WIP: Pheonix + boy.

[Meretrix]

New here. *cough-petrified*

I've always had problems coloring my fantasy pieces; since there's no references, and I don't want to color it like a coloring book page (just setting the lineart to multiply) nor do I want to lose what the original lineart looked like.

Right now I've been doing this with (mostly) 3pixel brushes to get what I want and it's taken 20+ hours :|
So:
1.) How would you suggest I finish this? Problems so forth?
2.) Suggestions for techniques to do a fantasy painting FASTER? Sites/tutorials?
3.) "Best" way to go about painting over inked lineart, without starting from scratch or just colouring in the lines?

Thankyou compadres.
http://www.teamartail.com/~egfoxit/offsite/CAgryf.jpg

From this Lineart (I changed the wing) and stuffs:
http://www.teamartail.com/~egfoxit/offsite/Phegryfink.jpg

..or am I doomed to labor for 100 hours over every image? :P

[blinky]

I can't answer any of your questions, but wow this pic will be awesome when it is done.

[nikia]

Looks to me it was well worth the 20+ hours. It's stunning!
I'm assuming your using painter? There's a painter thread here you can look at and ask questions. Can't help you much other than that, I'm just learning painter myself. What I usually do is zoom in, and I use the knife alot, then refine from there. The more experienced here will probably tell you a better way, I'm used to painting with real paints and it's the best way I've found so far to emulate real painting.:)

[Meretrix]

Thanks!! Actually this is just Photoshop 7, with a lot of really semi-transparent round brushes. It's strange, Painter intimidates me but I feel really comfortable using photoshop (what most people think is a harder program?). Eh.

Thankyou though!
I guess I'm just looking for help speedpainting in photoshop, or something to that effect. Or any help really for improvement/more professional technique/ etc etc.

*goes back to bed with a fever of 102* ;_;

[Ian Mack]

awesome pic mate!

I think painting faster may come with practice. From what I see here, you already have the basics of painting down.
I've just finished the lineart on mine and am going to start painting in pshop too. I'll try using the semi-transparent brushes and see what I get.

:chug: