Fan art : Spn Tarot - The Strength (Dean Winchester)
Fan art : Spn Tarot - The Strength (Dean Winchester)
The full size version is available here : www.petite-madame.com/dessins/original/the-strength-supernatural-tarot-project.jpg
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What's the concept ?
About one month ago, I saw on the supernaturalart community a message from a LJ member, maiafire , asking some help to create a Tarot game based on the characters of Supernatural. What a brilliant idea !! I immediately said I was ok (tarot + Supernatural = epic win) and the lady contacted me soon after. I requested as a prompt The Strength in the Major Arcana category with Dean as a character and the mods accepted my request so...
If you want to know more about the Spn tarot project, just click on the banner below. You won't regret it ^^
Oh, it's a card ? What about the border and the scroll ? Tarot cards always have a border and a scroll
bt_kady , one of the mods of the project, added herself the border for each card, so here is the final result for The Strength. There is a different color for each suit so don't hesitate to check out the spn_tarot community page to see all the different versions.
Is it your one and only card for the project ?
Nope. I will work on more. For the moment, I've completed the Ace of Pentacles (Dean). I've just finished The Moon (Pamela Barnes) and hope to do more in the future (I have a new assignment : The Lovers with young John & Mary). I usually draw one fan art every two/three weeks (sometimes two simultaneously to vary a bit) so we still have the time ! I wish to draw cards with Sam, Castiel, the Trickster and if I can Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino. That guy fascinates me, I can't explain exactly why). To cut a long story short, there's more to come ^^ With the end of the season coming, I will certainly have new ideas. ;)
So, Dean is The Strentgh ?
Yep. I couldn't see another character to personify The Strength (even if in this season, Dean is little bit depressed but..whatever). Maybe Zachariah because he's pretty badass too but let's face the truth, I prefer Dean. Here is Dean during a day at the office having an argument with "a colleague". I tried to be close to the mythology of the show so : smoking guns, plaid shirt, monsters and motel corridors. Only the Impala's missing but a 5m long car in a motel corridor would be really too "supernatural", let's not exagerate... ;)
Hum the monsters are back...what the hell is that thing hanging on the celling ?
I don't have a clue. Something from the nearest lake I guess. What I am sure about however is that if you have that thing at home, the maid didn't do her job properly.
More seriously, this time I wanted something very organic, reptilian, with scales, something that could have come from the nearest dirty pond, ready to drown and eat people in their bathtub. It has to be dark green or brown to match the general color tones of the pic.
What is your inspiration for this illustration ?
I wanted to copy the atmosphere of video games like Silent hill or Resident Evil (and believe me I know what I am talking about when it comes to RE fan arts). Someone on the Spn_tarot community told me it looks like the game Fear. I've never heard about it but I trust this person. However, I wanted this picture to be funny too. Let's face the truth even if Dean is posing with his guns, even if the monster is pretty creepy, the way the thing explodes and gets dislocated by the gunshot provides a rather funny touch, I think. Or maybe I am completely nuts. ^^;;
Hey !! Dean doesn't have his ring!!!
I know, I forgot it. But let's just say that this "monster episode" is set in S5 where Dean doesn't wear his ring anymore (it vanished from one day to another, we don't even know why !)
Funniest thing to draw ?
The arm of the monster completely blown away by the gunshot. I was giggling like a 10 year old in from of my computer screen while drawing the blood ^^
Most boring ?
The plaid shirt. It's quite easy but that's not the most interesting thing to draw. It's repetitive. Check out below "Let's talk about technique" to know more.
LET'S TALK ABOUT TECHNIQUE
What software did you use ?
As usual, my favorite weapons : Photoshop CS and Painter Essential 3.
Tablet : Wacom Graphire 4
How long did it take you ?
About 25 hours for this one. Not really difficult but quite long particularly because of the set. An hotel corridor is rather boring because it's full of straight lines and obeys to strict rules when it comes to perspective.
