Art for Unithien_rerith!

[yuletart-mods.livejournal.com]

Title: A Tale of Two Talias
Gift for: unithien_rerith
Artist: alias_sqbr
Rating:: G
Fandom: Babylon 5
Characters: Talia Winters
Warnings: None
Artist notes: I used a bunch of different photo references but forgot to save links for the ones I didn't screencap myself. I found myself cursing Andrea Thompson's subtle, difficult to capture facial expressions!

Summary: Talia faces herself, pre and post the activation of the sleeper personality in in "Divided Loyalties". The background is a kaleidoscope similar to that used by the agent Control (who was the sleeper) consisting of stylised images of Bester, Ivanova, Talia, and the Babylon 5 and Psi Corps logos.

Comments

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks! I think I'm going to have to use kaleidoscopes in art again, it's certainly an interesting effect.

[nightambre.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, this is awesome. I'm digging the background. On top of it's similarities taht you pointed out, I like how I got a 'shattered' feel from it as well. Fitting!

[alias_sqbr]

The control kaleidoscope always felt kind of creepy to me which is why I used it, but the shattered glass aspect didn't occur to me. Let's say it was intended subconsciously :D Thanks.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Love the expressions, but I especially love the way you colored her hair!

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks! I'm glad someone appreciates it after the all the pain I went through to stop it looking as crap as it did when I started :)

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

The background is amazing!

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks!

[dramedy.livejournal.com]

what an interesting idea. I don't know the fandom well enough to appreciate it fully, I think, but it looks cool.

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks! It's good to know it works even out of context.

[fangirlism]

Gah the background! I love it!

[alias_sqbr]

Thankyou ^_^

[leyna55.livejournal.com]

This is striking. I like her different expressions - her sleeper personality is so very smug, and I feel sorry for poor pre-activation Talia. I like the way sleeperTalia is starting to push into surfaceTalia's side.

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks! Also, I didn't do it on purpose but I think sleeper Talia is eeeever so slightly taller :)

[gardendoor.livejournal.com]

What a great idea! The smirk really sells it, and I love the anguished look on the real Talia's face.

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks! I had to amp up the actors sad expression a bit since the way she "looks sad" is to just stare at the ground :)

[icon-uk.livejournal.com]

Ah, but WAS that the real Talia?

[longleggedgit.livejournal.com]

This is really cool! I love the background, wow. There's so much to look at.

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks!

[kaiserkuchen.livejournal.com]

I have no idea about the fandom, but I sure love how you drew the expressions on each Talia! The smirky face on the right one! And the tripping balls background kind of fits, which I wouldn't expected at first. AWESOME :DD

[alias_sqbr]

When she changes into the sleeper personality she is So Smug, that expression is based off a screencap of her being all mean to Talia's sort-of girlfriend (It is very sad)

Yeah I wasn't sure the background would work since it's such a different style. Thanks!

[unithien-rerith.livejournal.com]

Oh. My. God. I think I love you a little bit. "Divided Loyalties" is one of my favorite episodes in the whole series, and you took Talia's inner world in a fantastic direction.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to be over here for a few days, staring at that background :D

[alias_sqbr]

Yay! I am so glad you liked it. (I can't even remember your prompt now, so I don't know how much of me getting something you liked was luck :))

Don't let it mess with your head! :D

[chrismm.livejournal.com]

That kaleidoscope background is just amazing. And even without knowing the story--the faces and the poses, just so evocative.

[alias_sqbr]

Thankyou! I'm really glad people who don't know the canon can appreciate it. Though Babylon 5 is awesome and everyone should watch it :)

[ani-bester.livejournal.com]

Oh god I loved this. I loved Talia and her departure shocked me. It was one of the more IMHO interesting write offs of any character.
You did a great job with the theme of her divided personality. The whole background is amazing, just amazing. Every time I look at it a see something new. This is fantastic!

[alias_sqbr]

Yes, that episode really got to me, clearly my brain has been mulling it since then since the image came to me very intensely. And thanks!

[red-eft.livejournal.com]

I know only a little about the fandom, but I can definitely get a real sense of *story* here. I really love the smirk of the one on the right.

[alias_sqbr]

Thankyou! And I'm glad the story came across. I think the actor deserves some of the credit for the smirk though, she does them very well :)

[glockgal.livejournal.com]

Wow so much thought and consideration of the canon and the character has been put into this, it's fantastic. Love seeing characters 'face-off' with their counterparts in whatever incarnation and this is really compelling. She is very pretty! *thumbs up*

[alias_sqbr]

Thankyou! I think I've been pondering it since I first saw the episode years ago, I kept thinking "What was it like in her head in that moment?"

[dualbunny.livejournal.com]

Such a cool concept! It's so easy to let the kaleidoscope effect become totally abstract, and then when you look closer, the faces pop out. :} And I think you did a wonderful job showing two versions of the same woman. They look alike, but definitely like two different people at the same time.

[alias_sqbr]

Thankyou! Making people look the same when I draw them twice is one of the things I'm not very good at, so I'm glad it worked :)

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

What an interesting idea! The kaleidoscope effect really enhances the notion of multiple personalities and influences. Very innovative!

[alias_sqbr]

Thankyou! I noticed how interestingly abstract the "find neon edges" filter is ages ago and had been waiting for an application for it.