HOME | DD

shakken — Paint Practice 064

Published: 2006-07-27 19:36:56 +0000 UTC; Views: 2367; Favourites: 94; Downloads: 193
Redirect to original
Description Woah! I spent a lot longer on this one than is typical of me and my short attention span.

A huge to for helping me troubleshoot my drawing of peoples as well as teaching me some of the finer points of color usage and giving me a big boost on some of my fundamental understandings of painting.

I'll furnish a better description when I'm a little less tired and unhungry. Enjoy the sauce!

-----------------------------------

*updated description*

Hokay, now that I'm feeling a little more lucid I shall do some technical explanation.

This piece originally started as practice to convert a sketch into a digital painting. Recently I have been going straight into blocking in sillouettes before lighting and coloring them but I wanted to see if I could get sharper definitions if I did a pencil-like sketch and then paint onto it. The result was some areas of line that I decided to keep as I felt it enhanced definition.

I feel that starting with lineart does offer some degree of precision earlier on in the process. It was certainly an easier staring point to do things like the gun and her gloves. However volume was a bit more difficult to gauge, her face began too large (Her nose, was HUEG.) which was not too noticable as lineart but as I blocked the shading and the lighting in it became apparent. Once again thanks to Kaoru87 for helping me out with those issues.

The method in which I started this has it's strong and weak points. Experience and practice will determine which is appropriate when.

Lighting wise I kinda wanted to have some sort of colored secondary light source and my initial reaction was to go blue, but after a second's hesitation I told myself; "Try red. If you don't like it you can change it." So I did. It turned out ok I think

Originally I wanted to have more of her hair flowing over her collar but when I started thinking about her hair in volume it occured to me that straight hair wouldn't do it the way I had in mind, also partially a consequence of the way I drew it in to begin with. That idea had to go mostly. Kaoru87 gave me a thorough explanation on the way she does hair. I don't think I quite managed it the way she does it this time around, but I reckon I'll have to give it a go in the future. It does look pretty nifty!

All in all several nice new tools for the bag o' tricks.

Handgun is a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec 1911-A1 that I've given some conservative modifications in respect to enhancing it's carry-ability namely an Ed Brown extended thumb safety, Novak sights and a bobbed hammer. The magazine is a Wilson #47DCB. Of course, such a small girl would likely have a hard time with a 1911 as a carry piece In canon with the picture let's just say "emotional attachment" and leave it at that.

Around 3 and a half hours OC4
Related content
Comments: 48

Krevan-Falco [2009-08-12 08:59:02 +0000 UTC]

Really nice pic, and this is a helpful reference for how to paint bounced light against clothing too. (At least for me it is.) It looks as though there is a fire behind her, just off the camera.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

lilly-child [2009-07-17 22:13:49 +0000 UTC]

This is extremely beautiful, well done!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

HariSHA013 [2007-12-04 23:47:18 +0000 UTC]

great color use, great lighting, awesome pose... i`ll fav this one too...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

PraeatorZodiak [2007-05-02 01:42:03 +0000 UTC]

i like it ^^ very nice, very realistic ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

BlackCel [2007-02-07 00:10:47 +0000 UTC]

Fuuu...

It's so bittersweet stumbling onto pieces like this. On one hand, I love it, but on the other hand it makes me realise how far away I am from being the artist I want to be. Meh. Enough self pity, this is about praise!

Fantastic piece, I especially like the red secondary light source. Who cares if she could handle the gun? It looks great! Beautifully coloured and a striking composition. Love it. Fave!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Kampfhamsternine [2007-01-10 18:24:17 +0000 UTC]

Love it. fav.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Insomnia202 [2006-12-12 14:36:34 +0000 UTC]

Excuse the incredibly generic comment, but this is frikkin' awesome. Excellent work on the whole piece here, I really love the colors. (And I'm really glad you decided to try red instead of blue for the secondary light, I can't imagine there being a better color there.)

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ionen [2006-09-05 21:03:32 +0000 UTC]

Turned out really nice.

I think the background is fine out it is. Sometimes a lack of environment is much better than a fully fledged one.

I like how you did the reflected light, and the light source hitting her back, also the hair.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Captian-Deschain [2006-08-29 13:35:57 +0000 UTC]

Very amazing : can you tell me what oc4 stands for and do you use a tablet thank you.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shakken In reply to Captian-Deschain [2006-08-30 14:12:34 +0000 UTC]

OC4 is OpenCanvas 4, a drawing app made by a japanese company called Portalgraphics. Can be had on the cheap at their website :3

I do indeed use a tablet. A humble little Intuous 2 at 6x8".

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Captian-Deschain In reply to shakken [2006-09-01 19:26:00 +0000 UTC]

You like masterd that program nice work.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Shan-Lei [2006-08-22 10:31:15 +0000 UTC]

I think this is so cool. I love the tones of the face, and how they hold the gun- great!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Second-Cycle [2006-08-11 16:53:09 +0000 UTC]

Wow! X3 I can tell you spent more time on this one XD;;
I love the warm lighting! X3 And the gloves and the gun as well.. XD She's very cool :3

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

dog283 [2006-08-07 03:52:13 +0000 UTC]

Awesome work! and your artists comments are particularly helpful too!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Okiodaiyu [2006-08-03 16:25:44 +0000 UTC]

Lovely work. Her expression is fantastic!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Istra [2006-07-30 18:29:20 +0000 UTC]

MMmm ... intersting, nii-san! It does look different from you usuals!!! A bit more ... refined! ^___^

But o' course, I love everything you do! XD

That's what little sisters are for, right? To idolize their big brothers!! ^____^

~Istra~

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Wolf-kin [2006-07-30 06:07:29 +0000 UTC]

