PART 1 of my btvsats 20in20 Round 5 Alts and Extras: Willow

[red_satin_doll]

As I have several alts/extras including posters I've decided to roll them out in stages rather than overwhelm everyone with a single post. You're welcome, by the way. This post is especially for my friends in Willow fandom.

All of the Willow icons below were "contenders" for my Round 5 entries for btvsats20in20 "Rainbow" theme challenge.  See my final entries are here - and THANK YOU very much to everyone who stopped by for your lovely encouraging comments and feedback. And thank you to the moderator this round starry_night for being generally wonderful and all-around awesome as always.) This round convinced me that I do want to do more early seasons work with Willow and Buffy in future.

001

002

003

004

005

006

007

008

009

010

011

012

Table generated using angelamaria's Icon Table Generator.
Icons by red_satin_doll.

And now on to the gratuitous commentary track!

My personal favorites: 1-5 and 9-10, which covers all the WIllow-VampWillow meta-icons. I did a lot of work with layers this round, and I love the meta possibilities of the technique.  I have to laugh because back in Round 1 I didn't even know what a "layer" was, or what comlodge meant when she advise me to master "blending" technqiues; now I'm absolutely addicted.  I'm a little surprised by how many icons I did in orange here because it's not my favorite color IRL, but it has a warmth that yellows sometimes lack (especially when they're on the greenish side) which makes it less dramatic and friendlier than red with it's association of blood, passion and death.

Every one of those was "almost" an entry that I dropped at the last minute, especiallly #1; it was originally the segueway icon between green and blue on the rainbow, and I'm not sure now why I dropped it except that it repeated the image from Prophecy Girl in my entry icon #1, and there is a line along the edge that looked to me like a mistake in cropping rather than something done intentionally.

#2 I think is an awesome icon; it's unlike anything I've ever done before but I've admired in professional graphics on book covers and movie posters. But it's so muted I couldn't find a way to place it in the rainbow, and I admit I worried that the fact that the faces don't line up perfectly would be considered a flaw by voters. Which strikes me now as a really silly thing to worry about.

Both #4 & 5 were very nearly my Red entry in the rainbow. If you've seen my Round 2 Category set entries you know how much I adore that image of VampWillow in #4. I really like the faded photo effect here; she looks entirely like a queen of the silent movies. But I have worked with the image before and this really isn't saying anything new, the blood spatter is nifty but looks to me like I slapped it on and called it a day. Looks neat though.

5 is a really weird icon IMO - I like it, a lot and I can't explain why (except my fallback mantra: pale skin, red lips ). It's interesting to look at; her hair and face look like they are reflecting something and very glossy. But it's also "off" somehow. I kept taking it in and out of rotation until I looked at it in the slideshow format in Photobucket and saw the pixilation and flaws in the image more clearly.

#6 made me realize why some of my friends in Willow fandom prefer the early seasons to the late one; and if I were a Willow fan, I would probably feel the same. All of these were tons of fun to make except #6. No offense to those who enjoy her but I honestly hate working with S6 DarkWillow imagery - absolutely hate hate hate loathe it. (But then I also didn't think that Lily going red-eyed with rage in HIMYM was at all funny. Oh, Tara.....)

If anyone else had made #7 I'd be completely agog and over the moon over it, and wonder how in the world they achieved that look.  I finally make one that looks like this and my reaction is - meh, whatever. It's pretty, it's smooth, it has a nice graphic quality that will make for an eye-catching icon, it just doesn't move me in any way or make me want to look closer.

I'm more interested in #9-12, which are variations of my #4 entry.  My actual entry uses an orange cloudscape from a photo my sweetie took recently as the texture that links the two Willows; although alt 12 might actually achieve that link with a more unified look and without the distraction of the texture. (But the one I chose for my entry just made me happy. Sue me.) My favorite alt here is #10 because I love the grunge quality in the back - it looks to me like VampWillow's image is part of the wall behind Willow, an old poster or mural that has faded over time; but I also like the warm orange color of #9.


BTW, while working on this round the on Monday I goofed and decided to move all my 20in20 entry folders in Photobucket - forgetting that would break all the links. NOT GOOD. So if you've been looking at my previous 20in20 posts and see a lot of blank spaces - that be the reason.

The usual disclaimers - snaggage is much encouraged, but taking without giving proper credit, or hosting on another archive or site without my permission especially when one is making money on the venture, will be met with stonings, canings, and confinement in a locked cell on a bread-and-water diet, in the company of a certain red-headed female vampire who will make short work of every single bone in your body before draining you dry. Which means you probably won't even get to the bread and water anyway. Savvy?

Comments

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THESE!!!!! OH THE AWESOME!!! IT SHINES!!!!

