Mantodith's hunt (DPS challenge #15)

This is my entering to the challenge #15 from DPS (Digital Painting School) which the goal was to create a concept art for a fictional license "Loeonardia university".

That fictional license is a harry potter like universe which had a pack of briefings to developp characters, creatures and environnments. I chose to represent a creature called "Mantodith" which is a huge instectoïd of three horses height and looking like a mantis. Its briefing was quite attractive and funny to me and with instecs you have the entire nature as reference and there is so many possibilities with these little creatures.

So the briefing was:

- A creature insectoïd slightly looking like a mantis
- Six paws
- Triangular head
- Height of three horses
- An iridescent shell from violet to red with skull relief
- Huge thin and multicolor wings
- Four eyes which can make you turn crazy with a simple look

Now let's talk a little bit more about my illustration. First of all, I wanted to highlight its height so I thought it would be a good idea to illustrate it during its hunt and in gracious pose for the "wild beauty" aspect. For the design I gave it a cutting aspect with these curves and horns on its iridescent shell. And to avoïd having too much contrast with its shell, I make a gradient in the same color on the flesh parts.

The mandtodith is kind of an unknown creature. Apparently it comes from a fusion spell from a university located near volcano area. So I illustrate the mantodith flying around its origin location.

Here's a link to the challenge from DPS to see the result in video:

Rules of the challenge/ Briefing:
https://digitalpainting.school/challenges/15-universite-magie-leonardia

Results:
https://digitalpainting.school/challenges/15-universite-magie-leonardia/vainqueurs