Hi~ I hope this message reaches you! 💕
It’s been a full six months since I first asked for your permission back in January (how time flies), but I’ve finally finished the fanart for your incredible fic. Since you’re the whole reason this piece exists, I really wanted to show it to you before I post it anywhere. I’ve reread your fanfic more times than any other, it’s really special to me.
If you have any feedback or changes you’d like for this fanart, please let me know. I’m happy to make adjustments before it goes public. <3 This is the compressed version cause I can’t send large files here. If you’d like, If you want, I can send the original high-res or PSD file via email or Discord afterwards. (or however is convenient for you! 🥺💕)
The creation process was a long one. I started sketching at the end of February, and completely reworked the color palette of first version. April and May were incredibly busy at work, I was often pulling overtime until midnight. As a game character designer, illustration doesn’t come as naturally to me, so I ended up revising this piece many times. I kept worrying whether it would match the image you had in your head while writing (especially since you’re such a talented fanartist yourself). Still, it was a very happy process knowing that someone was actually looking forward to it.😳
In June, my life went through even bigger changes. I’ve been at NetEase since last year working on unreleased game projects, and occasionally contributing small things to Marvel Rivals (like skins, cards, effects, etc.). Due to budget shifts and business decisions, I won’t be able to continue on that project, and I’ll also be moving to another city for a new project. On top of that, the pressure from AI related layoffs and heavy crunch has been exhausting. So this piece took much longer than I wanted, and I’m really sorry for the delay. Your fic and the lovely comments have really helped me a lot during this time. 😭😭😭
I was thinking of titling the artwork “What Can I Hold You With”, taken from a Jorge Luis Borges poem. The final lines feel fitting for this chapter:
I can give you my loneliness, my darkness, the hunger of my heart;
I am trying to bribe you with uncertainty, with danger, with defeat.
If you have any better title suggestions, I’d love to hear them!
Sorry for writing so much — I hope it doesn’t come across as too heavy. Anyway, here’s the artwork. I worked hard on this and really hope you like it. Thank you so much for reading all this. 🥰
Once you’re okay with it, I’ll post it with credit to you and your fic title. I’d also be happy to include the AO3 link if you’d like. Looking forward to your reply! 💕💕💕
Gosh, you have no idea how overwhelmed and happy this made me! 😭💕 I know I've already gushed about this artwork in DMs, and this is about to be a long answer so I hope it’s not too much but I just have so much to say about it! I'm overjoyed. I literally teared up after receiving this, it means so much to me!
I remember when you commented on my fic six months ago, asking to draw fanart, and just getting that comment made me so happy! I assumed that you probably wouldn't have time to actually do it, considering you're a busy professional artist, but just the fact that you liked my fic and WANTED to draw me something was so incredibly flattering! So when you actually ended up sending me this masterpiece, I was completely blown away! ❤️ 🥹
Also, the fact you read my fic multiple times even though it's so long? That means so much to me, you have no idea! I'm so glad that my fic actually makes other people happy, that was my biggest goal when posting it!
I'm so sorry that things in your career have been so stressful. That sounds really hard. I really hate that AI and the normalization of heavy pressure on artists are making everything so difficult for people in the art industry. I really hope things get easier for you, and the move to the new city goes well! ❤️
As for edits, there's absolutely no way I would ever want edits to this masterpiece! It's literally perfect! The colors are gorgeous! I don't know how you do it, but the way you use contrasting colors to make a painting pop is mesmerizing, and I love it so much! Also, the way the composition flows between what's happening in real life versus the memories in Wade's head is gorgeous. I didn't notice it at first, but the way you used the slightly more ethereal and airbrushed style for Wade's memories contrasts so well with the more realistic and visceral depiction of his actual situation. It does such an amazing job of showing how he idolizes Peter and sort of views a relationship between them as unattainable. It really feels like he's envisioning what he thinks is a pipe dream, even though it actually happened.
I also adore that you made two versions! I love both so much for different reasons. I noticed how you added the webs from the scene in the previous chapter, and I love it so much! I can't believe I got TWO gorgeous pieces of artwork that I can share in my fic!
I also really love the title you came up with, and I'll definitely have to read that poem. it's beautiful and goes really well with your painting!
Again, I can't thank you enough for this artwork. I had no idea I'd ever receive something so beautiful when I started my fic! I can't wait to include this in the next chapter, and when I'm done with the fic, I can't wait to print it out and bind it with this as the cover! This is the best gift I've ever gotten because it just means so much to me that you put so much effort into creating such and masterpiece for my story. 🥹❤️
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