Digital Portraits with a Traditional Style in Photoshop

Digital Portraits with a Traditional Style in Photoshop

“We've reached the end of the course! Before saying goodbye I'd like to give you some final advice. If we were in the studio together, I would be saying these things over and over! Try to absorb these statements and, as you paint more, add your truth statements to the list! • Simplicity is always the answer. • When the painting is struggling, the answer is to simplify. • You can start with very geometric line work, but that is the only space we make for the line. • Paint with values and shapes, not with lines. • Value (tone) is the most important thing. • Colour is excellent, but value is sacred. • Force yourself to use a big brush and fewer strokes. Big brushes are magical. • Remember that we are painting LIGHT; we are painting shapes of light, not things: (not hair, eyes, nose, etc.). • Start adding your values and the work with big shapes—paint light, not features. • For the facial features: look for simple angles and geometric shapes. • For refinements, this is the time when you can zoom in and play with detail, but don't overdo it! • For enhancements, this is where the painting is set free from the photo reference; here is where you take experimental risks! • This is when you can go your way to let ideas run wild. Digital art is a risk-free experience. You can always press 'undo.' • Make a new layer and explore the clone stamp and mixer brushes. • Try playing with blending modes and different brushes. • When finished, remember to share your work using the guidance in unit four. • If you share online, tag me to find your paintings and try this way of painting with something other than a portrait. Here is the step by step of my project; I'd like to see your whole process and your result.

Finally, don't skip on the forum. Share your doubts and progress and engage in conversation with your peers; discussion sparks creativity. See you soon! ”

Partial transcription of the video

“ Final Project Congratulations, you've finished the course. I'm excited to be able to share all of this information with you. I hope that moving forward, you'll apply and use these tools and techniques for future projects. Before I leave, I want to give you a few tips that'll help you with this project and future portraits. Simplicity is always the answer. When the painting is struggling, the answer is to simplify. Your instinct will be to try to control and add detail, but I want to encourage you to simplify and let go. Paint with value and shape, not with line. Lines don't exist in the r...”

This transcript is automatically generated, so it may contain mistakes.

Course summary for: Digital Portraits with a Traditional Style in Photoshop

• Level: Beginner
• 100% positive reviews (118)
• 1966 students
• 4 units
• 12 lessons (2h 19m)
• 9 downloads

• Category

  Illustration

• Software

  Adobe Photoshop

• Areas

  Digital Illustration, Digital Painting, Traditional illustration