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I was asked if I could
make a demo to show how I create some of
effects I use in my paintings. I am a very
direct painter with a love of watercolor and
that is what I am trying to duplicate here,
that fresh, transparent feel of watercolor on
paper. The tools in digital software do not
really match what happens in natural media so
I have had to adjust my thinking and methods
to fit characteristics of digital media!
However, there is much that can be done using
only the simplest of internal brushes.
The subject
matter is going to be daisies, and I start by
using the internal airbrush 200 with pale tints
to cover the paper. At
this point it is really just following my
instincts, but these underlying colors will
help unify the whole piece. I hardly ever do
any sketching on floral pieces, I just jump
in and see what happens.
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| More of the same
trying to strengthen the greens just a bit
before I start with some brush work. |
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I used the
internal medium loaded oil brush with the
default brush shape to build up the darks on
which I will place the flowers. I always
set the speed setting to zero and adjust the
brush size manually as needed. After the
darks were laid in, I softened some of the
edges with a little more airbrush 200 and some
airbrush spatter. Finally, at the lower
right, I used the internal effects brushes,
smudge and smear, to soften the bottom
edge of the darkest leaf-like shapes.
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The next
step is to begin building the depth of the
painting by first adding the flowers
that will be in shadow. I use the same
medium loaded oil brush here, varying the
color, brush size, opacity, bleed, and
sometimes the step on each stroke. These
flowers are painted not stamped, every petal
is different in some way.
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Continuing
with the medium loaded oil brush, I add more
flowers...
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I add some
smaller flowers to add depth and variety still
using the same medium loaded oil brush.
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Here I
start to add flowers that will not be in
shadow and make some additions to strengthen
the composition a bit. I also begin to
add a few pink-petaled flowers. I am
still using the same brush type with the same
default shape.
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I add
still more flowers and start to suggest some
stems. Using the internal blur
brush, I soften the edges of some of the small
flowers on the right side to make them a
little less distinct and push them further
back.
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When I
feel that I have enough daisies, I begin to
give form to the flower centers. For
some of the detail, I switch to the
internal oil fine liner brush with the default
shape.
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I add some
texture to the lighter passages with some
yellow using the watercolor sponge dabs brush
and a little airbrush spatter.
Then I add a few touches of dark red in the
foliage using the sponge dabs brush.
Finally I tone down a couple of edges with the
watercolor sponge smear brush.
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A touch more
calligraphy to add a few more stems using the
oil fine liner brush and it is done.
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