Art: Fifty Shades of Fae (WIP)
Title: "Fifty Shades of Fae" (Artwork for The Dizzy Heights of This Dreamed of World)
FIC: LJ | AO3
ART MASTERPOST: LJ
Author: akintay (whispered_story on AO3)
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: G (for art; fic is NC-17)
Medium: Corel Painter Essentials 5
Artist's Note: Created as part of the 2016 spn_j2_bigbang challenge.
One of the aspects of this story that appealed to me right away was the Harry Potter vibes I got from the 'Artist's Summary' when it came time for artists to claim fic. A baby deposited on a doorstep to be cared for by an adoptive family? A child that grows up only to have a stranger reveal that they aren't quite as normal as they'd always thought? Yeah, that says HP to me, lol. And as soon as I read the first line of the fic - "On July 31st, in the early hours of the morning, a willow basket is placed on the porch of the Padaleckis' home." - and the date just *happened* to be Harry's birthday, I couldn't help but take inspiration from one of my favorite book series.
I know there are probably a million different editions of the printed books by now, but the version I grew up reading is where I found my inspiration for the art for this fic. At the beginning of each chapter is a little black and white drawing depicting something that happens in that section (you can check out some of that art here). So, naturally, I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be cool if I did something like that for each section of this fic?" So that's what I started doing. What I didn't quite realize at the time was that there were *fifty* sections of varying lengths in this story. Of course, I'd already started doing art for each and every one (rookie mistake, we'll call it), and I was determined to move forward with my initial goal.
As of this posting, I have created drawings for exactly half of the sections of the fic, all of which I will share below, along with my notes on them (because I'm evil like that, and I like to talk about myself XP). I dearly loved this beautiful story that akintay wrote, so I would love to someday complete the set. If I do, I will post an update, and the remaining art will be added to this post. Until then, please enjoy my Fifty[ish] Shades of Fae!
Oh, and real quick: while the art itself isn't really all that spoilery, my notes very well may be. So you should *definitely* read the fic first ( LJ | AO3) if you haven't already! ♥
1. Baby in a Basket
"On July 31st, in the early hours of the morning, a willow basket is placed on the porch of the Padaleckis' home. Inside the basket lies an infant, only a couple of weeks old, wrapped up in a warm dark green blanket. There are small stitches on it-sigils for protection that neither Mr. nor Mrs. Padalecki will recognize for what they are. A note pinned to the basket simply states: Please take good care of our baby boy."
Most of these drawings were done in order, so you'll sort of be able to see how my 'skills' progressed as I went (I've only had my art tablet for about a month now, and Corel just as long, so this whole experience was very much a learning process. For example: that blanket would have been SO MUCH easier on my hand if I'd thought to use the 'fill' tool. *derp*).
2. Sweet/Strange Dreams
"The only thing not quite normal about Jared are his dreams. Or his dream, singular, because he has a similar one every single night. In it, Jared is running down lush green hills, across fields with beautiful flowers. There's a forest with trees that are taller than any Jared has ever seen in real life, and when the wind rustles through the leaves it almost sounds like music, like bells tinkling. There's a stream, the water gurgling peacefully as it flows over stones and sand. The air shimmers beautifully, like there's a touch of magic everywhere, and everything is basked in hazy, golden sunlight."
Here's a young Jared dreaming. He doesn't yet know that his dream world is actually his birthplace - his true home-, the fae realm.
Also: I decided that a young, 'normal' boy the age that Jared is in this pic wouldn't wear just any plain ol' pjs to bed, so I gave him something subtlely Marvel to wear. Guess Jared is #TeamCap ;)
3. A Voice on the Meadow
"Over the next few months, the presence gets stronger. Most nights Jared is still alone, but about once or twice a week now he feels like there's another person in his dreams. The feeling never lasts long, like little glimpses of someone else, but over time it starts to linger. First a few seconds, then sometimes a minute or two.
And then, the summer between Jared's freshman and sophomore year of college, he hears a voice for the first time. "Where are you?" it asks."
Lol - my original idea for the main banner would have shown Jared in the fae realm (as he is in this drawing); the concept necessitated him being shirtless (to show off the mark that we later learn is located on his left shoulder blade), which led me to formulate the headcanon that whenever Jared entered the fae realm through his dreams, he would appear in whatever clothing (or lack thereof) that he went to sleep in. I think there's a section later in the fic that might disagree with my theory, however. :shrugs: Anyhoo, that banner idea was scrapped due to over-complexity, and so that headcanon, while perhaps fun/interesting, is no longer really relevant.
