How to paint something like this?

[theblueroom]

It looks a bit like Giger for me. Umm...i think its made with the airbrush in Photoshop. But look at all those crasy small detailed shapes. How is this made? I tried to make something similar detailed, but failed a hundred times. Do i have to sketch it first?

[deepbluehue]

I would sketch it before trying to paint it.

[RandAlThor]

Try a flat base of grey colour, then use the dodge and burn tools with hard round and pressure set on other dynamics. I've seen some nice giger work done using this technique, tho it does take some time.

I would also plan this out with a sketch first, then tidy that up in to some lineart, then fill the line art with a base color.... etc etc

5 min example but the technique is there... ;-)

323027

[Menno]

Just start at twice (or more) the size you actually want it, then downsize it when done. Makes doing itty bitty details a lot easier and more forgiving.

[theblueroom]

i tried it as best i could, starting with the sketch, filling the lines with a grey then highlighting and making shadows with the dodge/burn tools.