Summergen reveal - Art

[amberdreams]

Title: You want a better story. Who wouldn’t?
Creator: Amberdreams
Recipient: Tigerlilynoh
Rating: PG13
Word Count or Media: Traditional and digital art
Warnings: Could be seen as MCD, angst
Author's Notes: Words by Richard Siken, voicing thoughts in Castiel’s head, perhaps.

Summary: Everyone needs a place. It shouldn't be inside of someone else.
I turned my back on the story. A sense of superiority.
Everything casts a shadow.
Your body told me in a dream it's never been afraid of anything.

This was a large acrylic painting that didn't work terribly well on its own, so after photographing it and looking at it for a while, I made some adjustments in Photoshop, assisted be some really helpful feedback from quickreaver.

So some of the scratchy texturing is digital, and there's some digital painting in the lines.

Before I tried painting, I did a drawing using water soluable graphite. I'm including it here because it kind of reflects the prompt better than the painting does - in that tigerlilynoh mentioned Castiel protecting Sam with his wings. The feathers got a little lost in the painted version.

It's interesting how the atmosphere of each version is different (well I think so, anyway!)

Comments

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

I managed to get to only about a third of summergen pieces before reveals, but missing this one has the advantage that now I can see it along with the process pictures. I love both the painting and the drawing. You're right, they have very different atmospheres -- the painting is a lot more tense and anguished, the drawing is more sad and peaceful. They both have distinctive textures that go with their moods.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh you're in for a treat catching up with the rest of the posts - there were so many gorgeous Sam fics this year! And thank you for the nice comment about the art.

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

I love the black and white version. I think...I actually...prefer it. The characters' features seem more accurate and I definitely like the....softer...feel of the piece. Sam is still staring at whatever the threat is, but Castiel's focus is turned inward, totally intent on protecting Sam from the threat, trusting his wings to shield him. <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'm torn myself - I love working with colour, but the monochrome is more peaceful. Thank you!

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

i love the colors in the painting (and now that i know castiel's wings are supposed to be in there, i can see them around his head) but i think i like the black and white one better too. their faces are just so good, and it's softer and not as tense as the painting.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think art is like writing - sometimes the characters just have a mind of their own... :D