Also, this is the first doodle where I made use of one of the blending brushes.
4. Dream Interpreter
Yay, I figured out how to take advantage of the fill tool! Also, I believe this is the first pic where I employed tracing, though I set up the original picture myself with one of our xbox controllers, some old books from college, and a beer can XP. The text on the books and the detail of the Coke can were probably the most challenging parts of this piece.
5. California Dreamin'
""Man, I wish California beaches were just like this," he whispers to himself, and tries to draw a star next.
"So is that where you are?""
Can't you just picture Jensen - he *finally* has a clue as to where his soulmate is, and it's in one of the largest freaking states in the whole country? He'd be happy to have a lead, but he'd still be cranky about it - "Why couldn't it have been Rhode Island or something??" XP (I heart grumpy!Jensen, ftr, lol.)
Also, I have to laugh, because I just noticed - "[he] tries to draw a star next." Stars *absolutely* became a theme in my drawings (though it wasn't really a conscious thing until after the coffee cup drawing - #10 - thanks to gluedwithgold's insistence ;)), though I usually tried to keep them from being too obvious if they weren't directly tied to something from the fae realm. It's *almost* like my own version of "Where's Waldo" - ha, or when you try to find a star on the wrapper of your Tootsie Pop ;) lol.
6. Dreams (aka 'The Shortest Section of the Entire Fic')
This doodle was supposed to be the 'generic divider' for the sections for which I couldn't think of anything to draw, but... yeah, that didn't happen, lol.
7. A Familiar Stranger
"The weirdest part, though, is that even though he's so far away, Jared sees a flash of green eyes. Well, not really sees it, it's more like he knows, beyond a doubt, the exact color of this guy's eyes."
*happy sigh* This is my favorite piece of all the art that I made for this fic. Just looking at it, it's probably easy to guess why - HIS EYES ARE SO DAMN PRETTY - but it's also because I did this completely free-hand (with a reference, of course - I'm not *that* good, lol). I don't mean to dis tracing, because it is an absolutely legit and sometimes necessary method (especially when one decides to undertake fifty drawings in one month *side-eyes self*), but I still can't help feeling an extra dose of pride when I create something without the extra help and it turns out so well. Seriously, I could stare at this drawing all day. *swoons*
8. Not Your Usual Pizza Man / Jensen's Mark
"Jensen pulls back the sleeve of his jacket. There's nothing there but smooth, pale skin but then Jensen skims his fingers over the inside of his wrist and his skin starts to shimmer, to glow blue-white. A mark that looks like a flower, like petals twisted together and swirling around to form an intricate design, appears."
This description of Jensen's fae mark made me think of the suns that Rapunzel (in 'Tangled') subconsciously painted into the murals inside her tower. Though I didn't use that design as a direct reference, it was definitely an influence when I was trying to decide how Jensen's mark would look.
Variant:
I hemmed and hawed for SO LONG over which version of this drawing should be the main one. Even now, I'm still pretty torn between the two. (Mainly because I'm *really* pleased with how that second hand turned out, lol.)
9. "Yer a [fae], [Jared]." / Abandoned Pizza
*really, really hopes you read that title in Hagrid's voice*
This is another tiny section hardly long enough to warrant its own doodle, but I gave it one anyway because of another headcanon I had. In the previous section, Jared ordered a pizza... but then, Jensen showed up - interrupting not only Jared's night, but pretty much his entire life - and then we never heard about the pizza again. So it was my headcanon that the delivery guy just left the pizza at Jared's door (because he and Jensen would have been too distracted by their life-altering conversation to hear the knocking), and by the time Jared found it, he was too distraught to eat any of it. So, kind of sad, really, because... abandoned pizza, man. That just ain't right! ;)
10. It's a Date / The Hero Gets the Girl... ?
Variants:
11. Dinner and a Movie... and More
12. Sandy / Let's Get It On
[13. The Man of His Dreams]
This is the first section where I really had to face my hatred for drawing Jensen's face from far away; I do have ideas for a drawing for this section - even started one, but for now it remains a WIP.
