GameArt

I try to start off with a tight sketch, trying to put as much detail as possible. This way, I work out most of my problems before starting the digital aspect. I then scan my sketch in, open a new layer and set it at multiply. (this is all done in Photoshop).

I like to paint in sections (a Boris Vallejo technique), so I mask the section I want to paint and use the polygon lasso tool on the section (ex. the helmet). One of the main reasons that I like to mask is because I am left handed and I use my right hand to draw on the computer using the mouse. I guess its to keep me from coloring outside the lines. I'm ambidextrous to a certain degree, so when I started using computers, I just used my right hand to navigate the mouse (I know, it's messed up :) ).

Anyways! I use a five color process: my main color, my lightest color (almost white), my darkest color (almost black) and my two in between colors (from light to mid and from mid to dark). So think 1%, 3%, 5% 7% and 10%. I use the fill tool, applying my mid tone (5%) over the selected area. Then I go in with the air brush (usually no more then with a 12% pressure) and I like to build gradually with my colors. The sizes of the brushes vary and I keep repeating this process until my whole character is completed.

I'm not big on backgrounds, so I save this for last. I wanted an industrial apocalyptic feel, so I looked through some reference books and found some smoke stacks that I liked. So I air brushed them quickly on my background layer, added some smoke, put some good old fashioned gaussion blur, merge my sketch with my painting and VOILA!