What brushes did you use ?
Photoshop : It is maybe not visible on the image but there were a lot of predefined brushes that helped me create all the grunge and creepy textures of the walls, the blood, etc..I also used Photoshop default brushes such as the "basic brushes" or the "dry brushes". Here's a glimpse at the main brushes :
Painter : A little bit of everything for that one ! Acrylics, Digital Watercolors, Pastels, Chalks and even Color Pencils! Painter tools are fantastic so why not using them all ? ^o^
Dean's face is really detailed. How did you manage to obtain such a level of details on such a small image ?
It's because I worked on the face separately on a bigger document, exactly like I did with my Winchesters' Laundry Day. It's impossible to obtain such a level of details on such a small size picture so this is the one and only solution. Once it was finished I just added it with the "stamp tool" on the final picture.
I used as a reference image a still from Season I - Episode 9, Home, here : i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc27/petite_madame/LJ/-1-09-Home-Screencaps-supernatural-.jpg
If you want to know more about my drawing technique in details, check out the tutorial of one of my previous fan arts with Sam, Bad Omen.
How did you create the set ? It looks like chalk.
I really can thank Painter on that one. The "Pastel" and the "Chalk" tools are fantastic when it comes to create a set. However you have to add brushes from Photoshop to create a coherence : you just can't have on the foreground a character that is very "CG" and very detailed and a set drew as if it was a pastel from Degas on the background. Retouching the set after Painter is necessary.
Because Dean without a plaid shirt isn't Dean : creating the plaid pattern.
If you draw Supernatural fan arts yourself there is a thing you MUST know how to create with Photoshop : plaid shirts. It's easy and according to the pattern of the shirt it takes more or less time to complete. I will show you how to create something simple just with two layers set on "Multiply". Once you understand the principle you will be able to create something more complex.
First, something important : don't use a Photoshop predefined brush for that procedure. We are drawing a realistic fan art not an illustration for a poor quality shojo manga. What I mean is that, if you use a predefined brush and just click on the shirt, the pattern won't follow the movement of the fabric (= the body). It will give something flat and unrealistic. I used one of my own fan arts as an example so you can see what I mean :
No I mean...Seriously....^^;;
Dean isn't flat isn't it ? I mean, Jensen Ackles spends enough time at the gym so let's not make the poor guy's muscles vanish under a flat pattern.
Ok, enough with "don't", now let's create the pattern correctly :
First open two layers both set on "Multiply". As far as the opacity is concerned it depends on the color of the shirt, so just try and see what fits. Of course, the two layers must have the same level of opacity so that the plaid pattern looks uniform. For this drawing I used an opacity of maybe 40% but really it depends on you, the palette, the effect you want to obtain, etc..(However, on the example below, the opacity of the layers is 100% but the principle remains the same, it doesn't change anything)
Choose a brush in the "calligraphic brush" category and just start painting. Remember to follow the movements of the fabric it's important !!
Begin to draw the stripes on the first layer...
..then on the second. Flatten the image and that's it! Congratulations ^o^
Filters and textures
As usual they are very important particularly in this illustration. They will help to settle the creepy atmosphere of the scene. As you can see below, without them, the general setting isn't the same AT ALL, so don't hesitate. I desaturated the image just a bit, added a sepia filter (Image >> Adjustment >> Photo Filter), changed the colors thanks to the "color balance" tool (I added ""magenta and "blue"). Then, I used predefined brushes to add textures on the walls and the floor. I darkened the bottom of the image with the "burn tool" but also thanks to a "basic brush" set to multiply (30%, color : black). Finally, I used the "stamp tool" to add a texture I found on Deviant Art here
Don't forget the blood, it's essential ;)
Et voilà!!
That's all folks. See you soon ^^
Sorry about my horrible "frenglish" I hope it was understandable!
More questions ? DON'T HESITATE!!!
