untitled work - stage01

#1

in this thread, my main aim is to share my techniques / tricks through the development process …

  as for the artwork; color, details, look factor will be of prime importance.
  everything will painted from scratch. No photo manipulation of any sort..

and this not another paint over … i intend to take this to another level ( hopefully :\ )

 please bare with me in terms of the artwork title, since it hasn't "hit" me yet ;) ..

once the artwork is complete … you can help me figure out an appropriate name :slight_smile:

  so here goes ..
  
  
  i begin with a reference image which was used in a tutorial that i was  commissioned to do .. further which permission was taken from the client  to use the image in my upcoming artwork ... 
  
  as you can see, i also did a rough color concept of what i had in mind  .. my intention is to use the reference image as a foundation/base and  then overlap it with all the new elements such as makeup, head dress,  jewellery/accessories etc.
  
  using the pen tool, i trace out the body; i've also decided to use my  own color scheme for her skin ..

once things start to build up … there will be modifications …

  let's hope and pray i finish this piece with the all the color and details intended [img]http://www.cgtantra.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]
  
[img]http://www.droplr.com/4teO[/img][img]http://www.droplr.com/4teO[/img][u][img]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e265/nwiz24/untitled%20artwork/stg01.jpg[/img][/u]
  
  stay tuned for the next stage!
#2

second update

please keep in mind, the techniques explained are very different … coz i use the mouse, but you can of course use the tablet and get the best out of it too …
it’s just a matter of understanding the flow and teaming it with your creativity and skill …

in short : i do things the hard way

  • using a soft brush with spacing set to 1 … i started shading the shoulder and face area … this is very basic ; since i’m trying not to plunge into detailing at a very early stage, else i’ll be lost and overburdened about the rest of the body …

as you can see in the screenshot, i use a combination of pen tool and smudge tool for specific shading … this can be useful for skin folds, bone protrusion, muscle definition, even area shadows …

for longer “shape pulling” … increase strength …
for shorter … decrease strength

further more, if you want softer blends, you can use the eraser tool ; set the opacity to 25 - 50% and begin erasing the sections you don’t want.

experimentation is the key …

#3

using the same technique … i worked on the arm and hand…

somehow i don’t think i’ll stick with the same skin tone as in the reference image …
will have to work out something to alter the entire toning without editing each layer …

#4

added deep shadow for the neck area …

will move onto the other shoulder, just to refresh my mind

the next update will be informative … stay tuned!

#5

i’m back!

  and i must say .. photoshop has truly blessed us with mighty little tools such as the adjustment layers 
  
  these layers can alter an image drastically! .. even changing their  stacking order can make a difference ... if at some point, you're not  happy with the result, simply delete the layer and create another one  ... thereby keeping the underlying image intact .. 
  also, if you want the adjustment layer to affect a specific area, simply add a mask!
  
  
  over to the image, as mentioned before .. i wasn't satisfied with the  skin tone .. so i experimented with the selective color , color balance  and curves adjustment layers .. 
  you'll notice i've used two color balance layers, each having different settings ..
  
  
  
  as of now .. i'm pretty much happy with the way it looks ..
  
  but never know, as i move forward .. i may alter it again ;)
 
 [[img]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e265/nwiz24/untitled%20artwork/th_stg05.jpg[/img]](http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e265/nwiz24/untitled%20artwork/?action=view&current=stg05.jpg)

closeup …

#6

One issue I would ask you to consider is this: You’re starting out with a mid-tone to block out the figure - which is a good way to work, but then you place it on a stark white background, which negates the use of a mid tone, as it will throw your eye off, and make it harder to establish and maintain your brighter tones on the figure. Also, you’re only working on shadows, you should be establishing the highlights as well, to establish your lighting, and to model the volumes better.

This is why photo reference like this is a poor choice for painting - your subject was shot lit for photography, not art - she’s lit with several bright flashes, and it’s going to be far more difficult to copy and make that work in a painting. (Unless, of course, you’re going to throw the lighting of the photo away, and make your own.)

I would first add a neutral tone to the background, or at least fill it with a midtone of whatever colors you’re going to add, per the concept image. That way, you can be balancing your tones as you work, instead of having to adjust later when you replace the white with a color. (Your photoshop filters will also be easier to use, as it’s including all that white in your histograms)

Your palette seems awfully limited, too - you have 4 basic skin tones, but where are the highlights? Where are the cooler colors for shadows?

Take a look at this: this is a more organized palette for skin

http://ceridwendigitalart.blogspot.com/2011/12/skin-tutorial-by-marta-dahlig-for.html

Marta uses excellent palettes for her work.

Me, I got color chips of the actual oil paints I use, and recreated them in Photoshop. :slight_smile: I’m working on watercolor right now - well, when I have time.

#7

This is my palette file that I often start paintings with - this is the actual oil set I work with in real paint. I have a fine art background, so I know how to mix custom colors for each piece as needed. Feel free to play with it, I don’t claim any copyrights to it.

Edit: uploading doesnt seem to be working, will try later.

#8

hello William! :wavey:

thanks a million for the link! …
marta’s work is absolutely amazing! i will surely go through the pdf …

i totally understand … in fact, things will take shape when the rest of the elements come together …
highlights will be added later on … and as mentioned … the skin tone may change as well …
it’s more about transformation :wink: the lighting … posture … expression etc … was exactly what i wanted / envisioned for a different concept … which is why i chose this image in the first place…

most of my works have started from nothing at all to something else …

stay tuned! :stuck_out_tongue:
i have a lot of things in store :wink:

#9

things are taking shape … though slowly :wink: …

i’ll move onto a different area later on …

time to sleep zzZZ
good night people!

#10

basic shading for the fingers …

honestly, my greatest fear when it comes to characters is painting the fingers :expressionless: … very tricky and intricate as well … but i chose this reference image ( ironically) to put myself to the ultimate test…

hope i get this right …

#11

and … more fingers o_O

#12

good morning people!

back with a new update!

  • added contact shadows for fingers
  • did little bit of the nose too ( needs lot of work :open_mouth: )

later …

#13

creepy update

started building up facial features … very tough … but interesting …
have to take a break once in a while and check back for mistakes …

#14

more eye area shading …

#15

back with the ear section …
still needs more work … :expressionless:

will post screen grabs of the ear process in the next update! :wink: …

stay tuned …

#16

as promised …
a short paint sequence of the ear …

i also started off with the lips …

#17

couldn’t help myself … but i had to do the teeth right away …

seeing her without teeth was bugging me a lot :frowning: and i wasn’t fully satisfied with the lips either …

now that i’ve blocked the mouth section … i can go ahead with more alterations/fix ups and then proceed detailing the rest of the body …

as for her eyes … i’ll save them for last … they’ll require full attention!

back to work …

#18

proceeded with stronger contact shadows and soft shading …

on and off i do a little touch up with the lips … this helps me refresh my mind and see new mistakes … otherwise i’ll become too saturated and lose focus :expressionless:

#19

continued with shading and this time, some specularity on her arm …
more of which will follow through …

#20

as you can see, contact shadow is quiet stronger now …
i’ve also proceeded with skin folds and finger nails …

two hours every night is not enough… mainly because of work schedule …

i’m desperately waiting for the weekend :frowning: …