Close to the sun in lonely lands - spn_reversebang art post #2

[amberdreams]

The second of my three art entries for spn_reversebang
Title: Close to the sun in lonely lands
Artist: amber1960
Author: de_nugis
Masterpost for the story is HERE

PDF download of the fic with the art HERE on mediafire.

I have been so lucky with my spn_reversebang writers! All three who were kind enough to pick my art are the bee's knees - but de_nugis has been one of my favourite authors since I first found her fics, so I was especially looking forward to seeing what she would come up with based on my original prompt. I have to say, I was not disappointed! In fact, this exemplifies why I don't like to give too much constraining details with any of my art prompts because this is so much better, more interesting and challenging than anything I could have come up with.
This is the original prompt, with the addition of the hawk's eye, because the hawk became an integral part of the story:


I drew each original panel separately in GIMP, then pulled them all together in a kind of story-board. I wasn't worried about what order the panels should be read, I was happy for my author to decide.
When I read the draft, I had a new image in my head, so drew a new panel featuring the hawk and the juniper tree. I'm not saying too much about their significance as I don't want to spoil the story for you. Here it is large. I was really chuffed how the patterns on the feathers came out - I drew this one in pencil first, then redrew it in Photoshop. The feather markings were done with a brush by velvetcat. Then I used the walking figure from the original prompt to be reflected in the eye, and the tree from the prompt as the background (I love the recyclability of digital art!).


This is the pencil drawing.

References/resources used include the Season 9 promo of Dean looking down, a Sam dead from Season 2 screencap (one of my own), a google image search for red tailed hawks and juniper trees, and brushes by velvetcat on deviantart.

Comments

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

Absolutely beautiful all together like this, and I love reading about your process, even though a lot of it is Greek to me. I love the way the hawk's eye addition echoes the red in the other panels of the original prompt. The full size hawk piece may be my favorite: it's so detailed, but without losing the suggestive quality that drew me to the prompt in the first place.

It has been an honor and a pleasure!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I think the hawk ended up my favourite too, I loved doing that red glowing eye... Mutual pleasure all round then! High five!

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Love these! Especially how the blood drips from one panel to another . . . lovely! And the hawk is purely gorgeous . . .

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you my dear! I wanted it to look like the blood reds were kind of flowing through from one panel to the next.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

SuhWEET! I especially love the silhouette and the tree, for some reason. There's something stark and expansive about them. Very expressive, in a quiet way (if that's possible!) Fantastc job, Amb!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I was pleased with the tree, I just wish I could get results like that with real pen and ink. Sometimes less is more, eh?

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

So much love for all of it, but the hawk profile and the tree and the eye.... I really think that's gorgeous. Can't wait to read the story now!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks Tif - the story is just...fabulous.

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

It made me cry. Literally, I'm still weeping. It was soooo fantastic.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Me too, I'm tearing up every time I think about it.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

This is some of my favorite work from you ever, so moody and intriguing!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, that's a great compliment. I wanted to do something very open to interpretation, and boy, did de_nugis deliver.

[geckoholic]

The art is amazing, I love the monochrome with splashes of color, so beautiful! :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'd seen this idea done many times (like in Schindler's List with the little girl's coat) and it always looks so effective - I'm glad you think it worked!

[chomaisky.livejournal.com]

I've been waiting for this to come out since forever! I couldn't see any rbb prompt pics, I don't know why, the only peek I got of this was a part of it de nugis posted in her journal. I especially love how the figure is reflected in the hawk's eye, which is as red as the bleeding setting sun.
Too bad I have to go out today I'll read the fic immediately when I'm back!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

The fic is just so good, so moving , I couldn't be happier. And thank you, the hawk was alate addition so I'm very glad you liked it.

[monicawoe.livejournal.com]

These are absolutely STUNNING! I loved this story and I LOVE this art! The hawk's eye is especially awesome, but they're all gorgeous.

Go you!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks Moni! I was happy with how the art turned out but beyond happy about what de_nugis did in turning the picture into something special.

[septembers-coda.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, this is amazing. Scary, dark, gorgeous... I love it! honestly, I'm kind of scared of the fic now, but too curious not to try it. THAT IS THE POWER OF THIS ART. :-)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Don't be scared...it is dark and kind of crazy but also full of love. (In that warped Winchester way). Tissues might be handy though.

Oh and thank you for saying lovely things about the piccies!

[septembers-coda.livejournal.com]

I'm reading it right now, haven't finished yet but HOLY CRAP AMAZING. Fic and art are well-matched! YOU GUYS ROCK.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

cheers my dear!

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Your art takes my breath away. It's beautiful and dark and I love the composition... I can see why de_nugis jumped on it in order to compose that beautiful and darkly horrifying story. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I am still over the moon about the fic.

[balder12.livejournal.com]

Your art is so beautiful and evocative. I especially love the hawk, and the splash of color in its eye.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The hawk ended up my fave one too.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Great banner; very cool how you incorporated the original figure in the bird's eye! I love how the blood drips from te knife into the panel below. Thanks for adding the pencil drawing, it's so interesting to see the difference with the final image. I should really look into all the options with brushes - inspirational!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'm really just experimenting with actually painting with brushes instead of just using them as a kind of stamp. I have NO idea what I'm doing but it is fun. And thank you!

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

the big pic of the hawk is amazing. i love the reflection in the bird's eye, and the suggestion of feathers are pretty fabulous. the original prompt is really nicely stark, too.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, I really enjoyed doing this set of pics!

[blackrabbit42.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for posting the process, because somehow until I read it, I missed the silhouette in the eye, which takes if from beautiful art to just.. wow. Some people just have all the talent.

When I saw you and de_nugis were doing this together, I could not wait, I knew it was going to be good, but wow, you guys blew it out of the water.

:)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You can thank de_nugis for the hawk close up, I drew that one after reading the draft...I'm still squeeing every time I think about her story!

[sillie]

This is really nice. Love the hawk.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[soncnica.livejournal.com]

Wow! I love the reflection of Dean? (is it Dean?) in the hawk's eye! :-)
And I love the blood dripping from one pic to the next!
Love this!

S.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks my dear, yes that is Dean. The story might sound a bit scary for your tastes, but give it a try, it is amazing.

[soncnica.livejournal.com]

Aww babe, I already read it and loved it! I love, love scary, creepy, bloody, messed up stories ... sadly, they are hard to find, but well the story hit all the kinks! :-):-)
And this art is simply wonderful and totally adds a SPIRIT to the story :-):-)

S.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm so glad you read and liked the fic. I think de_nugis writes such insightful stories, I was SO happy when she chose my original picture, I can't tell you. And what she did with it was brilliant.

[soncnica.livejournal.com]

oh yes, yes I read... first I saw that you made art for it, so I knew it would be something awesome, and then I read and liked it ... :) and the art really is stunning, as all your art is ... :)

S.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!