#2017 spotlights

[captainswanbigbang]

CSBB Artist Spotlight: hook-and-star-ink

Today’s Captain Swan Big Bang Spotlight features @hook-and-star-ink!

What kinds of artwork do you make?

Digital and traditional paintings/drawings.

What's your favorite thing about creating artwork?

Zoning out and creating something for my own enjoyment.

What's one of your greatest strengths when it comes to creating artwork?

Being open to trying new techniques as well as moving on easily if I goof it up. Life happens, mistakes happen, getting worked up over it isn't going to make you grow.

What's something you've always wanted to try your hand at, but haven't had a chance yet?

Sculpting.

If you participated in the first Captain Swan Big Bang, what was the experience like for you? What are you looking forward to this time around?

Incredibly fun. I enjoyed reading the fic I was assigned and I am so excited to read more fic and create more art. Being able to collaborate with others is so exciting.

First Artwork: http://hook-and-star-ink.tumblr.com/post/152488873862/as-you-wish-happy-halloween-everybody

It was my first tackle at a Captain Swan animated gif. Even if it was just messing around with the lighting effect, I am proud it turned out so well.

Second Artwork: http://hook-and-star-ink.tumblr.com/post/110479995237/sunrise-prints-available-here

My biggest achievements are lighting, so this one, creating a soft, warm atmosphere was incredibly hard and I enjoy the result.

Third Artwork: http://hook-and-star-ink.tumblr.com/post/82954203877/lost-and-found-a-captain-swan-knightsau-prints

This one helped me with exercising my more dynamic poses and compositions. Also, I'm weak for knights AUs.  

Check out hook-and-star-ink on Tumblr - DeviantArt (We recommend following her on Tumblr--she occasionally live-streams as she paints!)

[captainswanbigbang]

CSBB Artist Spotlight: clockadile

Today’s Captain Swan Big Bang Spotlight features @clockadile!

What kinds of artwork do you make?

Drawing, painting and animation.

What's your favorite thing about creating artwork?

Always having new questions to solve. It's weirdly both frustrating and relaxing at the same time when something stumps me like a shadow or a hand not looking right and then I get into this hyper focused mode where it's nice to just be concentrating on one thing. I mean I might still swear under my breath but it's fun.

What's one of your greatest strengths when it comes to creating artwork?

Well damn uhh... I'm always so focused on what I want to improve on next that I don't think as much about what I'm good at. Those are solved problems. I don't have to think about them! But I've made a lot of progress on my lighting lately and I'm pretty proud of that.

What's something you've always wanted to try your hand at, but haven't had a chance yet?

Art wise or general life stuff? General life stuff I'd like to go surfing one day. Art wise, I want to try using a fully hinged stop motion rig like they use at Laika studios.

If you participated in the first Captain Swan Big Bang, what was the experience like for you? What are you looking forward to this time around?

I really enjoyed working on blessed-but-distress's fantastic noir styled fic, "A Lost Boy's Guide to Hollywood.” Fitting a style to the story gave me a chance to really push myself to go bolder on my contrasts between light and dark and there was always something new to inspire me every chapter. I'm especially happy with my chapter 2 art of Emma pinning a mark to the ground. That scene was a lot of fun to read and to draw. It's easy to fall into the habbit of drawing people not really doing anything. Getting great scenes like that brings more character action and story into my own work. I'm looking forward to doing all that again.

First Artwork: (CLICK FOR FULL IMAGE)

It's my most recent one and after having a lot of fun doing Emma all brightly lit I wanted to try more Killian backlit. It's not something I've done with colour too much before and I was really happy I managed to get that darker side but also keep the colours warm and vibrant. 

Second Artwork: (CLICK GIF FOR FULL SET)

Remember that one time I animated a fanfic? Yea that was cool. Maybe I'll do it again sometime. ;)

Third Artwork: (CLICK FOR FULL IMAGE)

I'm just really happy with how the expressions came out and the simple background setting. And I feel like I got a really nice stylization going for Emma's face that simplifies the shape but still feels like Emma.

Check out clockadile on Tumblr

[captainswanbigbang]

CSBB Artist Spotlight: optomisticgirl

Today’s Captain Swan Big Bang Spotlight features @optomisticgirl!

What kinds of artwork do you make?

Pic collages

What's your favorite thing about creating artwork?

I like giving visual imagery to a fic, a picture source the reader can kind of relate to specific parts of a story.

What's one of your greatest strengths when it comes to creating artwork?

I'm very OCD when it comes to creating something and will work at it until it's just right or I find the perfect image to represent something.

What's something you've always wanted to try your hand at, but haven't had a chance yet?

Gif sets where multiple scenes are in the same gif.

If you are new to the Captain Swan Big Bang, what made you decide to sign up? What are you looking forward to?

I love fandom projects like this but my muse never gives me the opportunity to join them in a writing aspect, so I decided to offer up my artistic services. I'm looking forward to giving a visual representation for a writer's work.

Featured Artwork: https://optomisticgirl.tumblr.com/post/142914500317/as-real-as-you-want-it-to-be-by

This is my all time favorite fake dating fic that I've read and I'm proud I was able to put a special thing from the fic in this collage - the picture of the coffee cup was originally blank and I added one of the quotes from the story on it to give it a more personal feel.

