galathea: (s&d beer)
galathea ([personal profile] galathea) wrote2009-06-10 11:02 am
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2 Wallpapers

The last couple of weeks I was in a total fanart funk and I am really frustrated about that. I was working on three conceptual arts as well as a couple of episodics, but nothing worked out on canvas and I was ready to throw the towel. Yesterday I was finally able to finish one of the conceptual arts and a month or so back I made another wall that I didn't post here yet, so I can actually make an art update here. Enjoy!



The Darkness Within: The idea for this wallpaper was stuck in my head for quite a while and I played around with it a couple of times, but then came to the conclusion that I couldn’t really pull it off. But a challenge over at BF motivated me to try my hands at it again and I actually managed an acceptable result, although I am still not sure I pulled the concept off. So, it’s a compromise between what I aimed to do and what I was actually capable of doing, but at least I have it out of my system now.

In S4 both Sam and Dean are forced to confront their own darkness. While Dean tries to come to terms with the fact that hell turned him into a torturer, Sam marches down a path that endangers his soul, in an attempt to use his powers for good. In the wallpaper I wanted to encapsulate the part of Sam’s as well as Dean’s arc that was connected to blood, i.e. blood consumed and blood shed.

Dean’s hands are soaked in the blood of the victims he tortured in hell. He is kneeling at a river, trying to get rid of the blood on his hands, to wash himself free of his guilt, but the river carries blood instead of cleansing water and so the stains remain. Obviously this symbolises Dean’s inability to find forgiveness for his ‘sin’. Sam is drinking demon blood to enhance his powers, he is standing on a road that leads straight to the gates of darkness/hell. He can’t ever wash himself clean from his demonic blood either, so he tries to use it for good and as a consequence damns himself. Both brothers are so self-absorbed that they don’t pay attention to each other, hence missing the chance of finding salvation in each other.

The Darkness Within

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Goodbye: This wallpaper is actually an old piece in new clothing. It's a rework of my first ever Supernatural wallpaper, which dealt with the phone conversation between Sam and Dean in Scarecrow. A couple of weeks back I felt the urge to give the piece a makeover, because I really love that scene to death and thought it deserved a fancier look. I tried to keep the original caps and just changed composition, colouring and texturing. There's really not much more to it, it's a simple episodic piece.

Goodbye

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You all know the drill, no posting elsewhere and no pretending it's your own. Just for private desktop use! *g* Resources as usual over at Salt'n Burn!

[identity profile] llywela13.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
Ooooh, angsty. I love the fiery reds and golds contrasted with the dark shadows and negative spaces, emphasising how much both brothers are trapped in their own personal hells.

I think you showed me the other once before - fascinating to see how different the two walls are, stemming from the same concept and caps!

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 10:12 am (UTC)(link)
LOL yeah well, it will probably stay the only wallpaper that deals with these dark topics of S4. I could only approach them in this more abstract symbolic way. Glad you like it. It's light-years from what I had in my head, but it has to make due.

True, my style changed considerably in these last couple of years. The texturing in my old piece gives me nightmares nowadays. LOL I wished I had the time and motivation to rework more of my older arts. ;)

[identity profile] llywela13.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 10:19 am (UTC)(link)
Heh, I've often said the same about my older recaps and fics! Alas for perfectionism, eh! We must just live with the past as a record of where we were then in contrast with where we are now, a testament to our own progression...*G*

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 10:31 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, that's why I always keep the older versions online as well, even if I rework a piece. I do find it funny to look at my older art and roll my eyes at what I thought was cool or pretty back then.

[identity profile] shawn-anne.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 10:22 am (UTC)(link)
YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! There iz art!!!!!!!!!!!

W00T! *happy dance*

Dude, you totally rock. 'Darkness Within' is simply brilliant! And "Goodbye?" By far my favorite. *huggles* Hope to see more art out of you soon.

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 10:33 am (UTC)(link)
ROFL glad you liked the pieces, hon! *hugs* I can't really promise anything. I still don't feel particularly artsy and usually if I force myself to do something I am not satisfied with the endresult. Ah well, but I'll try. ;)

[identity profile] joans23.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 10:47 am (UTC)(link)
Everytime you post art I'm absolutely blown away again by your amazing talent. Gorgeous work, AS ALWAYS!

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 10:51 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much, hon! :) Glad you liked the pieces. It's always very motivating for me, especially when I am in a artistic crisis. :)

[identity profile] chiiyo86.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 11:27 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, they're really beautiful! I love the colors, in both. And like you, I love that moment in Scarecrow.

I'm sorry you were frustrated with your work. I know the feeling all too well, though I don't do art, but write fics.

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 11:33 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks, I am glad you enjoyed them. Heh, I think it doesn't matter which creative outlet we choose, we all have creative blocks and slumps in productivity. I wished I could write, I admire writers. Unfortunately I have no talent whatsoever for writing. /sigh

[identity profile] fotw-sv.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow! Those are both fantastic! It's been a while for sure and it's so great to see you creating again. Great job on the coloring and flames. Great job on the demons coming out of hell. Really looks eerie! I always enjoy what you come up with and your execution of an idea. You put a lot of thought into your pieces. Bravo.

I don't recall the original on the second one you posted but I love the updated version very much. Very emotional scenes in that epy and I love that left cap of Dean. I like the use of blinds and window shadows in both pieces. I love using them myself. Can't wait to see more from you.

