5 Graphic Artists Who Thought Outside the Box

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

It's no secret that the BtVS fandom is blessed with a huge array of talented artists. Manippers and banner/icon makers are the people who make us look good. But seeing artwork that goes beyond manipping and screencaps is usually pretty rare. Luckily, 2008 heralded the entrance of a few individuals and/or their work into our playpen that stretched the boundaries.

tibialisant 
Artwork: James Portrait & Right Back Atcha, Baby
In my two years, I believe Tibi is the first artist I noticed that actually drew and sketched with pencil and paper. And not only does she draw, but she does so with immense skill. Her flexibility and scope is huge. Always experimenting with her style, she changes it up drastically from picture to picture (abstract, photo realistic, comic style, sketches, b&w, color), which makes viewing her work fresh and exciting. She is also fearless and often uses unexpected angles and POVs for her more dynamic scenes, employing them to dramatic and sensual effect depending on the mood of her piece. Her art catalog is diverse, ecclectic, and varied. 

thedothatgirl
Artwork: Whedonverse Art  & Willow/Tara Piece
I've only recently become acquainted with her work through her icon posts, but thedothatgirl also does hand drawn art, usually highly detailed portraits with realistic coloring. I'm a stickler for photo realism and was incredibly impressed. Check out her gallery for her full collection.

fenderlove 
Artwork: Spike: London Calling & Crossdressing Spike
Illustrating your own comic book is ambitious. Doing it with a program I don't often see used? Even better! fenderlove's artwork, which she creates using Photoshop CS3, is fun, colorful and even a bit cheeky. Her Spike is often mischievous and the pieces he appears in are carefully rendered. I always get a kick out of seeing his various misadventures in fenderlove's hands not to mention her very pregnant OC, Ursula. 

shanmara 
Artwork: Spike Burning & Spike in the 40's and If Angelus Ruled the World (NWS for gore)
Although shanmara is a manipper, she made the list because of her diversity and her incredible ability to work off prompts. Her interpretation of requests, challenges, and prompts is impressive, to say the least. Her body of work runs the gamut from mock movie posters, vintage era bases, and head shots to traditional manips, icons and banners. Her blending is superb and the clarity of her base pictures crystal. I am constantly awed by her creativity and skill.  

otherpictures 
Artwork: BtVS icons
I'm always on the lookout for unusual icons and what I like so much about otherpictures' is her interesting use of text and song lyrics in her work. They're poetic, powerful, and often angsty. The connections she makes between her visuals and words is sometimes a bit abstract, but why go for the obvious? [FYI - the icon I used for this post is one of hers]

Comments

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

A wonderful selection of very talented artists there. Thanks for the recs.

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

My pleasure, Sue. Had I been doing an art post specific to manippers, your name would definately have been listed. I admire you mightily.

Tell me something. You've been around longer than I have. Why is it that manipping seems to be the most popular fandom artform? I'm always so, so impressed when people can actually draw, but there's very little of it.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

Maybe because it's quicker to do. You can turn around a piece in few hours/days, whilst a complicated artwork done in a more traditional medium could take several days, even weeks.

Maybe that why in this day and age many artists like to rework their hand drawn artworks in Photoshop or some other such graphics program.

Saying that I have to say that manniping is not always the easy option it may appear. To truly get the best out of Photoshop does take a good deal of artistic flare too.

[mere-ubu.livejournal.com]

So much pretty! I've only seen a couple of these. Thanks for pointing me towards a couple of artists who are new to me!

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just die when I see a beautiful piece of art. I don't comment as often as I should, but I think fandom artwork is a guilty pleasure of mine, too.

Thanks for pointing me towards a couple of artists who are new to me!
Oh, how wonderful to hear. When I do these posts I try to put in authors/artists or fic I think might not have been read before because they're more obscure or not from uber popular and well known writers. There's so much good work that doesn't get the recognition it should because everyone's looking in one basket. I really wish people tried to promote the little guys as much as the fandom favorites.

[nonothrthnme.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much....
*hearts and blushes*

really dear, thank you.

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

My pleasure. You are one of my favorite graphics people, Tibi. It would have been a huge omission not to mention you. You do such beautiful work.

I know I've been sort of lax about commenting lately since I haven't been around much, but when I can I try to tell you how impressed I am. You more than deserve it. *squishy hugs*

Keep doing what you do. By the number of comments you get, I'm pretty certain it's not just me who's floored by your work.

[nonothrthnme.livejournal.com]

And you really do let me know. I so very much appreciate it and all your encouragement. Thanks and hugs and kisses

*hides to blush now*

[yourlibrarian]

Oh I loved that Willow/Tara piece (and your write-ups are great!) The 3rd and 4th recs are locked though.

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

Oh I loved that Willow/Tara piece
Mmhm. It's beautiful. She also did a really stunning Harmony piece (http://thedothatgirl.livejournal.com/55563.html). I'll be keeping my eye on her, for sure.

And thanks for the write-up compliment. I try really hard to make them engaging!

The 3rd and 4th recs are locked though.
Yeah. I'm afraid you'll have to friend nekid_spike to see them. I couldn't find the pics linked anywhere else, not even the artist's own journals. Sorry about that.

[yourlibrarian]

You're right about that Harmony one, it's terrific.

[katekat]

very cool! love this list!

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

Awesome! It's a bitch coming up with creative lists, so I'm happy to hear it worked for you.

And, since you're here, I want to compliment you on your work, too. I've seen some of your comm and story banners before. They're beautiful :)

[katekat]

It's a bitch coming up with creative lists,

i totally agree! this is part of why I've had a tough time with my lists this year :D

and thank you - that's so sweet of you!