Fics:

Days of Future’s Past (FFNet)

This was the first piece of writing (other than an English assignment) that I completed and still remains very near and dear to my heart.

Concealed Confessions (FFNet)

This was my first time writing smut and it turned out better than I had hoped and not cheesy like I had feared!

Check out optomisticgirl on Tumblr - FFNet - AO3

[captainswanbigbang]

CSBB Artist Spotlight: bleebug

Today’s Captain Swan Big Bang Spotlight features @bleebug!

What kinds of artwork do you make?

Digital art mainly. It's been a while since I worked with traditional media.

What's your favorite thing about creating artwork?

Getting better. Of course it's nice to express myself and put my faves in domestic situations, and I'll be honest, feedback is like half the joy. But really, I just love when I notice that I've improved from one work to the next. I get a strange sense of accomplishment despite it being just kind of a fun hobby.

What's one of your greatest strengths when it comes to creating artwork?

Persistence maybe? There have been times when I've drawn and redrawn some part of a piece over and over and over until I feel satisfied with the result. Sometimes it's with the lines, sometimes it's with the coloring, but I guarantee you that there's just something in every piece that stumps me for a while before I can figure it out.

What's something you've always wanted to try your hand at, but haven't had a chance yet?

Acrylics. I have the paints, I have the canvas... but I'm always just too nervous to start something. I'm not sure why!! Maybe I've just gotten so used to working on Photoshop that I'm too afraid of messing up with paints.

If you are new to the Captain Swan Big Bang, what made you decide to sign up? What are you looking forward to?

Well SOMEONE was very persuasive. ;)  Haha, but really, I just wanted to contribute. I know the stuff from last year was really amazing and I found new writers and artists to follow and flail over. Just throwing myself into the fun this year! (Plus, I mean, I get to read and gush over an awesome fic before it even gets posted. How rad is that?)

First Artwork: https://bleebug.tumblr.com/post/153886129196/come-away-with-me-11-summary-emma-feels

It took a lot of time and work to get the entire piece done, but honestly I'm just proud of myself for attempting a background. I'm *terrible* at putting characters in an environment. Always have been. So this was a challenge for me. I'm also definitely proud that I managed to actually couple a fic and artwork, and I'm glad they seemed to go well together. Good practice for CSBB!

Second Artwork: https://bleebug.tumblr.com/post/157031024171/the-mummy-cs-au-artwork-for-lenfaz-for-the-500

It only took me, oh, about a dozen attempts before I managed to get the lighting to look decent. (That is, recoloring the *entire* image.) I take for granted how often I seem to ignore light sources in my artwork until I realize that I have to reflect firelight at an upward angle against their faces. I learned a lot while drawing this!

Third Artwork: https://bleebug.tumblr.com/post/159801450636/my-shirt-looks-much-better-on-you-oh-yeah

I'm just happy to finally be drawing them both with smiles on their faces instead of the Serious Look(TM) that I always tend to do when drawing. Killian's face took a few attempts. Emma's was surprisingly simple. I think that's something else I like, just the simplicity of it. (That's my way of saying, I don't need no heckin' background!)

Check out bleebug on Tumblr - AO3

[captainswanbigbang]

CSBB Artist Spotlight: dagypsygirl

Today’s Captain Swan Big Bang Spotlight features @dagypsygirl!

What kinds of artwork do you make?

Mostly traditional but sometimes fiddle around with PS.

What's your favorite thing about creating artwork?

I love to experiment and try new things. I'm trying to express the ideas in my head and put them onto the canvas or sketchbook, and I can't resist using many different mediums to do so.

What's one of your greatest strengths when it comes to creating artwork?

I cannot judge myself well, but according to people around me, my stuff is always bright and colourful.

What's something you've always wanted to try your hand at, but haven't had a chance yet?

I've almost nothing digitally. (Except for csss)

If you are new to the Captain Swan Big Bang, what made you decide to sign up? What are you looking forward to?

I thought it'd be interesting to do something like this and collaborate with other people, and I'd say...the process of reading the story, talking to the writer about it, and trying to illustrate it.

First Artwork: http://dagypsygirl.tumblr.com/post/149952998576/pirate-and-princess-dancing-in-the-moonlight

It's my first fanart (that I've posted) and I'm really fond of it. I had wanted to do something like it for a while and one day just started it, and I'm really happy with the result.

Second Artwork: http://dagypsygirl.tumblr.com/post/160684681611/horse-with-white-charcoal-i-believe-i-did-this

I'm proud because I was scared to do it. I was so scared of getting something wrong (and, tbh, I probably did) but then I did it anyways, so. :)

Third Artwork: http://dagypsygirl.tumblr.com/post/160685272956/first-experiment-with-typography-and-i-just-had

This was the first time I'd ever tried something like this, and I found I quite liked it!

Check out dagypsygrl on Tumblr

[captainswanbigbang]

CSBB Artist Spotlight: thisisartyanna

Today’s Captain Swan Big Bang Spotlight features @thisisartyanna!

