Art: At Summer's End (PG)

[pink_mint]

Title: At Summer's End
Characters: Harry/Draco
Rating: PG
Created with: Painter X
Notes: This was inspired by and drawn for harrylovesdraco's Challenge #8 - the dog days of summer. Thank you to marguerite_26 for being my absolutely marvelous second pair of eyes. So much love for you, darling. Also, a special shout-out to mystressxoxo: Happy Birthday, hon!! :D Additional notes below.

Additional notes: This painting posed two entirely new challenges for me: this is the first painting I've done with two characters in it, and it's also the first painting I've done that had characters with a completed background behind them. Let me tell you, I have a whole new level of respect for artists who draw 2+ characters all the time. It's difficult to do for a large number of reasons, one of them being proportion.

I nearly binned it in the beginning due to a very rough start from bad judgements on my part, but I loved the idea and knew that I had to follow this through and make it work.

marguerite_26 is a total gem. She helped me so much with this and also emphasized to me the symbology of the sunset in the background complimenting the sunset of their relationship. Trust me when I say that this wouldn't be nearly as good if it weren't for her. She even helped with the title. :) An absolute angel, that one. Thank you, sweetheart!!

To my f-list: as you can see, those were Draco's lips! :D I loved hearing what everyone guessed, so thanks very much to those who made one!! (For those not on my f-list, I've started a new thing where I post exclusives, which is basically WIPs, previews, and things of that nature. If you'd like to see those, just friend me and I'll friend you back!)

Finally, as to what's going on between Harry and Draco in this, I'm leaving that up for your interpretation.

I hope you enjoy this! I'm so excited to hear any thoughts you have about it. :D

ETA: As of March 30, 2010, this has won an award!

Comments

[potteresque_ire]

Oh Wow. *Stared*. Draco looks exquisite. The sunset, the tears are beautiful, works brilliantly together and at the same time, offers a very good contrast, the flames vs the quiet sadness... *Sigh*.. I wonder what's the occasion? Are they breaking up when you say the sunset of their relationship? *sobs*

Maggie is absolute ♥, indeed!! :)

[mystressxoxo.livejournal.com]

It was Draco!!

And this is GORGEOUS!!! Holy Christmas!! This is just breathtaking, love! OMG... I'm just at a loss for words... again! Brilliant... absolutely brilliant!

Thank you for the birthday shout-out. *glomps you* You are too sweet! Being able to see this is present enough for me! =^;^=

[dysonrules.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, so pretty! Draco looks like Venus. Very nice. Of course they are only crying because they have sand in their eyes. Once they go have a nice shower and a shag or two they'll be fine.

*glares at any attempt to suggest otherwise*

[cinnatart.livejournal.com]

holy background detail. the water and the sky both, I love them.

Eyes. Oh my GOD the eyes. They just... I'm like, drowning in emotion here and I love it.

Also, the hair. I love the hair, on both of them.

I adore you, I truly do.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! I'm so delighted you like Draco. I do like him with that damp and slightly curly hair. And I hadn't decided on the occasion myself, but I had a few scenarios in mind, all terribly sad and ending unhappily for the poor things (except for the one where they make up! ;) ).

[oohyaoi.livejournal.com]

first of all, the detail in their hair (especially Draco's) is just insanely well done. I sat there staring at each strand of Draco's head forever.

This painting makes me feel so many conflicting emotions! The background is absolutely beautiful, but then I really take in their expressions and I feel so heartbroken. At first I thought it was just Harry that was upset, but Draco's just as torn up, but in his own silent way.

Absolutely lovely. Wonderful job.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Yep, and you guessed it! :D

Oh wow, thank you so much! I'm very glad you like this, darling. It makes it all especially worthwhile!

And you're very welcome for the birthday shout-out. *glomps back* I hope you've had the best day!

[alaana-fair.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is beautiful, hon! The tears are heartbreaking. You made me cry, dammit! I'm imagining the tears are because their holiday together is over and they have to go back to the respective wives lives, but I have to believe they'll be back together again. It may take months... maybe years, but they will meet again on that beautiful beach at sunrise one day, and it will be a new beginning. *sniffles*

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Ahh! I do se that - Draco does remind me of Venus. How lovely, thank you!

And you're quite right, it's the sand that's bothering them. They got a bit too rough when playing around the beach...where's their wands when they need a good cleaning spell?

