A bit more fiddling around

[Ed]

Still keeping in mind the redesign of the website, I did a quick pencil sketch earlier on, then scanned it into Photoshop. I'm going to see if I can refine the sketch and make it into a decent graphic. So far I've just added some shading, but tomorrow night I'll add a bit of colour, too, and see where it takes me. See what you think, anyway. Wish me luck - I think I'm going to need it (can't find my tablet - using a mouse instead )

[Geoff_N]

Coming along nicely, I'd say. I like the concept of the writing surface appearing to float. The eye sockets could be darker - maybe try with a deep red black?

I'm fed up trying to use  Paintshop pro as a painting tool - just too user unfriendly although it has nice effects for manipulating photos. Photshop is so expensive though - it might have to be another birthday present!

Geoff

[Ed]

I've never tried Paintshop Pro, but I've spoken to several people online who use Photoshop for drawing, but Paintshop Pro for shading and colouring. I've no idea why, but apparently it's easier.

Here's where I'm at now. Not sure whether I like it or not. It's certainly time consuming, though

[Ed]

Another bit more...

[Ed]

I think that's about as far as I can take it -



Looks a bit cartoony to me, but I don't think I can odds it

[Geoff_N]

Looks good.

I'd find it difficult to resist having the bottom bit of writng in blood and some dripping off the edge of the floating tabletop. But that would prob be too seedy.

[Ed]

  Thanks, Geoff. Glad you like it. It's not exactly photo-real-looking, but I'm not a pro artist and never likely to be. Funny, tho, I did think about doing the writing in red, but decided against it on the grounds it might be too cheesy

[SharonBell]

I like it, Mr B!  :afro:And I like how you shared the changes over time. 

[Ed]

Thanks, Sharon

Here's another one I started last night. The sketch was pretty awful, but I find it easier to start with a pencil drawing (however bad) and then use layers to refine the drawing, rather than just use a single layer and the Photoshop brushes.

It's supposed to be a scarecrow -





I was having trouble drawing the eyes, so I imported one from a stock photo. Needn't have bothered, though - it's no longer recognisable in the latest version of the drawing.

[Ed]

Gradually refining it. I'm finding this one quite difficult, though - I haven't got anything to look at to guide me, so I'm having to use my imagination

[Ed]

With a background added -

[Dan]

Whoa, that's pretty creepy
Good job on the scarecrow

The only thing i'd say is that it looks a bit 'superimposed' at the moment on the background

[Ed]

Cheers, Dan - I put a line of yellow around the scarecrow to simulate backlighting with sunlight, but I'm not sure whether it works as intended. I'd love to be better at all this stuff, but my artistic streak seems to come and go. Some days I'll draw stuff that I think is pretty good, yet other days I draw like a five year-old