SPN Reverse Bang - Art post #2

[amberdreams]

Click on the banner to go and read the story!


laughablelament and I seem fated to work together this year *grin*.
This second prompt was more in the idea than the execution - I'd been thinking about something with mirrors and AUs for a while but left it to the last minute to throw the prompt together, without any references (or mirrors for that matter!). Mind you, I used a reference for the Deans in the banner and both of those turned out weird, so maybe references aren't the problem here...!!

Anyhooooo. Here's the original prompt

I love Reverse Bangs because another person will look at a picture and see something totally different than I do, and it's always such fun seeing what unexpected directions a story takes. This was no exception - go read laughablelament's fic and leave her all the love!

Here are the ID cards I put together for the banner
Dean Smith

And Dean Winchester.

Detail - Smith

Detail - Winchester


I thought Dean might have a legit driving license based on Bobby's old address, hence the South Dakota seal. I have a confession to make - my first attempt I used North instead of South Dakota, because I forgot to check. DOH! So thins morning when I noticed I had a last minute do-over!

For the purists - don't check any of the numbers or details - I didn't research this for actual driver's licenses or ID cards for the relevant states, etc. You're lucky I remembered to do the dates the wrong way round (ah America, why so topsy turvy...LOL). These are purely artistic interpretations!

All the art is digital - paintings for the prompt piece with a background downloaded from an image search for 'empty room', painting for the ID faces, all sorts of stuff cobbled together for the rest of the cards - from spirograph transparency patterns to state emblems.

With hindsight, I should have made Dean a lot younger for the driver's license since it was issued in 2005, but never mind. Since neither of the Deans look much like I wanted them too, I'm past worrying!

Comments

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

I love both your versions of Dean - those lovely big green eyes, and freckles!!!! I also love Sam's WTF expression at seeing two versions of his brother - hehe!!! The banner is all kinds of cool, and you should stop being so hard on yourself. I could never do what you do, and your work never fails to delight and amaze me! This is top notch ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thankee kindly!

[jdl71.livejournal.com]

Awesome art!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Cheers, me dear!

[laughablelament]

Even now I can't quit staring at these. I mean... SWEATER VEST. It's too much. ^_^ Some of the most fun I ever had, playing in your sandbox. Thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us! ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

hee hee! I actually hate tank tops (aka sweater vests), I associate them with Young Conservatives... Luckily Dean Smith is totally Unlike a Young conservative, especially how you've written him!! *fans self*

Thanks for choosing my art to write for!

[dancing-adrift.livejournal.com]

Omg, such a great initial prompt. Kind of reminds me of that dual Spider-Man meme, if you know the one I mean. And your Deans are gorgeous! Great job making the distinctions between Winchester and Smith, too. And what a fun banner! I like the IDs. Awesome art set for a sweet collab between two amazing creators! ❤❤

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks bunches! ♥

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

Lovely Deans! I like the way one is essentially just a little darker and a little rougher, with the facial hair. It really makes a big difference!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Hee IKR? I used the same picture and just essentially darkened it, added stubble and got rid of Dean Smith's highlighted hair. But weirdly, the Winchester version also looks plumper. Must be all the burgers. LOL!

Edition 4,490

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User waterofthemoon referenced to your post from Edition 4,490 (https://spnnewsletter.livejournal.com/1121129.html) saying: [...] by with art Meet Cute? [...]

[red-b-rackham.livejournal.com]

OOOOOO *heart eyes*

These are so lovely!! I absolutely love the closeups - MATE THESE ARE AMAZING!! And the licensees look legit to me! XD Wonderful work as always. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks bunches!

[equally-dour.livejournal.com]

nice work!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Ammmmb, I love the Dean portraits ... *wolfwhistle*

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks but I still rather hate them LOL

[blindswandive.livejournal.com]

These are gorgeous! And I love sweater vest and kerchief Dean SO MUCH YOU HAVE NO IDEA!!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I don't think the kerchief featured in the end but Dean Smith was more a belt and braces kind of guy :D

[amypond45.livejournal.com]

Wow! Everything about this is so good! I loved this prompt when I first saw it, and am so delighted to see it got the treatment it deserved :) Your Deans are beautiful!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks me dear, I appreciate it!

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Oh, Amb, this is such a cool banner, I love it! All the elements make it perfectly whimsical*, which is emphasized by the funky fonts you chose. (*hope that's the right word;)

The prompt scene is excellent; I always love how you capture Dean's profile and the mirror idea gives us both his good sides, YES!

Love the portraits you made for the ID and driving license, the full size versions look great (I think the weirdness comes because the shading blends more in the smaller pictures, making his brows and the lines in his face look heavier than they are?) Oh my, his shiny pink lips, the soft haiiiiiiir and those darling elven ears. <3<3

Kudos for adding all the details to those cards; haha, the last minute do-over stress, yes, been there; good save!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yes the shading definitely does something to both faces when they are seen smaller - but never mind! It's all learning, right? :D

Thanks for all the kind words, including whimsical (which is a lovely word!)

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

When I reduce the size of images, it often helps to add an 'unsharp mask' filter to counter the effect of colours bleeding into each other. That may be worth exploring if you run into this issue again:)

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

i never would've guessed you cobbled the two licenses together from scratch. they look really good. and not just because they have dean on them, either. :D thank you for posting the closeups of his face, so we - and by we i mean me :D - can admire the freckles. both hims look really fantastic. also? sam's wtf?? face in the original prompt is priceless.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

ooh I nearly missed this lovely comment - thanks a bunch!

[meus_venator]

MWAHAHA, those fellers look mighty similar you askin' me.
What a fun art set. Well done!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D (And nice icon!)

[ellerkay.livejournal.com]

I love your initial prompt piece - it was one of the many I would have loved to pick if I could have written for every pieces of art I adored! It suggests so much and could have gone in so many different directions. Left-side Dean's stance is so dynamic, and the background is stunning; I love the walls and the shaft of light. The driver's licenses look fantastic, too. Thanks for sharing this wonderful art!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Eee it's great to know a prompt was appealing that way! Thanks so much!

[999alena.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous Deanery!!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Ta very much!