ART: When You Needed Saving [G] Gaius, Merlin

[merlin-hols.livejournal.com]

Title: When You Needed Saving
Recipient: kriadydragon
Artist: Anon
Rating: G
Characters: Gaius, Merlin
Medium: Chalk pastel on black paper
Content Notes/Warnings: Gaius caring for an unconscious Merlin.
Artist's Notes: Happy Holidays, kriadydragon! I was delighted to draw on several of the elements in your signup, not least of which were hurt/comfort with an emphasis on comfort, helpless and hurt!Merlin, friendship, brotherly love, Arthur or someone else taking care of Merlin for a change, and sick Merlin being cared for by Arthur, one of the knights or Gaius. Title taken from The Decemberist's song, "Dear Avery," which always makes me think of Gaius and Merlin.






Also on AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/1053163

Comments

[rotrude.livejournal.com]

I love this so much! It's sombre/beautiful, a little bit Baroque and highlights a very touching relationship. Brilliant!

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I happen to love that Gaius/Merlin father/son relationship; I'm so glad it spoke to you too!

[cat-77.livejournal.com]

That is beautiful! I love the use of the paper as natural shadows and the overall feeling of caring of the piece.

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I like using dark/black paper for night scenes, and that's exactly the feeling I was trying to evoke. <3

[digthewriter]

JUST AMAZING

[altocello.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU! <3

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! I love it so much! Thank you :D I adore caring, fatherly Gaius and this is gorgeous :D

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for leaving me such a wonderful prompt! I was delighted to get to draw Gaius, and I adore his relationship with Merlin, so this was such a treat. And I'm beyond pleased that you love it! <3

[gealach-ros.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is stunning! *is in awe*

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, I'm very pleased to know you liked it!

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

That is gorgeous. Love the line work!

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! <3

[subtlefire.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is just gorgeous. The concern and care on Gaius's face is lovely, and Merlin is cutting me with his cheekbones through the screen.

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! Dear Gaius just doesn't get drawn enough, in my opinion. And, lol, yes those cheekbones are practically a weapon, aren't they?

[gwylliondream.livejournal.com]

This is gorgeous! I can imagine it framed above a mantle. What a conversation piece!

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Have to admit I'm at a bit of a loss for words re: the framing over the mantle idea, because I'm incredibly flattered that you think it's that good! <3

[destina.livejournal.com]

This is lovely! Such amazing use of shadows.

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I love using black/dark paper, it makes for such dramatic lighting. <3

[katie-andrew.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is beautiful. <3
I'm especially drawn to Gaius's face; I really love the coloring.

Thanks for sharing!

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I love drawing his face, and this is probably my favorite color combination to work with!

[clawdine]

This is incredible! I love the high contrast between the dark background and the pastels. And such a lovely moment to capture too. Thank you for sharing.

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I love the contrast too, it's why I chose to use the chalk. I'm very happy to know that you enjoyed the moment I chose, too! <3

[unbidden-truth.livejournal.com]

This is absolutely gorgeous. I love the medium used, the use of shadows and shading, and especially love the scene you depicted. I can see Gaius's concern for Merlin! A really lovely piece!

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I adore chalk pastels on dark paper, it's my new favorite thing. And I enjoyed getting to find a moment that really encapsulated one of my favorite relationships in the show. I'm so glad that came across! <3

[rocknvaughn.livejournal.com]

I adore this drawing and will admit that it blows my mind a little. Drawing this must be a little like working with a negative, because instead of drawing against the light and creating shadows, you start with the shadows and have to create the light.

And the details you're able to create in this format! It's obvious that there is moonlight coming in the window of Merlin's room to backlight Gaius's hair and Merlin's shirt. Gaius's fingerless gloves, the little flip at the end of Merlin's belt, the delineation of the sewn bib area on Merlin's tunic, the bunching of his neckerchief, the difference in the lighting from the moon and the candlelight giving different tones to Gaius especially, the moonlight highlighting Merlin's chin, cheekbones and brow.

*Kermit flails* So much talent! *iz not worthy*

[altocello.livejournal.com]

I love flipping this particular switch, because you're right, with the dark paper you have to think in terms of light. It means I get to start with some fun features, like the light along the top of all those folds, the bridge of a nose, the forehead, lips, and cheekbones. It's a very different place to be than when using graphite on white paper, and I love the drama it creates!

I do spend a lot of time getting all those details in there, and trying to get them just right, so I'm delighted to know that you enjoyed them all so much!

Thanks so much for the lovely comment!! {{{huuuuuuugs}}}

[merlocked18.livejournal.com]

This. This is just absolutely perfect. Makes me emotional. There is so much feeling in this moment. Gaius' almost reverent concern for Merlin. Love the warmth the fire casts on Gaius, contrasting with the colder tones on Merlin's form. Pastels look absolutely their best on black or dark paper. You draw the light, like someone already said above.


Marvellous piece!

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I'm so glad to know that this spoke to you on an emotional level; it's such a calm scene but with strong undercurrents, and I'm really happy to know that they came across. I do enjoy working with the blue/orange color combination as it really evokes that whole moonlight/firelight setting, especially on the dark paper. I love that we just insert the context, without me having to even show the window or the fire!

[mrs-leary.livejournal.com]

So very lovely! The warm and cool light, and the obvious concern and care that Gaius feels, are beautifully done and indeed very canonical! :-) It's deceptively simple yet rather unusual, I think, especially the highlights on Merlin's face. Very well done!

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I do love playing the warm/cool colors off of each other, and they also have the advantage of giving a rather immediate sense of place without me going to great lengths to establish the setting. :D I am so glad that sense of concern and care came through so clearly, as I really love the relationship these two have in canon (I feel I should add that I'm happy to think of them in a less... familial... relationship too, lol, but you knew that :D). And yes, I had to balance the colors very carefully in all of this; Merlin's face was especially tricky with the two light sources playing so close to each other. There was a lot I had to just leave blank too, like the side of Gaius' face and much of his sleeve, and I can't tell you how many times I drew and erased those folds on his sleeves until I thought they were just right, LOL! <3

[amphigoury.livejournal.com]

Awesome work Cello! I always love the mix of moonlight/candlelight in your canon pieces. And the likenesses!! **APPLAUDS**

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, Amph! The lighting is just one of many reasons I love doing canon pieces, but it's a good one. :D And thanks for your help fine tuning the likeness, you da bestest! **HUGS**

[eurydice72.livejournal.com]

This is just absolutely stunning.

[altocello.livejournal.com]

Thank you very, very much! <3