Okay, that being said, I have some preferences: #1, #2, #4, and... don't hate me... #6. (Even though Dark Willow is NOT in any way a favorite of mine.)


Your work is just stupendous!


Gabrielle

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Oh silly I could never hate you! *hugs*

I actually think #6 is a good icon but it wasn't fun to make the way 1 & 2 were, but I'm glad you like it.

And I KNEW you'd like 1, 2 & 4! Those three are my favorites here and they all almost made it as entries. (If I had done a Willow/Vamp Willow set they totally would have made it - and now I'm almost sorry I didn't. next time. :) )

Thank you so much for your delightful feedback, Gabrielle.

[niki1988.livejournal.com]

Yay for Willow, awesome work!!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I don't icon Willow very often but I should do it more, because the results are usually good. Aly gives good face. And Vamp!Willow is so much fun it's ridiculous.

[niki1988.livejournal.com]

she's one of my favorite characters and the best.
also vamp willow rules too

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Vamp Willow was my round 2 claim and SO MUCH FUN to icon! I need to do VampWillow/early seasons again soon as a claim.

Your icon is the prettiest thing btw - that combination of blues and greens? Speak to my soul!

[niki1988.livejournal.com]

:) let me know when u do that

oh thank u, it's an old birthday gift from a friend who stopped making graphics. she made me a bunch with my username.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

let me know when u do that

Will do.

I asked bangel_4e if I could change my 20in20 claim for round 6 to Willow in Megan's honor.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

OMG I almost name-checked you in this post because I kept thinking "pickamix (and velvetwhip and snogged) are gonna love #4 - or I'll eat my hatpin" *lol* Very nice to not be proven wrong! Which is to say thank you for the feedback sweetie, I'm so glad you like - it was very important to me that these passed muster with Willow fans.

Orange does have a warmth that no other color can pull off. Probably because it's the real color of fire.

oh VERY good point! And as many fires as I've burned I ought to have thought of that. (Maybe I'm still blocking thanks to the housefire we had last last August?) But you're absolutely right about that.

I used to love watching flames. I miss that. *le sigh*

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I whole-heartedly approve of the Willow love you have shown in this post! You did some really cool things with blending.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I hoped you'd enjoy these, sweetheart! You know how anxious I always am that my Willow icons meet the approval of my "Willow Posse" but I felt pretty un-anxious and positive about these.

And I wondered which ones you might like specifically. (like, the bloodsplash in #4? I thought you might like that one, but I always hate to assume.)

You did some really cool things with blending.

THANK YOU for noticing that! I've been working really hard on improving my technique with blending.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I did like #4! The pale skin contrasts nicely with the splash of crimson red. At first glance, it's almost flower-y or vine-y and at second glance, you recognize that there's more to it than meets the eye. Just like our Willow.

I also like #6 and #10.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Just like our Willow.

ooh, nifty observation!

And I definitely like #10 a lot - now that I've looked at the sets on the 20in20 site, I think I could have switched out any one of 9-12 here with #4 and still been happy.

I love VampWillow's expression in #1 & 2 though - I had to use that cap where she's choking a guy at the Bronze and it's no big deal and she just exudes power but also precision and control. (I think this might be part of why I prefer Vamp Willow to Dark Willow, actually - VampWillow may be a demon but I don't get the feeling it's controlling her, but rather she's completely in control of and in tune with it. THAT'S power, baby.)

[starry-night.livejournal.com]

These are great! And I love the commentary on each of them. Your work keeps getting better and better, and I love that you keep your alternates (me, I tend to delete them once I've made my set, because...well, actually I don't know why).

And thank you to the moderator this round starry_night for being generally wonderful and all-around awesome as always.)

Aw, thank you hon. And it is a genuine pleasure to have you as a member :)

BTW, while working on this round the on Monday I goofed and decided to move all my 20in20 entry folders in Photobucket - forgetting that would break all the links. NOT GOOD. So if you've been looking at my previous 20in20 posts and see a lot of blank spaces - that be the reason

I'm actually doing this right now with all of mine. I looked at my PB library and didn't like how it was set up. So now I'm very slowly working my way back and updating all the links in my entries and at comms I entered.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, thank you!

I love that you keep your alternates (me, I tend to delete them once I've made my set, because...well, actually I don't know why).

I have no idea why I make so many it's just how my brain works. I culled a lot of my alts this round after I posted my set - more of my alts this round were banners and I haven't posted any of those yet.

So now I'm very slowly working my way back and updating all the links in my entries and at comms I entered.

Ah but you're doing it on purpose at least! I don't know if I can begin to rebuild the posts I've broken the links to (my prior 20in20 posts) or if I should even try.

