Marcus Chen
Ben Flores, a full-time background artist in the animation industry, has created a course on 'How to Construct Strong Digital Paintings with Efficiency'. The course is perfect for beginners and intermediate artists who want to expand their skills and develop an efficient process. It covers the fundamentals of colour and light, perspective composition, and provides advanced tips to make the process of painting more efficient and dependable. The course also includes lessons from game character painters and guides on drawing original characters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Course | How to Construct Strong Digital Paintings with Efficiency |
| Instructor | Ben Flores |
| Instructor's Background | Full-time background artist working in the animation industry; creates freelance illustrations |
| Course Difficulty | Rookie |
| Course Start Date | January 12, 2022 |
| Subtitles Available | English, Korean, Japanese |
| Video Format | MPEG4 Video (H264) 1920x1080 29.97fps 1631kbps |
| Audio Format | AAC 48000Hz stereo 125kbps |
| Course Duration | 7+ hours |
| File Size | 4.81 GB - 4.9 GB |
| Course Description | Learn the fundamentals of colour & light, perspective composition, and advanced tips to make your process efficient. This course is for beginners and intermediate artists who want to expand their skills and develop an efficient process. |
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$30.29 $66.99
What You'll Learn
Fundamentals of colour and light
Colour and light are fundamental to creating strong digital paintings. Understanding how light interacts with colour is key to creating depth and dimension in your artwork.
The colour wheel is a traditional painter's tool that helps artists visualise how colours combine to make new colours. The primary colours—red, yellow, and blue—form the basis of the wheel. Mixing these creates the secondary colours of orange, violet, and green. Complementary colours are those that sit opposite each other on the wheel, and when mixed, they create a grey tone. This is important to understand when painting with light and colour, as it will influence the original or 'local' colour.
Shading is a basic technique that can be used to create the illusion of dimension. When light hits an object, the planes facing the light become brighter, while those not lit are in shadow. There is also reflected light, which bounces around and appears in the shaded area, though it is never as strong as the direct light.
When painting, a diffused neutral light setup is a fundamental first step. This is because it can be adjusted to create multiple different lighting setups. From here, you can introduce different lights into your composition, step by step. A strong understanding of values and their relationship to lighting and colour is important. Values can be simplified to help your composition, and shapes can be grouped based on observation and control of edges within the painting.
The colour of light and any secondary light sources will influence the colours of your painting, so these should be considered carefully. The environment will also influence shadows, and the colours you choose will impact the emotions conveyed in your artwork.
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Perspective composition
Perspective is about your point of view. It gives a three-dimensional feeling to flat images. To achieve this effect, nearer objects are drawn larger than further objects. This is called linear perspective and it is the most well-known type of perspective. Objects are drawn smaller as they become further away until they disappear at a certain "vanishing point".
The horizon is the line where the sky meets the land or water below. The height of the horizon will affect the placement of the vanishing point(s) as well as the scene's eye level. The vanishing point is where parallel lines appear to meet in the distance. The eye level is like a line that shows the height of the camera in photography. It determines the overall structure of your illustration. For example, setting the eye level to the same as a character's eye level makes it look like the camera is looking directly at the person.
There are various types of perspective to consider: isometric perspective, one-point perspective, two-point perspective, three-point perspective, four-point perspective, and fifth (or "perverse") perspective. Isometric perspective was the first to be used in many cultures (India, China, Japan, and Arabia) but it is not a true perspective because nothing gets smaller with distance. In one-point perspective, horizontal lines are parallel to the horizon, and vertical lines are parallel to each other. Lines indicating depth converge toward a vanishing point. Two-point perspective has two vanishing points on the horizon line, and three-point perspective has three vanishing points, two on the horizon line and one on the vertical or y-axis. Four-point perspective is also called curvilinear, curved, or fish-eye perspective. In the fifth perspective, both the horizon line and the y-axis are curved to create the illusion of movement.
Atmospheric perspective, also called aerial perspective, conveys depth through variations of values (lights and darks), colours, and clarity of elements. Foreground elements have greater value contrasts, more intense colours, and greater definition of details. With distance, the values and colours become neutral, the details are less defined, and the elements take on a dull blue-grey appearance.
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Advanced efficiency tips
- Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of colour theory, lighting, and perspective composition. Understand colour harmony, how light affects the mood and atmosphere of a scene, and how to create a sense of depth and space in your paintings.
- Develop a strong foundation for your future artwork by starting with a clear and detailed plan. This can include creating rough sketches, mood boards, or colour palettes to guide your painting process.
