Back in October, I entered in the Illustrative Painting, at Syn Studio, Montreal. This is the assignment I did: a picture I had in mind since months. I felt that the course would be an opportunity to increase my sense of composition, values and storytelling. And boy, did it pay off.
"Calango" is the Brazilian popular name for lizards generally associated to the Tropidurus family. Most of the times, they fit in your hand.
Back in the beginning of the 20th century in the Brazilian Northeast (where I grew up), there was a band of "armed revolutionary fighters" - or simply put, bandits - called "cangaceiros", and the police forces which hunted them down, the "volante". Only something larger than life would make them join their forces.
Most of the process is below.
Pencils, Painter and Photoshop. 2014.
"Calango" is the Brazilian popular name for lizards generally associated to the Tropidurus family. Most of the times, they fit in your hand.
Back in the beginning of the 20th century in the Brazilian Northeast (where I grew up), there was a band of "armed revolutionary fighters" - or simply put, bandits - called "cangaceiros", and the police forces which hunted them down, the "volante". Only something larger than life would make them join their forces.
Most of the process is below.
Pencils, Painter and Photoshop. 2014.
All the thumb studies which were done during the class, from first (top right) to last (bottom left).
I am a lefty and writing things like this keeps my hands less dirty. :P
I am a lefty and writing things like this keeps my hands less dirty. :P
The expressions on the main guys, when they were facing the viewer. A mix of fear and "F*** it, let's do it!". This was changed later.
The main sketch, already on Painter. The two main guys are there, only the Cangaceiro is facing the policeman this time. The gesture of 'holding hands and joining forces' was still there, but now we had more dynamism between them.
The value study. Trying to keep it simple, with shadows, highlights and midtones. The right balance between them gives the depth and all sorts of spots for the viewer to look at.
Still not sure if I did it correctly, but I liked how it turned out.
Still not sure if I did it correctly, but I liked how it turned out.
The underpainting. Since the painting would take place in a very hot and arid region in Brazil, it would make sense that most of colors there would be warm.
The first color layer, which is a simple rendering over the underpainting layer.
References help a lot when doing illustrations like that. From clothing to ruins (and of course the lizard), everything was based on real world references.
And we get to the final image. Most of the brushes I use in Painter 12 are personal, while some other built-in have personal adjustments. Once the paiting is finished, I import the file to Photoshop to do some color and texture tweaks, and I can call it done.
My most sincere thanks to Charles Vinh from Syn Studio, who taught me a lot on how to make a compelling illustration. The class isn't over yet, so I think there's still time to make another. :)
Hope you'll enjoy it!
Hope you'll enjoy it!
