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Description
1/4 - Thumbnails were actually the major part of this piece. I just couldn't get it looking as I wanted, and finally settled for the fourth one. The third might actually have been better, now that I look back at it, but at the time it didn't look good.

5 - Working from the background to the foreground, I add elements with the lasso tool, and try to get the focus set immediately with lighting and the landscape itself. It circles around the focus, making sure the viewer knows where they are looking.

6 - I hit a block with the clouds, so I moved to the foreground elements. These came easily, imitating the basic shapes in the distance to create continuity. Notice how the tree's branches lead the eye back to the focus? At the same time, I add a figure to lead the eye back around, so the viewer doesn't just stop at the light, but has something else to look at. Also added a layer of light to create the depth I wanted (notice the beams cut across the background).

7 - Adding basic structure and form to the landscape, I move toward the finished piece. I also add clouds here, on multiple layers and with multiple era sings and repaints. This created the dark stormy look I was going for. Extra light was added here too, and I played with how it interacts with the clouds.

8 - The finished piece, adding mist and a very strong levels-layer. Usually you don't really want to push this layer too far, but here it worked well. Go with what looks best, right?

If you enjoy fantasy novels with unique magic systems, visceral combat, and good twists, please check out the Aria of Steel books.

Description
1/4 - Thumbnails were actually the major part of this piece. I just couldn't get it looking as I wanted, and finally settled for the fourth one. The third might actually have been better, now that I look back at it, but at the time it didn't look good.

5 - Working from the background to the foreground, I add elements with the lasso tool, and try to get the focus set immediately with lighting and the landscape itself. It circles around the focus, making sure the viewer knows where they are looking.

6 - I hit a block with the clouds, so I moved to the foreground elements. These came easily, imitating the basic shapes in the distance to create continuity. Notice how the tree's branches lead the eye back to the focus? At the same time, I add a figure to lead the eye back around, so the viewer doesn't just stop at the light, but has something else to look at. Also added a layer of light to create the depth I wanted (notice the beams cut across the background).

7 - Adding basic structure and form to the landscape, I move toward the finished piece. I also add clouds here, on multiple layers and with multiple era sings and repaints. This created the dark stormy look I was going for. Extra light was added here too, and I played with how it interacts with the clouds.

8 - The finished piece, adding mist and a very strong levels-layer. Usually you don't really want to push this layer too far, but here it worked well. Go with what looks best, right?

If you enjoy fantasy novels with unique magic systems, visceral combat, and good twists, please check out the Aria of Steel books.