My intention with this tutorial is to show you, in a step-by-step process, how you can create a simple but good-looking image. With only a few elements and limited tools, you can paint a realistic illustration with a nice atmosphere and good light. With this tutorial, I would like to show you the process I use to create a digital painting with a realistic style using only light techniques to generate atmosphere. I will show that you can do this with only two brushes; a texture brush and a light brush. The image will be simple, with some decorative assets, and a space buggy. In this case, the buggy will be the central focal point of the image, and I will show how light can be directed in the image to draw the viewer’s attention to it. I hope you like it!
01
Find the composition: The first step is probably the best one, and it is also the most important in the whole process. To find the best image, you need the correct composition and light. Normally at this point I prefer to use a traditional media, creating a scene without specific details.I like to think first about different ideas and compositions using only markers or ink brushes, and then decide which is the best composition to work with. It is not important whether you draw only a few sketches or 50 sketches before you get the right composition. The intention at this point is only to decide which image is the best one. There’s no hurry.
02
Find a central focus: Now it is important to find a center of focus within the image. With this point solved, it will be easier to decide if it is important to put more or less detail in the different parts of the background. At the same time it is a good way to help you decide on the other points of interest in the image. These points will be the supports you will need to help you create a good atmosphere and composition.03
Start in black and white: Now is the time to start to paint in black and white. Sometimes I like to paint with color directly, as this can sometimes be fun; but for this tutorial I have decided to do it in black and white because it is easier to understand the process.I don’t need to put a lot of detail in at this point; I only need enough to improve the sketch to a point where I can evaluate the image. Sometimes after this point it is good to improve some of the
87 light and shadows, but in this composition it is
probably not necessary.
04
Finish in black and white: At this stage I finish the image in black and white. There are no details; only values, shadows and light. For this tutorial, I am using only one directional light, coming from the right-hand side of the canvas, because this makes it easier to see the global illumination and the atmosphere in the canvas. My intention is to create a moon station here (I am using references from an airport in this case) but the details of this are not important at this stage.Create rough sketches to help find the composition
Decide where the focus of the image will be centered
Start to paint the sketch in black and white
Still in black and white, the light and shadows are defined
2DARTIST MAGAZINE | Paint a space buggy
05
The color base: Now, it is time to start creating the color base for the scene. I use this dark blue color (Fig. 5) because I want to develop an atmosphere that will show that it is night-time. Even though I am working with only simple colors, by making sure the composition has good light and shadows (in the appropriate direction of course), it is possible to create a really cool image.This is why the work in black and white earlier was important; because you already have a lot of the work done. You can now paint a color base using either Overlay or Multiply. Using a light brush and a texture brush will also help you to add depth to the color base.
06
The light base: It is time now to introduce the light focus in to the canvas. Using a simple artificial light in the direction of the buggy I will have the point of focus. I need to define too the bounced light (light that literally bounces off the objects), sky light (general light in the sky), cast shadow (shadows that are caused by the main light hitting objects) and the terminator (areas that are not directly lit by the main light focus).With the main light source direction under control I can start to define these points. It is important to think carefully about the direction of the light, and where the shadows will fall if you want to create a realistic effect in your image.
07
Clean the scene: Okay, it is time to clean the image and put some more details in the scene. I like to start by adding some detail and then cleaning some parts of the image. I don’t like to paint it all at the same time. As the center of the canvas and the most important element of the image is the buggy, I prefer to focus my efforts on the buggy.Step by step, I take my time to define the other parts of the image. When I’m working on an illustration I like to use fewer details in the image. I think that with less detail and a good overall atmosphere, you can create clean images which are easy to understand when you look at the finished image.
08
Adjust the sky: Looking at the image, I notice that the sky is too brilliant and bright. I put more shadow in to the sky with the Gradient color tool. With this adjustment made I now have a dark image which is slightly too dark, but that is not a problem for now. You can see how the focus of the image is now is only on the buggy. The image is starting to take up a good atmosphere after only a few steps.89
09
Add small details: It is time to start to paint some details in to the background to give the image more interest and a ‘complete’ look. In the image (Fig. 9) you can see the three points. Two assets (elements 2 and 3) and one is a character (element 1). These points are important for strengthening the image and the buggy. With the addition of this character we are giving a sense of dimension and scale in the image.Use texture and light brushes to create a color base
A light focus helps you place effects like bounced light and cast shadow Add detail to the image, cleaning it as you go
Darken the sky using the Gradient tool to bring the light focus lower, towards the buggy
Elements like these give realism and scale to the image
2DARTIST MAGAZINE | Paint a space buggy