Just ask here on LJ or on FormSpring.me : http://www.formspring.me/PetiteMadame
FAN ART MASTER POST (Click Below)
The full size version is available here : www.petite-madame.com/dessins/original/the-strength-supernatural-tarot-project.jpg
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What's the concept ?
About one month ago, I saw on the supernaturalart community a message from a LJ member, maiafire , asking some help to create a Tarot game based on the characters of Supernatural. What a brilliant idea !! I immediately said I was ok (tarot + Supernatural = epic win) and the lady contacted me soon after. I requested as a prompt The Strength in the Major Arcana category with Dean as a character and the mods accepted my request so...
If you want to know more about the Spn tarot project, just click on the banner below. You won't regret it ^^
Oh, it's a card ? What about the border and the scroll ? Tarot cards always have a border and a scroll
bt_kady , one of the mods of the project, added herself the border for each card, so here is the final result for The Strength. There is a different color for each suit so don't hesitate to check out the spn_tarot community page to see all the different versions.
Is it your one and only card for the project ?
Nope. I will work on more. For the moment, I've completed the Ace of Pentacles (Dean). I've just finished The Moon (Pamela Barnes) and hope to do more in the future (I have a new assignment : The Lovers with young John & Mary). I usually draw one fan art every two/three weeks (sometimes two simultaneously to vary a bit) so we still have the time ! I wish to draw cards with Sam, Castiel, the Trickster and if I can Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino. That guy fascinates me, I can't explain exactly why). To cut a long story short, there's more to come ^^ With the end of the season coming, I will certainly have new ideas. ;)
So, Dean is The Strentgh ?
Yep. I couldn't see another character to personify The Strength (even if in this season, Dean is little bit depressed but..whatever). Maybe Zachariah because he's pretty badass too but let's face the truth, I prefer Dean. Here is Dean during a day at the office having an argument with "a colleague". I tried to be close to the mythology of the show so : smoking guns, plaid shirt, monsters and motel corridors. Only the Impala's missing but a 5m long car in a motel corridor would be really too "supernatural", let's not exagerate... ;)
Hum the monsters are back...what the hell is that thing hanging on the celling ?
I don't have a clue. Something from the nearest lake I guess. What I am sure about however is that if you have that thing at home, the maid didn't do her job properly.
More seriously, this time I wanted something very organic, reptilian, with scales, something that could have come from the nearest dirty pond, ready to drown and eat people in their bathtub. It has to be dark green or brown to match the general color tones of the pic.
What is your inspiration for this illustration ?
I wanted to copy the atmosphere of video games like Silent hill or Resident Evil (and believe me I know what I am talking about when it comes to RE fan arts). Someone on the Spn_tarot community told me it looks like the game Fear. I've never heard about it but I trust this person. However, I wanted this picture to be funny too. Let's face the truth even if Dean is posing with his guns, even if the monster is pretty creepy, the way the thing explodes and gets dislocated by the gunshot provides a rather funny touch, I think. Or maybe I am completely nuts. ^^;;
Hey !! Dean doesn't have his ring!!!
I know, I forgot it. But let's just say that this "monster episode" is set in S5 where Dean doesn't wear his ring anymore (it vanished from one day to another, we don't even know why !)
Funniest thing to draw ?
The arm of the monster completely blown away by the gunshot. I was giggling like a 10 year old in from of my computer screen while drawing the blood ^^
Most boring ?
The plaid shirt. It's quite easy but that's not the most interesting thing to draw. It's repetitive. Check out below "Let's talk about technique" to know more.
LET'S TALK ABOUT TECHNIQUE
What software did you use ?
As usual, my favorite weapons : Photoshop CS and Painter Essential 3.
Tablet : Wacom Graphire 4
How long did it take you ?
About 25 hours for this one. Not really difficult but quite long particularly because of the set. An hotel corridor is rather boring because it's full of straight lines and obeys to strict rules when it comes to perspective.
What brushes did you use ?
