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Here is some concept art that is up for critique, or "peer review" as I call it. Why would anyone publish a miniature without having it focus-grouped or reviewed before the sculpting phase? Looking at concept art is fun, plus you can help us avoid some nasty design pitfalls. Nothing is worse than waiting for a miniature to come out and then pulling your hair out because of some weird choices the company made due to lack of interaction.

For some background...

Hans Rudolf Giger is a Swiss artist who is the creative genius behind the xenomorphs in the movie Alien. He is a surrealist artist, who is famous for developing the genre known as "biomechanical". His work has a cold, sometimes horrific and often sexual nature. I am sure 90 percent of you are familiar with his work, but if you are not I would encourage you to do a Google image search of his work.

As a fantasy wargames miniature sculptor, I always wanted to pile in a bunch of Giger influence into a sculpt but have yet not had the opportunity to do so.... until now.

The backstory framework for the "Giger Demon" is simple. A deranged and depraved humanoid sex cult has a dark god that they worship. When they invoke a manifested version of their god onto their own plane of existence, and it appears as our Giger Demon. We can flesh out this story more as needed to justify the shape of the final demon miniature.

In terms of the general aesthetic of the Giger demon, I am taking my cue right from this description of Giger:
"His most distinctive stylistic innovation is that of a representation of human bodies and machines in a cold, interconnected relationship, described as "biomechanical". His paintings often display fetishistic sexual imagery".

If anyone is familiar with the character Sil, from the Species movies, then you might recognize certain shapes like the elongated head, etc. The main deviation I wanted to take from the Sil character is to add some much needed soft bits here and there to the demon, unlike the entirely hard looking Sil.

If you have been following the Rage Demon post, you will know that I am debating between our demons having...
- integral "melded" weapons, attached to their hand/s
- metal forged and ritually bound weapons
- super-intelligent living weapons (which themselves are demons)
- or grown demorganic (demon+organic) non-intelligent weapons.

One of those 4 options must come out a winner, and your opinions on the matter are most valuable.



Here is some found inspiration. All of the adult bits have been pixelated and censored.







Here is some original art to show our starting point. Our demon has mantis arms, and an exterior exoskeletal type armor, which borrows heavily from Gigers biomechanical look. There are a few crustacean and insect references. The loincloth will most probably be removed, in favor of a more nude look. The tongue and mouth on the sword is meant to take in the blood and juices from its victims. Based on this pose, the demon is interacting with the tongue on the sword, indicating that the sword and demon could have some sort of relationship.







So that is our starting point. Please offer your critiques and I will be back to tweak the design. Offer your thoughts, found art, drawings or fiction. All ideas will be considered.

Fewer pixelations in the finished model?

Seriously, I think you nailed this model in one. My only thought would be to release both the 60mm base verison for gaming, and the 18 inch version just because you can.

Thanks Bounty. Good point about the base size. In fact, I am not even sure which sizes are the most conducive for gaming purposes.

I did allow a certain amount of "clearance" so other model can "rank up" to the miniature without bits getting in the way. I have also accounted for balance, so the mini does not topple over on the table. I was hoping this demon could be pretty big, so the base could be anywhere from 50mm to 100mm. Suggestions on the actual base dimensions are most welcome.

I LOVE IT, THAT POSE IS GREAT TOO!! But no loincloth... just aint right... either total nudity or demorganic bone armor thong...

Also, I would once again push the symbiotic relationship angle with the weapons, they dont have to be fused, but perhaps an avatar/nav'ii esque biological connection between the weapon and the demorganic nervous system?

I am leaning towards totally nude. Do you think the local game store can handle it?

Sorry, as beautiful as the art is, it needs more Giger.

And the quintessence of Gigerism is how the hard parts "meld" into the soft parts. Which I feel you havn't focus on.

chaos0xomega wrote:Also, I would once again push the symbiotic relationship angle with the weapons, they dont have to be fused, but perhaps an avatar/nav'ii esque biological connection between the weapon and the demorganic nervous system?

She's french kissing it. You really don't get much closer than that...

chaos0xomega wrote:I LOVE IT, THAT POSE IS GREAT TOO!! But no loincloth... just aint right... either total nudity or demorganic bone armor thong...

