Yithian Biology

Yithians Attacking Flying Polyp Rookery

Flying Polyp Sketches

Flying Polyp Study

Another concept for the mysterious Flying Polyps from Lovecraft's 'The Shadow Out of Time.' They are quite vaguely described, so the artist has some freedom; the only requirements are no eyes, no wings or other apparent means of flight, and some way of leaving round, five-toed footprints. I gave my polyp a sort of hold-fast base with five suction cups. They are also capable of partial or total invisibility, which I sort of showed here.

Pencil sketch:




Final:


Second version:

Yithians battling Flying Polyps

Pencil sketch with Photoshop color and shading. The Flying Polyps are opening a hole in the sky, and letting in noxious vapors from God knows where or when. The Flying Polyps are described as being similar to the Cthulhu Spawn in not being made of ordinary matter, and displaying a distressing plasticity.

Sketch for flying polyp. I deliberately gave them Cthulhuish affinities. So many artists who've drawn the polyps obviously did not read even the scant descriptions provided by Lovecraft. Here's a hint: when the creature is described as EYELESS, making eyeballs the main feature of its skin is counterproductive.

Update: reenvisioned Polyps, and did a new sketch of battle.

Yithians Interrogating Peaslee upon his arrival.

A very rough sketch to get my idea down. The Yithians have no spoken language, so must devise other means of communication with their unwilling soul guests. The cello-like device is meant to be simulating spoken English.

I started building element in 3D just to get perspective, but I got carried away detailing this one.

Yithian Study II

From HPL's 'The Shadow Out of Time.' This is an 'ink' drawing in Adobe Illustrator.