Spn_reversebang art masterpost - Those that favor fire

[amberdreams]

Yay! My second spn_reversebang and I struck lucky again - the talented septembers_coda picked my art to write for, then pushed her boundaries and mine to come up with this thoughtful tale.

Click thee on the banner to read the fic!


This is the prompt that sparked the story. You make sense a Preacher vibe going on here and you'd be right, though that wasn't a requirement by any means.

All I was looking for from my author was something with Priest Dean and Sam somehow mysteriously whitehaired.
I got a fascinating story that once again took a direction I'd never have thought of, so as a reward for both me and septembers_coda, I did a happy sketch of our boys reunited.

And an end piece, just for fun


Process:
For the banner I used a smoke alphabet .png file I'd saved so long ago that I sadly don't know where I got it. Then I went over each letter with a tapered fuzzy PS brush to make sure it was readable.
The prompt was all digital - using a promo photo from Preacher, an Impala shot (which is actually an Australian Impala!) and a couple of references for Sam and for Dean.
These are the ref photos if anyone's interested.

I flipped Sam of course. Next is the promo pic that I PS tilted,textured, painted over, layered and so on, to turn into my background.

And here's an in progress digital painting screenshot after I'd outlined the poses. I usually start with the flesh tones and do the clothing last. The bottle was a challenge! After doing this one it meant I had to roughly match it in the banner...LOL
So that's all folks, it must be time for you to skedaddle off to read the story! On AO3 | LJ

Comments

[amypond45.livejournal.com]

Wow. This is so cool! I remember this prompt (and had no idea it was you!) and thinking well that one’s bound to be intense and interesting. I can’t wait to see what septembers_coda[Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] came up with! I really like the background photo. Very evocative and creepy. Great work!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thankee! I'm surprised nobody recognised this as mine (though my style does change a bit I suppose...). Glad you liked it though!

[septembers-coda.livejournal.com]

Let me just say again how lucky I feel to have worked with you on this stunning piece, and to get more wonderful art that goes so well with my fic, and yeah, to have pushed some boundaries for both of us. Again, I can't sop looking at the original prompt. Just one of my favorite pieces of fanart ever. Their expressions are my favorite part (though that's a hard call to make with so many stunning elements). Sam's haunted, old-before-his-time, thousand-yard stare was the original seed of inspiration for the fic, but then DEAN. World weary yet confident, wounded yet devil-may-care--so Dean, and yet the art made me think something had changed him. So I had to figure out what that was...

I adore the sketch--so much the essence of Sam and Dean and acknowledging all they've been through, even while it's a happily-reunited piece. And the endpiece is so perfect--I've never had one before, and now I want one for every artist collaboration I write! ;-)

Seeing the process and inspiration for the works makes it even richer. Thanks for sharing, and for these beautiful creations. <3 <3 <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I really happy you liked the prompt so much and wrote this - such an interesting idea and you did such a great job bringing all the elements of the picture into it! I shall leave my comment over there later on, when I get back from my sketch-booking class!

[equally-dour.livejournal.com]

very nice!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Ta muchly!

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Coming fresh from reading the fic, and I loved what you've both created here. The imagery is so strong with Priest Dean and white haired Sam, and I loved the sketch of their reunion too. Such a wonderful collab! Take care :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked both art and fic - they worked together very harmoniously in the end!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Fabulous work! And it inspired an *amazing* story! Thanks so much also for your gift of a happy Sam and Dean! Their expressions are wonderful! And you know, I really like Sam with the white hair. :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yay! So happy you liked the fic too! It's funny that I didn't set out with white haired Sam in mind, that happened by accident but I too liked the effect. :D

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Ahw, yeah bad boy preacher Dean. I love the white hair on Sam. Such a great prompt.

I like that you used the fire colours in the storyheader:) That green colour is so iconic, even more so in combination with the two beers, heehee.

That sketch is adorbs, their faces!

I know the last one is a work in progress, but I just love it as an artpiece by itself. Reminds me of my favorite bookcoverdesigns for Margaret Atwood by Nathan Burton where he used photos of faces and drawings for the bodies:) It's such a cool look.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks me dear, and cool! I'll have to check out Nathan Burton. I know the style you mean but I don't think I've seen his stuff.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

His coverdesigns are the reason for planning a bookhunt during my LND trip in December;) I hope to complete my collection.

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

Oh! This piece was yours!!! I loved this piece and it really inspired my muse. (Preacher!Dean, Sam with white hair...the fire...this piece just generated so many ideas, but left so much scope to go in so many directions.) Sadly I wasn't quite quick enough to snag it, but I've been waiting excitedly to read whatever story it did inspire, so that's next on my list to do! :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh cool! I'd love to know what direction you'd have gone with this one too. If you ever fancy writing it let me know! LOL

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I may well take you up on that one day. :) I'll pm you the direction it took my muse...just because I don't want to talk about my different idea on this post!
I loved September's Coda's take on the prompt--have just finished reading their story on A03.
I honestly thought this prompt was such a good one for a reversebang, because of the depth and breadth of ideas it was capable of generating. Just so much scope to go so many ways. :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'm really chuffed this one seems to have sparked so many ideas! Apparently brightly_lit also had a story in mind, though I don't know if she'll write it or not.

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I was just watching Preacher last night! I love that show, crazy as it is, and I love how you used the feel of it in your prompt artwork. Dean makes a great badass preacher and I love Sam's hair streaks (makes me think of The Mallens - now I am showing my age!). Thanks for showing your process, I always find it intriguing. I'll be reading the fic shortly :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I had to look The Mallens up, I think that was airing when I was at Uni and didn't have a telly. I bet Paul's Mum watched it though, Catherine Cookson was her favourite.

Glad you liked the art and I hope you enjoy the story too!

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I went through a Catherine Cookson stage once, and loved The Mallens on TV! I loved the story, it complemented your art so well.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

NOICE! Is especially dig the cheeky expressions on the boys in your pencil drawing. This looks fun!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

The story really grew on me - I think you'll like it! My pencil drawing is getting better, slowly! LOL

[julchen11.livejournal.com]

Wow! Stunning work, my dear. Absolutely.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

[harrigan.livejournal.com]

You just won't let me slink away from fandom, will you? My life is richer because of creative collaborations like this!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Absolutely not! *throws net over you and pulls you in* Fandom needs you.

[red-b-rackham.livejournal.com]

VERY COOL!! I love the style here and the imagery is so intriguing. LOVE!! :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm happy you think so. :D

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, the original prompt is super-cool!! So much mystery and strong imagery and room to spin stories. :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's what I'd hoped when I came up with the idea! :D

[sillie]

These are great bb (and I definitely thought this was you when I checked out the prompts). Also really love the sketch of reunited boys. :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad someone recognised me :D