Portraits make for a fascinating subject, especially when combined
with abstracted natural elements. In this tutorial, I share my
portraiture method by painting an ethereal lady enveloped by feathers.
My tools of choice are Adobe Photoshop CS6 and my Wacom Tablet (Intuos
3). From sketch to final, I describe various techniques for creating
atmosphere, color, texture and detail. Under the 'Assets' section, I
include a few of my favorite custom brushes and textures mentioned in
the tutorial. My process is fairly painterly and I use few layers,
merging constantly. Compiling and condensing the material was lots of
fun - I hope you enjoy as well!
Time
to begin! I work at a resolution of 300 dpi, though the size constantly
varies as I crop for compositional purposes. Painting on pure white can
be intimating, so I prefer toning the canvas with a neutral gray using
the paint bucket tool.
I like setting up my tools to show layers,
history, and a navigator. Seeing images from a distance helps you catch
overlooked mistakes which makes the navigator useful. It also keeps your
mind on the big picture, especially when detailing later.
2. Create Your Sketch
Check
out those blobby values. No need to be refined at this point. I like
using a chalky brush to set down my basic layout. The slightly textured
edge makes it my all time favorite brush, and I use it for 90% of my
process.
I prefer starting in black and white. When it comes to
readability, value is key. When value hierarchies are strong and clear,
then all is well. Color comes secondary and introduced much later
(though it's my favorite part and hard to resist)!
3. Refine the Structure
I
jump right into the facial structure. Again, detail isn't important
tight now as long as the overall anatomy reads. When it comes to face,
often less is more. A simple shape can more effective than detailed
contours. Pay attention to lighting, and when in doubt, keep a mirror
handy for tricky anatomy.
4. Use References to Draw the Wings
Compiling
references is convenient at this point. I have a pair of pheasants
photos, whose textured plumage could be useful for this piece. I try
carrying a camera with me often - you never know when something
inspiring might jump out at you. I drag the images onto a fresh document
and keep them near the corner of my workspace.
5. Adjust the Lighting
I love using Blend Modes for lighting and color effects (particularly Overlay and Soft Light).
Here,
I add a central glow by laying down a bold, airbrushed highlight on a
separate layer. Next, I go to the settings in the top left corner of the
layers section and choose 'Soft Light.'
6. Add Texture to the Composition
Step 1
Textures!
Fun to make, and even more fun to manipulate. There is plenty of of
stock out there, but if you're feeling crafty, grab some watercolors and
go for it. For the best quality, scan them as high res as possible.
Step 2
Using
textures provides a lovely, traditional effect in contrast with a
smoother, digital look. It allows for a sense of spontaneity and
experimentation. I tend to collage a series of textures over my rough
sketches as a base for adding detail later. After placing my desired
texture onto the sketch, I set the Blend Mode to Soft Light.
Step 3
I then transform the texture to cover the entire image, and use Image > Adjustments > Black & White to desaturate. Once my texture has been formatted, I go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and fiddle with the settings until it appears seamless.
7. Add Drips and Splatters
Step 1
In
addition to the overall atmosphere, textures are great at adding quick
hints of detail here and there. This is when I lay down splatter and
drip layers throughout the piece on various layer modes. After
desaturating the splatter, I set the mode to Multiply which eliminates the white. I transform it, erase out certain areas, and lower the opacity for a natural appearance.
Step 2
Using the drip texture, I follow a similar process. Only this time I set the mode to Divide which inverts the texture and creates cool pinpoints of gray and white.
8. Refine the Face With a Sharpe Brush
Using a sharper brush, I begin refining the face and feathers on a separate Overlay layer. This brush is great for adding line and detail.
9. View the Composition With Fresh Eyes
Step 1
Flipping
the canvas horizontally allows you to see the piece with fresh eyes.
All the glaring mistakes jump out and it can be extremely helpful
(though sometimes a little disheartening). To flip, go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal.
Step 2
After seeing the mirror image, I notice some issues with balance, so I select an area I'd like to manipulate. Again, I go to Edit > Transform and this time I choose Warp. This allows you to fluidly move the selection using many different anchor points.