[14. Pro Cereal Pourer]
Another WIP that did not get finished by posting day. To feature Lucky Charms, because that's the most fae-adjacent cereal I could think of XP
[15. "Next Saturday, 2pm" (aka 'The Second Shortest Section of the Entire Fic')]
This one might not get art... but it also might, lol. Depends on how stubborn I get about goal completion ;)
16. Waiting
17. Fight Training / Jensen's Human Home
[18. Motorcycle Ride]
19. To Gay or Not to Gay? That Is the Question.
20. The Lies We Tell Ourselves / Concepts of Home
21. Just Someone I Know
22. Jeff / Have You Seen the One Whom My Soul Loves?
23. Dinner with Danneel / Fate Makes Pawns of Us All
By the point I drew this, I was really starting to feel the time crunch. This piece, therefore, is actually a *much* simpler version than the frankly quite epic idea I'd had in mind. If I ever get the chance, I'd like to attempt my original idea, because, really - epic, I tell you! XP
24. Chad / Chatting Over Cherry Coke
[25. Stranger Danger]
[26. Where Have You Been?]
[27. Halloween Confession]
[28. In Heaven There Is No Beer]
29. I'll Make a Fae Out of You / First Kiss
This is the doodle that almost wasn't. I'd gotten a good start on it when I belatedly remembered to save it... and then Corel crashed on me and I lost all my progress. It was a terrifying time. Thankfully, I managed to determine where the program seemed to be having the issue and I found a way around it. So, yay! *phew!*
30. A Fae-er, Bubbly-er Jared
[31. Ice Cream and Beer]
[32. "Our Little Miracle"]
[33. The Best Christmas Gift Ever]
34. Happy New Year, Jensen
[35. A Tale of Two Kisses]
[36. The First Cut Is the Deepest]
37. Hot Blooded
[38. Love Is a Two-way Street]
[39. I Could While Away the Hours, Watering the Flowers]
[40. Jared's Sexual Epiphany]
[and now, the section of the fic that is woefully empty of art, with one exception...]
[41. It Feels Like the First Time! (Because It Is)]
[42. Chad Protects Jared’s Honor]
[43. “This Is Where I Teach You…” [To Ride Motorcycle]]
[44. “I’ll Take You Home with Me.”]
45. Genevieve, Bearer of Bad News
[46. “Never Going To Let Anything Happen To You.”]
[47. Best Friend, Meet My Betrothed]
[48. A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing]
[49. Special Powers, Stronger Than You Think]
[50. Summer Plans for a Happy Ending]
So. There you have it. I hope you enjoyed everything that I've already completed, and - should I ever add more art for this fic - I hope you will return with me to this beautiful world! Thank you for coming this far with me! <3
FIC: LJ | AO3
ART MASTERPOST: LJ
Author: akintay (whispered_story on AO3)
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: G (for art; fic is NC-17)
Medium: Corel Painter Essentials 5
Artist's Note: Created as part of the 2016 spn_j2_bigbang challenge.
One of the aspects of this story that appealed to me right away was the Harry Potter vibes I got from the 'Artist's Summary' when it came time for artists to claim fic. A baby deposited on a doorstep to be cared for by an adoptive family? A child that grows up only to have a stranger reveal that they aren't quite as normal as they'd always thought? Yeah, that says HP to me, lol. And as soon as I read the first line of the fic - "On July 31st, in the early hours of the morning, a willow basket is placed on the porch of the Padaleckis' home." - and the date just *happened* to be Harry's birthday, I couldn't help but take inspiration from one of my favorite book series.
I know there are probably a million different editions of the printed books by now, but the version I grew up reading is where I found my inspiration for the art for this fic. At the beginning of each chapter is a little black and white drawing depicting something that happens in that section (you can check out some of that art here). So, naturally, I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be cool if I did something like that for each section of this fic?" So that's what I started doing. What I didn't quite realize at the time was that there were *fifty* sections of varying lengths in this story. Of course, I'd already started doing art for each and every one (rookie mistake, we'll call it), and I was determined to move forward with my initial goal.
As of this posting, I have created drawings for exactly half of the sections of the fic, all of which I will share below, along with my notes on them (because I'm evil like that, and I like to talk about myself XP). I dearly loved this beautiful story that akintay wrote, so I would love to someday complete the set. If I do, I will post an update, and the remaining art will be added to this post. Until then, please enjoy my Fifty[ish] Shades of Fae!
Oh, and real quick: while the art itself isn't really all that spoilery, my notes very well may be. So you should *definitely* read the fic first ( LJ | AO3) if you haven't already! ♥
1. Baby in a Basket
"On July 31st, in the early hours of the morning, a willow basket is placed on the porch of the Padaleckis' home. Inside the basket lies an infant, only a couple of weeks old, wrapped up in a warm dark green blanket. There are small stitches on it-sigils for protection that neither Mr. nor Mrs. Padalecki will recognize for what they are. A note pinned to the basket simply states: Please take good care of our baby boy."
