I call upon the artists of SH for advice.

[c37]

I want to paint an art piece, and I took another art piece as a reference. But it has so many confusing things, so I would appreciate it if an experienced artist dissected it.
Reference:

I would like to know how the smoke or fire? In this art has been made. And how the water reflection effect has been added.

Lineart of my art:

 

[NapLovingImmortal]

@Hans.Trondheim @pangmida You have been summoned.

 

[Kalliel]

Looks like the artist blocked in the colors for the fire first, then used a textured brush to smudge them out. The reflection could have been added in various ways, but I think they've most likely glazed over a flipped copy of what's above with a low-opacity brush.

 

[pangmida]

I would like to know how the smoke or fire? In this art has been made. And how the water reflection effect has been added.

I think the smoke or fire needs that kind of painterly brush that is slightly transparent (usually can be done with applying different pressure on your tablet). First block in the large, general shapes, erase for any fixes, then smaller brush to layer the shapes and additional colors. Go from darkest to brightest color.

For water reflection, usually I’d first block in a darkish color for the water, then duplicate the stuff above the water and flip upside down to clipping mask into the water, then set that layer to something like “multiply” or whatever looks the best. After that, I smudge it more, add water ripples, brighter colored streaks, etc. to make it look… watery.

 

[c37]

Looks like the artist blocked in the colors for the fire first, then used a textured brush to smudge them out. The reflection could have been added in various ways, but I think they've most likely glazed over a flipped copy of what's above with a low-opacity brush.

Thank you, I was thinking the same about reflection. What brush do you think is good to use for fire?

I think the smoke or fire needs that kind of painterly brush that is slightly transparent (usually can be done with applying different pressure on your tablet). First block in the large, general shapes, erase for any fixes, then smaller brush to layer the shapes and additional colors. Go from darkest to brightest color.

For water reflection, usually I’d first block in a darkish color for the water, then duplicate the stuff above the water and flip upside down to clipping mask into the water, then set that layer to something like “multiply” or whatever looks the best. After that, I smudge it more, add water ripples, brighter colored streaks, etc. to make it look… watery.

Thank you, I'll try to follow your directions and come back with the result.

 

[tiaf]

you can look into traditional painting, the way this was painted is much closer to trad painting technique than digital, it will be hard to find the same texture brush though

like the others stated, block in the colors first
don't try to use blender though, instead use any brush on 60-70% opacity and color pick colors as needed, disable color blending in CSP
the dark parts of the reflection probably used some layer blending mode

 

[Kalliel]

Thank you, I was thinking the same about reflection. What brush do you think is good to use for fire?

If you use CSP, there should be quite a number of fire brushes/textures available on the store. It depends on your style, really. But if you want to emulate the reference, I believe they used some sort of ink/oil textured smudge.

 

[Little-Moon]

I would block out the colors first and then go into it with more transparent in darker shades and continue getting lighter in several layers over each other and then smudge it out with a rought texture brush, for the fire, for the water I would use a smooth brush to get the texture better and then blurr out a reflection ontop of that from the above.

Another way is to go into it all on the same layer and have the colors blend together it does give a nice effect of colors bleeding into each other but that might be more difficult then layering.

 

[c37]

you can look into traditional painting, the way this was painted is much closer to trad painting technique than digital, it will be hard to find the same texture brush though

like the others stated, block in the colors first
don't try to use blender though, instead use any brush on 60-70% opacity and color pick colors as needed, disable color blending in CSP
the dark parts of the reflection probably used some layer blending mode

I think the smoke or fire needs that kind of painterly brush that is slightly transparent (usually can be done with applying different pressure on your tablet). First block in the large, general shapes, erase for any fixes, then smaller brush to layer the shapes and additional colors. Go from darkest to brightest color.

For water reflection, usually I’d first block in a darkish color for the water, then duplicate the stuff above the water and flip upside down to clipping mask into the water, then set that layer to something like “multiply” or whatever looks the best. After that, I smudge it more, add water ripples, brighter colored streaks, etc. to make it look… watery.

Looks like the artist blocked in the colors for the fire first, then used a textured brush to smudge them out. The reflection could have been added in various ways, but I think they've most likely glazed over a flipped copy of what's above with a low-opacity brush.

Did I achieve it?

 

[Kalliel]

Did I achieve it? View attachment 48365

You're on the right track. Now add more color and gradients, and you'll be all good, I think.

 

[pangmida]

Did I achieve it? View attachment 48365

That is GORGEOUS!! You outdid yourself. Bravo!!

This is totally just a small suggestion, you can ignore it—maybe you can add a few bright colored specks scattering in the air to make it look like sparks. It could add atmosphere and more background interaction. But again, totally a suggestion. You did wonderfully.

 

[c37]

That is GORGEOUS!! You outdid yourself. Bravo!!

This is totally just a small suggestion, you can ignore it—maybe you can add a few bright colored specks scattering in the air to make it look like sparks. It could add atmosphere and more background interaction. But again, totally a suggestion. You did wonderfully.

You're on the right track. Now add more color and gradients, and you'll be all good, I think.

