I want to share a new piece of concept art with everyone: just a little teaser of the coolness to come! 
You can right-click on the image to save it on your own computer — even use it as a desktop if you don’t mind having a big, mean-looking blue devil glaring down at you, that is!
My little team has been very busy refining the character models that will be used to create the hybrid animation technique I’m developing for The Price. In particular, Ryan Peterson has been toiling away for (literally) hundreds of hours designing and crafting these astounding digital sculptures. I shot quite a bit of footage with Ryan earlier in the year to introduce him and his previous work to all of you (some of which will be featured in my next Videoblog). We have also been very fortunate to have some terrific software partners on this project, including Abode and Pixologic, which you will hear more about in later posts.
Thanks again for the comments and continuing interest/support! It’s hard to remain patient when this process takes such a long time (especially for me), but the results will be more than worth it!!!
Certainly my next desktop’s wallpaper 😀
Ha — most excellent, Ed! I’ll keep ’em coming!
Him, I do not like. The artistry of it, however, I love.
Thanks Mary, although you sound a little like my Aunt who visited my office the other night (and which has shelves filled to over-flowing with all manner of beastly things) … I don’t think she was able to extricate herself quickly enough! 😉
Interesting. Hard to say whether it works or not until we’ve seen it move.
BTW, I have been very carefully *not* reading the short story. Film is less likely to spoil reading than vice versa, in my experience.
I agree Joe; it’s hard to see someone else’s version of a book that you’ve already seen in the theater of your own imagination.
I love how you’ve done that image!! It looks like he’s having a cunning plan to use the fish in your logo as bait.
He is hugely horrible in the best way!
But I’m still keeping the tree-scape as my wallpaper for now 😉
PS. Did the last face image (with the teeth) become this guy here through all the development stages? Or was he destined for other transformations?
Hah! Yes, the idea was to create an inherent ‘cunning-ness’ to the brute, but hopefully he’ll leave that poor little logo alone. As for the face with the teeth, did you mean the hyena-like beast? At any rate, there are plenty of creatures as this apparition does take on several forms (which is terrific news for me!)
sorry, I can’t even remember which update you showed the picture. It was split with a picture of Neil’s house concept. The face in the picture had smokin’ eyes and a white glyphs on his head.
Wow! Darkness has nothing on that guy. Definitely devilish!
Now that is a very high compliment indeed! Rob Bottin’s amazing design for Darkness has always been one of my favorites (along with pretty much everything else Rob has created; the man is a literal genius)!
I never imagined anything so imposing in my readings of the story, but there’s this little part of me that just squeals with glee whenever I see this stuff. And it’s nice to feel like I can have complete faith in you guys. I know you’ll not only make this dude move with as much conviction as his gargantuan proportions demand, but also make that grotesqueness emotionally relevant. Can’t wait to see it.
Thumbs up, keep at it!
Thanks Michael; I think you’ll be pleased when you see how everything integrates … so keep on squealing! 😉
Wow, what a stunning model! It’ll be interesting to see it in motion, but just as a still….well, the attention to detail is fascinating! I do think that the real gem of this post is actually in the comments, though, with the story about your aunt! I lol’d pretty hard imagining that scene play out :3
Looking forward to the video blog, and I am curious to see how “abode” helped you create this hybrid animation style we’ve been hearing so much about! Can’t wait to see what innovations you come up with
Thanks Ed; yeah, my Aunt was pretty freaked-out. (My wife says I should post some images of all my ‘toys’ and do a variant of the “Where’s Waldo” thing as a fun contest — see how many Aliens people can spot, that sort of thing!) Adobe has been terrific; their PR firm wants to do some coordinated promotion when I get closer to being finished, so there should be some really neat stuff in the near future!
Wow, Adobe will be cross-promoting your project? That’s pretty awesome, and I’m sure it’s a fantastic feeling!
Of course, given what I’ve seen so far, I’m of the opinion that you’ve earned it!
Yeah, I was totally excited to hear from them; I’ve been trying to work-out a few other ‘corporate sponsorship’ opportunities as well, so stay tuned … (fingers crossed!)
Very impressive image. Can\’t wait to see this in the finished film (though of course, I must). And hats off to Christopher for taking the time to reply to us out here!