Most of these drawings were done in order, so you'll sort of be able to see how my 'skills' progressed as I went (I've only had my art tablet for about a month now, and Corel just as long, so this whole experience was very much a learning process. For example: that blanket would have been SO MUCH easier on my hand if I'd thought to use the 'fill' tool. *derp*).
2. Sweet/Strange Dreams
"The only thing not quite normal about Jared are his dreams. Or his dream, singular, because he has a similar one every single night. In it, Jared is running down lush green hills, across fields with beautiful flowers. There's a forest with trees that are taller than any Jared has ever seen in real life, and when the wind rustles through the leaves it almost sounds like music, like bells tinkling. There's a stream, the water gurgling peacefully as it flows over stones and sand. The air shimmers beautifully, like there's a touch of magic everywhere, and everything is basked in hazy, golden sunlight."
Here's a young Jared dreaming. He doesn't yet know that his dream world is actually his birthplace - his true home-, the fae realm.
Also: I decided that a young, 'normal' boy the age that Jared is in this pic wouldn't wear just any plain ol' pjs to bed, so I gave him something subtlely Marvel to wear. Guess Jared is #TeamCap ;)
3. A Voice on the Meadow
"Over the next few months, the presence gets stronger. Most nights Jared is still alone, but about once or twice a week now he feels like there's another person in his dreams. The feeling never lasts long, like little glimpses of someone else, but over time it starts to linger. First a few seconds, then sometimes a minute or two.
And then, the summer between Jared's freshman and sophomore year of college, he hears a voice for the first time. "Where are you?" it asks."
Lol - my original idea for the main banner would have shown Jared in the fae realm (as he is in this drawing); the concept necessitated him being shirtless (to show off the mark that we later learn is located on his left shoulder blade), which led me to formulate the headcanon that whenever Jared entered the fae realm through his dreams, he would appear in whatever clothing (or lack thereof) that he went to sleep in. I think there's a section later in the fic that might disagree with my theory, however. :shrugs: Anyhoo, that banner idea was scrapped due to over-complexity, and so that headcanon, while perhaps fun/interesting, is no longer really relevant.
Also, this is the first doodle where I made use of one of the blending brushes.
4. Dream Interpreter
Yay, I figured out how to take advantage of the fill tool! Also, I believe this is the first pic where I employed tracing, though I set up the original picture myself with one of our xbox controllers, some old books from college, and a beer can XP. The text on the books and the detail of the Coke can were probably the most challenging parts of this piece.
5. California Dreamin'
""Man, I wish California beaches were just like this," he whispers to himself, and tries to draw a star next.
"So is that where you are?""
Can't you just picture Jensen - he *finally* has a clue as to where his soulmate is, and it's in one of the largest freaking states in the whole country? He'd be happy to have a lead, but he'd still be cranky about it - "Why couldn't it have been Rhode Island or something??" XP (I heart grumpy!Jensen, ftr, lol.)
Also, I have to laugh, because I just noticed - "[he] tries to draw a star next." Stars *absolutely* became a theme in my drawings (though it wasn't really a conscious thing until after the coffee cup drawing - #10 - thanks to gluedwithgold's insistence ;)), though I usually tried to keep them from being too obvious if they weren't directly tied to something from the fae realm. It's *almost* like my own version of "Where's Waldo" - ha, or when you try to find a star on the wrapper of your Tootsie Pop ;) lol.
6. Dreams (aka 'The Shortest Section of the Entire Fic')
This doodle was supposed to be the 'generic divider' for the sections for which I couldn't think of anything to draw, but... yeah, that didn't happen, lol.
7. A Familiar Stranger
"The weirdest part, though, is that even though he's so far away, Jared sees a flash of green eyes. Well, not really sees it, it's more like he knows, beyond a doubt, the exact color of this guy's eyes."
*happy sigh* This is my favorite piece of all the art that I made for this fic. Just looking at it, it's probably easy to guess why - HIS EYES ARE SO DAMN PRETTY - but it's also because I did this completely free-hand (with a reference, of course - I'm not *that* good, lol). I don't mean to dis tracing, because it is an absolutely legit and sometimes necessary method (especially when one decides to undertake fifty drawings in one month *side-eyes self*), but I still can't help feeling an extra dose of pride when I create something without the extra help and it turns out so well. Seriously, I could stare at this drawing all day. *swoons*
8. Not Your Usual Pizza Man / Jensen's Mark
"Jensen pulls back the sleeve of his jacket. There's nothing there but smooth, pale skin but then Jensen skims his fingers over the inside of his wrist and his skin starts to shimmer, to glow blue-white. A mark that looks like a flower, like petals twisted together and swirling around to form an intricate design, appears."