Also, I would once again push the symbiotic relationship angle with the weapons, they dont have to be fused, but perhaps an avatar/nav'ii esque biological connection between the weapon and the demorganic nervous system?

Fully agreed.

Imho the scyth limbs does not look natural with the rest of the body.

Also, dont give her any clothing materials. If you see " Sil" , Giger made protruding ridges along her ilium crest part of her pelvic bone.
which helps accentuate her figure.
Iinfact the genius behind Giger is how he strategically place the hard ridges along the soft parts to further emphasize the shape.

First off, I always liked how Sil was simultaneously frightening and alluring, and think this is a worthwhile project.

That being said, I think that the 'mechanical' part of the biomechanical theme in Giger's work is often lost in later iterations. I like your concept sketches, but I think they need more of that mechanical look. If you want inspiration on that front, I'd recommend checking out industrial parts websites, or checking out classic car parts (which also partially inspired the Alien xenomorph look). I think the rotary mechanisms on pistons would look fascinating when used as joines (say on an elbow or a knee). That's just my opinion. Hope to see more of this!

Jeremy, good to see you back in action.

Love the look of both this model and the sketches of the Rage Demon on the other thread.

Mat

Usually i like to offer constructive criticism and not sound like a complete dork, but for this model!

JUST DO IT ALREADY!

*ahem* my apologies Jeremy, I think you have got it in one with this one, the pose is beautifully sensual and dangerous at the same time and I like the right arm with the hand resting seductively on the top of her/it's breast and the licking sword idea is perfect, I wouldn't add too many eyes though i think more humanoid will work better for this one, the best thing I found looking at 'her' (may i call it her?) is the fact that she looks so good and sexy that i don't even notice the mantis arms! so if i was an intended victim I'm guessing that i'd be entirely entranced and suffer a pretty quick death at her hands/mantis arms!

nicely done!

Nerdfest09

Wat nerdfest said ^^

Nicely done sir! I do love to see other artist's work on Dakka! Cant really say much that wouldn't repeat whats already been said. Initially I was off put by the lips, but then I realized that works great! I'm half and half on the loincloth, either or, each will work for their own reasons.

Get to modelling!

Giver makes me think Alien, and your drawing, while amazing, makes me think Slannesh more than anything Giger.

That's just me though. Amazing artwork.

The body is 99% there with ALMOST no changes (just one). The face is probably 90% there with just a couple changes.

My input on the body is more helpful than the face, though, I think:

As has been said; NO loincloth. Lose it. They're a sex cult, the last thing they want is to have her gribbliy bits covered! LOL
In her pubic region, though, I'd do some demorganic ridges akin to what's going on on her back.

Face:
Umm... Fix it.
LOL
I love the head shape, the eyes, etc. I just don't care for the facial "features."
The lips are too big. I know that lips tend to get bigger when they're over sensualized, but they're too... bubbly (I guess).
Her nose, or lack thereof, is a bit too alien IMO. When you're (typically) imagining your ultimate "play date," she's got certain features you're used to. Amongst them, I think should be a more human nose. It doesn't even have to be a complete one... but there should be some similarity, I think.
Her main, "frontal" eyes should probably be less drastically elongated, too, I think.
Forgive this comparison, I know you're not trying to emulate this product, but what I'm talking about is better featured here:


Comparing this face to the one you've got, hers is more human, while yours is a bit more... salamander or newt shaped. Definitely reptillian.
Notice, though, the more humanoid nose, the presence of cheekbones and the shorter eyes? I think that kind of influence on your model's face could go a long way.

I hope this helps.


Eric

What, you mean you wouldn't tap that?!?

That's really cool. Here are some opinions of mine how you could improve this if you wanted,

I agree with taking away the loincloth, just leave the pubic area nice and smooth, people can customize it if they like that kind of thing.

The effect of the loincloth and the stereotypically accentuated female figure, to the point of cartoonishness, take away from it. I would tone it down and make something perkier, slenderized.

The face could definitely use a nose. And some sort of expressive tentacle-whip hair dreads, would be awesome. At present the head tapers into some poorly defined shapes.

