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"Third Wheel" (Buffy/Angel, Darla/Angel) is Glassdarkly (aka
shapinglight)'s entry in the 2015 IWRY Marathon, and inspired an art binge.
These banners in turn provided the inspiration for my icon set in
slayerstillness Challenge 57.
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These banners in turn provided the inspiration for my icon set in
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This is the second story by
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Confession (and warning for Angel-unfriendly thoughts): A year ago I said I "couldn't" do Bangel art. I've already proven myself wrong on that count, but I think it's significant that the primary power dynamic in this story - or at least the most intereting one to me - is not Buffy/Angel, or Darla/Angel but Buffy and Darla. I'm surprised by how few fics I've read draw on the parallels the series made between Buffy and Darla right from the opening scenes of WTTH (but then, I'm not a Bangel shipper so it may well be that there's more out there than I realize.)
If anything, the least interesting aspect of "Third Wheel" is, for me, Angel himself. He's a - well, a bit of a mope, and frankly just a little self-centered. (HIs first response to Buffy's nightmarish dilemma - and it is horrifying for both Buffy and Darla - is violence, then brooding and tears, as if he were the one most affected, not she. But to be fair, he does rally and prove himself to be the better man at the end.) Sometimes I have a hard time understanding why two such interesting, clever, powerful women as Buffy and Darla were drawn to him.
"Third Wheel" actually reminds me that I'm really not sure I ship Buffy with any of her canon lovers; it also adds weight to the argument that Darla, not Buffy, is Angel's "true love".
Without (hopefully) giving too much away,
shapinglight's description of how the situation initially affects Darla reminds me of how it feels when I feel an epileptic seizure coming on, and I love how that specificity of feeling, and the precision of her language and the details, give the weight and substance of "realism" to a fantastical story.
If anything, the least interesting aspect of "Third Wheel" is, for me, Angel himself. He's a - well, a bit of a mope, and frankly just a little self-centered. (HIs first response to Buffy's nightmarish dilemma - and it is horrifying for both Buffy and Darla - is violence, then brooding and tears, as if he were the one most affected, not she. But to be fair, he does rally and prove himself to be the better man at the end.) Sometimes I have a hard time understanding why two such interesting, clever, powerful women as Buffy and Darla were drawn to him.
"Third Wheel" actually reminds me that I'm really not sure I ship Buffy with any of her canon lovers; it also adds weight to the argument that Darla, not Buffy, is Angel's "true love".
Without (hopefully) giving too much away,
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388 x 300 298 x 401
6 - 8 below are what I consider the "alt" versions (which sounds a little nicer than "rejects" doesn't it?)
6)

550 x 750
7 - 8)


600 x 552 each
9)

