When I saw those first pictures, I just assumed that the Winged Ones were supposed to have blank eyes. Having them be literal marble statues just seemed too weird. But now I'm thinking back on the game and it seems I remember the Guidebook to the Land of the Green Isles talking about the Winged Ones' belief in the Ancient Ones, who predated them. I think (not one hundred percent certain) that there was an implication in their legend that the Ancient Ones actually created the Winged Ones, or gave them culture or some such. I wonder if the original concept, then, was to literally portray the Winged Ones as a created species, a series of marble statues brought to life by an ancient civilization. The Ancient Ones were big on carving stone after all. They were the ones, according to the Guidebook, that created the Cliffs of Logic.
It also, if they were originally supposed to be marble statues, buts some of the comments that are made about the Winged Ones in context. They're always described as beautiful, which I found interesting. Yeah, the wings are nice, but outside of that, they're human. Tall and athletic but still looking pretty human. If they were originally supposed to be living statues, then those comments suddenly make more sense as someone describing art. Living, breathing art.
Ultimately, though, I like the current look of the Winged Ones. Monochromatic statues would look kind of boring. And as for the blank eyes, while it would be cool, the only thing I'd be able to think of would be Gary Mitchell from Star Trek the Original Series. Seriously, silver eyes and a disdain for humanity? That's Gary Mitchell.