The body and face look more like a human figure and a bug alien are patched together. The torso and arm/sword is human, the head and extra arms are alien. So choose one or the other and go with it. If human, then two arms with some subtler bug/alien features, and the sword, the humanoid face would be the focus. If bug, then lose the sword and have a bio arm, if daemon, more asymmetry.

I think the idea of multiple eyes is cool, whatever you go for. Just be sure that they look eyelike and proceed in a line from where the main eyes should be, to make it clear they are eyes.

Meade wrote:...leave the pubic area nice and smooth, people can customize it if they like that kind of thing

This is like something from an agony aunt advice column - priceless.

Adolescent sniggering beside, I think there's a lack of clarity here batween demon and alien. If it's alien then I'd say all about organic shapes, curves, contours, contrasting textures melding together, however as has been said above, if it's a Giger inspired demon, then you're missing the industrial imagery. One of the unnerving things about Giger's influence that we saw so clearly in 'The Matrix' is the mechanical/organic crossover. We find it frightening to see machines with feeling, seeing whirring parts going into the back of our skulls, foetuses being 'nurtured' in the arms of a cold steel monster etc.

I'd lose the loincloth for sure but just put a little modesty-saving chitinous/industrial texturing there so as not to upset the FLGS. I'd give her a nose. I'd elongate the head and add more emphasis to the spine. I'd also make her taller and more slender - that kind of 'not sure if want' allure is what she's lacking at the moment.

Check out the Alien Resurrection Hybrid / Newborn
http://aliens.20megsfree.com/photo4.html

I like the way it's hips are like a flayed human's, showing the anatomy

it amazeing ,,but i think it needs some more detail around the legs and feet .

as for the pubis area you should just go full giger!
http://existingwithintheunknown.tumblr.com/post/15590438333/h-r-giger {nsfw} also shows the texture i would use on the body .

Lots of great stuff here from everyone, and I have plenty of stuff to consider. I am back on the road and not able to do up any art until Tuesday, so look forward to new concepts then.

I am going to go a little heavier into the world of biomechanical. My concept art up until this point has not been "zoomed in" enough to really explore those biomechanical veins and tubes and conduits that run along the surface of the skin. '

She will get a nose job (and actually get a nose!), and I will tone down the lips a bit. I will elongate her entire body and redo those hip bones, using the alien newborn as a strong reference. I will keep playing with the face until it gets right.

Lots of little things I have to work on, but that is why I am here. Thanks so much for your help so far, and please keep posting your critiques.

Man, this is just SICK! I really am liking the work you've done on this concept art so far.
The face... it's mezmerizing, really, captures Giger's inspiration fantastically.
As for some suggestions: The extra limbs look a bit too much like other designs. Perhaps instead of insect scythes, you could do something like phallic-shapes ending at mouths. Something that would really make people say "ewwww"
Otherwise, keep it up! You may be onto something.

Is she going to kill you or you to death?

I'm going to be repulsed by something with giant alien penis arms.
I'm going to be terrified by something with giant scythes for arms.

Just say no to demoPORNganic arms.


Eric

Well, I was thinking more along the lines of some of the concept art for the Alien chestburster, or the adult's second mouth. I guess it would really depend on the look OP is looking for.

Needz moar boobs111

I think six would be cool, and make them bigger...

CT GAMER wrote:Needz moar boobs111

I think six would be cool, and make them bigger...

If he wants it to look like that Slaaneshi Greater Daemon, then sure.
Personally, I like it with only a single pair.

forruner_mercy wrote:
If he wants it to look like that Slaaneshi Greater Daemon, then sure.

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

bazoombs for the bazoomb god!!

I still think that just the single pair will look better then three pairs.

Also, Slaanesh is my favorite Chaos God.

How about, instead of 3 PAIR... just THREE boobs? LOL

Eric


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I'm kidding, BTW.

Looks really good, giger would approve

forruner_mercy wrote:I still think that just the single pair will look better then three pairs.

Also, Slaanesh is my favorite Chaos God.

Also I'm being facetious, but you couldn't see my eye-roll. I guess this will have to do:




Automatically Appended Next Post:

MagickalMemories wrote:How about, instead of 3 PAIR... just THREE boobs? LOL

Eric


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I'm kidding, BTW.

What movie had this?