I feel like I'm straddling the fence between portrait and interpretation here. Fun, fun.
If you hadn't said so at SS, I'd never known this was your first attempt at this. With Buffy in particular I think you hit the nail on the head. With the comics I've learned to stop expecting/wanting exact likeness and now I look for artwork that captures the essence of her (which I still think is extremely hard to find - and why Levins' Buffy is my favorite so far) and you get that here.
I love seeing sketches so I'm very happy to see these - I think your final version is best; the middle one has a nice image of Spike but it doesn't work as well overall compositionally - it doesn't have the same emotional content. With the final version, the detail of Buffy looking at her bleeding finger makes it feel as though you're telling a story, that we're seeing a snippet of a narrative.
I'm intrigued with how you came up with the idea of the arrow piercing them both and that image of her looking at her finger.
Are the sketches done by hand or in the computer? I used to have the same prejudice as many people about traditional art vs computer drawn art - until I started doing graphics myself (nothing on this level) and started looking at Steve Morris' covers etc. The process is much the same, just the materials differ.
Thank you, I'm really glad you enjoy seeing the process. And thanks for the thorough comments, much appreciated. I also didn't much like the composition of my first sketch so I tried a few variations before finding something I liked enough to get on with the detailed drawing.
I usually intend my illustrations to tell a story, or voice an opinion, or something to that extent. That's where the fun lays. Here, I found it difficult as I think banners are supposed to be more generic than, say, a drawing for a particular piece of writing. It has to fit all the material that will be posted on the site, and represent the couple in a very general way. But I still wanted to do a little more than draw and juxtapose two portraits.
So, to answer your question, I decided to represent how I personally saw their relationship and... well it ain't fluffy. So I wanted there to be pain, some messiness and the the inevitable pull between them regardless of all that. Hence, the double-pointed arrow, ink stains, their facial expressions... The arrow represents that pull, pinning them together even as it's hurting them. Their acknowledgement of the object is the acknowledgement of the nature of their relationship, which is why I wanted them to interact with the arrow. But then I figured that Spike made peace with his feelings almost instantaneously and it wouldn't make sense for him to wonder or be surprised at them. He's hurt, he's in love, he's okay with it all. He's a seasoned love's bitch after all. Buffy, however... Also, the arrow sends back to the theme, "look both ways", pointing in both directions. So, visually, it worked. Ta-da : my thought process. Hope you expected the rambling :P
Everything was done digitally. I do both digital and traditional mediums, but use my tablet for quicker projects, whereas I pop open my paint cans for more personal or comprehensive work. The process is indeed similar, but they have a different feel to them, I find. I still prefer traditional, because I feel my digital illustrations still come out... colder, less vibrant and personal than painted or inked art. However, as many illustrators, like Steve Morris, prove, it is possible to achieve the same level and effect digitally. I'm still trying to figure out how. Working on it.
I usually intend my illustrations to tell a story, or voice an opinion, or something to that extent. That's where the fun lays. Here, I found it difficult as I think banners are supposed to be more generic than, say, a drawing for a particular piece of writing. It has to fit all the material that will be posted on the site, and represent the couple in a very general way. But I still wanted to do a little more than draw and juxtapose two portraits.
Yes indeed! That's a very good point because the composition for a fic poster will usually pop into my head and the final design often ends up being pretty close to my first concepts because it's guided by the story; "generic" banners as you say are more of a challenge because I'm also having to provide the "story" - but what is the story? How I envision Buffy and Spike, which is different to most of fandom's vision, I think, but in such a way that it's pleasing to the general audience as well.
It's not just a matter of pleasing one author anymore, but you can't ask that audience for feedback beforehand!
well it ain't fluffy.
Oh absolutely not (although I admit I'm as quick as anyone to squee over Levin's drawings in the comics of them kissing or hugging.)
But then I figured that Spike made peace with his feelings almost instantaneously and it wouldn't make sense for him to wonder or be surprised at them. He's hurt, he's in love, he's okay with it all.
Agree to disagree a little bit? If we believe the S5 retcon that he'd been in love with her since he saw her, then it took him an awful long time to come around to the notion, hardly "instantaneously". Dru calls him out on this in the flashback in FFL. And even if we don't go with the retcon, he was horrified when he realized he was in love with her at first. Part of his acceptance had to do with not having anyone else in his life at the time (unlike Buffy). Love's bitch (victim) indeed.
But agree that Buffy is another story entirely....
Hope you expected the rambling :P
Yes, I love it!
