Pet Project WIP (heavy DL)

[Layil]

Hey everyone. These are a few sketches and color comps for my new project called Clockwork Angels. Im planning on making a series of big oil paintings of them, as well as a whole bunch of concept sketches for my portfolio.

The idea in rough is this: At the beginning of time, the Maker created the machine of the universe, and a race of artificial beings to service it. Thses autromatons were independant, but limited in their programmed capacities. They were not created to reproduce, each series having its function, and a limited amount of editions of it. (Im gonna look more into biblical mythology to get the angelic orders straight).

Then, the Maker dissapeared. In the millenia that have followed, the Angels have continued to performed their programmed functions...but now, slowly, one by one, they are starting to break down. Without them to service the machine, the Universe will fall apart, and eventually be no more. They must turn now to Humanity, the last children the Maker made before he abandoned creation, to help them save the universe....

Thats all I have right now. MUCH research must be done before I can flesh it all out. (relevant reference Links are GREATLY appreciated) and, who knows, maybe Ill make a comic script out if it yet. For now, Ill be happy to get the paintings done.

Crits are welcomed!
:)

early head sketches. Note, the angels are supposed to be asexual, though some will probably end up leaning more in one direction or another.
http://www.petridish.net/pics/3600/Clockwork%20Angel%20heads%20Sketch%20page.jpg

an early design...
http://www.petridish.net/pics/3600/Clockwork%20Angel%20sketch%201.jpg

back view without wings...
http://www.petridish.net/pics/3600/clockwerk-angel-color-1-no-.jpg

Backview with wings...
http://www.petridish.net/pics/3600/clockwerk-angel-color-1wing.jpg

Side view with wings..
http://www.petridish.net/pics/3600/clockwork-angel-2-color-fin.jpg

side detail
http://www.petridish.net/pics/3600/clockwork-angel-2-color-det.jpg

side head detail with and without wings layer..
http://www.petridish.net/pics/3600/CWangel-2-color-head-detail.jpg

Thats all I have for now. Sorry for the size of some of these. Im not entirely happy with them, but I fig'd Id hear what yall had to say before diving back in.
:)
Cheers

[WildSpruceMoose]

Nice. Personally I'm partial to your wings on the arms idea and I think you should take that further for maybe a clas of angel or something.

Great concept and these would be wonderful works for a portfolio. I will look for some references to see if I can help. This project has much potential imo.

[Layil]

thanks WildSprooceMoose! Arm wings shall be taken into consideration ;)

Just to add some more detail to the concept...
The wings are electrically generated, not feathers (i wasnt sure how obvious that was) and are made of light (sort of). Their "halos" come out of the segments of their head, which open up to emit them. Light also comes out of their hands and feet (not sure why yet it just looks cool. ) and also various points along their bodies that correspond to the various chakrah points. The size of their halos and how bright their eyes are are the ways they indicate emotion, since their faces are made of this metal-type-stuff that doesnt move. How much emotion their capable of hasnt been determined yet, but i do know I want them to be fairly robotic, but still able to respond as sentient beings.

my idea for when their wings are "turned on" is that i want it to resemble a kind of ecctatic trance state, as if they are "recieving the word of god" though in fact it is orders from a central computer....im thinking of early references to angels as emiting light and the trance state said to be reached by saints, etc.... angels werent said to have wings until later on in the developement of the religion, so i want them to have their wings be fully "retractable." This aside from the fact that lugging a pair of big ass wings around is highly inconvenient. ;P

ummm.... more when I come up with it.
;P

[R_M]

wonderfull story Layil, and your study sketches are very cool!
The name fits very well to the general idea, and I think it has lots of potential, keep working on it...

I know it has nothing to do with it, but it reminds me of a movie with Chritopher Walken called the Prophecy. (it is about fallen angels, who kick eachothers asses down on earth. The first one is pretty good, the sequels suck.. here is the url at imdb http://us.imdb.com/Title?0114194 )
Brom has also made some kind of trading card game around a similar angel theme, don't know what it is called...