2018 Quicky Bang 1 - Technicolor Revolution

[amberdreams]

Naturally I want to start the year by drawing stuff I shouldn't be doing and isn't due yet, instead of doing the stuff I should be doing and has deadlines coming up. Start as you mean to go on, right?
For madebyme_x's story Technicolour Revolution for the first round of quicky_bang for 2018.

Teaser:

Finished picture:


Process:
Often when I'm drawing I use a pose reference picas well as relevant face refs to try and keep proportions etc right. Not that it is any guarantee of course! Plus if I can't find a pose ref that fits what I'm looking for, I'll do what I did here, and construct one. This one is using two different convention photos by the lovely Stephania (here and here), plus a hat cut from some googled photo, and a corridor I didn't end up using. Obviously I don't take too much time making it look like a proper manip.

So using this reference, I did a preliminary drawing - which didn't really work. quickreaver helped point out the flaws (which I then still managed to replicate when I tried again).

Second attempt in progress:

With ink and wash added to the pencil

And the final paper version before I added some more shading digitally. Done with Japanese brush pen and watercolour over the pencil. I was really daring - I actually used some of my hot pressed Arches watercolour paper. Honestly, you don't know how hard it is for me to use proper, nice, expensive paper!! I have a terminal fear of wasting a sheet - even now I've bought enough supplies to last me a lifetime.

Anyhow, that's enough waffling from me. Now go read this fascinating J2 AU story and find out why Jensen's hands are red... Technicolour Revolution

Comments

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

OH AMB THIS IS PERFECT - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I absolutely love love love that you went with the black and white, it really does emphasize the colourless world and the red blood just pops so brightly off the screen. I adore the fedora, and the outfit is just exactly how I pictured it. Jensen's expression is captured beautifully and I love all the little details too with the freckles and watch, and that big coat.

I'm flattered that you cracked out that good paper for this, and I'm sure it's added an extra element to the texture of the finished piece too ;) And wow, I can't believe you turned this around so quickly. I can't thank you enough for this! I'd been meaning to sign up for this for a while and the first time I do, my art gets picked by artist whose work I've admired for years - what a lucky girl I am! You really knocked this out of the park. Thanks again ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Phew, glad you liked it and think it fits the story. And of course, as it's a traditional piece, that means you could have the original if you want. I could bring it to Birmingham with me... *wink*.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Well I am looking into it, so I might just take you up on that!! Every time I look at this I see something else I love, like the beautiful hands, and I absolutely love to see all your progress pieces too. Thanks again for picking this fic!!!! ❤️

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

DUDE that is amazing :DDDD I'd forgotten Quicky was due again *runs off* Seriously though, this is FANTASTIC!! ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks! I see you found something you liked over there already!

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

It's kind of a no-brainer, the second I see a Firesign10 piece my arty genes go into overdrive :D

[fireheart13.livejournal.com]

heeheehee!

[fireheart13.livejournal.com]

Wow, gorgeous piece!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thankee!

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Great piece, Amb! The expression on his face and the despair that shows in his hands, it's all very well captured. I love that it's black and white with bloodred. Thanks for showing the manip and the sketches, all are inspirational:) I love your traditional art and the extra dark digital shading you added made the drawing really pop. Kudos for being brave with the materials \o/

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

The lack of colour and the red are part of the story - one of the reasons it appealed so much! Thanks me dear, and for running the quicky again!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Wonderful piece, and thanks so much for showing us the working of it! (I *love* that kind of stuff!!)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I like the behind the scenes stuff - everyone works a bit differently, it's fascinating! Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed this one!

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, the ref helps a lot! He's got his shoulders curled forward a bit.

I love how it turned out, though! Especially the hands; they're so expressive!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your assistance! Though of course I should be able to make the drawing look right without a reference to explain it. I wonder what Jensen was doing in the convention photo!

[reapertownusa.livejournal.com]

I'm not the only one who does manip references! That technique is so awesome for layout and getting proportions right. And, boy, did you get them right! This is such a stunning piece. His expression has so much emotion and those hands are gorgeous. It's so very Noir with the deep shadows, and that splash of color is perfection. I also really love the combination of the pencils with the paints.

And don't you dare use cheap paper for your beautiful art. The expensive paper is expensive for a reason--it actually works well. My sister asked if I could do a last minute pet portrait for her boss this Christmas, and all I had left in the right size was student-grade watercolour paper. It was hot press and 140lb, but it was EVIL. I spent way more time trying to keep that paper happy than actually doing the illustration the way I wanted to. Your work deserves lovely paper!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Ha ha keeping paper happy - I know what you mean. I started a sketchbooking class and bought a 140g book but the paper was awful. So when we were trying watercolour techniques I couldn't do what we were supposed to be doing because the paper just blotted up the paint in seconds. I had to go and buy a more expensive book!

[sandy79.livejournal.com]

HOLY MOLY!! I honestly love the combo of b/w with a dash of color, especially when it's as evoking as yours! *stares in awe* Great work, Amb, BRAVA!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much!

[spikedluv]

Thank you for taking us through your process! As a non-artist I am interested in learning more about what you talented artists do. (It's one of my favorite parts about big bangs, when artists give a little background to their creation.) Also, it looks awesome!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks - and I always love seeing how other people work so I started including my own stuff.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Looks great, and it's really good to hear the process behhind its creation too :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Cheers me dear!

[somer.livejournal.com]

Why damn, you're so damn talented! Very gorgeous and those tiny freckles. I really love the hands with all the knuckles and tendons! Very cool!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! ♥

[winterl0ver.livejournal.com]

It's a great piece. And I like it that you showed us how you did it. All the steps from the idea to the finished pictures are interesting.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yes I like seeing other people's process stuff, so I include my own now. :D

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I am in love with the beautiful monotone + blood red. Beautiful! And oh man, those gorgeous HANDS! ♥

Love this! Brava!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks bunches! The hands were probably my fave part :D

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I love this story, and you've captured Jensen perfectly here, I love his expression as he looks at his hands. And thanks for sharing your process, I love the photo you based the art on, too :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear this fits the story from someone who's familiar with it! Thank you!

[sillie]

Ooh, very pretty. Love the black and white, makes the red of the blood really pop!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And sorry for the late reply.

[julchen11.livejournal.com]

wow! That's amazing and simply perfect!!! Thanks for sharing, my dear.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks bunches!

[harrigan.livejournal.com]

How did I not see this sooner? I love your process images, and I'm mesmerized by the finished product. I want to go re-read the fic, but my eyes want to linger here!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I dunno, maybe I post too much! :D Hope you did go for a reread though. :D

[herminekurotowa.livejournal.com]

Amazing! Brilliant piece of art!

*u*

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!