Photoshop : It is maybe not visible on the image but there were a lot of predefined brushes that helped me create all the grunge and creepy textures of the walls, the blood, etc..I also used Photoshop default brushes such as the "basic brushes" or the "dry brushes". Here's a glimpse at the main brushes :
Painter : A little bit of everything for that one ! Acrylics, Digital Watercolors, Pastels, Chalks and even Color Pencils! Painter tools are fantastic so why not using them all ? ^o^
Dean's face is really detailed. How did you manage to obtain such a level of details on such a small image ?
It's because I worked on the face separately on a bigger document, exactly like I did with my Winchesters' Laundry Day. It's impossible to obtain such a level of details on such a small size picture so this is the one and only solution. Once it was finished I just added it with the "stamp tool" on the final picture.
I used as a reference image a still from Season I - Episode 9, Home, here : i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc27/petite_madame/LJ/-1-09-Home-Screencaps-supernatural-.jpg
If you want to know more about my drawing technique in details, check out the tutorial of one of my previous fan arts with Sam, Bad Omen.
How did you create the set ? It looks like chalk.
I really can thank Painter on that one. The "Pastel" and the "Chalk" tools are fantastic when it comes to create a set. However you have to add brushes from Photoshop to create a coherence : you just can't have on the foreground a character that is very "CG" and very detailed and a set drew as if it was a pastel from Degas on the background. Retouching the set after Painter is necessary.
Because Dean without a plaid shirt isn't Dean : creating the plaid pattern.
If you draw Supernatural fan arts yourself there is a thing you MUST know how to create with Photoshop : plaid shirts. It's easy and according to the pattern of the shirt it takes more or less time to complete. I will show you how to create something simple just with two layers set on "Multiply". Once you understand the principle you will be able to create something more complex.
First, something important : don't use a Photoshop predefined brush for that procedure. We are drawing a realistic fan art not an illustration for a poor quality shojo manga. What I mean is that, if you use a predefined brush and just click on the shirt, the pattern won't follow the movement of the fabric (= the body). It will give something flat and unrealistic. I used one of my own fan arts as an example so you can see what I mean :
No I mean...Seriously....^^;;
Dean isn't flat isn't it ? I mean, Jensen Ackles spends enough time at the gym so let's not make the poor guy's muscles vanish under a flat pattern.
Ok, enough with "don't", now let's create the pattern correctly :
First open two layers both set on "Multiply". As far as the opacity is concerned it depends on the color of the shirt, so just try and see what fits. Of course, the two layers must have the same level of opacity so that the plaid pattern looks uniform. For this drawing I used an opacity of maybe 40% but really it depends on you, the palette, the effect you want to obtain, etc..(However, on the example below, the opacity of the layers is 100% but the principle remains the same, it doesn't change anything)
Choose a brush in the "calligraphic brush" category and just start painting. Remember to follow the movements of the fabric it's important !!
Begin to draw the stripes on the first layer...
..then on the second. Flatten the image and that's it! Congratulations ^o^
Filters and textures
As usual they are very important particularly in this illustration. They will help to settle the creepy atmosphere of the scene. As you can see below, without them, the general setting isn't the same AT ALL, so don't hesitate. I desaturated the image just a bit, added a sepia filter (Image >> Adjustment >> Photo Filter), changed the colors thanks to the "color balance" tool (I added ""magenta and "blue"). Then, I used predefined brushes to add textures on the walls and the floor. I darkened the bottom of the image with the "burn tool" but also thanks to a "basic brush" set to multiply (30%, color : black). Finally, I used the "stamp tool" to add a texture I found on Deviant Art here
Don't forget the blood, it's essential ;)
Et voilà!!
That's all folks. See you soon ^^
Sorry about my horrible "frenglish" I hope it was understandable!
More questions ? DON'T HESITATE!!!
Just ask here on LJ or on FormSpring.me : http://www.formspring.me/PetiteMadame
FAN ART MASTER POST (Click Below)