another one.

Spoiler: mildly nsfw boobs

gif if you care: http://i.imgur.com/IS6Ftqt.gif

 

[Xilef]

Getting creepy, but the nose and mouth are looking too friendly

 

[Perihelion]

I think I'm going more for strange and disconcerting than super creepy per se, although creepy would be a nice bonus. I want to try to avoid horror tropes like massive pointy teeth everywhere if I can. But we'll see how I feel about later ones. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Ellie]

I think the "real" eyes still being in their proper position detracts from the others, making them look drawn on, as you're drawn to the original and see them as the actual eyes. If they were a bit off it might work better.