SPN Reverse Bang - Art post #1

[amberdreams]

Yay! The first of my two spn_reversebangs!!
Don't let the MCD tag put you off reading smalltrolven's wonderful story inspired by my animated prompt - it's a SPN kind of death, and the fic has a typical SPN outcome...

Banner (done at the last minute this morning because I suck). Click to go read the story and get your tissues ready.


Original prompt


Background and process
I was researching something else, and found a photo of some gorgeous tropical butterflies landing on freshwater turtles to drink their tears - and that was my inspiration. I'm still trying to learn how to watercolour, and I had an unfinished piece featuring some pretty orange lily leaves, so I added Dean, and the animated butterfly. I noticed part way through painting that some of the marks kind of looked like a hand draped over Dean's shoulder, so I decided to emphasise that and make it part of the picture.

Here's the painting in progress


And here's the painting for the banner, which is inspired by smalltrolven's fascinating use of the leaves from the original prompt. Had I been (as I am always NOT!) more organised, I'd have loved to do something with gardening Sam too, but alas, I'm behaving true to form and failed miserably LOL. I should also have spent a bit more time than a few hours this morning getting this painting right.

These are the butterflies I painted to use for the animation

Comments

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of a tropical butterflies landing on freshwater turtles to drink their tears, what a bizarre but strangely beautiful thing to do, nature is amazing! I love how you've used it, the animation is stunning, so lovely and so sad. The banner is gorgeous, I love Dean's eyelashes and his profile, he looks like Sleeping Beauty! I can't wait to read this one.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I only noticed after I posted that the face in the banner looks more like Dean than Sam - dammit! I forgot his mole too.

Yes that tear-drinking thing actually has a name too - Lachryphagy. Do a google image search and you should get some really cool and pretty pictures.

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry, he did look more like Dean than Sam to me! I just did a google search and saw the butterfly drinking the turtle's tears, how amazing! Thanks :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Don't apologise for confirming what I thought! LOL

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I'm so polite!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

These are great - you're so brave trying watercolours and it really paid off!
Definitely off to read the fic later :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Cheers me dear!

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Suuuuuch prrrretty colours *strokes screen* Definitely keep up with the watercolours I love how you are blending the colours together. The animated butterfly with Dean blinking and his one perfect tear is AWESOME. Stop berating yourself for things you didn't do, because the things you did create are glorious:)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you, petal, you are very good at giving verbal hugs!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

omg, that animation is *amazing*! It's really beautiful--as is the banner--which is definitely a very beautiful Sam! ;D

I'll have to read this now--I do really like smalltrolven's work and your art makes me so curious!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! If you like smalltroven's writing I'm sure you'll love this one.

[marciaelena.livejournal.com]

These are so very lovely, bb. The title banner is especially gorgeous; Dean's profile looks ethereal.

Oh, reading the other comments I see that it's supposed to be Sam in the banner, oops! It totally looks like Dean to me. It's beautiful either way.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Ha ha no worries, it started off looking more like Sam but somehow I managed to morph it into more like Dean. Doh.
Glad you likes it regardless! LOL

Edition 4,481

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User waterofthemoon referenced to your post from Edition 4,481 (https://spnnewsletter.livejournal.com/1118975.html) saying: [...] by with art Butterfly Tears [...]

[fanspired]

Awwwwww. Is beautiful ♥

RE: Edition 4,481

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

Wow, these are just so beautiful and magical! And the animation is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much!

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous!!! I absolutely loved the animation here; with the butterflies and the tears - it works so well. The profile piece is lovely too. I need to read the fic now! Take care :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

You do indeed - it's not too long so will be a relatively quick read. Thank you!

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

These are beautiful! Love the colors and the animation looks awesome. :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The movement is a little clunky but I'm learning :D

[nomercles.livejournal.com]

Well, these are just irrationally beautiful

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'm all for a bit of irrationality in the right places! Thank you!

[alyndra]

I LOVE these, it's so cool seeing the process that went into such a cool, sweet animation! ♥ ♥ ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank so much! If I knew what I was going I could probably record the steps - but I'm not there yet! LOL

[masja-17.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous!

♡

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[tyrsibs.livejournal.com]

Such a beautiful use of colors! I really like the shape of the flowers in the banner, too.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Lotus flowers have a real design-friendly shape! :D

[ellerkay.livejournal.com]

This art is SO stunning. I'm crazy about the colors, and the tear and the butterfly in the first are absolutely beautiful.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you so much!

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

the animation is so fabulously cool - the butterfly's motion, dean blinking - the colors are fantastic and your watercolors are really, really nice. and the banner is so pretty! altho i too thought the guy was dean. i think it's the eyelashes and the mouth. it's gorgeous in either case.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
It's so weird how Sam morphed into Dean like that. It did really start out looking much more like Sam, honest! LOL

[red-b-rackham.livejournal.com]

THESE ARE AMAZINGGG. You are so talented!! i love the color choices, the compositon, animation, emotion, everything. AMAZING, AMAZING WORK.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much!!

[equally-dour.livejournal.com]

ooh, I love these, the coloring especially is amazing!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much - I was pleased with the colours so it's great that you agree!

[sillie]

These are amazing bb. Great work. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You can take some of the credit, because I've admired your watercolours for ages and you've given me the confidence to have a go!