LeBirb

This here is Raptor, a Dragonfly Nymph who is one of the Hunter’s devoted followers. He’s also for my DnD HK campaign, a feral little critter who loves to write journal entries for any bug he encounters. #hollowknight #silksong #oc #dnd

I forgor to post here .v.

Anyway, here’s some sketches of A Shadow’s Guide, protector of children in the spirit realm:

He angy, he laff and he sadge

Doing it from scratch when you’re unsatisfied with the result is both a harrowing and rewarding experience. I’ve had to do that quite a bit!

It came out looking even better than before though, amazing work, Nicky!

NO NICKYBOI, YOU MUST STAY LOYAL TO SWAIN D:

Apologies! Forgor I should be posting the last two of Apoctober’s Creature week! I may or may not make one for January too, so stay tuned for that!

Day 4: Crawdad

Fair Well, 2024.

And Everywhere Lamb Went..

Wolf Was Sure To Follow.

#kindred #leagueoflegends

I’m not entirely sure why they redesigned this concept when it’s pretty solid, but it looks insane. I especially love the more menacing and vicious look of this version, and the head, mandibles and coverings of his head are so dang awesome!

Couldn’t find a version of this concept art with all the added bits and bobs, namely the tattoos and ornaments. But I still quite love this design that we got, huge and bulky body-wise instead of tail-wise and still very menacing. Even if I prefer the other version ^^

Here’s a question I have for y’all, in between me posting art shtuff

Which version of Skarner’s Rework Design do you prefer? I’m a huge fan of both, but I’m ngl I kinda prefer the first iteration more. Menacing pincers, enormous stingers and the very dark coloured exoskeleton just tickles my fancy!

MONSHTAH HUNTAH BOOK, YIPPEE!!

Day 3 of October’s Creature Week was Moon

Wanted to design an eldritch deity of sorts, with such a fitting prompt as well. A multi-eyed, masked “woman” with cloaks and scarfs depicting ocean currents, waves and rivers. With how the Moon affects our planet’s tides. Hope y’all like it!

Jeff or Venom?

The dubious c r e a t u r e with the mischievous smile!

Very proud of how this came out in this artstyle I have for monthly/weekly prompt challenges. The arm its hanging from is intentionally larger and bulkier, as this creatures muscles pump up and enlarge solely when they’re being used. Hence the flush of colour as well!

Here was Day 2: Muscle

Really wanted to convey some bizarre anatomy with this one, with the holes in its body, ape-like structure and an eye being held in place by strings of flesh in a hollow head. Hope y’all like it!

A drawing of an orange dragon

A drawing of a blue green dragon that looks deeply stupid and mean

A drawing of a purple and beige dragon that looks like a nasty boi

A drawing of a pink dragon who is precious

I just think they look cute together

All good Nicky, it’s understandable cause real life comes first!

Can’t wait to see it when it is done

Artificial took me a loooongtime to finish, mostly cause I am not fond of drawing Mechanical detail. But this one turned out pretty good actually A frankenstein of various eldritch creatures, grafted with machinery that keeps it alive, but also deals it great suffering. A false prophet or priest, manufactured by its unwanted zealots.

the Dubious C R E A T U R E S

Near the end of October I wanted to start my own challenge called “Creature Week”! Kind of self explanatory

Now unfortunately I didn’t finish Apoctober’s CW, but I’ll be posting the prompts I managed to finish, let me know what y’all think!

Day 1: Artificial

Here’s a recent Illustration with A Shadow’s Guide having a reindeer costume on. In the spirit of Crimis of course ❄️

Course he isn’t too pleased about wearing it, but a group of snow spirits and children convinced him to

Such a wonderful and creative character design to implement wheelchairs into mounts! So much Whimsy

A Wind instrument Golem with accordions for arms! Armcordions!! That’s such a fun concept, I can imagine a strong gust of wind flowing past it, and its arms just start emitting music

DA BAYBEE!!! <3

So much whimsy and creativity for different creature shapes

I have just learned of a cancelled game called “Everhaven”, otherwise known as Project Dragon

And MAN, I am so, so depressed that this game was canned ToT

Like.. just look at this!! Such amazing character art and creature art! All done by @nicholaskole.bsky.social

RAHHH I would’ve loved this!!!

