fantastic beasts, where to find them, and an inordinate fondness for beetles

(Modeled in Anim8or, rendered in Bryce, adjusted in photoshop)

I think before I try to create fantastic beasts I should spend a good deal of time modeling created fantastic beasts, like beetles ( and camels, snails, and turtles) In doing so perhaps I can glean some of the Trinity's boundless entomological aesthetic. God seems to have made more beetles then any other living creature. The annie dillard in me tells me I should ponder this next time I worship at church. What kind of God makes 5,000,000 different species of beetles? Isn't that a bit inordinate? Most girls certainly seem to think so.

While I was modeling this, at one point it was going to be a beetle, so I did some internet searching and found what looks to be an great book:


Also check out this awesome website full of photo reference.