SPN_J2_BigBang 2016 Art Masterpost: Bright Lights and Whiskey Kisses

[mangacat201]

Fic title: BRIGHT LIGHTS AND WHISKEY KISSES
Author name: wetsammy aka wetsammywinchester
Artist name: mangacat201
Genre: J2 RPF
Pairing: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki
Rating: PG (Art only); NC-17 (story)
Word count:24,443
Warnings: Violence
Summary: When alcohol is outlawed during Prohibition, speakeasies crop up all over New York City and people can't get enough of drinking, dancing and live music. Jared's editor at the newspaper assigns the naive young reporter to write reviews of the popular but illegal nightclubs, but he has no idea what he's in for. Meeting Jensen, a bootlegger with a secret, only complicates the situation even more as Jared learns that underneath all the glitter and fun of the speakeasies lies the stink and violence of organized crime.

Artist's Note: Wow, what a wonderful ride. Because despite this being actually the fifth(!) BigBang I've participated in as an artist, I'm still unsure every time whether I've got the chops to do it, or whether my vision to illustrate a story will be enough to do it justice, especially since the time from claiming to drafts always seems so short. However, this time around time was literally not an issue because in reading the summary I already plenty of ideas spring fully formed into my head and could hardly have had more fun in researching the bases for 20s fashion and putting these manips together inspired by the visceral and iconic storytelling in the writing. I have literally no idea how I managed to put together so many pieces this year and it was my utter pleasure to learn new techniques to make my ideas come alive on the screen. This is also the first time I've tried animated art, a fantastic crossover between my vidding passion and photo manipulation I've been branching out into. I'd like to thank wetsammy a lot for providing me with the perfect inspiration through her story, of course wendy for her tireless work every year in making the spn_j2_bigbang challenge a forum for so many talented people to come together and create fabulous things (I swear, one of these years I'll actually submit a story again) and my friends and cheerleaders like silkylustre who gave me feedback on the drafts and made them better. Anyway, for those of you still reading, please enjoy the art and go read the story, it IS fabulous!

Animated GIF Banner (double click to play if not displayed correctly)

Still-Version of the Banner


Characterportrait Jensen


Characterportrait Jared


Characterportrait Danneel


Characterportrait Mark Sheppard


Characterportrait Genevieve


Characterportrait Alaina

Comments

[ameraleigh.livejournal.com]

This is awesome, I love the animated art it just adds something a little extra to the pictures.

They all look great but the Mark portrait is definitely my fave.

I'm looking forward to this story, I'm a huge fan of the 20s

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you! The animated banner art with the lighting effect was my first idea for the story, before I'd even claimed it, but curiously enough it's the last thing I actually finished of the batch because the character portraits just clicked once I started looking for bases. Mark is definitely one that I'm glad I didn't stop tinkering with for a long time, because it came to the point where I surprised myself looking at it the first few moments every time.
Thanks again so much for your tip and I hear you about writing down these things, I remember having a similar experience with photobucket and another artpost I think, thinking the same thing about writing that stuff down, LOL. We never learn, do we?

[fireheart13.livejournal.com]

Wow, these portraits are stunning! The banner is gorgeous, and I love the animation - it isn't overwhelming or anything, just like these greta spotlight moments!

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank so much! I really wanted to capture the old school hollywood feel of the times and I had genuinely so much fun "travelling" those characters back in time. The banner is easily my favourite, mainly because I had no idea going in how animated GIFs even worked *LOL* but I was determined to have one for this, because it just fit too well!

[jennygeee.livejournal.com]

Love these very much!!

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

the character portraits are fabulous! the girls look especially lovely. (and i'm not just saying that because i like their hair. :D ) the animated banner is really cool too.

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I love the girls, and the hair is totally awesome, if it didn't take so much time to make coifs in that style, I'm sure everyone would still be doing it *lol*

[blackrabbit42.livejournal.com]

I love all the character portraits! But Jensen just makes it too easy, doesn't he?

:)

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

Ehehehehe, he does. I tried different bases, but strangely his beautiful face doesn't lend itself to being maniped into 20s period pictures (at least not in the limited amount of time I had to do it) but then I said to myself, he's the only character I actually HAVE in period drab, I'm just going to own up and use it.
The real feat is Alaina though, because honestly that one isn't manipped at all. I just messed with the background a little bit but other than that it's on and I look at it again and again and I literally can't tell if she's done a period fashion shoot once upon a time or had a really beautiful granma-twin in the actual 20s. So I can kinda credit myself only for finding it, LOL.

[red-b-rackham.livejournal.com]

Oh, so cool!! Very nice work!! :D

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm thrilled that you like!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Your animated banner is *amazing*!! Love the character portraits too--Mark and Jensen really do look amazing in anytime period, but these twenties versions are too cool!

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you, that is too kind! I'm thrilled that you like!

[sylsdarkplace]

I love old photos and the 1920s era. You did an excellent job reproducing both!

The animated banner is really cool too. It isn't "techie" at all. It has the feel of an old movie.

Well done!

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

Thank you, what a wonderful comment. I'm stoked you like!