cover art for Speranza's fic

[astridv]

So. Um. I made an illustrated cover art for cesperanza's Written By The Victors. I hope I did it justice.





This is actually version b - version a would be in panel format and have as a third element that scene of Sheppard, McKay, and Zelenka standing in the hangar on Quana. But the roommates liked this version better, so I went with this one.

That hangar would make a cool motif, though. And I thought that the market place on Atlantis would have been ideal on the cover, but it would've taken too long to draw and color. Also, I tried to get Teyla and Ronon on there as well, but it would get too cluttered. Those could make great illustrations for chapter headings though. Theoretically.

And I'm not 100% done with it, as usual there're a dozen details I want to fix later... [eta: fixed]

Media: ink, watercolor, ecoline, acrylics

Comments

[newkidfan.livejournal.com]

You are good, and I mean really good. Woah. It's gorgeous.

Out of curiosity: is it all computer made, or is part of it traditionally made and then scanned?

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks.


Out of curiosity: is it all computer made, or is part of it traditionally made and then scanned?

No computer, it's all traditionally made and then scanned. It's mostly watercolor and acrylics. Eh, I should edit in which media I used.

[newkidfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I had indentified the watercolor but not the acrylics. :)

It is just brilliant. I'm in love with your ocean waves. I am.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

I just love drawing water, in all its forms. So endlessly fascinating!

[fleurrochard]

Oh, I love it, it's so beautiful!
Also, you really see the force and power and that explosion and you can almost hear it - and then there is the peace and quiet in the upper part of the image, where the seagulls are flying over the ocean and Atlantis...
And I adore John and Rodney's expressions.

That hangar would make a cool motif, though. And I thought that the market place on Atlantis would have been ideal on the cover, but it would've taken too long to draw and color. Also, I tried to get Teyla and Ronon on there as well, but it would get too cluttered. Those could make great illustrations for chapter headings though. Theoretically.

Ooooooh! Those pictures would be so cool!

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm really happy you like it!

Ooooooh! Those pictures would be so cool!

Ah, so little time, so much interesting stuff to draw... I've never really drawn anything sci-fi before, so maybe that's why I'd really like to have a go at that space ship hangar. And the market scene is so important for that 'verse that I'd be tempted to tackle that even though I my innate laziness leads me to avoid drawing crowds...

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

very cool space battle...

[winter-elf.livejournal.com]

Wow!! Beautiful. I love how you detail water and great details with the peace of the upper with the fight of the lower - and great Sheppard & Mckay!!!! I'm in awe :)

[d_odyssey.livejournal.com]

Excellent artwork for the story. The detail in the waves and city is amazing. I love the expressions on the boy's faces and it all ties in perfectly with the story.

[trinity_clare]

Oh wow, it's beautiful.

[anna_luna]

:D Wow! This is gorgeous! I really love the colors and the collage of the different moments in the story.

[steammmpunk.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's so cool. I love love love the background - space battle! *glee* Wonderful.

[nimnod.livejournal.com]

Cool!

[gaffsie.livejournal.com]

Wow, that looks really cool. I really like the balance between the three elements; Atlantis, the boys, and the space battle.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

And FUN to draw!

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks, very glad you like. (I'm mostly, but not entirely happy with my McKay. I think his hair could be fluffier. Now I'm struggling with Photoshop in an attempt to fluffen up the hairdo...)

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly, I'm glad you like!

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh, pretty! This is going to sound a little off, but I also relly like the consistent light source. Neat!

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

"Odd," not "off." Typing lefty, or trying to. ;)

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Typing one-handed sure is tedious. But it looks like you're managing well - when I burned my paw, I couldn't manage capital letters.

Anyway, I hope you're doing better and your right is on the mend.

I also relly like the consistent light source. Neat!

Interesting. I didn't really pay attention to the light source, except of course I made sure that the two in the foreground were both lit from the same angle.

At one point I couldn't figure out how to make the coloring of the different elements come together, but in the end it clicked. I like the final result, though I *think* it differs from the vague, diffuse image I had in my head when I started coloring.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks. There were so many possible scenes to choose from, I'm happy that those I picked work for you. :)

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Things I learned from this: space battles are fun to draw.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

The coloring turned out kind of differently than I had in mind (though I can't at all remember *what* I had in mind) but I'm still pleased (if surprised) with how it turned out. :)