SPN J2 Big Bang 2023 #2 - Rest & Restore - Artpost

[aomasade]

My third SPN J2 Big Bang! There were so many great stories, it was really hard to choose. But the synopsis of "Rest & Restore" piqued my interest and I claimed compo67's story. My muse was bright-eyed and bubbling with ideas as I read the draft. My author gave me free rein and I was able to implement my ideas to my heart's content. Here is my artpost to this wonderful love story between writer Jared and contractor Jensen, who are restoring a mansion together. Enjoy watching and reading!

Fic title: Rest & Restore

Author name: oobydooby67 [compo67 on AO3]

Artist name: aomasade [AomaSade on AO3]

Genre: RPF

Pairing: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 35,259

Warnings: None

Summary: Jared is a burned out romance writer. It’s tough to write about falling in love when he’s just fallen out of it—he’s one year post-divorce and still figuring out who he is after it. His publisher expects a new manuscript, but Jared needs a rest and a change of scenery. His ex’s grandmother suggests that he go stay at an old family estate in Peru, New York—a hamlet of seven thousand people—and see if he'd like to have a hand in restoring it. Jared thinks this is the perfect project to distract himself with while he decides which big city to move to next. Enter Jensen, a contractor in town, confident and capable of restoring the Whitney house to its former glory. Sparks fly between Jared and Jensen, but can either of them commit to the plot or will they move onto other books entirely?

Masterpost on SPN J2 Big Bang

Art Link: AO3
Fic Link: AO3

Click on the pictures for view in original size.

Door before renovation

Door after renovation

The restored Whitney house in Peru

Golden Retriever Maple

Das Whitney-Haus mit Apfelbaum-Plantage

Happy ending

I had a good feeling when I read the summary in the artist preview and I was not disappointed. Jared, Jensen, restoration of an old mansion, dogs, slow story development, short title - there were so many possibilities for artistic expression.

I always like to design art for challenges as an overall concept. Cover, banner, dividers as well as chapter headings should form a unit and frame and emphasize the story as well as invite you to read it. After reading the draft, I thought about what a cover that matched the content of the story would look like. What might chapter headings and dividers look like?

I was inspired by the description of the mansion in the story.

„The house itself looks like it belongs in the French countryside. Two robin’s egg blue French doors grace the front, framed by white bay windows. Atop the doors rests a small balcony. The house is made out of gray brick with a white trim. Ornate white molding surrounds each of the ten windows Jared counts out front. Two stately pine trees guard the house, accompanied by a few smaller trees and bushes.“

First rough ideas on small notepaper

For my works of art, I chose the blue door of the mansion as the unifying element in "Rest & Restore". It is distinctive and defining of the mansion. It is through the mansion that Jared and Jensen meet. It is also where the main part of the story takes place. Both J2s are emotionally attached to the house. They love it.

Sketches - lineart and color scheme

In the center of the cover is the blue door, framed by gray bricks. The door paint has peeled off, the joints of the bricks are damp, dark and mossy. Wild ivy has taken over the brickwork. The mansion is in need of renovation. Jared and Jensen face each other. The mood is casual and light. The big "&" visually connects both men.

After my author agreed with the draft, I started to revise the sketches and design the cover properly. In detail, I drew brickwork, moss, ivy, entryway and door.

At the beginning of the story Jared is very melancholic and sad. That's why he is dressed a little darker. It makes him look more serious.

Jensen is a cheerful guy who is in the middle of life and enjoys it. His clothes are bright and sunny.

Light and dark. Yin and Yang. Opposites attract. Jared and Jensen look at each other teasingly. The attraction is almost tangible. Just a small step from both towards each other and they are united.

Through the shadow of the balcony, the focus is fully on Jared and Jensen and the title.

For the title, I chose a curved, elegant font. It should be historical and modern at the same time, to match the old and new splendor of the mansion.

Using the description and compo67's hints, I made a picture of the mansion after its restoration. The wild ivy was replaced by bushes. The facade of the house was cleaned. Windows, entrance area and door received new paint. Everything is bright and inviting. Rolling hills dot the landscape. Two large pine trees flank the house. On one gable end are trees and shrubs. On the other side begins the apple plantation.

For the 26 chapter headings, I drew the hilly landscape with mansion and apple tree plantation. To show the progression of the story, the chapter headings are colored from shades of gray at the beginning (Chapter 1) to full color at the end (Chapter 26). In this way, the reader unconsciously sees the development of the wonderful love story. The world becomes more and more colorful and joyful for Jared, especially because Jensen is involved.

The wavy design of the pictures also contributes to the dynamics. Gentle waves convey the calm character of the plot, the slow unfolding of the love story.

I used the same font as on the cover and banner. Loosely the numbers float on the waves of the background.

The wild ivy vines of the old house made good decorative dividers.

Another picture shows Golden Retriever Maple in the mansion, surrounded by Jensen's painting utensils and Jared's books. The wall of the room is not quite painted yet. Light or dark parquet floor - I couldn't decide.

For the end of the story, I drew Jared and Jensen sitting together in front of the renovated house facade, petting their own dog. Both are wearing bright clothes, laughing and happy. Happy ending.

I drew the works of art with Procreate.

I hope you enjoyed my art post.