[gArGOyLe^]

Hello

What are the steps you take before actually lifting a pen or pencil? I would think the steps would be determining the:

1) Subject matter
2) Composition
3) Light Source
4) Colors

Do you all usually go that path? Is there anything else you take into consideration before actually starting to draw or paint?

Answers would be really appreciated

[Matthew]

Hello

I have more of a chaotic view when I paint, I choose the lightsource first then paint the object, then color, then paint the lightsource, then shadow.
Well ..hehe, maybe not the answer you wanted but there it is.

Matthew

[Finer]

wouldnt the colors go before the lightsource?
Thats how I work anyway ...

1 scan the pencil sketch or sketch it in photoshop
2 paint flat colors
3 paint midtones
4 paint shadows & highliights

thats when I know what to do, otherwise I do it like Matthew said...
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/ Anders

andersfiner.com

[Derek]

1. Answer all of your questions in your drawing, don't leave anything to chance when painting.

2. Decide where your lightest light and darkest dark are, place them first, all of your other decisions about value will be relative to them. Build strong shadow shapes. Simplify your light areas. And know this: the lightest light in your dark areas is still a value or two darker than the darkest dark in your light areas. You must respect these separate realms of light and dark and always keep them separate.

3. Value/color=same thing. Get the values nailed and the color can be anything, just pay attention to temperature relationships.

4. Lost and found edges are very important, play with them in your mid-tones. By this point, you've done the hard work, it should all be fun from here...

Remember, light reveals color, shadows reveal form. Highest chroma in your lights, complementary shadows work well. Edges are everything.

In other words, yep, subject, composition, value, color...
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Anything one man can imagine, others can make real...

[maxetormer]

Hell!!!! keeping ur ligths consitet is in my experice the most valuable data i have ever learned and its is tooking me years, to get to semi-understand how to use it.

Yup i agree with ur system Derek it�s is the best and u can avoid lots fo trouble usig that system do some people don�t use it and still end up doing superb work, the general to particular system, is used by most of the great profesional artists.

I think i remberd that spooge said "get rid of the white backgorund as soon as posible" �cause the entire color of ur caracters will be afected by the color on ur backgorund.

So form my experince this system works the best (at least for me) so the block big areas, define stuff later, it is becoming the system i am starting to use more, and problaby i will stick to it, since is giving me very good results.
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Never underestimate the stupidity of the human race.Sorrow is the contrast of happines then sorrow is some how the esence of happiness + =

[maxetormer]

I most add... there is not way to really learn how to draw well, except by gaining experience, only practice can do that, lots of it,
and lots of time, and lots of errors.

(More than one would want to have *shigth*).
_________________
Never underestimate the stupidity of the human race.Sorrow is the contrast of happines then sorrow is some how the esence of happiness + =