TECHNIQUE: DIGITAL OIL: DARTH UMBRAS

This guy was a request from someone on DA, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to try skintones/oils in Painter.

My sketch was drawn in Painter with a customized pencil tool. The first thing I do is put it on a new layer above the canvas, set to Multiply. This is so I don't destroy it. It is only to be used as a guide and will not be in the final image.

TIP: To lift something from the Canvas to a layer, select your image by pressing CTRL/A. Then, click the LAYER ADJUSTER tool (the arrow with the cross, next to the Paintbrush). While on your canvas layer, hold down SHIFT and click anywhere on the image. The canvas will be cleared and a new layer made with your drawing on it.

BASE PAINTING

The first thing is to give him some sort of background since this will affect all my subsequent color choices.

I mix my colors, a red and a very dark brown (not quite black!) I put them down roughly where I want them, using FINE CAMEL 30.

Then I blend them. For this I am using SMEARY FLAT with the default settings.

CLOTHING

On a whim I mix a dark blue-gray and use that to block in his robes. I am using FINE CAMEL 10.

Back with the SMEARY FLAT I start blending the bottom of the robe into the background, so he will sort of fade out.

Using FINE CAMEL 10 I put some shadows on the hood, then reduce the size of SMEARY FLAT and start using that to blend them into folds, in just the same way.

I clean up with DETAIL OILS BRUSH 10 and start on the inner garment.

Added the rest of the clothing detail and shadow areas with DETAIL OILS BRUSH 10. Begin to blend with SMEARY FLAT, resizing the brush as appropriate.

Because I painted in my background first, Painter is picking up a bit of red here and there and smearing that into the robes as well. I let it do that. It will help the image hold together color wise.

For the more delicate blending (i.e. details on the garment) I use DETAIL OILS BRUSH 10 and sample colors off the image. If it starts getting too scratchy and bitty, I go back to SMEARY FLAT and make a stroke or two across to blur it out again, then keep on with the DETAIL OILS BRUSH 10.

Here the garment is jut about finished. I brushed on a very slightly lighter blue-gray for some muted highlights, and added a touch of backlighting.

SKIN TONES

Just the same as before, I put down a flat base color and then start brushing on the shapes of the shadows.

Continuing to blend and add definition, using a combination of DETAIL OILS BRUSH 5 and SMEARY FLAT. But don't blend the brushmarks totally away because that texture will be what makes it look like flesh and not Playdough.

Once all the blending is done, put some pink in the nose and cheeks to bring the face to life (that is, unless you like the undead look).

I also put a little bit of near-white for spot highlights.

Eyes: DETAIL OILS BRUSH 5 again.

Tattoos: for this I used a layer set to Hard Light. It's just a slightly easier way to do it because it allows the skin tone to show through the pigment. When I'm done, I drop the layer to the Canvas again so it doesn't get in the way.

HAIR

Start by brushing on a neutral gray, and then some darker, with SMEARY FLAT.

Blend with SMEARY FLAT, add color with DETAIL OILS BRUSH 5, blend with SMEARY FLAT...

...wax on, wax off.

And when you get bored of that, use DETAIL OILS BRUSH 5 to brush in a few stray strands.

I think he's done. :)

This is the palette I used, if you're curious to know how I chose the different colors. Everything is mixed from the 11 basic pigments Painter offers.

You can see the final version of Darth Umbras here.

Email: quillandlauren@yahoo.com
AIM: eloze (email me first with your AIM name so I can add you)
MSN: metara_v2@hotmail.com (by prior appointment only)