Smaug The Magnificent - Digital Art Process - Part 3

[MrHappyPaddy]

your paintings are amazing.

will you continue painting the dryad anytime?

[MikeNashArt]

@MrHappyPaddy Yes I will. It's quite a complicated piece so I've taken a break from it whilst I think about how best to progress with it.

[CrimsonVanquisher]

I really like it, I just think his right arm is a bit out of porportion. Seems way too big to me.

[KatriiKillsYou]

*__* This is sooo amazing.

I love the details.

[Acronius]

Hi mike... I love your work, I wish I could be at that lvl a few year from now (provided I keep practicing ^.^ hihi), definitly you are one of my inspiration. I was wondering one thing in regards to your brushes.. the stuff is that I downloaded them and went stray to pain a quick sketch with them and everything went fine until the blending time came.. I just dont know which one you use =/... I normally use a custom soft brush at 30% opacity, but idk if you do the same. I Keep up the good work!!

[MikeNashArt]

@Acronius For blending I usually use the Oil or Bristle brush on a lower opacity. For super smooth blending you could try using the Soft Chalk brush on a lower opacity. Yes, usually a brush with a soft edge is better for blending. Remember you're not trying to paint so smoothly that it looks flat and plastic, keep some texture in! Also, use the Eyedropper tool to pick colours around the area you are blending. I have the Eyedropper set to the pen button and the Alt key on the keyboard.

[Acronius]

@MikeNashArt Ty very much for the tip. I tested it and i worked like a charm... Nows time to practice, practice, and practice some more =)...

[Centurion7882]

he's magnificent, aristocratic, blue blooded...awesome !!!!!!

[brightlights456X]

Do you use a pen/tablet or do you use a mouse?

[Quikie93]

@brightlights456X fairly very sure he is using a tablet

[brightlights456X]

@Quikie93

Do you know what software he is using here?

Have you heard of Auto Desk SketchBook 2011?

Do you know any forums where people state which software is better or worse?

Sorry about all the questions, but I'm new to this world.

Thanks for the reply :D

[Quikie93]

@brightlights456X there isnt any "better or worse" software here (excluding paint offcourse.. xD)

but I have sketchbook (came with my tablet) AND photoshop(from school) and paint tool SAI (bought)

i dont like sketchbook because i dont like the interface, photoshop doesnt feel as nice when drawing but SAI is great for me atleast, its all about personal preference, I would recomment downloading the trials of the softwares and try them out.

Also: it looks like he is using Photoshop

[brightlights456X]

@Quikie93

How long does a trail trail last?

What does SAI stand for?

[Quikie93]

@brightlights456X 30 days is the usual.

I have no clue what SAI stands for.

[brightlights456X]

@Quikie93

Why mention it then :D

I typed SAI into Amazon, but it ad no idea what the product was. 

[Quikie93]

@brightlights456X the name of the package is Paint Tool SAI, just google it, should be first link

[MikeNashArt]

@brightlights456X I'm using a Wacom Cintiq21ux tablet and Photoshop CS4. A tablet from Wacom would be best. The Intuos range are very good.

[brightlights456X]

@MikeNashArt

How is CS5?

Thank you for the information, found you on DeviantArt. Been invaluable.

[MikeNashArt]

@brightlights456X I was curious about the new 'real brush' mode in CS5. I thought it would feel like Painter in terms of colour blending. But I didn't think it was as good. As far as I could see, you can only use the mode with a special set of PS default brushes. I couldn't use it with any of my custom brushes. I also didn't like the interface as much. It doesn't offer anything new, that I'd personally consider using. But I'm sure CS5 suits some people. So it's still worth trying the free trial!

[brightlights456X]

@MikeNashArt

I just got on trail. As it's my first attempt into the digital art, how long on average does it take for you to do an art work like the one in the video?

[graphictest]

fine work

how you make so nice swatch palette, manually?

[MikeNashArt]

@graphictest Thank you. Swatch details are in the video description :)

[cianna15]

AMAZING ^_^ looking forward to more

[wurstDX]

this is so awesome!

[XxTheDifferencexX]

amazing progress sofar, looking forward to more