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AndrewRyanArt β Together till the End
Published: 2012-04-03 17:30:29 +0000 UTC; Views: 98625; Favourites: 1924; Downloads: 1615
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Recently touched this one up as well.This Mass Effect theme kept me going throughout the process of painting this piece. Definitely recommend it for fans of the soundtrack.
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It's funny, a lot of people hate Kaidan as a character but I was always drawn to him for being a little more normal and down to earth than a lot of the other crew, plus he was the first biotic I met (other than my Shepard) and I thought he was really cool just for that. In ME1 since he wasn't a romance option for MShep I just thought of him as being Shepard's best bud and always kept him in my squad, I think Raphael Sbarge is an incredibly talented voice actor too and gives his dialogue a lot more depth.
Then during the horizon confrontation in ME2 I really felt like there was some sort of deeper emotional connection between these two characters that I hadn't noticed before so I was overjoyed that Bioware allowed him to become an option for male Shepard in ME3, since it just sort of made sense to me that the relationship between them had evolved over the course of the series.
So after five years spent waiting for a conclusion to their story and ME3 doing such an incredible job with their developing romance arc I was pretty devastated to see Shepard die (or seemingly die) and have no sense of closure on these characters I'd been so invested in, hence why I chose to paint this piece, giving myself the chance to see them re-unting or at least sharing one final embrace. I'm not too happy with it from a technical standpoint but it is definitely the most emotion I have ever tried to instill in a painting and means more to me than any of my other work.
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Comments: 378
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Shepard & Alenko -Β at the end of ME3 I was devastated. I've been crying on and off for a week now. The thought of such a hard-won love - lost.
Silly, I know; but your depictions of them fill my heart. Thank-you.
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Wonderful illustration: softly dramatic and humanly heartbreaking.Β There is pain and poetry. I seem to hear their breath between the sound of cement that collapses and twisted metal sheets.
<3
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Kaidan's romance in me3 has always seemed weird since he wasn't gay for the first 2 games
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This reminds me of the ending of "Plata Quemada", an Argentinan gay-romantic film. Good job!
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incredibly beautiful, excellent work!
the emotions really come through.
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hold him tight Kaidan! You'll both make it out of there alive... just hold on tight
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I very recently started playing ME on a whim just to see what all the hype was about, and I wasn't expecting to fall so deeply in love with the story. I shipped male Shepard and Kaidan from the jump, so considering how the games ended, this work of art breaks my heart in the best way possible. It's really beautiful. The look on Kaidan's face is killing me.Β
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Why they dont make expansions? They forget? Really? Only DLCs...It's sad!
I'd buy again Mass Effect just to know what happened after the Ending. If Kaidan was looking for Shepard, the scene would be beautiful ... Soulful!
Unfortunately, we'll never play Shepard again (I mean, new adventures, obviously).
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This is incredible work!
I found a site that lists all the best ways to get the most banter from Kaiden in ME3 so I am re-playing it yet again. Once I can stop the tears, that is...
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This is absolutely beautiful!! thanks for sharing.
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Your art is amazing and I love you and hate you equally for all the feels it is giving me. ;_;
I only currently finished ME3 with the destruction ending (because seriously every other option just didn't seem right to me.) and it left me just so... empty. (Though not as hopeless as those other endings.)
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I love this one! The sense of closure is hard as well when I finished the game.. Even though it was the extended "perfect" ending.. It still left me feeling like it was incomplete.. How I would love it if Kaiden went back to see the explosion site just to find male Shepard.. :<Β
Out of all the couplings, I find KaidenxMale Shepard, truly the best and sincere relationship ever.. D:
Officially loving your works on this couple. 
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I haven't even played the game, no idea who the characters are, but oh man the FEELS. You did a fantastic job with this. I really like all the varied brushstrokes too.
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This picture still makes me cry everytime I look at it. listen to LEAVING EARTH. That song is what I feel like while looking at this. Beautiful piece of work here my manΒ
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Β It's a lovely piece and a lovely idea, brings the Pieta to mind actually. But yeah I just finished playing and needed that closure as well, so...thank you.
I've been really enjoying all your ME/DA mash-up material, you are exceedingly talented.
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Really touching,I.....Love that.Really
By the way,ending sucks.
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Just came back from tumblr and I have to say I really agree on your opinion why Kaidan being straight in ME1&2 doesn't matter.
I enjoy the development of their relationship through ME1 and ME2, and finally got the courage and chance to be together. And that's why the death of Shepard had torn me apart (red light, but unfortunately Sherpard died).
I know there's a better ending but seeing them saying goodbye to each other and Shepard focused Kaidan to stay behind when he reaches the transport light literally made me cry. I mean, I'm a guy, but I cried over these scenes, for days.
And also, I really really really like your artwork! you are so talented and these pieces heal everything. Β Keep up with the good work! (in Shepard's tone
I'm gonna go back and cry some more.
