[RaykastCS]

I dont really need help with lighting or form, but surfaces... thats a tricky one. I was wondering if you guys can give me tips on rendering surfaces, like metals, rocks, ect. Or maybe there is a book that can help me. This is really driving me up the wall with my latest project. Usually i incorperate textures from photos into my artwork, but I really need to get surface drawing down. Any help would be greatly apreciated.

[zak]

hmm 3d or 2d artwork? you have to be more specific.

[roundeye]

dont get a book, just look around. be observant.

[RaykastCS]

My mistake, I meant 2D work. I need help Painting surfaces.

[Ian Jones]

There is a lot to learn about materials and surfaces. I'll try to give you a general approach and a few variables you should consider when rendering a surface.

What are the quality's of a surface? Consider a surfaces physical and visual propertys and relate that to the selection of brushes and technique you use to render.

For example you would use a textured custom brush for lots of organic, bumpy, rocky and anything that requires a bit of natural randomness. On the other hand use a very mechanical round smooth brush for clean, accurate and even surfaces, like plastic or metal. I know this sounds simple, but you would be surprised how many ppl forget it and render an object with the wrong tool.

The quality, direction, shape, opacity and character of any brushstroke you make should be carefully considered and it should beautify a painting, not destroy or interrupt its form. I'm sure you have noticed this problem in a lot of stuff around here, if the brushstrokes are obvious as brustrokes, then they probably aren't doing their job. Some ppl call that 'noodling'.

Just look at the work of some of the great artists at Sijun like Craig, Loki, Henrik, Joachim, Micke, Enayla, Isric, Roundeye etc.. (many more) you'll notice that there technique is amazing, you should take notice of the individual brushtrokes. These brushstrokes should enhance the form, often in a very simplified manner referred to as 'economy of line' or 'economy of brushstrokes'. I'm sure you have seen Isric's wonderful line drawings and gasped in amazement at the quality and character of the lines. Or marveled at Micke or Joachims wonderful shapes and strokes in their paintings.

I'm stressing technique here because it is so important to the description of materials. Like I said, lots of ppl choose the wrong brushes and technique.

Observation is the best way to learn about materials. There is no way anyone could give you a complete list of materials and how to render them because it is a lifetime of study. I haven't had much experience with painting rock, but I have done plenty of metal. With metal, I find it easier to think of it as two layers of rendering. For example consider car paint, it has a matte underying layer then a shiny transparent layer, like wax or varnish. so it can be easier to treat the rendering in two stages. Make one the initial matte layer, then put another on top and render the reflections and shiny highlights on it. This way you won't be scared to add those reflections or crisp highlights, because after all it is on its own editable layer.

Goto Scott Robertson's website: Drawthrough

There is an excellent example of what I mean in the 'Sketches & Renderings > Colour Digital > third page' section. It is a concept car, Scott has kindly shown some of the process and individual layers that make the illustration. It is really quite insightful.

That's all for now... Hope that helps.

[faB]

Your best bet right now I assume would be to retouch photos of the materials you need.

I know some good artists in the game industry do this because they say painted textures invariably have a painted look.

I suppose you need wrap around textures? Get some photos, adjust the hue/ lightness etc and use the clone tool to make it wrap around.

After that you should feel more confident for painting out a surface entirely from scratch.

[RaykastCS]

Thanks Ian Jones and faB for the sugestions. Now I must reflect (practice) some more.

Im wondering if people like Craig and Loki use texture from pictures in there matte work. Is it common practice or are you expected to paint all the fine details?

[Ian Jones]

I think Craig has some canned in oil paintings that he uses for texture. I can't say for sure though.