More Practice and My Palette

My latest portrait painting using the same technique that I’ve talked about previously. Again the resolution is very low, under 600 pixels tall. What you see here is my actual resolution.

On the left of the portrait is the palette that I have been using lately. It seems to work well as a starter palette, just to have something to put down. Then I can refine the colors to give it a different mood or color scheme. In Photoshop, I use the Curves adjustment for that. It’s a quick fix, but overall, I am trying to stay away from effects when painting. I notice that I learn a lot more about the process of painting if I just stick with learning to place in the “correct” color in the first place. Colors is so complicated and seems like the more I learn, the more complicated it gets. That really applies to anything in life I guess.

Sara Serraiocco

This is suppose to be Sara Serraiocco. The likeness is off but here I am just practicing how to do the initial steps for a more finalize painting to come. The resolution is low. You can click on the image to see the exact resolution I am working at. My next step would be to double the resolution on this and refine the details.

Found this actress on the series Counterpart showing on Amazon Prime. So glad to have found this show since most of the series these days are pretty bad. For Counterpart, if you accept the wild premise of people traveling through to an alternative universe back and forth, the show is pretty engaging with good character development and dialogue. Also, almost EVERYONE is attractive in this show. No ugly ducklings here. I really appreciate that, because personally when I watch a show, I don’t always want reality. It’s pleasing on the eyes to see pretty faces on a big screen. Which ultimately gives me more motivation to paint something.

Painting Gina Carano

Here is my final painting for Gina Carano along with the work-in-progress shot. I think I am real close to actually being able to paint digitally and feel natural at the same time. Once I figure this out, hopefully I will be able to help you as well if you have the same issues with digital painting.

Here’s What I Did

Step 1, I started painting in a small resolution canvas, about 700 pixels in height. The images above are the actual resolution that I painted at. Painting small allows me to quickly get in the basic shapes and colors. It’s like working out thumbnails sketches or squinting your eye when you are drawing. You just want to concentrate on the large areas. Also, as an added bonus, everything runs faster with smaller images in Photoshop. In terms of brushes, it’s just a default round brush with some fading, and another mixer brush to blend in the colors. Nothing fancy.

Step 2, I double the image size to roughly 1500 pixels. Now I have more resolution to paint with. And with that, I just continue to paint in more details and fixing any obvious errors.

I know these steps are really vague, but I am still trying to figure out a painting method that best works for me. Once I get it nailed down more, I will make a video where it will be a lot easier to talk about the process.

And lastly, whatever you do, find inspiration! I painted Gina because of current events, and it inspired me. She believed and stood strong, and paid a price for it. But when a door closes, others open up. You can’t keep a good fighter down. We all have different beliefs, and I just wish that people can show respect for people who they disagree with.

Gina Carano

When you’re a fighter, you don’t take crap from anybody. Rock On Gina!

I will be finishing this painting of Gina. Just wanted to post a progress shot since I know how much people like to see unfinished work. For myself, I actually prefer seeing their work-in-progress than their finished pieces.

Leaving Facebook

After being on Facebook for many years, I have decided to finally delete my account on that platform. With the constant bombardment of advertisements and now selective censorship, I find the Facebook platform is no longer for me. Maybe I am not meant for what social media has now become. Facebook has always left me with an ’empty’ feeling anyways.

So given that, I will share my arts with you here more often and hopefully you will message me so we can stay in contact.