I still prefer traditional, because I feel my digital illustrations still come out... colder, less vibrant and personal than painted or inked art.
I had assumed it was hand-drawn/painted. And I've been studying art since I was a little girl and my sweetie of almost 20 years is a painter, so you had me fooled; I didn't find it cold at all. Brava!
I'm still trying to figure out how. Working on it.
You're right, "instantaneously" hardly seems correct. I admit that I was oversimplifying their history, and painting my vision with a broad stroke, rather than diving into the details and complexities of the relationship. I wouldn't even say "he's okay with it all" really. Vamp's got issues. At best, "okay" should be replaced with "resigned"..? I guess I just see him as being generally more honest with himself about his feelings, embracing them faster and fuller than some characters. And then acting on them, in good ways or bad. Or maybe that's just my perception, feel free to prove me wrong again :P
And thank you very much, that is one generous dose of compliments. I really hope not to disappoint in the future.
At best, "okay" should be replaced with "resigned"..?
I can swing with that!
I think he believes he knows himself and others better than he thinks he does. He's sort of like Xander, "I'm all insightful guy" - and like Xander he's frequently wrong, depending how much of a stake he has in the situation. (Both of them make judgements about the women they claim to love that are very much tied into their own egos and sense of self-worth.)
He can correctly assess Willow's pain in S4, or Tara's situation in Family because he actually, fanon aside, doesn't care all that much about them - he's not "in love" with either of them. He has no personal stake in either situation. And Xander he outright dislikes (although I think they're like brothers who dislike each other on the surface but secretly respect one another underneath) so he usually pegs Xander pretty accurately.
The closer things hit to home, or the more of a stake he has in something (keeping Drusilla at his side, trying to convince Buffy to be his lover), the more likely he is to see things through a skewed lens. F.ex. we know his descriptions of the other Slayers he killed are wrong - they had familial ties, and we never once see Nikki beg for mercy or give up, she fought to the very end. But he has a stake in how their deaths are perceived because it's part of his "Legend" that he's building for himself, and part of convincing Buffy that she has a death wish because all Slayers do, it's unavoidable - so she might as well give herself up to it (i.e. to him).
And then when she actually does - we get The Gift, and the painful self-loathing of S6, and even the First wearing Buffy's face in S7. Oh be careful what you wish for, Spike.
But then there's Touched, when he's absolutely spot on all the way. Not just in the scene with Buffy (I actually am uncomfortable with his "in 100 years there is only one thing I've been sure of" because that totally eliminates Drusilla IMO). But the scene in the kitchen with the Scoobies I might love even more because it's a total verbal smack-down, he's right all the way, and people defending Buffy Summers is a thing with me. I just want to pet him for that and give him a blooming onion. :D
Gosh those two kids are complicated aren't they? It's hard to talk about them sometimes because we all have such different interpretations so I sometimes shy away from doing so but i do enjoy civil conversation!
If you hadn't said so at SS, I'd never known this was your first attempt at this. With Buffy in particular I think you hit the nail on the head. With the comics I've learned to stop expecting/wanting exact likeness and now I look for artwork that captures the essence of her (which I still think is extremely hard to find - and why Levins' Buffy is my favorite so far) and you get that here.
I love seeing sketches so I'm very happy to see these - I think your final version is best; the middle one has a nice image of Spike but it doesn't work as well overall compositionally - it doesn't have the same emotional content. With the final version, the detail of Buffy looking at her bleeding finger makes it feel as though you're telling a story, that we're seeing a snippet of a narrative.
I'm intrigued with how you came up with the idea of the arrow piercing them both and that image of her looking at her finger.
Are the sketches done by hand or in the computer? I used to have the same prejudice as many people about traditional art vs computer drawn art - until I started doing graphics myself (nothing on this level) and started looking at Steve Morris' covers etc. The process is much the same, just the materials differ.
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I usually intend my illustrations to tell a story, or voice an opinion, or something to that extent. That's where the fun lays. Here, I found it difficult as I think banners are supposed to be more generic than, say, a drawing for a particular piece of writing. It has to fit all the material that will be posted on the site, and represent the couple in a very general way. But I still wanted to do a little more than draw and juxtapose two portraits.
