Dryad - Digital Art Process - Part 1

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A Dryad is a kind of tree spirit. Symbolic of nature and usually connected to a particular type of tree. If the tree dies, so does the Dryad. For now, I'm focussing on getting the anatomy correct. Later I'll be adding a forest environment and possibly adding more botanical elements to her body to make her more unusual.

Music - 'Hidden Pathways' by Llewellyn

Brushes & Colour Wheel - Download via my website.

Double Window - Open your image in Photoshop, then click Window, Arrange, New Window. You will need to drag the windows off the bar and resize them in order to see both at the same time. The Zoom % for each window can be altered individually by using the navigator.

COPYRIGHT © 2011, MIKE NASH. DOWNLOADING, COPYING, EDITING AND SELLING OF THIS VIDEO IS FORBIDDEN WITHOUT MY WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• fantasy
• dryad
• mythology
• drawing
• painting
• artist
• draw
• paint
• digital
• art
• photoshop
• progress
• mike nash
• tutorial
• forest
• magical
• paintings
• drawings
• artwork

[barretokun]

Incredible work! I was just wondering did you reference a model pose at all or was her figure and composition entirely imagined? I'm SLOWLY getting better at digital painting, but having a hard time with early posing and composition, wondering if it's more helpful to just start from my imagination or work from a reference. Thanks!

[MikeNashArt]

@barretokun I used reference. Always back up your imagination with reference, otherwise you'll make mistakes that will turn into habits. Starting off a new painting can be tricky, but looking at inspiring artwork, reference photos etc will spark ideas and provide a foundation on which to build your own image.

[DigitalArt84]

What version of Photoshop do you use for digital art ??!

[MikeNashArt]

@DigitalArt84 Photoshop CS4

[mcabrera950]

So beautiful and very inspiring and i also love the music. it was very calming and enjoyable. sitting here for 15 mins while my butt got numb was worth it! XD

[MikeNashArt]

@mcabrera950 I'm glad you and your bum enjoyed it!

[5UP3RM0T0]

thank you so much for sharing this artwork :D really enjoyed it!!

[p0ck3yl0v3rz]

absolutely beautiful! what size canvas do you use for peices like this?

[CeiliaTheMouse]

Very well done, I enjoyed watching you create a wonderful piece of art. C:

[Drakaran]

@Drakaran okay, when you skipped ahead to where she's laying horizontal again, you evidently saw and fixed the nose.

[Drakaran]

If you are worried about correct proportion, you should block in the basic forms: rib cage, arms, pelvis, legs, head, and neck first. This would give you a better idea when you aren't drawing from a ref, and also helps hold the scale right when you are drawing from a ref. This would have especially helped keep the nose at the right angle (as it's a bit to the right of true, like about 80 degrees instead of 90).

[SlaveExplosion]

@NobleDrone You can make a new window if you go to window>arrange>new window for ***.psd

I think it's for CS3 onwards, not sure.