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I am very much flattered to be mentioned amongst these others who I admire each and every one.

Up above, I saw that you asked Sue about hand-drawn artwork and manipped artwork. Most of my work is drawn by hand, scanned, and coloured in Photoshop using a wacom tablet and pen/stylus. I like the cleaner lines I can achieve with Photoshop rather than the look of my own hand-renderings.

I'm so glad that you are enjoying London Calling, and I hope to get back working on it soon. Thanks again!

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

"Most of my work is drawn by hand, scanned, and coloured in Photoshop using a wacom tablet and pen/stylus. I like the cleaner lines I can achieve with Photoshop rather than the look of my own hand-renderings."

Thats it. Thanks fort explaining that better then I did hun. *g*

[nonothrthnme.livejournal.com]

Just chucking in yet more praise here for those that, in the case of sueworld2003 and fenderlove here in particular, more than know their way round their programs and artistic media as a whole. You use them so creatively I cannot express how much your work impresses me.

Both of you create such stunning pieces, I am always all agog, and tho I have tried my hand at Photoshop, and "painting" with my wacom, it is just not something I can wrap my tiny brain around obviously. Most I can do is occasionally glue on a head in a pic, or put some REALLY BIZARRE colour under one of my drawings, (which never match the complexity of fender's - ever - *sigh*). Each and every time, I am reminded that ... it is just not ma thing.

You lovely artists, however - RULE!! And I love you for all of it!!

*smooch* There. had to say it.

[nonothrthnme.livejournal.com]

Oo ooo and I add in there shanmara whois another who without fail absolutely drops my jaw and makes me think it's a real photo of the subject that she's played with.

GUH!

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

My RL work puts me in contact with a lot of artwork and I've always had a soft spot for people who can actually draw simply because it's a skill I always wished I had. It's important to mention you girls because you're doing something that most people don't do in this fandom and that's pretty amazing. So thank you.

Most of my work is drawn by hand, scanned, and coloured in Photoshop using a wacom tablet
Oh, absolutely. I didn't mean to imply that you create digital art. Maybe I should clarify in the post. I'm familiar with wacom tablets. A good artist friend of mine actally did two Buffy pieces using one. They're pretty cool. You can check them out here:
Ecstasy, Pleasure, Booty (http://clawofcat.livejournal.com/32863.html#cutid1) (Buffy/Spike/Faith)
Tryst (http://clawofcat.livejournal.com/33799.html#cutid1) (Buffy/Spike/Angel)

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

Oh, absolutely. I didn't mean to imply that you create digital art. Maybe I should clarify in the post.
Oh, no, you don't have to do that. I just wanted to attempt to explain why some people choose one art-form over another.

I remember those pieces by Gus! Those are awesome! Very visually dynamic!

[shapinglight]

Great choices, and I see what you mean about the icon maker. So often, the text on icons strikes me as all kinds of wrong. Not this time.

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

So often, the text on icons strikes me as all kinds of wrong. Not this time.
Totally. I am utter icon whore. I love just having them. And what makes a really good icon for me is the clarity of the image and the crop, but also how words are incorporated. It's so cool when an icon really is able to set a mood or well up an emotional reaction. I think otherpictures manages to do that quite well.

I used another one by hers for this comment.

[otherpictures.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks so much for this!

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I think I saw your Dec icon post linked from another reccer a few weeks ago and I was really impressed. You do beautiful work :)

[otherpictures.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm all "PEOPLE ARE RECCING MY ICONS" and then there are flailing arms. :D

[stars-of-tears.livejournal.com]

We're lucky to have such wonderful artists in the fandom!
Too bad there were only 5 spots! ;)

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

We're lucky to have such wonderful artists in the fandom!
That we are. It's a real treat to oggle over their work.

Too bad there were only 5 spots!
You know, originally I wanted to have all 5 spots filled by artists that do hand-drawn art, but it turned out I could only think of 3! You should do an art rec. As you say, there are plenty people worth mentioning.

[shanmara.livejournal.com]

Thank you, honey. You made my day, more than you can imagine(and thanks a lot to Sue who pointed me to the community!)

One of these days, I'll try to go back to drawing, and it will be for you :)

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I could make your day. There's not enough smiles to go around, especially this time of year.

One of these days, I'll try to go back to drawing, and it will be for you :)
That would be amazing! Do you have a background in the arts?

Since you're here, I also just want to reiterate how much I love your work. I've been around rather sparingly, but I try to at least look at every piece you post. And I love hearing about how you do them. There's somethig about an artist's process that just gets my rapt attention. *hugs*

[shanmara.livejournal.com]

I have no background in the arts at all - I have just been sketching since I was a child, I guess.

For example, my son (and his cow!):
http://www.weblogimages.com/v.p?uid=shanmara&pid=557353&sid=EUW25lnxK4

or this portrait of Hubert Selby Jr:
http://www.weblogimages.com/v.p?uid=shanmara&pid=557351&sid=uGY17kwyV3

Very conventional stuff, nothing like the amazing creativity and originality of tibialisant and fenderlove. These two have a unique style!

*hugs*

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

You're too modest. Conventional maybe, as the pieces are very classical, but it still takes skill. I couldn't just plop down a dash something like that off.

Thank you for sharing, Chian. Especially the adorable one of your son. He's the picture of innocence, just basking away in that field. It's a real treat to see your other work.

[nonothrthnme.livejournal.com]

OMG!! Your portraits are soooooo beautiful!!!

♥ ♥ ♥

love you Chian and thank you.