cmkosemen

Turkey's "Lake Van Monster" cryptid illustrated

Added 2025-11-24 17:52:34 +0000 UTC

Unbeknownst to many cryptozoology enthusiasts, Turkey's Lake Van is home to a native cryptid, a horse-and-dinosaur-like monster known as the "Lake Van Monster", or "Cano".

I was recently commissioned by a native of the area to design "a wistful-looking Lake Van Monster" for a personal tattoo. Despite the fanciful nature of the commission, I took my task very seriously, and set to work after compiling a "mood board" of relevant imagery.

I was inspired by cryptid art, vintage natural history art, the only popular depiction of the monster in a local newspaper (seen here on the upper left), and friezes of the famous Armenian Monastery on the Akhtamar Island located in that lake.

Drawing from these sources, I first created a series of portraits for the beast.

We combined the eyes and overall features of two designs to arrive at our final portrait.

Then, I created three alternatives for its body.

The raw, inked illustration followed the final approved sketch.

Cleaned portrait and finalized line-art:

Screentones, and finally, colour!

Thus ends another neat commission.
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Remember, you can commission me to draw all and any creatures you want!