Sam in the cage - sketch - ideas please?

[amberdreams]

So I had this idea for a picture - Sam huddled in a corner of the cage with Lucifer and Michael - and so I did this pencil sketch. But now I'm not sure what to do with it next. I'd had a vague thought about making it quite dark, maybe with shadows of wings falling over him, but I don't know...

If anyone has any ideas, I'm open to suggestions! Of course I don't know whether I'd be competent enough to fulfill them, but throw them in any way.

Comments

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

shadows of wings against hellfire? or against burning ice - I have no idea how you would portray that but the devil burns cold ...

I agree this sketch deserves more - poor Sammy *pets him*

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

Mmm I like the icy idea, thank you! Not sure how I'd convey that but... *goes off to think some more*

[odysseaia.livejournal.com]

OMG, this is awesome! The anatomy is brilliant.

I think your idea is great with all the darkness. Perhaps keep Sam as the brightest part of the picture? Or imagine this: black as background, then as anniespinkhouse said, something fiery as lightsource which is then partially blocked out by wings. You could draw most of Sam in the shadow (from darkness and the shadow of the wings) with sharp contrasts of light where he catches the light of the fire?

I truly hoped that made some sense.It completely does in my head ;)
Either way, this promises to become a great picture :)

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the anatomy comment - I used a ref for that (but not for Sam's head) and bulked it up a bit plus lengthened the legs...

I love the sound of your suggestion but doubt my competence at carrying it out - however, as hubby has come home it will have to wait until tomorrow which gives me more time to a) think about it and b) gather my courage!

[odysseaia.livejournal.com]

Well, I doubt there are many people who could draw anatomy this perfectly without a reference. I certainly wouldn't be able to. Wait...you did Sam's head without any references? Wow. That's really nice :)

I absolutely believe you can do it. There are some really great tutorials over at deviantart (but beware! I regularly get lost browsing through tutorials). I'm pretty sure you can pull it off :)

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

Ah tutorials.... I've saved a load for later - one day I will actually work my way through some of them! Thanks for the vote of confidence!

[odysseaia.livejournal.com]

Yes, this is pretty much the same way I look at them as well. "You're great, but...later." ;)

I can be your cheerleader. ;)
By the way, during my massive SPN-re-watch I noticed that there are a lot of scenes where this light-and-shadow thing is used, so perhaps screencaps can be inspirational here.

[badbastion.livejournal.com]

I love doing sharp-edged lighting; if you want, I could help you out a bit? like, suggestions where the light would fall, etc.? If not, that's okay too :)

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

That would be awesome - how would you do it???

[badbastion.livejournal.com]

I'd probably just-- if you told me where the light source was coming from and sent me the sketch, I could lightly outline where the lit parts would be (without wing shadows; I'd leave that part to you.) I wouldn't go overboard, and I definitely wouldn't mess with any part of your sketch, and I wouldn't be hurt if you decided to change or correct anything, or approach it a different way entirely :)

If you don't like the idea of me drawing over your sketch, I could try describing it in words, but I think the first idea is more efficient.

[blackrabbit42.livejournal.com]

My idea would be to show somehow that he's thinking of what he's left behind... focusing on those memories to block out what's happening to him in the present. And, only because you asked for ideas, and not because I would ever presume to criticize your amazing work... his body looks a little pristine for where he's supposed to be. Maybe some dirt. sweat, blood, scars, etc?

I also love the idea with the shadow of the wings.

:)

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

I haven't decided about messing him up yet - I have a head canon that most of the suffering they must have put Sam through in the Cage would have been mental rather than physical, and that his body although it was actually physically there (somehow) would be kept young and pristine. Otherwise, how did he come out the same age he went in when he was there for two centuries...?

Mmm I wonder how one could show memories in this... ponders....

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

That is a gorgeous sketch.

I like the idea of a shadow of wings over Sam, rather than anything more explicit or a detailed background. That would just keep it to light/darkness.

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

I'm angling towards simplicity mainly because I'm crap at detail! Too lazy... LOL

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Ita

[monicawoe.livejournal.com]

This is a lovely sketch!
The beauty of the cage is that it's completely up to interpretation. You can draw the angels in their true-form, you can draw Adam in the background somewhere, just as frightened, or possibly completely hidden by Michael's form, or you can just hint at the power of the archangels with light and shadow. I always figured that Michael and Lucifer would be fighting each other quite a bit in the cage as well, especially since they're more evenly matched (and have a much longer vendetta). Possibly their clash of energies would be reflected on Sam's skin?

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

Thanks Moni! I like the reflected energy idea - wonder if I could pull something like that off...

[badbastion.livejournal.com]

I have no suggestions, but I think the pencil sketch is quite beautiful as-is. It's lovely, the variations in line thickness, the subtle shading of the muscles and curves of his body <3

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, that means a lot coming from you xx

[badbastion.livejournal.com]

♥!!!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Lovely job - I'm inclined to think he's great the way he is, perhaps a bit of red/yellow tinting and deep shadows to give a hint of flames and sinister lighting!

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

Ta Jane, I'm can always keep different versions if I work digitally - its a big cheat, ain't it! Ha ha ha

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

That is a glorious picture as it is. His eyes...so empty. I love the wing idea and some lighting wouldn't be amiss, but my thought would be ice. However you could convey it. Hell burns cold and I think that would be cool (heh).

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
Yes someone else mentioned the ice idea... One marvellous thing about the digital age, I can now play with it in GIMP and leave the original drawing alone/unspoiled! It's a win win.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

This is breaking my heart (even without anything added). Poor Sam...:(

Lovely drawing. <3

[amber1960.livejournal.com]

Aw *pets you gently*. And thank you!

[tryfanstone.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is gorgeous - Sam's feet! - but truly distressing as well. And thank you for the link, because reading the comments here is such a great insight into how people work with, you know, colour and line and *art**. I do envy you that ability, so much.



- I am also in such agreement with your tag, Thinking is hard. Yup!