If you did something useful and constructive today....

[red_satin_doll]

Such as, posted your Spike icons for Round 3 of btvsats20in20 like rua1412 did and made the rest of us (read: me) look like slackers, put together your entries for slayerstillness, otherworldlyric and/or btvs_hush; posted the lasted chaper of your newest masterpiece in fanfiction (such as velvetwhip's Blindfold; completed various and sundry errands while making it all look easy or just been generally useful and constructive in your use of time.....instead of putzing around making Buffy Summers fanart out of cloudscapes you shot out of the car window in Vermont....

                                                          Trailing Clouds of Glory Series  1-9 - Click on all images for fuill-size versions

# 1

# 1.5  - the icon version

...then clearly you are not me. Congratulations for your wise and sensible choices!

Yes of course I have variations; I can't decide what I like best. Are you mad? I can't even decide what I want to do for Round 3 of btvsats20in20 and am this close to putting it up a poll.(I could have used the icon above as my starting point - and then decided that I really wanted it for me, right NOW.)






I've been wanting to put together this image of Buffy from the Gift with a cloudscape ever since I worked on "Scroll Fragment 1" a couple of weeks ago, and started really playing with layers, textures and filtes. I did the layers and major grunge or bloom textures in ipiccy, then finished off with my signature, text, San Carmen filter (see #2), frames and minor adjustments etc in Photobucket.

Trailing Clouds of Glory Series -  Click on all images for full-size  versions.  

# 2




# 3


I love the way the clouds look like a classical wreath or tiara around her head. Willow gets the title "goddess" in canon but Buffy's my queen (kikimay will understand) and I loved the feeling in these images of Buffy as a benvolent sky goddess - perhaps a more upbeat interpretation of the events of "The Gift". (The irony of my use of the word "glory" in the title did not escape my notice.) Granted, a goddess who will come down and get medieval on your ass if you cross Mama.

# 4


# 5

Her expression is the epitome of what we call a "Mona Lisa smile" - caught halfway between a smile and a frown (it could go either way when I played with the image, depending on the level of contrast), tinged with irony, poignancy and a certain resignation.

# 6

# 7-9

Click on images for full-sized versions.
ETA: A couple more variations at my Scrapbook here (f'riends only) .

And yes I really did take the cloudscape out the car window - whilst my sweetie was driving - on macro/food setting. Proof-positive that my Nikon digital camera is absolutely idiot-proof.

Click image for full-size (it's reallly pretty! If I do say so myself. This reminds me of a cloud study by Constable or Corot, which only prooves what great artists they were.) Cropped and sharpened ever-so-slightly in Photobucket or ipiccy. I can't remember which.


On the upside, I completed a job application to a big box retailer today.  Cheese on a cracker but those online personality tests are insane.


Now to figure out what to do for the 20in20. (Amends? Sleeper? Tara? Willow/Tara? Joyce? The Summers women? *ponders*)

Comments

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I think these are stunning! I am especially partial to 1, 2, 3, and 6, but they are all excellent! You used your vacation to good effect! Brava!

ETA: Kudos to you for putting in that job application!


Gabrielle

[rua1412.livejournal.com]

You make me blush, and believe me, it isn't easy to make me blush ehehehehe

I love your use of the effects for the Buffy banner. My favourite one?
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/red_satin_doll/51574655/52798/52798_600.png
While I like the other versions too, to IMO I think the grey coloring fix Buffy's mood better than the pastels or light coloring.
I love variations too. How I do use them?
If the icons I'm creating is too much red for example I use the opposite color, in this case cyan. Otherwise I follow my tastes for colors and I play until the subject face don't look like an alien LOL

[debris4spike]

Brilliant

I love what you have done - totally super-dooper!

My favourites are 2 & 4

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Wow! Gorgeous! I really like this set!

[sweetiepebbles.livejournal.com]

These are lovely! Really creative :D

I'm keeping my fingers crossed, hope you get the job!

[starry-night.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous banners and icon. I love the effect with the clouds - my faves are probably 1 and 4 but they're all beautifully done :)

And good luck with the job application :)

[bangel-4e.livejournal.com]

I really love number 2 sweetie..it has a certain vintage-y feeling and it all seems very blended together, it all comes out wonderfully. I know about the indecision of what to claim..I usually just go with what I'm feeling right at that moment and choose a claim..but that can be still difficult :)

[snogged.livejournal.com]

These look so pretty! Nice work!

[kikimay]

I wish you could do Summers women for the contest.

Aaaww, so beautiful! I especially like 1 (And the icon version) 2, 3, 6, 7 and 9. I love the picture of Buffy you chose and how the colors change the sky and give different impressions (Tempest or clear sky) It's very original. (I think I maybe see Buffy as a earth goddess)

And good luck for the job!

[rbfvid.livejournal.com]

Wonderful work, and good luck with the application.

Now to figure out what to do for the 20in20. (Amends? Sleeper? Tara? Willow/Tara? Joyce? The Summers women? *ponders*)
Summers women? Summers women!

[lokifan]

I love this! And much as Willow is the goddess and Tara's cthonic, I do really love Buffy, warrior of the people, trailing clouds of glory!

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

I can't see your art because I'm on my phone, but insure it's glorious. I won't be doing btvsats20in20 this round because I have a nightmare August coming up where I need to catch up on all my work, so I will be happy if you do Summers women for this round. And have I told you about Photoshop Elements? Cheaper and easier to use than Photoshop. I think it's only about $40 or so instead of $200.