My First Attempt at Digital Painting

Posted on Sep 17, 2008
10 Comments

Probably took me about 10 hours from start to finish. Well I say finish, I gave up in the end because I could not get the hair right at all. This image I started months ago and I forgot about it over the summer, so I have now finally uploaded it for a bit of criticism, constructive or otherwise.

My first attempted (and finished) digital painting

I had a real difficulty with trying to get the hair to have a bit of life. It either went straw-like or fuzzy and blurry. Finding a tried and tested technique is what I need to do for next time, and I will definitely try and practice. Something else I learned is that I need to use harder edged brushes, to avoid it getting too soft and fluffy. I have read that there are appropriate times to use soft brushes, and this probably wasn’t it.

My positive thoughts about it are that I think I did well with the lips and the general proportion of the face. The fact that I achieved this first painting at all really surprised me, since I have never had any luck with traditional paint (I’m scared of making mistakes), so it was a real confidence boost for the inner artist.

Below you can see some of the stages as I went along. When you look back at earlier stages as you go along, it helps motivate you to carry on, I found.

Animated Japanese Girl Painting

Progression of the Digital Painting

Any thoughts you have would be greatly received. I may post an animated gif of the progression of the image in a future post, so watch this space.

EDIT: – For gif, see post ‘How to Give Your Girlfriend Scars‘







10 Comments for My First Attempt at Digital Painting

Steve  Sep 17, 2008

This is impressive, and I think the hair looks pretty good, straw blur is a good work around. You can also tie the hair back for easier hair, but you would then have the ears to contend with, a peruvian stle hat can work well, motor cyle helmets are also an option. And a solution which has just this second occurred to me, tied back hair and a set of large head phones to cover the ears, headphones will not raise quite as many questions as say a peruvian hat on a japanese lady. Sorted.

Steve’s last blog post..Halftone Dots and Screenprinting

Graphics Tablets and Hard Brushes | Royzy's Art and Design Blog Roll  Sep 23, 2008

[...]         « The First Digital Painting EVER. [...]

Rosemary Brown Rosi  Oct 07, 2008

Rosi, 7th October 2008
What can I say? Its brilliant! Hair also. Can’t even start to give help as know nothing, but loads of encouragement you are definitely on the right trail.

Advertees  Oct 07, 2008

I can’t believe you are getting comments from Grandma, Thorntons was bad enough but this is too much.

Advertees´s last blog post..Tour T shirts for La Fuga

Digital Painting, Website and Final Grades | Royzy's Art and Design Blog Roll  Oct 08, 2008

[...] EDIT: Finished version can be seen the post ‘The First Digital Painting Ever‘. [...]

Royzy  Oct 08, 2008

Thank you for the kind words Rosi, and for visiting! I have started another portrait, and her face may be familiar (it’s Lisa).

Stacey-Ann  Oct 14, 2008

Wow, can’t believe that this is your first. It’s amazing and I love that you posted how the painting progressed. Thanks for sharing.

Royzy  Oct 14, 2008

Thank you for the kind words! Since I like to see how other people do their work, I thought it would be nice for people to see how I did mine. I’m glad you appreciated it.

nachum  Apr 23, 2010

This is amazing!!
How do you guys do these things?! :-)
.-= nachum´s last blog ..CRAB MONSTER – SPEED PAINTING WORK IN PROGRESS – PART 4 =-.

akar  Jan 08, 2011

can’t b’leive it’s ur 1st!!! Thanx 4 sharing… (n yes, keep sharing)




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