Open question to DS, Spitfire, etc

[Reincarnate]

Any chance of a step-by-step tutorial (or even just a video)? I am really interested in developing my art skills but I'm just dumb ignorant about the techniques, especially where coloring is concerned. I can pencil-sketch things, but translating it into anything past that is beyond me. I really like the art you guys put out and would be a lot more comfortable investing in a tablet if I knew it wasn't going to go to waste.

[Nullifidian]

I'd be more than happy to help you out and I might do a step by step tutorial soon but it would just explain the basics of how the tools work, my workflow and a bit about coloring I think, because there's a lot more to painting than could fit in a step by step tutorial. Hell, I'm still learning shittons as well.
Giving critiques on the go about the rest seems more appropriate because it's pretty much impossible to explain painting through one tutorial, but I'll see if I can show the process of how I paint.

Post some sketches by the way, I wanna see. 8)

[Reincarnate]

I don't mean so much physical painting as much as I mean CG art and the like -- I've tried scanning sketches into PS before but my attempts to clean everything up/figure out brushes/color things/shade/etc were just embarrassing.

Thanks for the fast response BTW -- I'll try to upload something later when I get a chance. I haven't drawn for a long time O.O

[Nullifidian]

I meant digital painting.
The medium doesn't really matter though, the same rules for coloring, shading, lighitng etc. apply to physical painting as well.

If you mean 3D art, your best bet is darkshark, since I don't know a lot about the tools.

[Reincarnate]

Hehe I don't have the patience for 3D art/modeling -- I mainly mean 2D images/art pieces.

[LongGone]

Play around with PS or something using a mouse; and get a feel of the colours (idk, even something abstract will do. Save all your work/scraps for future reference). Get to know which colours go together and which don't (you can just colour in your scanned sketches to start with)

If you're new to PS, you can try experimenting with layers. Try the multiply and addition layers and see what it does to the colour underneath when you stroke with a mouse (though be careful not to abuse these too much, moderation suffices)

[Zageron]

I would be so down to learn some 2d graphics!

[darkshark]

There's plenty of information on Youtube on techniques and whatnot. Don't try and draw with your mouse, that's just dumb and frustrating.

Try this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI8TbG0-7QE

[Nullifidian]

Originally Posted by darkshark

There's plenty of information on Youtube on techniques and whatnot. Don't try and draw with your mouse, that's just dumb and frustrating.

Try this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI8TbG0-7QE

His sketch is gross and his end result looks pretty plastic and smudgy lol.
He's not working from the big picture, but starts out in details. Not recommended
His way of coloring I wouldn't recommend either. This is just copying a picture without actually taking the time to look at how the lighting etc relates to each part of the subject. Color picking from a photo is really looked down upon, and you won't learn much from it.

This video shows you the tools though, which is good, but his workflow is not.

Edit: Saw this one in the related videos. I'd recommend watching this one more for actually understanding color, light and shadow.

[darkshark]

This is by far the easiest way to start out without becoming frustrated and giving up.
Color picking is not looked down upon, the end result is all that matters.

Go get a tablet Rubix. Even just a Bamboo tablet or something.

[Nullifidian]

Originally Posted by darkshark

This is by far the easiest way to start out without becoming frustrated and giving up.

Granted, this video showcases how to use the tools pretty well, and will work for a beginner to understand the tools.

Originally Posted by darkshark

Color picking is not looked down upon, the end result is all that matters

For practice purposes, the journey matters more than the end result. You won't learn to understand relationships of color, light and shadow if you blatantly copy it with the color picker.

[Spenner]

Before trying to tackle something really complex and elaborate, learn how to "see" with an eye for aesthetics, and in a way that you can automatically judge good decisions from bad. There are people who are amazing at colouring but lack skills with composition and proportion. NEVER overlook proportion and composition, without them, an image will look way off, and will not draw the viewer in. Not just those, of course, every element of design counts. But in the case of a painting, you don't want to be making the equivalent of an average deviantart anime fan drawing.

To get good at those, well, practice. And looking at great artwork and studying WHY they are so good. Follow some of the tutorials posted, get a feel for what's involved in making a good painting. If you understand what's involved, then it's a bit easier to apply ideas you might have. And once you start getting a good eye for proper design, it feels natural, and it's very rewarding.

But yeah, tutorials are great and all, but there's a difference between knowing how to photoshop and being able to express creative ideas in photoshop. I hope you get both of those down