This description of Jensen's fae mark made me think of the suns that Rapunzel (in 'Tangled') subconsciously painted into the murals inside her tower. Though I didn't use that design as a direct reference, it was definitely an influence when I was trying to decide how Jensen's mark would look.
Variant:
I hemmed and hawed for SO LONG over which version of this drawing should be the main one. Even now, I'm still pretty torn between the two. (Mainly because I'm *really* pleased with how that second hand turned out, lol.)
9. "Yer a [fae], [Jared]." / Abandoned Pizza
*really, really hopes you read that title in Hagrid's voice*
This is another tiny section hardly long enough to warrant its own doodle, but I gave it one anyway because of another headcanon I had. In the previous section, Jared ordered a pizza... but then, Jensen showed up - interrupting not only Jared's night, but pretty much his entire life - and then we never heard about the pizza again. So it was my headcanon that the delivery guy just left the pizza at Jared's door (because he and Jensen would have been too distracted by their life-altering conversation to hear the knocking), and by the time Jared found it, he was too distraught to eat any of it. So, kind of sad, really, because... abandoned pizza, man. That just ain't right! ;)
10. It's a Date / The Hero Gets the Girl... ?
Variants:
11. Dinner and a Movie... and More
12. Sandy / Let's Get It On
[13. The Man of His Dreams]
This is the first section where I really had to face my hatred for drawing Jensen's face from far away; I do have ideas for a drawing for this section - even started one, but for now it remains a WIP.
[14. Pro Cereal Pourer]
Another WIP that did not get finished by posting day. To feature Lucky Charms, because that's the most fae-adjacent cereal I could think of XP
[15. "Next Saturday, 2pm" (aka 'The Second Shortest Section of the Entire Fic')]
This one might not get art... but it also might, lol. Depends on how stubborn I get about goal completion ;)
16. Waiting
17. Fight Training / Jensen's Human Home
[18. Motorcycle Ride]
19. To Gay or Not to Gay? That Is the Question.
20. The Lies We Tell Ourselves / Concepts of Home
21. Just Someone I Know
22. Jeff / Have You Seen the One Whom My Soul Loves?
23. Dinner with Danneel / Fate Makes Pawns of Us All
By the point I drew this, I was really starting to feel the time crunch. This piece, therefore, is actually a *much* simpler version than the frankly quite epic idea I'd had in mind. If I ever get the chance, I'd like to attempt my original idea, because, really - epic, I tell you! XP
24. Chad / Chatting Over Cherry Coke
[25. Stranger Danger]
[26. Where Have You Been?]
[27. Halloween Confession]
[28. In Heaven There Is No Beer]
29. I'll Make a Fae Out of You / First Kiss
This is the doodle that almost wasn't. I'd gotten a good start on it when I belatedly remembered to save it... and then Corel crashed on me and I lost all my progress. It was a terrifying time. Thankfully, I managed to determine where the program seemed to be having the issue and I found a way around it. So, yay! *phew!*
30. A Fae-er, Bubbly-er Jared
[31. Ice Cream and Beer]
[32. "Our Little Miracle"]
[33. The Best Christmas Gift Ever]
34. Happy New Year, Jensen
[35. A Tale of Two Kisses]
[36. The First Cut Is the Deepest]
37. Hot Blooded
[38. Love Is a Two-way Street]
[39. I Could While Away the Hours, Watering the Flowers]
[40. Jared's Sexual Epiphany]
[and now, the section of the fic that is woefully empty of art, with one exception...]
[41. It Feels Like the First Time! (Because It Is)]
[42. Chad Protects Jared’s Honor]
[43. “This Is Where I Teach You…” [To Ride Motorcycle]]
[44. “I’ll Take You Home with Me.”]
45. Genevieve, Bearer of Bad News
[46. “Never Going To Let Anything Happen To You.”]
[47. Best Friend, Meet My Betrothed]
[48. A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing]
[49. Special Powers, Stronger Than You Think]
[50. Summer Plans for a Happy Ending]
So. There you have it. I hope you enjoyed everything that I've already completed, and - should I ever add more art for this fic - I hope you will return with me to this beautiful world! Thank you for coming this far with me! <3