Art for kalliel's That Were

[amberdreams]

There are a ton of other things I should be doing, but I read this fic by kalliel for the first time this week,and it made an impression on me. So much so, I was left l with a burning urge to illustrate one particular scene... so here it is. NB it is kind of spoilery, but not, because you can't tell what happens next, or how he got there, or even what is really happening...so...
Teaser

Full pic


Resources:
Google image search was my friend. It gave me a photo of a kelp forest which I then altered to fit and used as my background. I've overlaid it with a texture called bubbly-green by tigers stock on deviantart. I can't find the original photographer for the kelp, but the photo is being used on several websites (the largest resolution is from (weirdly) a site about bancruptcy. No refs used for Dean, no specific refs for the seals, I just had a look at various seal pics.
All drawn and coloured in PS.

Comments

[yohkobennington.livejournal.com]

OHHHH DIS SO PRETTY!!

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

Is this from her big bang? My reading list is too damned long.

Gorgeous work, Amber!

[ephermeralk.livejournal.com]

oh, that is so, so awesome, amber! I haven't read that particular story of hers but your work with the seals and the kelp forest is simply delightful. and oh so pale dean.

really beautiful!

[rockstarpeach.livejournal.com]

This whole thing is gorgeous, but my favourite bit is the light peaking through at the top. Stunning.

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

Dean's pale face, the seals' dark piercing eyes, and the atmosphere are striking! And now I'm wondering what on Earth is happening in that story :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Nope, I'm not sure when it was written but it's only 11k

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

He had to be pale for the story, but water leaches the colour out of everything too... Glad you liked it, you should give the fic a whirl!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That was all down to the unknown photographer... :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Hesitate no longer, go and find out! :D

[indiachick.livejournal.com]

xoxoxo <3 I am so happy I directed you to this fic. Was subliminally transmitting DO ART, AMBER vibes. This is GORGEOUS. Oh my God, the lighting alone. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Ah! Ah! I knew someone had recced it! Of course by the time I'd finished reading I'd totally lost track of how I got there - thank you for the rec and glad you liked the artings!

[chomaisky.livejournal.com]

I love the diffused light!
Don't know if the seals are gonna eat Dean or love him...

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

the background is really beautiful, and makes the pic look more peaceful than i'm guessing it is. (i haven't read the fic but i don't feel spoiled.) the coloring on the seals and dean is really good, and is it weird that i'm curious why it looks like he's not wearing socks?

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

Oh wow this is gorgeous, Dean looks beautifully bedraggled, I love his tousled hair and his pretty lips! The seals and the background are lovely too. I can see I'm going to have another fic to read later!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Intriguing, hey? I'm happy you liked the lighting - took me a while to get that 'right'!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Heh no socks...reading the fic I thought he might have had reason to forget to dress properly... Thanks for noticing!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

kalliel certainly knows how to hurt Dean nicely... Thanks!

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

OMG, just went and read it. I'm in awe one again of her mastery of words.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I have word envy.

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

Me too.....I just keep reminding myself that we can't all be kalliel or indiachick or roque and it's all right to just be a solid writer. :)

[sillie]

Oooh, this is very pretty! Love it. :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It turned out better than I'd hoped!

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that's really stunning. Beautiful lighting and the casting of shadows that hint at spaces beyond. A lovely balance between protection and menace that makes me want to go read the fic to find out which!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I'm sure the fic will not disappoint you... :D

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Oooh, nice. The lighting is beautiful.

[becc-j.livejournal.com]

this is gorgeous! Love the colours <3

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I forgot to comment on this, between...things. ;) The ambiance of this image is so eerie and sad, and really moving! Gorgeous palette, too. I like bunches!

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous. Lovely light and colour. :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I played with that for a while so I'm glad you think it looks good.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Are you sober yet then? *wink*
Thanks - I found the story eerie and sad so yay!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!! :D

[justmep2.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous work!
This is probably my favorite piece from that I've seen so far. I love the details, the lightning and coloring on the top.
It also made me so curious about the fic, not that I need any persuasion to read anything by kalliel.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

Heh, yep! I don't do my booze experiments when I have to be functional. Tonight, I may see if beer stuffs up my nose. Or maybe mead...

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much, that's a great compliment! :D

[kalliel]

oh

my god


This is gorgeous!!! I love the composition of the whole thing, from the pure black that extends below Dean all the way up to the murky kelp (and the bubble texture you added is perfect!). I love how the streaks of light and dark in the background give the piece that real sense of being underwater. And Dean and the selkies--can I just reiterate oh my god? They're all so perfect, from Dean's floating hair to his blank expression to the selkie fur and especially their eyes. Absolutely wonderful painting. <3333

Also, this is the first time anyone has ever been inspired to do artwork after reading one of my fics (official arrangements like Big Bangs notwithstanding), so this is very very very very very cool and special to me. I DIED WHEN I SAW THIS. AND WAS THEN BROUGHT BACK AS A SELKIE SO I COULD WRITE THIS COMMENT.

<333333333333333333333333333333333333

Oh, and also <333333333333333333333333333333333333333333!!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Are you clapping like a seal then? He he he

Seriously though, I'm very glad you like it. I can't believe no one's done art for you before like this. Though I'm glad I didn't discover your fics earlier in my SPN existence as I didn't have the practice I've had now at doing arty farty things back then.I'd have wanted to do something but wouldn't have been able to do your imagery justice. This picture barely does...but I enjoyed trying.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ack! How did I miss this! ?! It's truly gorgeous Adore the coloring and Dean's face - <33. I must read the fic. *bookmarks* with so many other. But I love kalliel's writing so I better pop it to the top!

Xx

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I'm only just 'discovering' kalliel... Thank my dear, I'm glad you liked the look of this!

[sleepypercy.livejournal.com]

Oh my. The texture of those seals is just beautiful, and Dean looks so, so cold and pale.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you - that's exactly what I was going for! :D

[leahnari.livejournal.com]

Beautiful work!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!