[rbfvid.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love both - the icons and your commentary on them!
And absolutely snagging #4. I just love that shape of "bloodstains" near her lips.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

*swells with pride*

Thank you for the feedback and compliments! And yes please do snag and enjoy! I love to know my icons are getting loving homes.

[kikimay]

I really like number 4 and it's actually strange because I generally don't like bloodsplash graphics, but it's so pretty and vamp!Willow face on the background is so elegant.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thank you Kiki!

And I agree, there is an elegance to this icon - this is the most restrained "bloodsplash" texture I have (more a spill than a splash; I tried out other bloodspatter patterns that were more realistic and messier and they didn't go with the formality and elegance of the background.) And you know me, I love making Sarah and Aly look like silent movie stars.

Wednesday, November 19 - Thursday, November 20

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User rahirah referenced to your post from Wednesday, November 19 - Thursday, November 20 (http://su-herald.livejournal.com/760409.html) saying: [...] Willow Icons [...]

[double_dutchess]

They're all great, but #5 is my favourite! I'll be snagging that one!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

#5 is my favourite! I'll be snagging that one!

By all means do, and thank you for the compliments! I'm incredibly flattered to be included in your first "art gallery" (I think of userpic pages as art galleries)

Something I forgot to add when we were talking icons on your journal: I am more than willing to add text, at your request, although I confess I am not the best person when it comes to text, there are others who have truly mastered it

[double_dutchess]

Thank you! It's going to be a pretty small gallery though, because for now I'm only allowed 15 user pics (which I'm already starting to realize is much too few).

And thanks for the text offer, but I think I generally prefer icons with no text.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

because for now I'm only allowed 15 user pics

I had that to start and I was learning to be satisfied with it - and then some lovely anonymous benefactors gifted me with a paid account last year. (there are some amazing, generous people in this fandom and in this LJ pocket of fandom, truly). And oh my gosh are icons addictive - ESPECIALLY with so many amazing artists to choose from. I'd love to add the work of a few more folks to my gallery.

I think I generally prefer icons with no text.

Oddly enough I've come to prefer it that way too - and the more effects I can do and the better I get, the less I feel a need or desire to put text into icons, except for very specific effect.

[spikesredqueen.livejournal.com]

You know I love Willow and I love your icons here! I am going to snag 3 and possibly 7 in this set. Number 3, I think, will match some fanfics I will be working on. Love it!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, thank you so much! Please, snag away! (how much icon space do you have?)

You know, the version of #3 that i entered with the pale coloring was one of my most popular icons of my set, but in hindsight, I like the alt better in some ways. The entry version is artsier and therefore somewhat distanced from the emotion of the scene; the alt is more vivid to me.

Both the ones you singled out were almost entries but to be honest, so was #4 and almost any one of these. #7 is one of the first icons where I achieved a very smooth effect I've admired in other people's work (including your own).

Number 3, I think, will match some fanfics I will be working on. Love it!

Thank you! My brain is already mulling on banner possibilities - although you are more than capable of making your own, but should you be interested, let me know. I love making banners now more than making icons, so many possibilities of form.

[spikesredqueen.livejournal.com]

I currently can have up to 208 userpics, I just bought myself an additional space the other day. Yea, I feel the same way about icon 3, felt more in the moment and real for me. Not that the one you sent in for your entry wasn't beautiful, but this one calls to me more.

I would be incredibly honored if any of my fanfics old or new inspire you to make banners for them and I would display them so very proudly!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

208? How do you find the one you want to use at a given moment? (I suspect I need to get better/more specific with my keywords.) The biggest challenge for me esp at first was just finding things.

Not that the one you sent in for your entry wasn't beautiful, but this one calls to me more.

I was really thrilled with my entry version when I first made it in a "look what I did, Ma!" kind of way, but by the time the voting went up I got bored of it rather quickly.

And I would be incredibly honored to make a banner for one of your tics! I admit my weakest spot at this point is adding text, so I may holler and ask for help if I'm not satisfied with what I come up with.

BTW - That particular image of Willow from Prophecy Girl is a cap from the now-defunct Broken Screencaps and is superb quality and I LOVE playing with it, so making a banner from it would be easy-peasy. In fact I've made some nifty Wiffy S1 banners with it. but I might use it as a basis for a Round 8 icon so I'm trying not to show it off yet.

(Compared to the cap I used from Pretty as a Picture that was terribly dark and pixelated for my Willow icon the last round of slayerstillness
http://slayerstillness.livejournal.com/70443.html

Gosh I miss Broken Screencaps.)