No.

And here’s a bonus Illustration to the previous Post! One I has done at the start of the year :D

Depicting a Shadow’s Guide defensively hovering over a (not so subtle) Spirited Away reference, Chihiro of course. Was Incredibly proud with how this one came out and still am! Hope y’all like it too

A lot of inspiration that went into his design was from Spirited Away, a lovely Ghibli film that I had watched a year ago now! I quite liked the idea of Chihiro finding herself lost within the spirit realm and needing safe passage back. So I messed around with the idea of a Spirit designed to guide and aid lost children back to the human world. A Shadow’s Guide’s design pulls a lot from wolves, simians, snakes, lizards and boars. I wanted him to be a mish mash of animals, almost as though his form is influenced by a child’s first impression, upon seeing him. Or what could be a comforting animal for them. A singular, cycloptic eye in the middle, that’s closed whenever docile. Smooth, comforting and soft fur, to give him a less scary appearance. And multiple arms to aid him in traversing through the forest, with a kid riding on his neck or back for safety. A Shadow’s Guide is entirely devoted to return these “Shadows” back to the spirit realm, guarding them with his life from other malicious beings and hazards. Awakening and rushing to them, as soon as he senses their presence, no matter the distance.

With the docile form being whenever A Shadow’s Guide is on the more calm end, I wanted to show a state when he becomes fully aggressive and territorial. Much like how a dog becomes defensive and threatening when their owner’s kid is in danger. This spirit is much the same. The once smooth fur begins to unfurl and spike upwards, similar to a cat. Quills and spines forming along its mane from it’s pointed fur. His hidden jaws now fully revealed, showing human-like teeth and boar-like tusks and wolf fangs. Almost like a japanese Oni’s teeth. And it’s eyelids drawing back to show a crimson eye, bubbling with rage. Quite literally! I wanted to evoke a sort of primal danger and threat to this Spirit, to really hammer in its animalistic nature. But the key note being that it only becomes this way, when whatever its guarding is under harm. Spirits of all kinds, shapes and strengths must never get between A Shadow’s Guide and a lost Shadow. For it will stop at nothing to protect them.

Here is probably my fave OC that I have ever made so far: A Shadow’s Guide

A bestial, animalistic Spirit that hails from the Spirit Realm. Nameless unlike most and unable to speak. Despite it’s bizarre form and aggressive nature, this being is a protector and guide for lost Children, called Shadows

And Finally, day 31: Hurricane

This wasn’t the first time I had done Smaugust, but it was most definitely my favourite so far. Ending it off with a dragon design I had wanted to complete years ago, but was never able to. And while there are a few that I am not too proud of, this was a great time <3

Here are Days 27 - 30

A few of my favourites are here, namely Ocean and Forgotten, quite proud of how they turned out. While with another.. not so much ^^’. That being Mechanical, which was honestly the most gruelling prompt I had to work on, back in August. Other than that, very happy with these!

Here are days 22 - 24

I forgor to mention but for Smaugust this year I had @nickyboi.bsky.social give me a few prompt suggestions! One of my fave Youtubers and he gave me the prompts for Diamond, Gummy Worm and Tyrannosaurus Rex, as you can see the Trex prompt right there :D

Here was Days 18 - 21!

Quite a theme here with two serpents and two insect-like dragons, the first two were actually designed based off my friend’s two pet snakes! Was very fun using them as reference. (The last one is definitely not skarner cough cough)

Ello ello again! Apologies that I keep forgetting I have Bluesky, I’ll be shooing these Smaugust prompts quickly now, so I can post more of my recent art!

Day 13-17:

And here’s another of days 9 to 12

…aaaannnd I just realized I can add alt text to each image.. could’ve been posting em with some lil design tid bits about each but oh well ^^’

Apologies for the delay, here are days 5 to 8 from this year’s smaugust! Once I get done posting all of these, I can start posting what I’ve been cooking in October lately mwehehe

Here were the first few days of this year’s Smaugust with Days 1-4

Very excited to know your thoughts on each of these dragons!

So I suppose to start us off with this account, I’ll be routinely posting this Year’s Smaugust prompt list that I had done! Expect a couple to be posted every so few hours

Here was the Prompt list!