- Learn from game character painters and concept artists. Study their techniques for balancing appeal and efficiency, such as using transparent layers or simplifying complex scenes.
- Utilize digital tools and software to streamline your workflow. This can include using layers, brushes, and editing tools in programs such as Photoshop or Illustrator to create and manipulate your paintings efficiently.
- Manage your time effectively by setting realistic goals and breaking down complex projects into smaller, manageable tasks. This can help you stay focused and avoid burnout.
- Seek feedback and learn from other artists. Join online communities, participate in critiques, and collaborate with others to gain new perspectives and improve your workflow.
By following these advanced efficiency tips, you can improve your digital painting process, work smarter, and bring your creative ideas to life with confidence and efficiency.
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Choosing and blending colours
Understanding Colour Theory:
Start by familiarising yourself with colour theory, including primary, secondary, and tertiary colours, as well as warm and cool colours. Understanding colour relationships and harmonies will help you make informed choices when selecting colours for your digital paintings.
Creating Colour Palettes:
Build a colour palette before beginning your painting. Choose a limited range of colours that complement each other and reflect the mood or theme of your artwork. Consider using colour schemes such as analogous (colours next to each other on the colour wheel) or complementary (colours opposite each other on the colour wheel) to create visually appealing combinations.
Using Saturation and Value:
Pay attention to the saturation and value of colours. Colours with similar saturation and value will create a harmonious blend. When blending colours, avoid using the eyedropper tool solely, as it can lead to a linear blend that may appear artificial. Instead, opt for a "transition" colour with equal or higher saturation to create a smooth transition between shades.
Applying Makeup Techniques:
Interestingly, some digital artists draw inspiration from makeup techniques when blending colours. Similar to how makeup artists use transition colours to blend eyeshadow, you can introduce a transition shade to seamlessly blend colours in your digital paintings, preventing them from appearing muddy or artificial.
Experimenting and Practise:
Lastly, don't be afraid to experiment with different colour combinations and blending techniques. Practise blending a limited range of colours to develop a strong understanding of their interactions. With time and experience, you'll refine your colour blending skills and develop your unique style.
Remember, these guidelines provide a foundation for choosing and blending colours efficiently. As you explore digital painting, you'll discover new techniques and develop your artistic voice.
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Drawing an original character
Constructing an original character can be a fun and imaginative process. It is important to remember that drawing is a skill that can be developed through practice. Here are some steps to help guide you through the process of creating an original character:
Establish the Setting
Begin by considering the world and time period in which your character exists. Is it set in the past, present, future, or an alternate reality? This initial step will help inform your character's design, including their clothing, backstory, and drawing style.
Develop the Character's Personality
The personality of your character is their soul. It is what brings them to life and distinguishes them from other characters. Consider their goals, aspirations, and unique traits. Ask yourself: What is their mission? How do they behave? What are their mannerisms? Do they have any special powers or abilities? Understanding your character's personality will help guide their outward appearance and expressions.
Create a Backstory
Explore your character's history. Consider their life experiences, as this will add depth and complexity to their personality. For example, if you're drawing a 16-year-old character, reflect on what their life has been like up to that point. This will help ground your character, making them more realistic and three-dimensional.
Design the Outward Appearance
Decide on the physical traits of your character, such as body shape, height, weight, facial features, and any distinctive characteristics. Consider how their personality and backstory might influence their appearance, dress sense, and the objects they carry. For instance, a tomboyish girl might wear pants and stand in masculine poses to reflect her personality.
Add Memorable Details
Include visually memorable elements to your character's design, such as a unique colour scheme or a motif. For example, if your character has a butterfly motif, incorporate butterflies into their clothing or accessories. These details will make your character stand out and be more recognisable.
Bring Them to Life
Finally, start drawing and bring your character to life! Experiment with different poses, hairstyles, and clothing options. Each time, consider how these choices reflect the character you are trying to create. Remember that it's okay to start with a rough base and gradually build upon it as you draw. Your character will evolve as you add new ideas and details.
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Frequently asked questions
This course is for beginners and intermediate artists who want to develop their skills and learn how to work smartly and efficiently. The course covers the fundamentals of colour and light, perspective composition, and provides advanced tips to make your process efficient and dependable.
The instructor for this course is Ben Flores, a full-time background artist working in the animation industry who also creates freelance illustrations.
This course will help you bring your ideas to life and create art with confidence. You will learn how to transform your rough ideas into strong and clear paintings and develop a strong foundation for future artwork.