[spikesredqueen.livejournal.com]

For me, I list what the character(s) are it in like bangel or Buffy/Angel and then put a couple words to remind me of what the icon is like s2, kiss, etc. Usually, I like picking icons that match a fic I am reading or something like that. I think everyone is different when it comes to using and choosing icons. :)

I don't think I ever used Broken Screencaps,but I am sorry that the site doesn't work. I hate when you find a site that you love using for such purposes and then something happens to it. Kind of makes you feel a little lost because you rely on it.

The site I use include Pretty as a Picture, but most of the time I use my own website gallery for any art I do which is http://www.bloodqueen.com. If I cannot find what I am looking for from my own gallery, I'll venture to Pretty as a Picture or another site like http://ladymanson.com/galleries/tv/TVBuffy/, which I kind of forgot about until today.

I hope this helps you find some caps that you are happy with! I don't think many people use my website but I like it lol

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

You're bloodqueen? I had no idea! kwritten uses it as her primary site.

I have a strange relationship with LadyMason's site - I used to use her bluray caps for moulin rouge many years ago and they were gorgeous, but 2-3 years ago when I first started doing buffyverse art, the caps for the late seasons there were very distorted and stretched out horizonally; although I think the "latest" update fixes that a bit?

Mostly I use PAAP but I also use Leave me the white which I also used for moulin rouge caps years ago; and it has what I think are some of the best quality buffyverse caps (aside from broken screencaps) but it's very incomplete; it's Spuffy oriented so no season 1 or 3, but none of the remaining seasons are complete either. S6 ends before smashed - but it has outtake caps from smashed. Season 7 is oddly divided between "S7" and "Misc Files" http://www.leavemethewhite.com/vampyr/index.php

Round 5 of 20in20 I also used smg-france.net because starry_night mentioned it to me, and of course there's Chosen Two gallery for PR photos

Kind of makes you feel a little lost because you rely on it.

I keep meaning to put out an SOS post because someone else might have some of the caps saved - I would have snagged all of them if I'd known if was going to be pulled. Gabrielle even helped me search for it and no dice.

I was amused last year to have several folks last year ask me for a list of my resources. I'm always on the lookout for better quality.

[spikesredqueen.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed, that is my site. :) At the end of my videos, and a few posts like with some fanfic I link back to my site. It is so pleasing to know that people use my site for the gallery!

I am not sure if the ladymanson's site was fixed or not as I haven't used it in a while.

I use Chosen Two all the time, so love that site!

I searched as well and I couldn't find the site either. :(

It is always so helpful to view other artist's resources because you never know if you will find that hidden treasure that you've been searching for!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I finally took the time to look through bloodqueen for some caps the other day and I'm impressed by the fact that it has a lot of images (more per "second" or scene) than PAAP or other many other sites. That must be quite a lot of work to do.

[spikesredqueen.livejournal.com]

I am glad you took the time to look through the gallery! I hope you were able to find some usable caps! It does take a lot to do, but it's worth it. I will eventually add Angel to the mix and probably other series as well. I just need the time and the patience to do it. I realize that not all of the caps are usable and turn out blurry, etc. but I didn't have the patience to go through them all and delete those as there are just soooo many caps to go through!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I found some great season S1-3 Buffy and Willow caps that i hope to use in the next round of btvsats20in20 (I really don't want to drop out again but finding computer time is harder than I anticipated this month.) I was hoping for a particular cap of Buffy and Tara in OAFA, but I'm not doing them this round anyway. (Lady Manson has an image I like but the proportion is odd - I wonder if I can squish the image and make it look ok? Hah.)

I realize that not all of the caps are usable and turn out blurry, etc.

clockwork_hart1 recently did a Buffy in Primeval icon that's an action shot and so quite blurry but it works. So blurriness isn't always fatal. (And anyway, I'm with you, why bother deleting when it's so time consuming?)

[spikesredqueen.livejournal.com]

:( I am sorry that you are thinking about dropping out this round. I really hope you can participate in the next as I am really looking forward to seeing your Buffy & Willow icons!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Oh I haven't been thinking actively about dropping out, but - I'm realizing that I'm not getting more time, I'm getting less between work and my sweetie being home and needing care. I just need to practice time management because I really want to get these done. I just might have be abandon some of my more ambitious concepts.

I'm also hoping I'm not catching the flu from work.

[spikesredqueen.livejournal.com]

Oh, okay, I am glad to see that you were not actively thinking of dropping out! I have missed your icons! I hope you can manage your time the way you need and want to!

I really hope you don't get sick as well!!!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Round 6 I managed to get my icons made in about a week, but I was working less at the time. Gabrielle was my beta-Muse and she kept me from dropping out, so a lot of credit is due to her.

And thanks for the good wishes, I hope it doesn't progress with my sweetie just back from the hospital!