Ha, I learn a lot watching you.
Mind you, much of what I learn involves cleanign drool off the keyboard, but it's a start, right?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shakken In reply to Wolf-kin [2006-07-31 19:19:49 +0000 UTC]

Sometimes teacher, always a student.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Wolf-kin In reply to shakken [2006-08-01 05:09:26 +0000 UTC]


Well, thank you either way.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Libis [2006-07-29 01:22:02 +0000 UTC]

makes you wonder what the story is behind this, and what she's thinking

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shakken In reply to Libis [2006-07-31 19:22:19 +0000 UTC]

I do wonder myself

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

bladeboy [2006-07-28 16:30:27 +0000 UTC]

yeah....she should prolly shoot that thing with her feet. The blowback would rip that cute little arm right off. I think your experimentation payed off. The outcome is awesome, I especially love the red light on the back. I think I would have done more with the background though, Perhaps little technical military parts and such, pipes maybe o.O? I know your problem with proportions popping out after you color, I foud that if you look at your sketch in a mirror or jsut flip your image you can see all the mistake you wouldn't normally notice........if you havn't tried that already XD!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shakken In reply to bladeboy [2006-07-31 19:11:51 +0000 UTC]

Naw, she'll be fine. .45s are a lot easier to shoot than they're made out to be

I didn't really want to do a full on background as the scene is supposed to emphasize the relationship between the character and her pet item. Perhaps something innocuous like cracks on the wall to suggest an environment. I'll give it some thought, thanks dude!

I did the horizontal flip a few times while doing this. A very handy technique indeed!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

bladeboy In reply to shakken [2006-07-31 19:42:51 +0000 UTC]

yeah so is the M16, everyone thinks it's the premeir of military excellence.....just a heavy pea shooter. !

Not many people know the mirrior trick, I remember the first time I tried it....almost broke my fingers in shame. I think the background looks good for it's intended purpose, anythinge else would take credit away from the random sources of light !

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Xaethos [2006-07-28 16:25:01 +0000 UTC]

Awesome drawing. The colors are great. I love the gloves!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shakken In reply to Xaethos [2006-07-31 19:24:25 +0000 UTC]

Thank ye kindly! Lighting those gloves took several leaps of faith and a small step forward in my understanding

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Jops556 [2006-07-28 11:57:45 +0000 UTC]

I guess it's official: Shakken Rawks!!! ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

swazzo [2006-07-28 09:34:26 +0000 UTC]

You have hit awesome point. Well shaded man ^_^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

dayuse-yuipeter [2006-07-28 06:26:38 +0000 UTC]

Holy shit.
This is beautiful, Tan. The colours and the crispness...
Wow. I just couldn't stop looking at this for the longest time.
The only thing I can give as constructive critique is that there are some parts that might need touchups in the linework department.
But this piece, it's so perfect. An instant , definitely. Thank you for that.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shakken In reply to dayuse-yuipeter [2006-07-30 18:31:48 +0000 UTC]

I kinda like leaving some parts of an image loose. I like to think of it as "planting evidence" as to how I went about doing things xD

Glad you like it dude! Draw more!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

MoroseInsomniac [2006-07-28 04:52:15 +0000 UTC]

PSSST: the 1911 is now in the game


Not bad. too much gun for the girl, but, as you said, emotional attachment. The secondary lighting being another color really does help set your work apart from many other digital artists on this sight. So sick of seeing white highlights...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

OUND [2006-07-28 03:26:21 +0000 UTC]

There's a girl in this pic?

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

greyhole [2006-07-28 00:43:56 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful! love the red light effect.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

wraith11 [2006-07-27 23:10:17 +0000 UTC]

Ok, that is just really cool. Awsome lighting.

Wraith 11

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Masterofveggies [2006-07-27 22:10:34 +0000 UTC]

I love the lighting! Its excelent, and the shading looks great, especially on her hair!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Ciuva [2006-07-27 20:39:05 +0000 UTC]

So simple, and yet so effective. I really like the use of colour here, and also how the other, warm lightsource sort of adds life to the picture. I really like how "crisp" and defined the brushstrokes are (can't really find the right words today). Well done!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shakken In reply to Ciuva [2006-07-31 19:28:18 +0000 UTC]

Why thank you kindly I'm very used to a darker, colder style of artwork. Doing a warmer image every so often lets me get some variety in practice :3

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Ciuva In reply to shakken [2006-07-31 21:17:43 +0000 UTC]

I know what you mean. Variety is always good for your skills.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

higheternity [2006-07-27 20:15:58 +0000 UTC]

Gorgeous warm backlight....

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

cat-of-lonlyness [2006-07-27 20:08:42 +0000 UTC]

THis is cool. She's pretty.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

TheTrooper [2006-07-27 19:59:34 +0000 UTC]

Snice with the extra light source!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shakken In reply to TheTrooper [2006-07-30 18:26:24 +0000 UTC]

A happy accident as I say!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

alexthegreater [2006-07-27 19:49:11 +0000 UTC]

YaY colour

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

alexthegreater In reply to alexthegreater [2006-07-27 19:49:54 +0000 UTC]

But That is one BIG gun

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shakken In reply to alexthegreater [2006-07-27 19:53:03 +0000 UTC]

She's a small girl

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

alexthegreater In reply to shakken [2006-07-27 21:31:33 +0000 UTC]

Very Small

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

blackfishinabowl [2006-07-27 19:40:27 +0000 UTC]

totally awesome style & use of colour.. it looks amazing!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ph4tcat [2006-07-27 19:39:55 +0000 UTC]

Apparently my "OMFG 1911s are teh cool!!!!11111one" worked :3

👍: 0 ⏩: 0