What kinds of artwork do you make?

Traditional and digital portraits usually!

What's your favorite thing about creating artwork?

It's just good to have a finished product the end of it! Something that I can say, "Hey, I made this. This is mine" about. Also, if I'm feeling a lot of things (cough, cough Captain Swan) it helps me get those feelings out.

What's one of your greatest strengths when it comes to creating artwork?

Strength?!? Maybe colour? I've been trying to be more experimental with colour recently and I think it's working out well! I only used to draw in black and white, so I'm pretty proud about that.

What's something you've always wanted to try your hand at, but haven't had a chance yet?

Full body works! With feet! And legs!

If you participated in the first Captain Swan Big Bang, what was the experience like for you? What are you looking forward to this time around?

I participated in the CSBB as a writer last year. Being an artist seems less stressful, so I'm already on board with that. But what I'm most looking forward to is just reading everyone's stories - especially the story I get paired with. I actually have a reason to do some art for a fic without looking like a crazy, obsessed weirdo! When I read a fic I like, I turn into a BIG fangirl, so creating art for a fic is the ultimate reward for me.

First Artwork: http://thisisartyanna.tumblr.com/post/157986775347/my-latest-captain-swan-digital-painting-please

I just loooooooove the dress. I struggle the clothing so I am SO proud of this one. Also I love it because it's Captain Swan wedding - and what's not to love about a Captain Swan wedding?

Second Artwork: http://thisisartyanna.tumblr.com/post/158268626602/facebook-twitter-society6-instagram

Third Artwork: http://thisisartyanna.tumblr.com/post/156987546922/the-pirate-and-the-princess-facebook-twitter

Reason

Check out thisisartyanna on FFnet

[captainswanbigbang]

CSBB Artist Spotlight: utopiozphere

Today’s Captain Swan Big Bang Spotlight features @utopiozphere!

What kinds of artwork do you make?

Fanart of basically anything that interests me.

What's your favorite thing about creating artwork?

I really like creating concepts and ideas. So one piece of art work may have around 10 different sketches before it is set on paper.

What's one of your greatest strengths when it comes to creating artwork?

Does trying out different styles count? I have no set style so I incorporate whatever motivates me into my art.

What's something you've always wanted to try your hand at, but haven't had a chance yet?

I would like to try and do a short fan animation or make a leather bound book.

If you are new to the Captain Swan Big Bang, what made you decide to sign up? What are you looking forward to?

I joined because I really want to get to know people in the fandom, but I'm insanely shy. I'm looking forward to everything about the CSBB!

First Artwork: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1881172932110841&id=1654771234751013 (SET OF PHOTOS)

I'm not too good at creating backgrounds but I really wanted to draw the night sky. I'm super proud of how in one year I went from just doodles of space pictures to this. Also I love space. Like, really, really love space.

Second Artwork: http://utopiozphere.tumblr.com/post/158304575198/accept-the

One of my favourite games is Kingdom Hearts. And seeing how OUAT is also Disney related I just thought it would be a great idea to have the characters drawn in Tetsuya Nomura's style. At the moment all I have is Emma but I'm planning on doing more AU's of the OUAT characters in the Kingdom Hearts universe.

Third Artwork: https://www.facebook.com/1654771234751013/photos/a.1743637482531054.1073741829.1654771234751013/1743637255864410/?type=3&theater

It doesn't look like much but this was one of the first art that I ever made digitally. I love concept art and even though I don't post much of them online it doesn't stop me from making them. And I love designing clothes to put on characters.

Check out utopiozphere on Facebook

[captainswanbigbang]

CSBB Artist Spotlight: just-be-magnificent

Today’s Captain Swan Big Bang Spotlight features @just-be-magnificent!

What kinds of artwork do you make?

All kinds of edits! (manips, aesthetics, gifsets etc.)

What's your favorite thing about creating artwork?

Most of all - it's an ability to tell a story without words. I always try to give meaning to my works - and make them special.

What's one of your greatest strengths when it comes to creating artwork?

I think it's passion and attention to details.

What's something you've always wanted to try your hand at, but haven't had a chance yet?

Digital or traditional painting.

If you are new to the Captain Swan Big Bang, what made you decide to sign up? What are you looking forward to?

I've never participated in anything before - and I just really wanted to join some project.

First Artwork: http://just-be-magnificent.tumblr.com/post/153653795042/this-is-true-love-you-think-this-happens-every

What can I say? This is one of my favorites manips! I love "The Princess Bride" and I love Captain Swan - so it had to be done.

Second Artwork: http://just-be-magnificent.tumblr.com/post/159572705922/cs-au-true-loves-kiss (GIFSET)

It is required a lot of work to do a manipulation gifs - but when finally it all comes together it's a small miracle.

Third Artwork: http://just-be-magnificent.tumblr.com/post/159876823717/lily-of-the-valley-%CB%88l%C9%AAl%C9%AA%C9%99v%C3%B0%C9%99v%C3%A6l%C9%AA-in-the (GIFSET)

I like a new technique I used for this art, and i really like the idea about the plant symbolism (and also - it's a cs wedding!)

Check out just-be-magnificent on Tumblr