Process: Bluegrass Magic Dragon

Process: Bluegrass Magic Dragon http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process.html This is a digitally painted version of a dragon I drew for some folks in Kentucky a few years ago. When they approached me asking about having a color version painted, it seemed like a great opportunity to document my current process. This is the final art of the original pen&ink and I can already tell it will not be an easy thing to work up into a painterly color piece. Wonder if the old preliminary pencil is still around...? http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process.html#0 bc91d18f-469f-4d2a-bb2f-59c7f9308c2e http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGMdragon06/thumb.jpg http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGMdragon06/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_270_84"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">This is the final art of the original pen&ink and I can already tell it will not be an easy thing to work up into a painterly color piece.  Wonder if the old preliminary pencil is still around...?</p></div></div> Why yes it is! This will be much easier to digipaint over, since the pencil lines are softer-edged and more tonal than the ink of the previous image. http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process.html#1 eedc80c4-c246-42a2-a6d7-397597990f90 http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGDragpencil06/thumb.jpg http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGDragpencil06/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_270_84"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Why yes it is!  This will be much easier to digipaint over, since the pencil lines are softer-edged and more tonal than the ink of the previous image.  </p></div></div> I continue to push my line art into a tone piece by smudging harsh shadows and edges. I also change the hue of the pencil into a subdued warm brown, to give it the warmth of a burnt umber underpainting. http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process.html#2 cf9749d0-7afa-43ae-8129-54c16b18ea31 http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGDragdetail1/thumb.jpg http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGDragdetail1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_270_84"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">I continue to push my line art into a tone piece by smudging harsh shadows and edges.  I also change the hue of the pencil into a subdued warm brown, to give it the warmth of a burnt umber underpainting.</p></div></div> Now, where would the shadows go again...? This is important information, I need to know where different tones interact to make a sense of depth work for the piece. http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process.html#3 208bb56c-bcfd-46a7-9421-6d3a3a9e6e07 http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/IMG_0634/thumb.jpg http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/IMG_0634/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_270_84"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Now, where would the shadows go again...?  This is important information, I need to know where different tones interact to make a sense of depth work for the piece.</p></div></div> Before starting the noble adventure of painting, it’s helpful to scribble out a quick study to see if the colors will work together as planned. I’ve also improved the sword. http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process.html#4 34effa5a-30fd-4eb0-b0bd-b91986e0fb03 http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGMDraghue/thumb.jpg http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGMDraghue/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_270_84"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Before starting the noble adventure of painting, it’s helpful to scribble out a quick study to see if the colors will work together as planned.  I’ve also improved the sword.</p></div></div> Flats -- very much like friskets for airbrushes, except without the anguish of xacto blades. For example, I have never stabbed myself in the finger with a computer. http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process.html#5 264b5493-997f-4e60-804f-27ce5462a032 http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGMDrag09flat/thumb.jpg http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGMDrag09flat/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_270_84"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Flats -- very much like friskets for airbrushes, except without the anguish of xacto blades.  For example, I have never stabbed myself in the finger with a computer.</p></div></div> The secret of making stacked layers read visually is to give them good strong differences in tone, justified by natural-feeling light and shadow. Tones should be of limited number and distinct within the piece. http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process.html#6 6ebc77e3-15de-450a-a8a9-0013f1b1e366 http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGDrag09detail/thumb.jpg http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGDrag09detail/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_270_84"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The secret of making stacked layers read visually is to give them good strong differences in tone, justified by natural-feeling light and shadow.  Tones should be of limited number and distinct within the piece.</p></div></div> The final color version of the Bluegrass Magic dragon, worked up in Photoshop. http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process.html#7 fccca871-dbbd-47b3-a3f6-c9e5008570a0 http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGMDrag09final/thumb.jpg http://www.studiowondercabinet.com/index/Process_files/Media/BGMDrag09final/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_270_84"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The final color version of the Bluegrass Magic dragon, worked up in Photoshop.</p></div></div>