SPN_J2 BB Art Masterpost for Caranfindel

[amberdreams]

Guys! I was so lucky this year to get two wonderful authors! Woot!
The first of my two spn_j2_bigbang  arts this year is for caranfindel . Without further ado...the banner!

Story link HERE!

We drew an early posting date, and due to holidays, conventions, elephant painting, and having signed up for too many challenges, I ran out of time mega fast. So sadly, I only managed one illustration in addition to the banner. I had a bunch of scenes I'd have liked to have done.
I also had to colour the banner digitally to get it done in time, which I was sad about. But not to worry, at least I didn't bail.
Here's the scene

The painting actually looks a bit better in real life than the scanned version here, but that's just how the cookie crumbles. I'm not happy with Dean's face, and Sam's body went a bit awry, but overall I'm pleased with it.

Bonus dividers




Process
No mysteries here. I drew both the banner and the scene in pencil first then inked outlines with a fine waterproof gel pen. I then painted the scene using watercolours and watercolour pencils, and as I mentioned already, I coloured the banner in Photoshop. The background for the banner is actually one I created yonks ago using a circus poster tutorial on Blue Lightning TV.
And that's it!
Here are the two inked drawings prior to colouring.

Comments

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

{smooches} I love the way the colored beach art turned out, and of course I’ve already squealed to you about skeletal Minnie and the symbolism of broken Sam. Good stuff! Thank you so much for plucking my fic from the reject pile! :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

*Smooches back*
And thank YOU! I was lucky nobody had snatched you up and thus gave me a chance to play with your wonderfully angsty gen fic. Robo/Soulless Sam is one of my all time fave Sams...and I just realised I need to take this comment over to the fic!

[bflyw.livejournal.com]

They look awesome! Well done! :-)
You might now like that you've colored the banner digitally, but it really looks great!
I understand what you mean about the early date. I have just opened my art post (postig date tomorrow, but it's after midnight....), and I didn't have time to make half of what I really wanted.
Great delivered on your first bigbang though, and I can't wait to see what you make for the second one.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Eee looking forward to your posting today! And thank you!!

[novakev.livejournal.com]

Very cool!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[madbadandplaid.livejournal.com]

I dig that you embraced the Disney, and I LOVE the detail on Sam's pillar. That really took it from "Awwwwww" to "HOW DARE YOU 😍"

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

heh, menacing Disney had to be done! LOL
Thank you for noticing the broken Sam. ♥

[harrigan.livejournal.com]

Leave it to you to make Disneyworld visibly creepy! And I love wet, nearly naked Sam and every single thing about Dean!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I loved coming up with ways to subvert Disney... LOL! Thanks bunches!

[missyjack.livejournal.com]

I love the beach scene and the Disneyworld pic is pure creepy genius!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Hee creepy genius - thank you very much!

[red-b-rackham.livejournal.com]

Oh man - gorgeous style, gorgeous art as always!! <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks very much!

[fireheart13.livejournal.com]

just a beautiful pic of the boys!!!! ANd the whole Mouse & Skeleton art???? Fantastic!!! So playful yet bizarre LOL! You done good, bb!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you - playful yet bizarre is the exact vibe I was going for so YAY!

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

That skeletal Mickey might haunt my dreams! ♥ I love this.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I hope not! Meep!!
Thank you!

[equally-dour.livejournal.com]

very nice work!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

the banner is both cute and creepy (i mean, skeleton minnie! the crack in sam's pillar!) and i really like it. and personally i think dean looks good in the scene. he looks very pensive. i gotta say, tho, i think my favorite thing in the scene is the sky. it's very pretty and a little ominous.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Why thankee kindly!

[phoenix1966]

It's already been said but bears much repeating: great work on that Disney/banner entrance. From the skeletal figure (making me think of Disney's 1929 "The Skeleton Dance" to Sam's cracked pillar. And Sam and Dean on the beach is always a welcome sight.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I hadn't thought about that old Disney dance, but now I'm wondering if that was at the back of my mind somewhere, tucked away.
Thanks!

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Heehee, that storybanner made me giggle, I adore the Minnie Mouse skeleton!
Hot dayum, Sam getting out of the water, what a delicious scene. I'm also in awe of Dean's hand, you captured that perfectly. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! Hands are hard so it's great to know I got that right!

[blindswandive.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeek the Disney banner is so creepy and macabre! That cheerful little skeleton! o.o And someone else mentioned the crack in Sam's pillar, which is just so ominous, especially in the midst of the cheery "Happiest Place on Earth." (You were totally spot on with the Disney lettering, too.) Fantastic.

And I adore the picture of them on the beach. Your watercolor skies always blow me away completely; this one is somehow moody and lovely, and that warm sunset light on them is beautiful (especially Sam's golden tan and the red coming out in Dean's hair <3 ).

So cool to hear about the process--I was wondering what you used to get those beautiful, crisp black outlines in the watercolor without bleeding.

Also I think I mentioned in discord, but Dean's hand and freckles are making me live, they're amazing. I'll definitely check out the story!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Heh, most of that sky is purely accidental LOL - but thankee kindly! I'm very happy you noticed the Disney lettering!

[crzymm3.livejournal.com]

You do great work on crunched time. Loved it all.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Looks like I'm not so great at responding promptly though... :D

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Oh much love for this delightful art!!! Robo!Sam is a fav of mine and I especially love how you captured him coming out of the ocean, and gorgeous Dean with his beer. Such a perfect collab ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank yooooooooou! *tackle hug*