Creative Process 2: Town Painting

Creative Process 2: Town Painting

STEP 1

-BASIC FORM-

My first step is to decide on a composition I'm happy with. After skimming through some books for inspiration I find something I like and use it as a rough template for what I want to achieve. Then I begin to sketch the environment using lines only, no detail just the basic shape geometry.

TIP: When using photo reference, aim to create something original and try not to copy exactly. Instead focus on the lighting and value information in the photo to guide your painting process.

STEP 2

-GREYSCALE-

Next I introduce grey tones to the line sketch to establish the light dynamics of the piece. I'm still not focused on detail at this point but I know I want an area of direct sunlight cast across the top of the hill.

STEP 3

-DEEPER TONE-

Now I start to paint over the lines - still in grey tones - this creates a more solid render and enables me to add deeper tones to shaded areas and focus more on the tonal values.

STEP 4

-COLOUR PASS 1-

Now to add colour. With my reference material handy I paint over with a basic wash, keeping in mind to preserve the colour values for objects close and objects further away.

STEP 5

-COLOUR PASS 2-

This is where I study my reference material more closely to get accurate shadows and paint in the details on the statue and houses.

STEP 6

-POLISH-

Now that I have everything rendered, I finish painting the sky, add some horses to give scale and refine the highlights. I'm not in a hurry at this point and tend to take the most amount of time on the finishing touches

Thank you for all the kind comments on my last post and I welcome any comments and questions.

To view my personal portfolio, visit:

http://www.smartcreativz.com/

Till next time...keep sketching:) Pat

Creative Process Village Painting

STEP 1

-BASIC FORM-

The first step is to block in the basic shapes that - from a distance - give the impression of an environment painted with values. I'd just finished watching a Harry Potter film and was inspired by the Daigon Alley scene. No detail is needed at this point, just broad suggestive strokes. Some variations in form were necessary until I found a composition that works.

STEP 2

-COMMIT-

Once I'm happy with the composition, I commit myself to an idea and start to flesh out aspects of the foreground and values, but remain aware that changes can always be made as I go along.

This also helps to crystallize the concept in my mind.

STEP 3

-FLESHING OUT-

With a better understanding of the image as it develops, I start to put some details in, such as defining textures for the buildings, whilst constantly being aware of the values and lighting present.

STEP 4

-POPULATE-

No environment painting is complete without a population to inhabit it, you can put as much or as little emphasis as you like into sketching figures but it is important in making your environment feel lived in and believable, and also adds scale comparisons. This works especially well for large sprawling environments.

STEP 5

-POLISH-

Now that I've solidified the concept of an 'old village', it wasn't complete without something to draw the eye into the distance. I sort of had an idea about this at the beginning but hadn't decided what I was going to do at that point. In the end I chose to go with a much larger concept than I'd originally planned, by expanding the village with lots of rooftops and a cloudy sky.

If you got to the end of this post, (or skimmed through it)  I'd like to thank you for reading through my creative process, and I welcome any comments or suggestions for future posts.

To view my personal portfolio, visit:

http://www.smartcreativz.com/

Till next time...keep sketching:) Pat

New Artwork: http://www.smartcreativz.com/portfolio/My homage ...

New Artwork: http://www.smartcreativz.com/portfolio/
My homage ...: http://www.smartcreativz.com/portfolio/ My homage to the 1st Terminator film from 1984. I wanted to incorporate iconic references rel...

Terminator

http://www.smartcreativz.com/portfolio/

My homage to the 1st Terminator film from 1984.

I wanted to incorporate iconic references relating to the Terminator mythos, into one image, in light of the re-booted franchise 'Terminator Genisys' soon to be released.

Are there any Terminator fans looking forward to the new trilogy of movies?

Or are you reserving judgment until it's release?