And of course, an icon to go with.
Sources:
The background textile in #1, 2 & 7 a detail of an 18th Century bodice in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute.
Vintage card "frame" in #7 & 8 courtesy of the Graphics Fairy.
Vintage card "frame" in #7 & 8 courtesy of the Graphics Fairy.
Black filigree layer in #4 by
scoobyatemysnax for
burnedbreads
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Check out my Resources post for screencap sources.
Regretfully, I've forgotten the original source of the gold frame in #1, 2 & 5.
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Regretfully, I've forgotten the original source of the gold frame in #1, 2 & 5.
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A Vague Disclaimer is No One's Friend:
~ DO NOT RE-POST TO OTHER SITES (INCL. FANPOP) OR LJ COMMUNITIES WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!
~ Take what icons you like for personal use but please credit if used :)
~ No hotlinking!
~ Comments however are appreciated :)
~ All artwork by yours truly except where otherwise indicated.
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Date: 2015-12-16 04:27 pm (UTC)Gabrielle
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Date: 2015-12-16 04:39 pm (UTC)Why thank you ma'am!
BTW, have I mentioned that my sweetie just signed up for a year's subscription to Photoshop? We'll see how long it takes me to figure out how to use it because it's very different any other program I've used so far.
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Date: 2015-12-16 04:48 pm (UTC)Yay!!!!
Gabrielle
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Date: 2015-12-16 05:17 pm (UTC)She signed up for it out of the blue and said "learn how to use it" (by which she means "yesterday")
On the really upside, she's also ordered a new camera body to take photos of her artwork and I will inherit the Canon she's using now. I can't wait to see what I can do with it. So this coming year should be pretty interesting artistically for me (I hope!)
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Date: 2015-12-17 04:16 am (UTC)Good luck with that. I've used it for years and I feel like I only know about 25% of it (if that). But your previous work will help you immensely. I can't wait to see what you do with it!
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Date: 2015-12-17 04:34 am (UTC)That is incredibly reassuring!
I was playing - I mean, experimenting - with it today, trying to teach myself stuff of follow tutorials and I already feel more comfortable with it than I did with Elements. It's complicated and has TONS of filters but it still makes more sense to me than Elements ever did.
I learned that I have a lot to learn - and that the Spot Healing brush tool is my newest best friend.
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Date: 2015-12-17 05:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-21 07:19 pm (UTC)Thank you for the tips! I should print this out or at least jot down the tips in my notebook.
I have watched some Lynda.com tutorials and whoa, there is a LOT to learn. And I haven't even watched any tutorials for Lightroom yet, which might sweetie also got to store the photos (because again, Elements organizer was a pain.)
I've watched some tutorials on gradient maps and smudge tool so at least I have some idea what they do. I get itchy watching tutorials, I want to download the information into my brain NOW, thank you very much. (I think I'm not used to tutes because with ipiccy there are no real tutorials so I had to learn by doing. Which has definite drawbacks!)
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Date: 2015-12-16 06:11 pm (UTC)And ditto to what you said about Buffy and Darla, it's a shame that their parallels don't get explored often in fanfiction, when both shows (BtVS and AtS) give writers so many opportunities to do it.
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Date: 2015-12-17 04:38 am (UTC)And ditto to what you said about Buffy and Darla, it's a shame that their parallels don't get explored often in fanfiction, when both shows (BtVS and AtS) give writers so many opportunities to do it.
*nods*
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Date: 2015-12-16 06:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-17 05:16 am (UTC)which look rather Christmas card-like and festive.
You should know that this is ALL your fault:
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/red_satin_doll/51574655/563958/563958_original.png
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Date: 2015-12-18 06:15 pm (UTC):Doesn't feel sorry at all:
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Date: 2015-12-18 10:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-16 07:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-17 05:28 am (UTC)< i>all of which I had the pleasure to beta read.
Seriously? I had no idea - now I feel kind of stalker-y, but in a good way. (In some small particle of my brain that makes total sense.) You must be very pleased to play Godmother to so many fine stories. Well done!
Thank you for the kind feedback, hon! FYI I went to your profile to check out who made your beautiful Darla & maid icon and noticed that you're using my GG bridge icon as your current default, thank you!
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Date: 2015-12-17 06:43 am (UTC)But yeah, I am utterly shocked that the stories I get to beta turn out to be my favorites. Heh. It doesn't happen all the time, but between that and requests, it happens more often than not. *\o/*
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Date: 2015-12-17 10:56 pm (UTC)No, I literally forgot you were going to make it your default icon because I have the short term memory of a gnat. Or - something with really lousy short term memory. Mind like a sieve over here.
I am utterly shocked that the stories I get to beta turn out to be my favorites.
That happened this year for me with Gabrielle's Answering Prayers but then again - it's Gabrielle, I shouldn't be shocked. I've certainly beta'd plenty of stories I don't love, so when I do love the fic it's a treat.
And you hang out with some pretty darn talented folks anyway.
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Date: 2015-12-17 02:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-17 03:17 am (UTC)The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Wednesday, December 16
Date: 2015-12-17 03:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-17 04:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-21 10:16 pm (UTC)Thank you dear! I apologize for missing this comment.
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Date: 2015-12-17 02:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-17 08:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-19 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-21 10:18 pm (UTC)Thank you so much!
I do like the ones you mentioned - and yes, there were plenty of reject versions I didn't post. My favorite is #3, so it's kind of ironic I spent SOOO much time on #1 & 2 and variations thereof. The old KISS (keep it simple stupid) rule, right?