Tocai, the Sbilf

This is Tocai

I appreciate feedbacks!

The task of this project was to create from sketch a creature based on the mithology and legends of Europe.

I wanted to base my design on a typical creature of my region, the Sbilf.

Sbilfs are sprites of the woods and sometimes they can go between humans to trick them or maybe help them, depends on their nature.

He's named Tocai (as a local typical wine type) and he's born with some unique characteristics that make him harder to catch and spot like legs made by stone to make natural noise while passing through the woods, arms made of branches  with thorns as nails that can poison and make asleep every creature.

His huge hat can be pulled up to his feet and make him almost invisible

Maquette after the sketch

I wanted to add a big environment item that explains his tricky nature, a broken vase.

The Maquette made with Monster Clay is a big evolution of the personality 

Start the sculpt

It's time to start sculpting digitally using zbrush, but first some references of the details

Model evolution

The design had a new evolution in personality by adding a nice expression and by changing the pose. This gives him a sly and agile atmosphere. 
Next step is the lighting study for the final renders!

Lighting evolution

That's all for this exercise. I feel realy close to this character sice it's one of the few rappresentation of the Sbilf creature in the mythology of my region. Hope to add some textures in the future!