My entries for Round 1 of btvsats20in20, plus extras: (The not really-real) Buffy Summers

[red_satin_doll]

ETA: bangel_4e notified me that my original entries for NS+Mono and Artists Choice 1 were not qualified so I've switched them out. Let me know what you think.

My first-ever 20in20 entries for Round 1 of btvsats20in20 were inspired by the Jo Chen's Cover art for "The Chain"; so I decided to claim Buffy Summers as my subject (no surprise) but with a twist: the "not really-real" versions that populate the Buffyverse: impersonators, dopplegangers, alt universe versions; Buffy reimagined in her own and in other people's dreams.

All icons made by me in ipiccy and Photobucket. Many thanks to bangel_4e and spikesredqueen for their patient and tireless hand-holding.





    Teasers

10 Themes
Strong	Favorite Moment	NS+Monochrome	Comics	Blending
Earth Tones	Provided Texture	Ex.Close Crop	Smile	Focused
5 Category |BLACK AND WHITE
Cat 1	Cat 2	Cat 3	Cat 4	Cat 5
5 Artist's Choice
AC 1	AC 2	AC 3	AC 4	AC 5

Alts and extras to be posted separately.

WANT? TAKE, HAVE, ENJOY! - But give proper credit always!
DO NOT alter, claim as your own or repost to other websites without my permission.
If you snag an icon, letting me know is always appreciated. Feedback feeds the savage fan artist.

Comments

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

I think it's the lighting on her face, the perspective and the way the head stands out so very much whilst blending into an interesting background that lends itself to the feel of image. It was again the first icon to grab my eye when I opened this post. It's a dramatic scene and I think that icon does it justice.
There were so many excellent entries in this round and it really depends what takes a person's eye and what their preferences are. I think I've said before that I seldom pick the winners in icon challenges. :D
There are two icons here that are a little jarring for me. Blending - I think it is because the faces are two different sizes and the one on the left dominates too much - it's lighter, has a harsher expression and it is bigger than the right. I'd have liked the features to be around the same level. Love the red lips by the way and the idea and it's just my thoughts on perspectives.
Close Crop - I love the cut. I love the lighting and the colour. The slash across her lips seems a bit out of place or perhaps I think it needs to be a bit more blood coloured, a bit more wound like. Her mouth got her into trouble (as mouths always do) both opening it and not opening it when she perhaps should have so I quite like the idea of this one.
I really like your experimentation, stepping outside to have a go. The lighting in a lot of them is great and I don't know if that was accident or you worked hard to get it. EG the orange glow across her body in Monochrome is so excellent to pull that whole image together. You've taken advantage of the image's lighting in many of these and lighting just changes the message so much. Remember, keep doing it for yourself. It's very nice when others like your work but you have to like what you do, you are the driver that will make you grow. :D

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the concrit, Janice, it's much appreciated! I really have trouble "seeing" my own work a lot of times, and figuring out what works and why. I understand better now why artists need communities and feedback from other artists. And I admit I tend to be suspicious of praise, have been all my life (now more than ever because my ex-boss had nothing but kind words and praise for my work. I keep trusting and then feeling like a fool for having done so, ever since I was a schoolgirl.)

ETA: Thank you also about the advice about doing it for myself; I needed to hear that. My mind was starting to wander in a "what do I need to do to get more votes?" direction which felt icksome.

You're absolutely 100% right all the way on Blending, no arguement there. That would be the one I'd most likely toss out the window if I had another chance. My AC 1 (Beer bad/Bargaining) was meant to be my blending icon and I should have kept it at that. I did that one in a rush near the end and it shows, whereas AC1 I took a great deal of time and care. The two photos are too discordant with one another just as you said.

The slash across her lips seems a bit out of place or perhaps I think it needs to be a bit more blood coloured, a bit more wound like.

A bit more saturated, you mean? I can see that - more like this perhaps? (The second one is more extreme, using the draw tool in PB, which is entirely opaque. I am just starting to experiment with draw, paint and burnishing tools in ipiccy which allow more subtleties and transparency. I think I can achieve better results eventually)




Or is more naturalistic better? (This was my alt Close Crop)


Her mouth got her into trouble (as mouths always do)

*LMAO*