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, hon! Glad you like 'Darkness', I am still not sure about that piece. It looked way better in my head. LOL As for 'Goodbye', you would hardly know the original, except if you had accidentally seen it on my website. It's really old (2006 I think) and ugly. *g*

I love working with blinds/windows as well, because they give nice, unobtrusive lighting effects. ♥ I really hope I find my arting enthusiasm back, there's still so many scenes to do from S4 before S5 starts and distracts me from those projects. ;)

[identity profile] ladymanson.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 03:49 pm (UTC)(link)
It's always such a treat when you post new art. I love them both, but I really like the first one. The stocks you used on it are chosen very well - I'm a big fan of stocks. I like the whole thing about the blood on Dean's hands and your font usage is great. Excellent job!! :-)

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! :) I LOVE stocks! It's the one thing in art I can't live without. Sometimes I think that if I ever stop arting fandom, I just start making stockart. *g* Glad you liked 'Darkness'. I reslly think I suck at text, so thanks for your praise in that regard. ;)

[identity profile] francy-m79.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 07:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Great job as always, I love both of them! The colouring is gorgeous! <3

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-10 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, Francy! :) Glad you like them.

[identity profile] bowtrunckle.livejournal.com 2009-06-11 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
I love the new version of your Scarecrow wall. The colors are a nice choice. I have no idea what it's called (as I'm not an artist or proficient in Photoshop), but I like the smooth look and how you made both Sam and Dean's eyes stand out.

It's always interesting to read your thoughts behind your art. Dean wanting to wash his sins away at the river is a nice touch (the first thing I thought of was the River Styx).

Just beautiful.

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-11 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! Heh, the main colours in the Scarecrow wall are purple and blue, fyi. ;)

It's always interesting to read your thoughts behind your art.
Sometimes my concepts are actually more interesting than the art itself. *g*

[identity profile] helpspb.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 12:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww hon! happy to see you back.
I totally adore The darkness within peace. That's absolutely gorgeous! Brilliant job.
<3
and goodbye wallie is stunning as well.I loved it already before.New suit is pretty!:)

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, Helen! :) Glad you like the 'Darkness' piece, spent a lot of time on it, but in the end it's note quite what I wanted. Ah well ... happens. ;)

[identity profile] helpspb.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
You're welcome hon.:)
Naah. No worries,it didn't turn the way you wanted. I find it really awesome!<3 I'd never manage to do anything like that.
I'm happy to seee some art from you as I was worried,you're not gonna post anything anymore.^^

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, and yeah you will. Just a bit more experience and you can do art like that as well. :) I was worried I'm not going to post art anymore too. I still don't really feel up for art. It's the longest fanart crisis I've ever been through. /sigh

[identity profile] helpspb.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Hehe,you're so nice, but this take much more then 'a bit more' lol.
Well,I hope you will get over it soon. Your art is amazing and it'd be such a shame if you stopped making them. TBH,I don't feel like making art at all as well. To be more concrete,it's not like I'm not in the mood,but I miss my muse. I have no idea what scene or so., I could work on. So I think I can call it crise as well.

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL for me it's the opposite. I know plenty of scenes and concepts which I could art. I have a whole list of ideas, I am just not in the mood to open PS and try. And when I do, it usually doesn't work out or I have no clue how to visualise a specific concept. To be fair, it's not only art, I have several writing projects for SN on hold as well. I am just completely lethargic at the moment. :(

[identity profile] helpspb.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
We should've been one person,lol.
I do love ps and still enjoy doing stuff,but usually really don't have any good idea. And to be honest I don't like one damn wallpaper of mine. They're ... kind of empty,imo. Yours are so epic!That's why you need to keep up great work*hug*.
I'm sorry to hear that,but hopefully it will be better?!*offers cookie*

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! *takes cookie*

We are all very critical with our wallpapers. ;) I don't like half of my wallpapers either after a while. If you feel you're not satisfied with your art anymore, you need to think about where to go next. Maybe study other artists, try out new styles, do some tutorials etc to expand your techniques. The more different styles you have at your disposal, the easier to have new visual ideas. The key is to challenge yourself anew every now and then. ;) Set yourself new goals, think about what you want to achieve with art and then try to get there.

[identity profile] helpspb.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
thanks for advices.:) i think i should take some break,too. not like from making art at all,but as you say rather experiment for awhile and see what can i do&what i'd like to get out of it...
after all my brain is still damaged after asylum,lol so i need to rest for awhile and more think about it,I guess.

And you don't give it up hon. I'm sure you'll find your way. Your new piece is brilliant.

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-22 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
Exactly, go and experiment. I usually find that once I learned something new or looked at art from a different angle it jumpstarts creativity. :)

Nah, I won't give up. Eventually I will need some new Sam'n'Dean art on my desktop and then I'll need to go and make it. *g*

[identity profile] visor-07.livejournal.com 2009-06-22 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
It so perfectly, very liked, and composition and treatment and especially color on 2 wallpaper. I am in a delight. I will say honestly, that for me many your works are, your is very liked art!

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-06-22 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! :) I am glad you enjoy my art and liked this two wallpapers. :)

[identity profile] novembersguest.livejournal.com 2009-07-03 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
You're stuff is really gorgeous! I love the sharpness, the color and the creative ways you arrange things. Awesome work!

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-07-03 07:19 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! It's always nice to hear that people love my stuff. :) Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[identity profile] novembersguest.livejournal.com 2009-08-01 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
I'm also adding you as a friend so I don't miss out on anymore great art!

[identity profile] galathea-snb.livejournal.com 2009-08-01 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
Go ahead! :) Though I am on a dry spell at the moment. I really hope my muse comes back. :)