- This is a bit complex, but at the same time pretty straightforward?
- Use References for Everything.
- Learn 1 point, 2 point, and 3 point perspective. While you don’t need to use it every time you draw a background, it is helpful to learn how things change shape and sizes depending on where you place the horizon line.
- Not pictured: When you use lines for backgrounds, it’s good to add more detail towards the focus of the drawing and less detail in the distance/if it’s flat out in the foreground. I often use disconnected, scratch lines for things further in the distance, and solid detailed lines for things closer to the “camera.”
- Ambience! The sky will give off a blue hue, I like to take the airbrush and gently soften the objects closer to the sky to push the sense of the distance.
- I like to use the same color to shade everything, in order to keep a consistent tone and look to the piece. Likewise with the source light. So once a character’s base colors are blocked in, they’re treated the same as the surroundings in order to get them to blend in with it.
Tips:
Further Breakdown:
- 1. Perspective/Camera
I like to imagine the canvas as a camera, so that I can think of the perspective in my mind. Is it focused super close on a subject, or is it taking in a landscape? What above looking up or down? These things are dictated by the Horizon Line. This helpful thing shows where your eye level is and where the camera is angled at. The horizon line is the base point for the drawing. I highly recommend researching further into it. (I got lucky and was taught these things when I was little by my mom.)
Note: These guides are great if you’re wanting to draw buildings and rooms.
2. Distance
It is easier for me to view these in layers.
- 1. Sky - the sky! It is lighter near the horizon and darkens as it moves up.
2. Horizon - Perspective Guide! It can be hidden behind things, but subconsciously should always be in mind.
3. Background - A little more detailed shapes, but still pushed out of focus
4. Midground - More details and more colors
5. Foreground - Right up in front of the camera.
3. Character Placement
Depends entirely on where you want the character to be sitting in the scene. It’s like taking a picture, but drawing it instead!
The further the character is from the camera, the smaller they will get.
It helps greatly to add weight and shadow to the character, make them touch the ground, squish the grass, and cast a shadow. These little things help place the character into the scene.
Final images is showing how you can render a painting in grayscale and then add colors onto using layer effects/types. I used Overlay and Soft Light to add the colors and Multiply and Overlay to add the shadows and highlights.
