Many thanks Dave. PS Elements will probably have different brush libraries to full Photoshop but the canvas & brush sizes and opacity tips will be useful, thanks :t:. Do you start with a scanned sketch and paint over it or do you take the brave (more skilled?) route and go straight in with the brush!?
I'll continue to experiment and post when/if I have anything to show.
Paul
Hi Paul
Confession time! For these minivet pics, I start by downloading all the pics I can find from the net of the species. I then choose one where I like the pose and essentially 'trace' the basic outline. This is a quick way of making sure the proportions are right, since this is critical to the purpose of the exercise.
I may then do some small adjustments to the angle of the head, wings, etc. Once I'm happy with the basic shape, I start filling in basic blocks of colour/shade with very transparent layers. From there on it's a process of building up detail with more layers. I prefer not to paint over the reference photo (even if it's the plumage I want to illustrate), so basically, once I have the outline, I proceed as one would a 'normal' painting.
If I am working from a sketch, I photograph it (don't have a scanner) and then use the jpg of the sketch in much the same way as that described above.
I find it useful to keep the background colour layer and the outline layer separate from the subsequent ones (so you can adjust the background colour and eventually, eliminate the hard outline).
Here are a couple of WIP shots to illustrate.
I discovered the brush is called 'Ornament 3' (see attached). But you may find another you like better, so best to experiment!
Dave