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Gosh, that is some amazing artwork. And now I wished this is how ME3 would have ended - though I also kind of like that perfect destruction ending when Shepard is seen breathing in the end.
When I played that last mission in London and had my last few scenes of Kaidan and Shep I cried throughout the whole time I was gaming. I failed several times because I couldn't even see the enemies anymore through all those tears. And afterwards I had a migraine from crying too much. Gosh, what a wonderful day. xD
Kaidan was the first ME character I liked - and that already was before I even knew about the game. I just saw him in a screenshot and it was love at first sight, thanks to him I also decided to give the whole series a try and I planned him to be male Shep's love interest from the beginning.
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Ah gawd, this is beautiful.Β I haven't played any of the series, but this picture alone makes me want to!
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Oooh mmyyyyy Goooosshhhhhhh!!!!Β *speechless* No words to describe what you made!!!
Awesome, incredible, perhaps but not strong enough!!
One of the best things IΒ ever see about Mass Effect!!!
So emotional, so powerfull, so perfect!!
I LOVE it!!!
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While I am eternally grateful to Bioware for making such an awesome series I never thought that Shepard was given the proper "ending" he deserved. Β There was, as you stated, no closure (and it wouldn't have mattered who you chose for your love interest). Β I hadn't thought about the game in a long time and happened upon your page purely by accident...for which I am extremely grateful. Β This drawing gives me that sense of closure (and some renewed tears) that I think I needed. Β I'll take this ending over the Bioware one any day. Β Thank you!
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I feel EXACTLY the same as you. I had kaiden in all my missions ..any time i could pick him i did. I seriously was overjoyed when i realized you could be with him in ME3 it actually made the game for me cus i have had a (videogame) crush on this guy since day 1! Amazing art aswell btw. wow
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Mind blown.Β I can't get enough of this.Β I'm not going to be able to achieve the ideal ending in my game.Β But I can come here for it.
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P.S.Β I think I "get" what it is that is bugging you about the technical side of this but I can assure you still attained what you were reaching for.
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Exactly how I wanted ME3 to end, you know? Just them in each other's arms before the credits roll in... I kept Kaidan alive for two play troughs (from ME1 to ME3)... then on my recent one that I finished about an hour ago, every choice was the same. so the galactic readiness was the same (beyond sufficient)... so explain how NOW I lose Kaidan in the final push?! I'm still piecing that up... As well as the fact the game only gave me the Refusal and Destroy endings saying that my readiness wasn't good enough. Can someone PLEASE explain this to me?!
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was your effective rating high enough? if it was, probably bugged
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Wow!Β The emotion on Kaidan's face is beautiful and heartbreaking, brought tears to my eyes.Β Amazing job.
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astonishing ... No words can describe all the pain they went through and all the joy the fill after they found themselves.
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I...am at a loss for words. This picture is a masterpiece. Words cannot justify this picture. A sorrowfull pang hit me so hard that iwas almost confused when i looked at your gift to us. Truly moving...i could almost feel my heart cave in!
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This is an amazing piece of art. Well done. thank you for this treat
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My god! I can't help crying every time I look at this.
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This is so gorgeous! rlly heartbreaking. do you offer prints of your work? i've been looking for posters with kaidan and the only interesting one i could find was one of yours on ebay. i'd love to have a huge print of this one on my livingroom wall ~<3
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Oh my God. With my slow music playing on my background, I almost shed a tear. This picture showed a lot of emotions.
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omggg this is so beautiful...all of the feelings T__________T.....make me cry again *too emotional attached with this two people*..i'm using mod so i got male shepard with kaidan from me 1 until 3....Thankyou so much you're really talented...
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Knowing that Shepard was going to die in ME3 (everything throughout the whole trilogy basically screamed, "Shepard is going to die before the end") made it so emotional to play through. It was especially saddening for the Kaiden/mShep relationship. They just finally realized their love for each other after all that time, and then it was cut short so soon afterward...
I haven't had a good cry in a while, so thanks for that.
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I never felt any indication in the first two games that he would die at the end and I doubt Bioware thought that far ahead, we know that they didn't even have a real motive for the Reapers when they released the first game in 2007.
Besides he survives in the high EMS destroy ending which in my opinion is the best one.
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Love it, love it! The colors surrounding, the splashes of green. Candy for my optic nerves! And yet, it is heart-wrenching to focus on the couple. 
This might sound weird, and I'm not even sure how to explain it, but as a character I don't mind Kaidan, I just like him more when he is with a male Shepard. I think Jane and Kaidan seem rather forced from the get-go (much like I felt Ashley was practically shoved into my male Shepard's lap) and also I happen to completely ship Jane and Garrus. 
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Kaidan:
"I finally found you. I don't want lose you again.
Do not such a dangerous mission again, John."
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