A Few Fall Icons

[chomiji]

I've been making some autumn icons. It seems to me that there ought to be more fall artwork for some of these manga! In particular, I'm remembering a Samurai Deeper Kyo "extra" pic of the main cast at a tea house, with golden/red maple leaves all around, but I can't find a copy in any of my usual places ... .

Anyway, if you know of any good art with an autumnal theme that I could use, please let me know!

1. Akari (SDK)	2. Ginko (Mushishi)	3. Hakkai & Gojyo (Saiyuki)
4. Ritsu (Fruits Basket)	5. Sai (Hikaru no Go)	6. Kubota & Tokito (Wild Adapter)

The Japanese on Akari and Ritsu's pictures ought to be koyo - "autumn colors" - so if I've got it wrong, can someone please let me know? Thanks!

Comments

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

Quick fly-by: there are some autumn-type pics here although you've probably already seen them. If not, a bit of sepia toning with the whiter ones, maybe? (I'm so un-technical it's not even funny!)

[chomiji]

It's hard to find a pic of Sanzo where he doesn't looked PO'ed ... but that's what I'm going for. He doesn't have to look happy, just contemplative. I can add falling leaves into background if necessary - I'll steal the leaves from something else. But he should really be dressed for the weather. There's actually a pic of him in a white duffle coat that I might use - it would be easier - but I'm taken with his expression in the other pic.

There are a bunch of different ways to add in color with a graphics program. You can put in layers that act like cellophane layers in old-fashioned technical art, and then add color to the layer. You can make that layer have special qualities - for example, make it change any color below it to the color you've added, or you can just use it to darken what's below, or lighten it.

I tend to either have a specific idea that I want to carry out in my icons, and search for a picture that will work (with a little editing, if necessary), or I see a picture, and think of an icon I want to make with it.

I don't tend to do the "take a pretty piece of art and ring lots of changes on it" thing, although I've learned some of the techniques that people use when they do that, and find them useful. I mean, there are already tons of fangirls doing that particular thing, and most of them have it down to an art and are better at it then I would be.

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

vom_marlowe did give me some links to using layers but I'm afraid I've never followed the tutorials through. Never seem to have time, you know? One of these days! Meanwhile, I'm happy to look at the pretties people like you produce. :-)