Have no idea where to start

[lhumphries]

hey guys I drew this last night and I have no idea how to go about digital painting him. I usually start with a base color then do really simple transparent shading techniques but I wanted to do this one well. I know photoshop really well I just have no idea of the process or stages if you will. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii303/lhumphries_2008/arab_lines.jpg
I have to fix his feet.

[Mirana]

Off the top of my head I have to say that at this stage you should be more concerned about hashing out a good drawing, than worrying about color. Try doing some full-render pieces in greyscale (either Photoshop, or traditional...but traditional would be easier) to help you understand more about shade and highlight, and then go for the color.

[Jason Rainville]

Just for emphasis on a very good point;

Off the top of my head I have to say that at this stage you should be more concerned about hashing out a good drawing, than worrying about color.

No amount of colouring will help a picture with shitty values/shading/form
No amount of shading will help a picture with bad lineart/anatomy/perspective

Hit the books, study from life, and work on drawing more than anything :)

[Flake]

^
What they said. Step away from the tablet for now

Hit the books and grab that pencil or brush.

[p sage]

Off the top of my head I have to say that at this stage you should be more concerned about hashing out a good drawing, than worrying about color. Try doing some full-render pieces in greyscale (either Photoshop, or traditional...but traditional would be easier) to help you understand more about shade and highlight, and then go for the color.

Another vote for this--and I'll add:

The reason why it feels difficult or impossible to color or shade a drawing like this is that you have little understanding of perspective, proportion, and volume (as it pertains to a 2D drawing). This is evident from your drawing. If you understood these principles, then your drawings would reflect that and they would more easily lend themselves to light, value, and color--yet those are disciplines in and of themselves that require much study.

The others in this thread have given you a good heads-up. Don't finish drawings at this point--just keep making them as you study.

[Nam]

One of my favorite quotes is 'you don't want to spend time polishing a turd'. Get back to fundamentals and learn form, value etc. Photoshop will just hurt your progress at this point.

[lhumphries]

thanks guys I knew it was bad I was just checking to see if anyone knew any rendering tutorials. I am a level designer (as in draw levels...NOT ENVIRONMENTS) and I was trying to see if character concept was a chance...i guess not. Anyway does anyone know where I could find good techniques on rendering architecture or levels. here is an example of what I do in terms of getting scenes mapped out. I work in an architects office so I know all the proportions are right etc I just cant render effectively.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii303/lhumphries_2008/another_square.jpg

[Mirana]

Character design isn't impossible, it's just going to take a lot of work! Uphill battle for you as all the environment guys I know are pretty poor at organic forms (people/animals), and all the char designers I know have mushy environs. ;D Why is that?

Check the Photoshop/Painter sub-forms. There are a few tutorial-like threads in there on use of the programs. There are also the CA downloads (pay-for and free). If you're looking for "render" in the sense of lights and darks, form and volume then perhaps your searches need to be in the realm of "fine art." They're out there, they are just in a different, traditional medium.