My first stage is a gradient outline of shapes and lines of the sea turtle. I just drew out the contour lines to my liking, with the pen tool, in Illustrator CC and set them in a grayscale to show definition as to what the sea turtle would look like.
I started with the lower shell, by filling in with CYMK colors to my liking that I felt were in likeness of the sea turtle. I gave the shell color, and began to paint with the paint brush tool and the associated preset brush tips with Illustrator CC.
At stage three, this is were the fun really started with the Wacom pen and tablet. Here, I had established the colors and shading to the left front flipper, and began on the chest and head. I also began to set some contour lines from red to some tans and greens for greater detail.
The head- this is always my favorite part when I paint. As before, I had aqua color shades, in place, and began to paint the scales on the turtle’s head. The eye was just several shapes, with gradients applied over to cast a reflection.
The other flipper- I repeated my process of gradient color and lighting on the flipper. Afterwards, I went back into the paint brush tool, and began to paint again. The flipper scales were still in red if you look closely.
It is time to paint to ocean. I started the background with just a simple mixed gradient of aqua marine colors and gradient lighting. This gradient would serve as my canvas to further paint more detail on.
With the Wacom pen and tablet at my side, I began to paint the depth of the ocean in place. I switched many times with the brush sizes, and opacity levels with side to side strokes.
Nearing the end, I painted in the light as it descends down into the deep, edging off the shell, and reflecting back, on the edge.
The finished product- the Sea Cruiser flying just under the surface, with the sunlight riding off the shell…
