Cloud, City of the Spine Sea
Currently working on "Cloud" a city I had to write 2 pages on for
a Designer/World builder position here at work. Below are some VERY early
paint coats and the text of the city.
The sculpt before paint.
Before paint and base coat colors
More shots of the color base.
Working to get the base coat colors down before I lay down more color
Cloud, City by the Spine Sea
Far to the West where the Drumm desert meets the ocean cliffs of the Spine Sea a gem sparkles. Here, along the sharp angled rock, the gentle roll of the ocean, and the hard grit of the desert rests paradise. Resting between alabaster cliffs, and crashing surf, lays Cloud, ancient city of the Aviron where the sea meets the sky. Overlooking the Sea of Spines, an ocean the color of deep jade, sea foam colored crystal spires piercing its calm surface, and The Drumm desert with its dust storms and wasteland expanse sits perched a city of dreams. The city is both a seaport and a sky-port, serving all manner of trade and high commerce while being a Mecca of culture and entertainment. Boats rest along its docks lazily, the calm seas making the loading and unloading of goods easy on the backs of the dock men. High above seagulls circle the tops of the cities towering buildings, huge multicolored Zeppelins moor, their highly skilled (and at times acrobatic) workers unloading and loading the mighty airships like busy ants in the gentle breezes.
The city proper, nestled between two high cliffs that form a shallow "V" rise above the sea in dozens of medieval fashioned towers of all sizes, like flume coral erupting from the rock face, the ocean below lapping gently against them, creating a rhythmic beat which some claim is the heart of the city. The towers, which jet out of the cliff and soar hundreds of feet into the air attract seagulls and other sea birds to soar and sail over their crenellated tops. Separated into three distinct districts, The Veil, Core Down and Ocean Top with the Great Library tower, the very center and largest of the city towers the people of Cloud travel by elevator, crane and bridge to reach their destinations.
The Veil, which is the smallest of the three city districts, takes up only a sliver of the nearest towers closest to the Great Library. From here the rich and upper classes rule and govern all, access to The Veil is restricted even to the airship workers who must ride elevators and cargo pallets along the outsides of the cities gleaming buildings to their work stations on the roofs of the city. Here, gilded silver images of the city history, and high Gothic style décor present and depict the history and lore of Cloud for the privileged to enjoy.
Core Down is the underbelly of the city, its tower inhabitants ranging from the middle class to the dirt poor. Here the towers stone show age, their color darker, less pristine and in some cases damaged and in disrepair. Though similar in Gothic style as The Veil, this area shows use and little upkeep its rooms not as clean or warm.
Ocean Top, too most is the harbor area of the city. The smallest towers near the water's very edge, their sides covered in barnacles from tides and storms. However, here you will find the most diverse people, the most culture and excitement. The sailors of Ocean Top never pass up a drink, a merry tune or the company of a lady. Much like the airship workers and their cousins, these hard workingmen and woman breathe fresh life into the district most never visit for very long but some spend their entire lives exploring.
Points of Interest:
The Great Library pierces the center of the city and looms over both the ocean
and the land around it. The library, which has become the main center spire
of the city and gained a reputation as a jewel of workmanship in the ancient
world, contains a repository of knowledge not just of books; scrolls and art
from the living races but those of civilizations long past and thought lost.
Scholars from all the races spend their lives here, deep in thought and study
among the many book stacks and rooms, many of the most wise and powerful make
the journey to The Great Library of Aviron, some spending their entire lives
there in thought.
The Aviron Sea Docks present ships from all the known races traveling from all corners of the land to deliver and receive goods. Large cranes from hundreds of feet above located on the plateau of the cliffs, lower and raise netted crates of items to the docks. In the early morning and late afternoon, some of the more gallant dockworkers can be seen using these cargo nets for a quick ride to and from work.
The Aviron Sky Docks though unique to Cloud operate much as their sea bound counterparts. The Sky docks, with there huge colorful zeppelins carrying rich cargos tied atop the city buildings, long free standing suspension planks made from wood and rope reaching out over the open air to greet them allow the city to be a tourist center and trade giant. Here, pallets of cargo and visitors, lower and raised by huge cranes and elevators made of beech wood reach the ships and city bazaars below appearing like strands of silver white hair falling over the city.
Here are some very quick, dirty and rough 3d renders of the city.
So after laying the base coat above, I followed thru with some second coats of darker color, 2 dry brush coats and 2 washes and some final details.
The final "shot" from the front,
I found this very hard to photograph indoors with a flash, I may try some
outdoor shots in the sun someday but for now here is a PS sky background.
Cloud 2005 (super high
rez version)
