On this workshop, I’ll information you thru my character creation course of, from drawing the preliminary sketch to finalising the rendered paintings. We’ll begin by exploring totally different poses to search out essentially the most dynamic and fascinating silhouette, after which refine our sketch, with the give attention to clear, expressive line work that helps to convey persona and motion.
With the sketch prepared, I’ll stroll you thru the colouring course of, beginning with base colors, including depth with shadows, and regularly build up highlights to create a elegant 3D look. A key facet can be understanding find out how to deal with various kinds of materials like shiny leather-based, comfortable material and glossy metals to make the character really feel extra practical and visually interesting.
We’ll additionally combine the character and background utilizing atmospheric results and lighting methods to reinforce our last composition. I’ll present you find out how to add a vibrant smoke path impact that provides your scene much more power and helps to make the character really stand out.
Chances are you’ll like
Whereas I did this piece in Photoshop, you would possibly have the ability to do one thing comparable in the very best Photoshop options or different digital artwork software program.
01. Discover a dynamic pose
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
Earlier than contemplating particulars, begin with just a few fast pose sketches. At this stage, don’t give attention to the anatomy or development however fairly on the silhouette, power and motion.
Experiment with totally different choices to search out essentially the most expressive and attention-grabbing angle. It’s essential that the pose feels pure but enjoyable and memorable, with a silhouette that is still clear and simple to learn.
02. Select a last sketch
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
From a number of pose sketches, select the strongest one, which in my case was quantity three as I feel it finest conveys the motion and energetic temper I used to be on the lookout for. Roughly outline the important thing physique parts however don’t give attention to small particulars but.
Day by day design information, evaluations, how-tos and extra, as picked by the editors.
Add a pure bend to the backbone to reinforce the character’s motion. The microphone stand in my piece can also be tilted and barely curved to make the pose extra dynamic and pure.
03. Refine the sketch
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
To wash up the tough sketch, decrease its opacity and draw extra exact strains on a brand new layer. We are able to additionally outline the character’s facial features right here. The aim is to point out their charisma not solely by the pose, but additionally by an enthralling facial features.
I sketch a large smile, alter the eyes and eyebrows, and add additional particulars to the outfit, footwear and different parts.
04. Construct extra particulars
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
Now we’ll refine the sketch additional by bringing in small particulars to reinforce the character’s expressiveness. To stress my singer’s playful persona, I determine to twist his hair into dynamic waves and add a star sample to his socks, making him somewhat extra trendy and enjoyable. The sketch is nearly full at this level.
05. Full the line-art
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
For the ultimate sketch, we wish to refine the contours of the outfit, coiffure and equipment, and outline the folds of the clothes. Maintain the strains clear and exact to make the colouring stage simpler. On the identical time, keep away from including too many particulars so that every particular person factor stays clear and readable.
As soon as the ultimate strains are in place, we are able to transfer on to colouring our character.
06. Lay down base colors
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
Start colouring by setting your sketch layer to Multiply so the strains stay seen. Create a brand new layer beneath for the bottom color fills. I often work in a single layer to maintain all the pieces cohesive, however hold small particulars such because the star sample on the socks on a separate layer.
I additionally added a impartial gray background behind to make the character stand out a bit higher.
07. Block within the shadows and merge layers
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
Scale back the opacity of the sketch and begin defining the shadows throughout the character utilizing a comfortable spherical brush, on a brand new layer and with a clipping masks. As soon as the shadows are in place, we wish to merge the layers and use the Smudge device to melt the sides and transitions.
Lastly, I additionally barely blurred the character’s outer edges to stop any harsh cut-out results.
08. Improve the quantity
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
Now take away any remaining sketch strains to wash the drawing and refine the shapes. Proceed including depth by engaged on mild and shadow, however don’t give attention to materials variations but. I added heat pinkish tones to my character’s cheeks, nostril and ears to make him really feel extra vigorous, and likewise started defining the hair by sketching out the primary strands and following the stream of the motion.
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
Now we are able to swap consideration to the fabric and floor properties. The leather-based jacket and boots wanted to look shiny, so I enhanced their highlights. The denims, alternatively, remained matte, so had softer shading and fewer distinction. I additionally refine the face and hair with additional highlights to create depth, however keep away from sturdy highlights on the pores and skin to stop it from trying plasticky.
10. Kind the supplies and textures
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
At this stage, let’s enhance the distinction within the supplies. The highlights on the leather-based jacket and boots in my picture grow to be even brighter, whereas the steel microphone will get sharper reflections to reinforce its metallic look.
Add in a comfortable shadow beneath the character utilizing a gradient impact the place the darkest half is close to the contact factors with the ground after which fades out regularly. So as to add texture, I apply a denim photograph to the denims in Multiply mode and alter the opacity.
11. Finalise the character
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
To wrap up work on the character, create a comfortable atmospheric glow round them to mix higher with the background. Decide the background color with the Eyedropper device and calmly paint across the determine with a comfortable, low-opacity brush; this makes the character really feel extra built-in into the scene.
Subsequent place mirrored mild on the pores and skin and outfit to reinforce the depth. Lastly, add any small particulars resembling shoelaces, buttons, seams on the denims, fingernails, and so forth. The character is now full, however we are able to nonetheless enhance the power of the scene.
12. Create a vibrant smoke impact
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
To develop a stronger stage presence, I wrapped vibrant pink smoke round my character, which creates a extra dynamic sensation within the illustration. Roughly sketch the smoke stream utilizing a tough brush in a manner that enhances the pose fairly than overwhelming the composition.
13. Blur and alter the smoke
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
Now rework the tough brushstrokes into comfortable, practical smoke. Utilizing the Movement Blur filter we are able to create a pure dispersing impact, then fine-tune the density by making some areas extra clear and others extra strong. Mix a comfortable brush with the eraser for easy gradients to present the smoke a pure, flowing look.
14. Add the ultimate touches
(Picture credit score: Lera Kiryakova)
Utilise each onerous and comfortable brushes within the Smudge device to create swirling smoke patterns. Make random strokes in numerous instructions so as to add texture after which some finer, comfortable particulars with a brush earlier than mixing them once more with the Smudge device.
This last move provides the smoke extra depth and quantity. With the smoke impact now surrounding the character, the scene feels full, and my rock star is able to take the stage and set the group on fireplace!
For extra suggestions, see out bumper roundup of Photoshop tutorials. If you have to improve your {hardware} for digital artwork, see our guides to the very best drawing tablets and the very best laptops for drawing.
This content material initially appeared in ImagineFX journal, the world’s main digital artwork and fantasy artwork journal. ImagineFX is on sale within the UK, Europe, United States, Canada, Australia and extra. Restricted numbers of ImagineFX print editions can be found for supply from our on-line retailer (the delivery prices are included in all costs).
