Crash into Me - WIP big bang art masterpost

[amberdreams]

I signed up for the wipbigbang intending to finish a WIP as well as arting for someone else's completed WIP - and failed to finish anything! But at least there's art for lotrspnfangirl's J2 love-in-the-face-of-disaster fic - Crash Into Me.
Click on the banner or Here to read the fic.


Main picture - a scene illustration

Process:
I used a mixture of photos and textures plus digital drawing and painting in both PS and PaintTool Sai. And this is the first time I've been brave enough to do away with my line work...and some parts never even had any lines at all! Radical!
I created this background by painting the snow in Sai, then overlaying the blue rust texture to give it that extra blue cold feel. I used a snow brush set at different sizes to create the falling snow, then overlayed that layer on top of the rest. For the banner I duplicated the ground snow layer then flipped it to give the impression of a bigger landscape. For the main picture I used the same ground snow, added a fire and the silver birches, and then overlaid everything with the rust texture again.
The boys in both cases were painted in Sai then finished off in PS. The fire glow is a pinky-orange brush on 50% opacity with colour burn effect applied.

Here's the background I created and used as the basis for both pics:

I really like how it turned out!

Resources used -
blue rust texture by stockerre

this stock photo as basic position ref for the figures

this photo of silver birches I found on an image search and forgot to note the source

Comments

[lotrspnfangirl.livejournal.com]

Eeee! *pounces*!

I will get you the link probably late tomorrow night (because I'm so itching to post, especially now!)

Thank you so, so, so much! I love them ♥ I love how you write your process too even if I understand, like, half I think it's so awesome! You did such a good job I am in awe!!!! ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

*blows kisses* I'm glad I picked your fic and that you liked what I did - if I hadn't overstretched myself on BBs and other things it would have been nice to do a bit more for you.

By the way, if you want any basic stuff about GIMP when you get started, email or PM me - I don't know much but I do have a few things that work.

[lotrspnfangirl.livejournal.com]

I am glad you picked my fic too! I am so lucky ♥

Here's the link, I couldn't contain myself. It's the 14th... somewhere. :)

http://lotrspnfangirl.livejournal.com/56668.html

I have the afternoon off so I am definitely going to be checking it out!!! Thank you so much!

[kalliel]

OOohhhhhh wow! I love the vibrancy of these images, even as they're also so dark and full of snow. That sounds really stupid, but I guess what I mean is I love the use of both sharp and bright images/overlays alongside the rounder, less precise bulk of the ice and snow, and the way the ecotone between the two draws one's attention. Mmmm. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

hee hee you make my art sound erudite. Love you for that!

[fireheart13.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!!! And I love seeing how it was built!!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really enjoyed making this - and it was a kind of construct too!

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

OH PRETTTTTY! Love the poses, so sweet *melts* :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Some sweetness to melt the snow, huh? He he he! Thank you!

[ephermeralk.livejournal.com]

Oooh. These are lovely, bb!! The trees, the fire, Jensen curled up with Jared. At least Jared will keep him warm <3333

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Jared will always keep Jensen warm...*sigh*

Thank you!

[matchboximpala.livejournal.com]

Really lovely.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much!

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

These are wonderful and I love how you've shown us the original source pics that helped your inspiration :D That pic of the two of them all snuggled under that tree, wow!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks me dear, glad you liked it.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh, gorgeous art! I love the pose, the background, and the expressions on their faces.

You've certainly piqued my interest, and I'm looking forward to seeing the fic!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Piqued interest = job done!

[blythechild.livejournal.com]

I really like the banner a lot. The palette and the asymmetry really re-enforce the sense of isolation and dependancy upon one another. It also looks deceptively simple ;)

Rust textures are invaluable. I've used them to give texture to so many things. I even used it once to texturize clouds (screened, of course, and set at a really low opacity, but still! it was there!)

Lovely work here ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much! I love the kinds of effects you can get with a texture, it's kind of like magic to me still! :D

[sillie]

These are lovely. Great work. :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you, my dear!

[chomaisky.livejournal.com]

Aww you beat me to the illustration of J2 hugging in the snow!!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh! I didn't know you had one in the pipeline! But yours will be totally different from mine, our styles are very distinct.

[dolnmoon.livejournal.com]

This art is fabulous. Really, really gorgeous. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks a bunch! :D

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Loving the sense of desolation in the banner, and in the main piece, the contrast of cold blue snow against the orangey heat of the fire. Also digging how you've done the reflection of the firelight on the boys, too. Great work!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I wanted to have a play with a firelight effect, and it turned out reasonably ok! So thank you!

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

These are really neat! I love the style, the graphic quality. And they feel SO COLD. The banner was especially effective. Great job!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yay for the coldness! Thanks, petal, it's always nice to get an affirmation from you!

[emmatheslayer.livejournal.com]

this is so pretty and lovely wow great work

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Cheers Emma!

[equally-dour.livejournal.com]

lovely work!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I love these, very atmospheric. That snow effect really works.
I love the picture of the boys hugging; that ticks all my h/c boxes :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Indeed, the fic ticked lots of those boxes for me too! Hurt!Jensen in particular. :D

And thank you!