[dysonrules.livejournal.com]

*adores you for allowing me my fantasy*

*happy sigh*

[mystressxoxo.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, and this really is just so gorgeous. Your Draco made my heart skip a beat. He just glows as bright as that sunset. *loves*

My birthday was great. I've just had a bit of a Harry birthday actually. We didn't have any money to buy me a cake or anything, so my husband opened an oreo cookie and put a candle in the filling. My son was thrilled, and I thought it was terribly sweet. So yes, it was a great day! :D

[neko-taka.livejournal.com]

LOVE! So sad though...I don't want them to be sad! There's too much sadness in this world already >.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

holy background detail.

So, so pleased you like the background. *is burnt out*

I'm a bit partial to the eyes, too. And I'm glad you like their hair!! I'm so in love with the idea of a slightly wet and wavy haired Draco. :)

Thank you so much, love! ♥

[fireflavored.livejournal.com]

I got it right! I got it right!

*takes entirely too much pleasure in getting correct answers*

Now this crying business. Clearly they are in Waikiki, and they have gone to the Sunset on the Beach movie. Since they are both suckers for a good RomCom, they have been overwhelmed by the ending of Love, Actually and cannot hold it in. They just need to head up the beach to the Royal Hawaiian for a couple of Lava Flows and they'll be right as rain.

*nods*

[serendipity-008.livejournal.com]

OMG so beautiful!
I love the background with the water, the sky and the sunset and how the light is reflected on their skin. I love the way you do their hair. It's so detailed you just want to run your hand through them.
Their expressions and eyes are so sad. I am just going to assume that they are sad about parting with eachother for a short amount of time because they would miss each other terribly. Can't handle too much angst when it comes to these two :D

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

This is just gorgeous - the colouring, the intensity of the emotion you somehow manage to infuse your artwork with, it's just beautifully evocative.

And of course, after their last shag on the beach of their summer holiday, Draco is upset thinking Harry's going to go back to hating him now that their summer 'fling' is over. And Harry's all 'how cold you possibly think I would ever leave you?'

[jtsbbsps-dk.livejournal.com]

O_O

WOW!

Firstly, yay! I guessed right! *dances*

Secondly, damn - extremely beautiful painting! *swoons* And so very, very sad! And you drew a person crying - I can only imagine how hard that would be!
I can almost - no, I CAN feel my heart aching a little for them!

♥

Amazingly beautiful job, hon'!

[jtsbbsps-dk.livejournal.com]

I second this version! XD

[lijahlover.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful work and I'm optimistic things will work out between these two with whatever is happening!

[melusinahp.livejournal.com]

Oh... Beautiful and sad. Draco's tears. It's amazing how you made them shine and look so wet. And the light of the sunset behind them, wow.

Really beautiful. xxxx

[fancypantsdylan.livejournal.com]

This is so totally awesomely beautiful, the colours are wonderful, I love the feel of the ending of something, whether its their relationship, or that of a lovely holiday or even the end of the day, its just moved them both for some reasons. The muted colours are just right and the sun setting in the background just finishes the scene of beautifully

[jejo763]

I absolutely love the background. I just can't stop staring it. So beautiful. Also, the tears, the eyes and Harry's lips (I don't even have to mention Draco's lips, do I ?). They are so wonderful and realistic. Wow!

[treacle-tartlet.livejournal.com]

*is mesmerised* Oh, that's so pretty. Draco's mouth is perfectly captivating, and your attention to detail makes me want to stare and stare and stare...oh, bugger, the soup's boiling over! Must dash! XXX

[camillily.livejournal.com]

Wow... I can make up a thousand stories just by looking at this piece of art. It's beautiful ♥ Thank you so much for sharing this with us :)

[stellamoon.livejournal.com]

That's positively beautiful! Maggie's right about the sunset. It certainly sets the mood for the whole piece.

One thing I find particularly lovely about this is the way the light from the sunset catches on their necks and shoulders. It's very beautiful and important to make the whole piece work. Also, that tear pooling in Draco's eye is a very nice touch.

Those aren't the only things that are good about it, though. Oh no! The whole thing is very well drawn and painted, as I'm sure you know. It's just, those things really stand out for me.

Fabulous job, dear! Thanks for sharing it with us!
♥♥♥