The Age of Foolishness - Reverse Bang Art Masterpost

[amberdreams]

Art Title: Living tattoo
Prompt Number: E3001
Artist: amberdreams

Fic Title: The Age of Foolishness
Author: de_nugis
Fic Link(s): LJ | AO3

My second RB art was claimed by de_nugis (again! How did I get so lucky?) and she's written such a charming story...I can't wait to read the finished article.

I admit, I'm not that happy with the art I did for this - I don't think it does the story justice, but it is what it is.
First, the banner

I did another version of this then suddenly realised the guillotine was forming an A and I should use it!

This was the original artwork.

I left the prompt very open, I didn't want to constrain my writer's imagination. So often other people come up with something marvellous I would never have thought of. And of course, that's exactly what de_nugis is good at!
This next one isn't a major part of the story, but I just loved the idea and imagery behind associating Dean with a crack in the universe that something could crawl through...

And that's just about it - I wanted to do more/better but we ran out of time.

The Process Part. (May contain slight spoilers for the fic)

I forgot to save any step by step stuff this time but there wasn't all that much to show you anyway. The main piece was all drawn in PS, and apart from still loving the background (which is from a photo by a chap local to me who takes wonderful pics of Suffolk churches), I can see too much wrong with my drawing to really like this pic. It was an occasion when the idea was miles better than its execution.

The banner idea came from the title quote from A Tale of Two Cities, and the theme of self sacrifice. I'd done a charcoal pencil drawing of Balthazar and Kevin which I was also less than happy with, so I decided to try and redeem it by incorporating it into the banner. That seemed to work quite well.
Here's the first version of the sketch.

then with the gate and key added. The gate was another charcoal pencil drawing. Some additional shading done in PS.

Comments

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I know you aren't happy with it but I really love the whole guillotine as a A thing, it looks fab to me! I also love seeing the sketches in the actual sketch book, but you know that :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

That A was the one part I liked, LOL

Ta, me dear.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Intriguing prompt, I like what you did with the background there, it really gets the focus on Sam plus the church interior adds some extra thinky thoughts about the significance of the tattoo/carving(?!?) on his back.
Great visualization of a crack in the universe: Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaan!
Love the sketches and not just because of the nice abs;)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I love what de_nugis did with the prompt so I'm sure you will too - she's posting a bit later on as she had some last minute edits to do.
Thanks!

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

*exhausted cheering*

It looks gorgeous, and I love seeing the sketchbook as well. I'm afraid I was a trial to work with this time around, but you, as always, were a joy.

WE MADE IT!

We can do AO3 links later in the day; I'll be around off and on.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I didn't feel like I was much use to you but hey, we mudded through and you wrote an epic in the end! :D

The Age of Foolishness

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User de_nugis referenced to your post from The Age of Foolishness (http://spn-reversebang.livejournal.com/279289.html) saying: [...] Art Link: Art Masterpost [...]

[emmatheslayer.livejournal.com]

this is so epic

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[fireheart13.livejournal.com]

I love what you made here. THe original piece is really cool, and I know I played with the thought of what could be going on there. I like the banner too, I think it looks fantastic, and I;m looking forward to reading the story!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks, and the story is pure de_nugis. Lovely.

[sillie]

These are wonderful. I really love the original prompt, it's so intriguing. The banner looks really great too. I love the way you draw Dean btw. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I love the way YOU draw Dean :D
Thanks me dear!

[sillie]

Aww, thank you bb. :)

[sleepypercy.livejournal.com]

your HANDS are so amazing!

And wow, I'm just loving Sam's back, all filled with trees and birds (that is Sam, yes? I can't tell 100% sure from the back, but it's a very nice back)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yup, that's our Sam in the main pic, and of course de_nugis has done intriguing things with the tree idea in the story! And thanks for liking the hands, I wasn't really that happy with them so it's nice that you liked them regardless.

[reggie11.livejournal.com]

Love the artwork. Very clever use of the guillotine too! The design on Sam's back is rather gorgeous, I'm a real sucker for art including tattoos and markings. I just finished reading the fic, and I thought it was fantastic. de_nugis really took your prompt and ran with it. Great stuff.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Everyone's making me feel much better about this set! And yes, the fic is wonderful.

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I love how you used the guillotine for the A, very effective. I love the tree on Sam's back and the gate on his chest with the key on his hand, so beautiful, and I love the way Dean appears through the crack.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

The gate and key are on Balthazar *wink* but thank you!

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry! Still gorgeous!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

And who'd have thought you'd be saying that about Balty!

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I actually liked Balty, with his whole louche, rock star look!

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous art set! I love the banner and the guillotine A, and that drawing of Sam's back with the tattoos is wonderful, especially how you've captured the lines and muscles of his body. I love seeing your sketch book pieces too.

Thank you for sharing :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much!

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

That's some amazing art! I like how there are so many possibilities with the prompt art and the details in it (like the birds in the tree). Of course, the muscular back looks pretty damn awesome, too. :D The guillotine A is a great idea, and the black&white of the crack with Dean in there is indeed a wonderful idea!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, glad you liked it all!

[septembers-coda.livejournal.com]

ah! this is fabulous! I remember that prompt; it was definitely on my list, and it is awesome and beautiful. And I know what it's like to not be satisfied with the end result of a project, and feel like you ran out of time to do what you really wanted, but I adore this-- all the pieces. In addition to being beautiful and mysterious, they make me VERY interested in the fic-- which I will be reading in a couple of hours! I forgot (AGAIN) to bring a Kindle or book to read during my oil change, so printed fic it is, and I'm glad of it. :-D

The banner does exactly what it's supposed to do! I love the way the separate elements come together; I especially love the gate over Sam's lovely musculature-- it looks perfectly natural design-wise, perfectly natural, and incites curiosity about its meaning. Plus, the GUILLOTINE A. And the flag with the sigil, and the lettering, and the parchment feel-- I don't see what there is not to love. It's just right.

LOVE Dean coming out of the crack in the universe and I'm DEAD CURIOUS about THAT. I'll know soon enough!

Great job. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

The fic is typical de_nugis - she writes Kevin so well, and seeing everyone else through his lens is great, I think you'll love it!
Thanks for the kind words about the art!

[aerynsun5.livejournal.com]

You are so fab!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Hee! I'd forgotten about this one - isn't the story goooooood?

[aerynsun5.livejournal.com]

She's always good!

(Can you see how far behind I am?)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Ah but you fooled me by commenting on some more recent stuff first! Anyhow, I really appreciate you bothering to catch up!

[aerynsun5.livejournal.com]

I'm months and months behind, but try to read the most recent, then skip randomly through the rest. I wish I could say there was some method, but in this, as in most things in my life, I am ruled by whim.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

There's nothing wrong with a good whim!

[aerynsun5.livejournal.com]

I always say, go with your strengths!