So, to answer your question, I decided to represent how I personally saw their relationship and... well it ain't fluffy. So I wanted there to be pain, some messiness and the the inevitable pull between them regardless of all that. Hence, the double-pointed arrow, ink stains, their facial expressions... The arrow represents that pull, pinning them together even as it's hurting them. Their acknowledgement of the object is the acknowledgement of the nature of their relationship, which is why I wanted them to interact with the arrow. But then I figured that Spike made peace with his feelings almost instantaneously and it wouldn't make sense for him to wonder or be surprised at them. He's hurt, he's in love, he's okay with it all. He's a seasoned love's bitch after all. Buffy, however... Also, the arrow sends back to the theme, "look both ways", pointing in both directions. So, visually, it worked. Ta-da : my thought process. Hope you expected the rambling :P
Everything was done digitally. I do both digital and traditional mediums, but use my tablet for quicker projects, whereas I pop open my paint cans for more personal or comprehensive work. The process is indeed similar, but they have a different feel to them, I find. I still prefer traditional, because I feel my digital illustrations still come out... colder, less vibrant and personal than painted or inked art. However, as many illustrators, like Steve Morris, prove, it is possible to achieve the same level and effect digitally. I'm still trying to figure out how. Working on it.
Reply
Yes indeed! That's a very good point because the composition for a fic poster will usually pop into my head and the final design often ends up being pretty close to my first concepts because it's guided by the story; "generic" banners as you say are more of a challenge because I'm also having to provide the "story" - but what is the story? How I envision Buffy and Spike, which is different to most of fandom's vision, I think, but in such a way that it's pleasing to the general audience as well.
It's not just a matter of pleasing one author anymore, but you can't ask that audience for feedback beforehand!
well it ain't fluffy.
Oh absolutely not (although I admit I'm as quick as anyone to squee over Levin's drawings in the comics of them kissing or hugging.)
But then I figured that Spike made peace with his feelings almost instantaneously and it wouldn't make sense for him to wonder or be surprised at them. He's hurt, he's in love, he's okay with it all.
Agree to disagree a little bit? If we believe the S5 retcon that he'd been in love with her since he saw her, then it took him an awful long time to come around to the notion, hardly "instantaneously". Dru calls him out on this in the flashback in FFL. And even if we don't go with the retcon, he was horrified when he realized he was in love with her at first. Part of his acceptance had to do with not having anyone else in his life at the time (unlike Buffy). Love's bitch (victim) indeed.
But agree that Buffy is another story entirely....
Hope you expected the rambling :P
Yes, I love it!
I still prefer traditional, because I feel my digital illustrations still come out... colder, less vibrant and personal than painted or inked art.
I had assumed it was hand-drawn/painted. And I've been studying art since I was a little girl and my sweetie of almost 20 years is a painter, so you had me fooled; I didn't find it cold at all. Brava!
I'm still trying to figure out how. Working on it.
I think you achieved it in this piece. :D
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And thank you very much, that is one generous dose of compliments. I really hope not to disappoint in the future.
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I can swing with that!
I think he believes he knows himself and others better than he thinks he does. He's sort of like Xander, "I'm all insightful guy" - and like Xander he's frequently wrong, depending how much of a stake he has in the situation. (Both of them make judgements about the women they claim to love that are very much tied into their own egos and sense of self-worth.)
He can correctly assess Willow's pain in S4, or Tara's situation in Family because he actually, fanon aside, doesn't care all that much about them - he's not "in love" with either of them. He has no personal stake in either situation. And Xander he outright dislikes (although I think they're like brothers who dislike each other on the surface but secretly respect one another underneath) so he usually pegs Xander pretty accurately.
The closer things hit to home, or the more of a stake he has in something (keeping Drusilla at his side, trying to convince Buffy to be his lover), the more likely he is to see things through a skewed lens. F.ex. we know his descriptions of the other Slayers he killed are wrong - they had familial ties, and we never once see Nikki beg for mercy or give up, she fought to the very end. But he has a stake in how their deaths are perceived because it's part of his "Legend" that he's building for himself, and part of convincing Buffy that she has a death wish because all Slayers do, it's unavoidable - so she might as well give herself up to it (i.e. to him).
And then when she actually does - we get The Gift, and the painful self-loathing of S6, and even the First wearing Buffy's face in S7. Oh be careful what you wish for, Spike.
But then there's Touched, when he's absolutely spot on all the way. Not just in the scene with Buffy (I actually am uncomfortable with his "in 100 years there is only one thing I've been sure of" because that totally eliminates Drusilla IMO). But the scene in the kitchen with the Scoobies I might love even more because it's a total verbal smack-down, he's right all the way, and people defending Buffy Summers is a thing with me. I just want to pet him for that and give him a blooming onion. :D
Gosh those two kids are complicated aren't they? It's hard to talk about them sometimes because we all have such different interpretations so I sometimes shy away from doing so but i do enjoy civil conversation!
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