Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Crab Thing

Concept artist Einar Martinsen brings us this curious crab-thing.  The work that went into the dorsal coloration boggles the mind.   You'll find all sorts of interesting creatures at his website.



5 comments:

Mark Bowyer said...

Just a note to say "Thank you"! Having been stuck in bed ill for the last few days, I've read through nearly your entire blog (and followed many fascinating links) which has been a great way of banishing boredom.

I started out looking for some ideas for a Necronomicon I'm making and have ended up with a load more props I want to make. Thanks for sharing and please keep up the good work.

Raven said...

This terrifying crab-like creature may explain a mysterious entry on the list of possible mental disorders at the bottom of the HPLHS Insanity Certificates: "Epistomophobia".

Now, "Epistemophobia" is fear of knowledge (a classic for Lovecraftian protagonists) -- think of "Epistemology", theory of knowledge. ... "Epistolophobia" is fear of correspondence, perhaps a reluctance to write letters (something Lovecraft himself never suffered) -- think of "Epistles" in the New Testament. ... But "Epistomophobia" would have to be something like fear of the epistoma, which is defined as "n. 1. (Zool.) The region between the antennæ and the mouth, in Crustacea." [Webster's]

I suppose that would be the uppermost (best-lit) and furthest-forward, hence most visible, part of a giant crab-creature as it advanced to try eating you -- or succeeded in eating part of you -- which surely would give someone a phobia thereafter.

Presumably models of this sort are used by Arkham psychiatrists to diagnose epistomophobia, following some great carnivorous infestation.

Anonymous said...

Gross! Great paintjob. Looks like something right out of Starship Troopers.

Propnomicon said...

@ Withnail67

Thank you for the very kind words.

@ Raven

The last thing anyone enjoying a lobster dinner should do is take a close look at the creature's mouthparts.

@ gndn

The paintjob really sells the piece.

Raven said...

@ Propnomicon

From having more than once sat in the Red Lobster customer waiting area (while tables were full), next to the lobster tanks, I'd say the last thing anyone going for a lobster dinner should do is spend half an hour or so watching the live lobsters clambering over each other trying to escape.

Honestly, lobster is the one dish I can never order....