Welcome to Gaia! ::

I'm working on this commission for a friend and I figure I'm around the half-way mark, so I wanted to get some feedback. I haven't gotten to the point where I feel like I'm going around in circles, but I sense it's near, so I figure it's time to post.

It's a series of robot insects, and she's looking at more of a field guide layout look than action shots or natural poses, and I'm aiming for a balance of pseudo-natural appearance with worn, robotic components.
Robotic influences tend to focus on old-school classic 1950s-1980s robotics and toys, computer components from the days of the Lunar race to modern pc innards. Though little brass gears seem to have a place in my heart.

I'm looking for general feedback on style and concept as well as specific comments and suggestions, areas to improve, etc (I need to study more clockwork innards, yes, and though I have a list of subjects yet to cover, you're more than welcome to post suggestions for species). I do have a specific question on the drop shadow I'm tossing on the last two, if that's something I really should consider adding to all of them, or is it superfluous?

But tell me whatcha think, don't hold back. Though I'll warn you the acrylic paintings are lacking a bit of definition.

(listed in chronological order of completion, and apologies on the size/load time)









What say you?

Getting them together and on the same page really helped ram home the shortcomings of the photoshop paintings. The two I just finished (posted below) I came from the attitude of painting them the same way as I would the acrylics, so it seems to be working much better. Longer to finish, but better stressed

Lightening the wings also helps their appearance immensely, and I'm cautiously approaching methods to indicate transparency. I'm not quite ready to show the shadow of the wings showing through the wings themselves, but I might get brave sometime soon. I'm still getting used to laying down the shadows.

My Lady Commissar essentially sent me a list of preferred species, but if I can make it look great, I really don't have any specific limitations on species. For example, the wasp is certainly not on the list, but it's holding up pretty good. I spent a while on grasshoppers because she liked them a lot, and sent me a lot of reference images.

Anyways, new stuff: