Process Description: 

To start off my creative process, I drafted up a few thumbnails on paper. I wanted a dynamic pose for the creature that would be the focal point of my work. After that, I took to the computer. I used MS Paint to make a very rough draft; the shape tools the program has make for good “skeleton work”. Then, I transferred the base over to Photoshop and started working on some simplistic line art. I wanted to try my hand at a style of digital art that looked like a painting, so the line art would eventually be covered up.

After that, I started color blocking. I laid out my chosen colors with a brush that looked like a traditional wide brush. Then, I started detail work. I used a brush called “hard pores” to mimic scales. I layered with this brush in several different colors, sizes, and opacities to add depth and texture. I went through a similar process with different brushes for different parts of my creature. I cleaned up the edges then moved on to the background- I planned on coming back to shading once I had a suitable light source.

I wanted the background to be a night in the mountains. I used several environment-geared brushes to get a landscape I wanted, and used the warp tool to get a slightly better perspective.  When I got scenery I was satisfied with, I started playing with layer effects. Lighting, shading, and color balance all played a part. Finally, once I had something I was satisfied with, I merged all layers together to make a single layer.