Definitely, this was more of a rough version. Now I need to add details. Shadows and Brighter colors. And thank you so much.

That is GORGEOUS!! You outdid yourself. Bravo!!

This is totally just a small suggestion, you can ignore it—maybe you can add a few bright colored specks scattering in the air to make it look like sparks. It could add atmosphere and more background interaction. But again, totally a suggestion. You did wonderfully.

You're on the right track. Now add more color and gradients, and you'll be all good, I think.

I would block out the colors first and then go into it with more transparent in darker shades and continue getting lighter in several layers over each other and then smudge it out with a rought texture brush, for the fire, for the water I would use a smooth brush to get the texture better and then blurr out a reflection ontop of that from the above.

Another way is to go into it all on the same layer and have the colors blend together it does give a nice effect of colors bleeding into each other but that might be more difficult then layering.

you can look into traditional painting, the way this was painted is much closer to trad painting technique than digital, it will be hard to find the same texture brush though

like the others stated, block in the colors first
don't try to use blender though, instead use any brush on 60-70% opacity and color pick colors as needed, disable color blending in CSP
the dark parts of the reflection probably used some layer blending mode

Finally done with this, need your opinions, guys. @tiaf @Kalliel @Little-Moon @NapLovingImmortal

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Well, a lot has already said the technique usually used for this kind of illustration. I'm just here to say you managed to outdo the original, really.

Also, tis 6:30 am back here; just woke up. Hence, the very late reply.

 

[c37]

Well, a lot has already said the technique usually used for this kind of illustration. I'm just here to say you managed to outdo the original, really.

Also, tis 6:30 am back here; just woke up. Hence, the very late reply.

Thank you, my dear Filipino neighbour.

Well, a lot has already said the technique usually used for this kind of illustration. I'm just here to say you managed to outdo the original, really.

Also, tis 6:30 am back here; just woke up. Hence, the very late reply.

It's 4:04 AM here, I sat on this for around 6 hrs ig.

 

[tiaf]

Definitely, this was more of a rough version. Now I need to add details. Shadows and Brighter colors. And thank you so much.




View attachment 48376 Finally done with this, need your opinions, guys. @tiaf @Kalliel @Little-Moon @NapLovingImmortal

I will be very nitpicky now. Don't take it personal, it's the loving slipper so you can improve.

- The background building is way too dark, it not only takes focus away from the figure in the middle, it's also unnatural that it's not taking any color and light of the surrounding flames.
-

the lines are touching, which makes the head and walking terminator look close instead of being far apart

- the block of green on the right is unclear, I can not tell what object it is nor how far it is supposed to be
- the flames could have more hue/value diversity, if you analyze the original it has mainly orange, red and green that are far apart in hue, the ref artist brought them together by varying the saturation and altering the value with it, thus making them meet in the grayish spectrum
- overall your composition could have benefitted from more midground

• you got foreground with the big head on the left, background with the burning castle, but the midground is practically one with the foreground
• the horizon line is extremely low; the ref got away with it because a)the man and small severed heads are close to each other b) the big heads are overlapping/cover part of the small heads, indicating that they are in front c) the heads on the ground are actually not that extremely different in size
• yours has two heads in extreme size gap to indicate distance, but without overlap, the waterlines that touch each other make the sense of distance is ambiguous

 

[greyblob]

Definitely, this was more of a rough version. Now I need to add details. Shadows and Brighter colors. And thank you so much.




View attachment 48376 Finally done with this, need your opinions, guys. @tiaf @Kalliel @Little-Moon @NapLovingImmortal

what happens if you make his eye color as a similar shade as the fire

 

[c37]

what happens if you make his eye color as a similar shade as the fire

Ig it will just look orange atp? My character design includes red eyes.

I will be very nitpicky now. Don't take it personal, it's the loving slipper so you can improve.

- The background building is way too dark, it not only takes focus away from the figure in the middle, it's also unnatural that it's not taking any color and light of the surrounding flames.
- View attachment 48380 the lines are touching, which makes the head and walking terminator look close instead of being far apart

- the block of green on the right is unclear, I can not tell what object it is nor how far it is supposed to be
- the flames could have more hue/value diversity, if you analyze the original it has mainly orange, red and green that are far apart in hue, the ref artist brought them together by varying the saturation and altering the value with it, thus making them meet in the grayish spectrum
- overall your composition could have benefitted from more midground

• you got foreground with the big head on the left, background with the burning castle, but the midground is practically one with the foreground
• the horizon line is extremely low; the ref got away with it because a)the man and small severed heads are close to each other b) the big heads are overlapping/cover part of the small heads, indicating that they are in front c) the heads on the ground are actually not that extremely different in size
• yours has two heads in extreme size gap to indicate distance, but without overlap, the waterlines that touch each other make the sense of distance is ambiguous

I worked a bit on Water and few things you said.

 

[greyblob]

Ig it will just look orange atp? My character design includes red eyes.

ye i meany using the colors from the fire. darkest shade

 

[c37]

ye i meany using the colors from the fire. darkest shade

I will do it later, the whole night of doing this is just so irritating.

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

If it was the autists of SH, I could have given great advice.

Otherwise, great art!