Melvin and the Big Fish Fry Snapping turtle concepts

Snapping Turtle Development


























































Possible side kick character

New Story: Melvin and the Big Fish Fry

I am currently working on my next book idea: the working title is A Melvin Story: Melvin and the Big Fish Fry. In this story Melvin encounters some bully snapping turtles and one big bully boss fish.
Design Elements: First the big fish design: Currently, I have no specific fish species in mind. It needs to be just "a bully fish" with no real tie to a specific breed of fish.However, with that said, I lean towards a catfish or barracuda, or a shark like style. But it may end up being something completely different. It will be the "look" more than anything. I want a good form more than a "type" of fish.  I don't want arguments over what kind of fish it is.. just that we all agree, "it's a fish"..All of these drawings were done today at the kitchen table. I was trying to get a feel for some thing. It runs the gamut of Jabber Jaw shark to catfish, Nemo's Angler fish to the bully Tex Avery Fish with hook in lip like a cigar.

Snapping Turtle designs:
The turtles are definitely snappers. I started out just drawing my idea of a turtle but they all ended up looking like a bird or Gonzo the Great. So I got out my trusty field guides. Turns out turtle skulls are more cylindrical and the snappers are more triangular. Snapper eyes are much smaller than a box turtle or a mud turtle, mostly because they like murky waters and do not rely on eye sight to hunt. The soft shell turtle is a very odd looking creature and that type of turtle would not have the appeal I am looking for. My snappers have to be likable even though they are trouble. After a few tries I started to get a look I was happy with. Next I got to work on the shells and legs and feet. This is not bad for a days work.