Digital painting has been an interest of mine since early 2012. I started out by teaching myself Photoshop using a small Wacom graphics tablet, developing my skills over time. I often painted members of bands I listened to, or a range of people who interested me.
I’m always inspired by other illustrators and their variety of talents and styles. I often strive to paint portraits as realistic as possible, however the end result is sometimes not as intended, which makes me add unnecessary pressure on myself. I find myself questioning my process and the brushes I choose to use - I’ve always used generic Photoshop brushes, or occasional ones I’ve downloaded.
I recently attended an advanced Photoshop techniques course taught by a visual effects and concept artist. Through the course, I learned more about making custom brushes and tailoring them to suit your needs. These two illustrations (both members of Italian band Måneskin) were drawn using brushes developed from found textures.
Using these brushes and learning how they reacted while painting helped me test out a new drawing process. I was less careful and more experimental, not worrying about the final outcome. As a result, I felt I was a lot happier with these experiments, and am super excited to take these new experiences and methods with me to my future paintings.
August, 2021