10. Use an Airbrush to Blend Your Design
At
this stage, I want to smooth out the textures and details for better
cohesion. On a separate layer, I select a soft brush and lightly add
tones of gray and white throughout the piece.
11. Let's Begin Adding Color!
Step 1
Time
to prep the sketch for color! I like to keep my palette limited and
consider using a predominantly blue color scheme with yellow
highlights.
First I go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance and shift the image to cyan. The shadows are a little dark, so I use Image > Adjustments > Selective Color and choose Blacks in the drop down menu. By pulling the Yellow slider the left, the black tones become a lighter blue.
Step 2
Curves
is another convenient color technique. At the bottom of the layers menu
is a circular icon representing a new fill or adjustment layer. From
the options, I choose Curves. There are a few color setting to
choose from - my favorite is the blue one. I pull points up and down on
the graph for a vintage effect.
12. Add a Gradient
To create a focal point, I like using the Gradient Tool
from the paint bucket option in the toolbar. In the top menu I choose
the radial gradient and edit the settings according to my color
preference. After laying down the gradient on a separate layer, I lower
the opacity and set the Blend Mode to Soft Light.
13. Add Color Accents
To create color accents, I add a new layer and set it to Overlay. Using a saturated yellow, I lightly paint swatches of color in various areas - particularly around the eyes.
14. Refine the Face Details
I
haven't been zooming in much, but it's time to start working on the
face and expression. Using both a sharp and chalky brush, I add details
around the eyelashes, eyelids and lips. I constantly color pick from the
surroundings with the eyedropper tool to retain a consistent mood.
15. Adjust the Composition
When
it comes to color, I can be incredibly indecisive. I realize I prefer a
bluer color scheme, and mute some of the yellow highlights using the
color techniques as before. Again, I flip the canvas horizontally and
warp the face for a better symmetry.
16. Add Details to the Feathers
After
focusing on the face, I add more detail to the feathers. I keep my
reference close as I rework the shapes and figures. It's not necessary
to follow the photo exactly, and I often like balancing detail with gaps
of softer, unfocused areas.
17. Add a Speckled Effect
I never stop adding textures, and here I place a speckled, grungy surface on the painting. I set the layer mode to Divide, move the texture to the corner, and erase away the edges. Then I go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation and make sure to click the Colorize box to keep the tones uniform. I play with the sliders until I have a color and value I like.
18. Use Textured Brushes
When
it comes to adding finer details, I like using a few of the these
brushes. The first streaky brush is great for adding subtle hair strands
and lines around the eyes. The dotted brush below is useful for adding
both dark and light contours. It creates a broken, uneven line which
simulates the effect of a fine, dry brush.
19. Color Alterations
More indecision! At first I try adding a soft pink shine around the figure's face on a Soft Light
layer. However, I decide that green and yellow might be more striking. I
shift the hues using color balance, but save my previous layer.
Sometimes, I realize I've made a huge, spur-of-the-moment mistake, and
like the insurance of saving my steps.
20. Remember to Zoom Into Your Work
I
zoom in closely and continue the busy work. I begin at the top right of
the painting and continue left until I refine the entire piece. At this
point, I make sure there aren't any sharp, floating lines left over
from placing the textures.
21. Sharpen Your Composition
Now onto the final touch. I choose Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen and adjust the settings.
I set the Amount to 500% and the Radius to 0.3 px.
Sharpening the image ever so slightly gives the painting a nice, matte
appearance. It's really only noticeable when zoomed in closely, but
creates more unity between the texture and brush strokes.
22. View Variations to Pick the Best One for You
Yay,
almost done! As always my nit-picky side kicks in, and I create a few
color variations to choose from. I like playing with saturation and
contrast using Image > Adjustments > Vibrance. These are subtle changes, but it can take me ages to finally decide on something.
The Portrait is Complete!
I opt for a green color scheme with hints of red and yellow, drop in my signature, and call it a day!
I
hope this tutorial was in any way helpful! My goal was to shed light on
how I create faces and digitally use textures and brushes. I know I'm
only scratching the surface of all the possibilities, and look forward
to even more experimentation. Happy painting, and good luck with your
art.
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