Well thank you kindly, Tim! And I appreciate all of you taking the time to leave such encouraging comments! Please keep in mind that this image is only a conceptual version of the final sculpture (which is even more impressive to me)! Seriously, I’m saving my pennies to have this guy 3D printed after we wrap, so that I can eventually have a molded copy brooding over my desk … can’t wait!!!
Wow.
Interesting how we all have different images of evil.
That’s very true. One of the many things I am enjoying with this project is the chance to play with several specific images in succession; as the devil is making his various attempts to get past The Black Cat, I wanted those forms to reflect his tactics — the first being intimidation.
I just love this as a shot. Imposing, high reaching, darkly cunning and sly are the words this image conjurs. I’m looking forward to the film even more now! From this image alone, the potential is clear. Grand job Christopher and team! Keep up the awesome work.
Tash
Thanks so much Tash — getting to read your extremely positive comment first thing this morning was a wonderful way to start the day!!!
I love the perspective of this image — like the cat looking (way) up at the devil, and the imposing, frightening figure glaring down upon the cat. You can actually feel the weight of the evil, if that makes any sense.
It makes perfect sense — and I’m so pleased by your impressions of this image!!!
As another has previously stated, I find the artistry in this image amazing; however, I’m not totally in love with it. Yet.
What I found most interesting was that the devil has a belly button. A frightening concept in and of itself.
Keep up the great work!
Well, I most certainly appreciate your candor, Martha!
, and as you alluded to, this isn’t the final design. In point of fact, I had Ryan remove the belly button (and the genitalia that you can’t see — gotta keep this PG-13 after all! 
), and to refrain from adding nipples for 2 main reasons: 1) because I agree with you … the idea of this guy being able to reproduce is indeed frightening and not a place I felt inclined to go, and 2) to keep the emphasis on his sheer physicality — pure, raw might.
I too applaud the artistry but I have difficulty envisioning a small cat besting this creature. (And trust me when I tell you I LOVE cats) Maybe if the wee black cat was channeling a Siberian Tiger perhaps but I must learn to suspend reality a bit more maybe.
Great work!
Thanks Stacy — I think suspension of reality is a must for this story!
(And yet interestingly, I find many truths that are relevant to every-day life in stories like these.)
Well, I think that–biblically speaking–the is supposed to have no more power over you than the sway you allow him (it? she? shim?) to hold. I suppose that the cat could be played as a metaphor for that in some ways. A tiny, yet wise, creature thwarting a great evil through will alone.
Not trying to wax religious (and I won’t be answering to arguments), but there’s an angle you could use to continue the suspense of disbelief 😉
holy rusted metal holes batman!!!!! this is is up there with the creature from hellboy 2 with the many eyes. he looks ancient and that he has been around along time and has seen many things. great job i can not wait to see more keep up the good work you and your team are defently on the right path to somthing that will stay with people long after its over.
Thanks so much for the kind words Dwayne — the ‘Angel of Death’ from Hellboy 2 is one of my very favorites (I have a huge maquette of her looming over my desk)!
Loved the short story, and I am very excited to see the movie. My only comment on this new pic is that I don’t think the devil should have a belly button.
You and Martha share the same concern! (You can see her comment above.) Not to worry … not a hint of umbilical scarring survived the current revision!
I have been interested in the mental state of the writer of the tale. Obviously THE devil isn\’t interested in a quaint home in the country, and the delusions of the author would be an interesting twist… perhaps the cat representing his last attempt to fight off inevitable insanity… just a thought
One of the things I find most compelling about art is its subjectivity; how we can each see/feel/react/interpret it uniquely.
Yes, but of course my interpretation is correct! Just kidding…
Looking forward to completion of your masterpiece
And that is exactly the beauty of it all, right? 😉
The email linking to this post was lost in my inbox and I only just found it. I’m so glad I did! This looks absolutely fantastic; it’s gotten me excited all over again!
Thanks Heather … it’s great to hear your enthusiasm (which helps he stay positive despite the sometimes crushing reality of just how long this project is taking to complete)!
Didnt notice that the date of the release of this pic was my 6th anniversary. Anyway, its a great pic and a wallpaper for my new desktop.
Well then, Happy Anniversay, Randy! Glad you enjoyed the image!