First I start out with a concept sketch.  I usually use recycled bristol paper with a slight texture and some graphite pencils.

When the sketch is done – it doesn’t have to be perfect in my opinion – a lot of changes will be made during the course of the painting.

Next step would be to get your drawing scanned in.  I usually scan directly into Photoshop.  For this particular painting, since I was going to use a black background, the pencil sketch had to be inverted (Image> Adjustments> Invert).  Inverting the image does just what you would expect it to – turns all the dark pencil lines white and the background black (as seen in figure 2).

Now some people skip this step altogether and sketch the entire drawing right in Photoshop.  I’ve actually done several this way, but my preference is actual pencil on paper – call me old fashioned.  But, if you are going to do the sketch within Photoshop you are going to need a good pencil brush.  There are several great ones (and free to boot) on the internet – just google “photoshop pencil brushes” and you will get plenty of links.  Or, if you would like to make your own, I found this cool little tutorial on creating a photoshop pencil brush here.

Either way you do it – it’s a lot easier, in my opinion, to to have some kind of line art layed out so you’re not staring at a blank white (or in this case, black) canvas.  So let’s get started.

With this piece I started with the hair.  Everything gets it’s own layer in Painter.  I paint little sections of hair at a time:

1. First I lay down the base color.  I’m using a light umber at this point.  The brush I am using is the same brush I will use for 90% of the painting.   Keeping it simple is what it’s all about – especially in Painter.  You can lost with all the settings and brushes.  So keep it simple.
   
   
   In the Brush Control > Show Size window, I keep the min-size at 100% and the Expression on Pressure.  The brush size is constantly changing.




2. Next, I add a little highligt color to the center of the hair section.  I then use the Just Add Water Blender to blend the highlight out to the ends.
   
   
   The size and opacity are constantly changing – but keep the Bleed and Jitter as is.




3. Next I use the eraser to shape the ends and add some shadows.
   
   
   Again – the size and opacity are going to constantly change to suit your needs.  Don’t overdo it with the detail – less is better.  Just give it some shape.




4. Finally, I am back to the Oils>Variable Round Brush.  I choose a lighter color and add some detail hairs.

Paint sections on different layers, and as you become happy with how it’s turning out – flatten the layers.  Then add some sections behind, some sections in front – then flatten again.  Too many layers becomes a little confusing – and we are keeping it simple, remember?

Don’t stop – keep going.  That was my problem when I first started digital painting.  I would get a little way into a painting and say “This looks like crap!” and scrap the whole thing.  You can’t so that – every painting goes through a “looking like crap” stage.

Here it is in all of its sexy glory.  When you first open the box, you don’t even want to touch it thinking of those greasy fingerprints that will mar its virgin surface.

Although I never use the mouse (I don’t think anyone does), I keep it on my desk as a makeshift paperweight – it’s that pretty.

I searched for a friggin hour trying to find these replacement pen nubs.  I was actually halfway through an email venting my anger at not receiving them when I noticed that the bottom of the pen holder looked like it might be able to be screwed off.  Viola!  An idiot is born.

You have to find great forums to find great artists.  Here is a short list of some of my favorite forums and digital art meeting grounds:

• ImagineFX
• GFXArtists.com
• CGSociety
• It’s Art
• Deviantart
• Renderosity

All these sites have free membership – some are more free than others.  You can join up, upload your work and sit back as people either love or hate your work.  You will receive some constructive criticism – and some not so constructive.  Bet hey – they I figure it – if you can’t take a little criticism (or a lot), then you have no place in the art world.  Just my opinion…

Another great place to see other digital artists works are in the forums of actual software companies.  3 that come to mind are TwistedBrush, ArtRage and Corel Painter.  TwistedBrush is a paint program made by Pixarra.  Very economically priced and an absolute joy to use.  It’s a small company, but they have a good following – and there loyal customers upload and share their work right on the Pixarra website.

ArtRage is old and new.  It’s been around for a while but they just released a brand new version; ArtRage 3 Studio and Studio Pro.  The pro only costs $80.  I have the program sitting on my hard drive just waiting for me to start a new project.  And I will soon.

So I called Adobe tech support, spoke to some foreign woman who informed me, after I had given her my serial number, that is was NOT a valid serial number.   I said, “What do you mean it’s not valid?  It worked when I installed the software.” She had no explanation other than it was not valid and therefore – not covered for any kind of tech support.  I was pissed – but what could I do?  The shady character I purchased it from on eBay was no where to be found.  So I just took up the tailpipe.  I used the Cs2 as it was for a while, almost a year – but I couldn’t take not having my shortcuts…

One day I just lost my sanity and purchased CS4.  This time I got it from Amazon – and made sure it was sold from Amazon – this way I had some guarantee.  Arrived, installed beautiful piece of software – but it ran like a elephant.  The brush lag when painting at higher resolutions was horrible.  And I have a fast machine, maxed out on memory.  It was ponderous.  So – I sat on the $674 software, used it sparingly – and continued to mainly use the CS2 sans keyboard shortcuts.  Until…

About 2 months ago, I was in the market for a new artists table – you know the type; white tubular legs, white table surface that can be adjusted to any angle – you get it.  Found one on CraigsList – very close to my house.  $300 table for $80 – mint condition.  I lucked out.   I called and told the sellers that I would be there that very night to get the table.  So I drive over and meet these very nice senior people, see the table (which was in perfect condition – Alvin art table – top of the line), make the transaction.  We are making small talk about art and computers and get on the subject of Photoshop – and I start telling him my woes.  He tells me not to worry – he has a copy of Photoshop CS2 that he got from his company a couple of years ago and doesn’t really need.  I said huh?  He says I can take them.  Again, I say huh?  But he is serious. I tell him, at least let me trade the CS4 for his CS2 – doesn’t want it.  Gives me the discs and he even puts them in this nice nylon CD pocket holder thingy. Unreal.  I can’t thank him enough.

So I finally have a licensed copy of Photoshop CS2 – and the keyboard shortcuts are a dream.