This short tutorial shows how the face from Waiting Part 2 was created and how the expression of the face was sculpted with paint by using brushes in Painter and Photoshop.

sketching

My first Step is to open Photoshop and create a layer on top of "waiting" to trace the proportions of the head and get some indications for the sketching.

I turn the transparency for the layer off and begin with some sketching.
I try to sketch directly on the tablet because the sketch will only be used as a rough guideline. The mayor expression of the face will be done by using the colours.

And once again I notice that it is very difficult for me to draw a sketch directly on the tablet. Normally I use an old fashioned piece of paper and a pencil for that kind of work and in my case it works out better - why? I can’t tell maybe it’s just a habit.

block in colour

The next step is to block in some colour. I start with creating a new layer for the overall skin tone and set the layer with the sketch on it to multiply so I can see the sketch on top of the colour.

I turn the background layer to a darker colour just for the sake of contrast and have a better feel for the intensity of the highlights.

I erase the colour layer to the contours of the sketch so I can use the layer as a mask for further painting by turning "Preserve Transparency" on. This protects all transparent areas in the layer and paint can only applied in areas that already have some colour. So I don’t need to erase again when I am painting over the outlines of the sketch.

I use a very hard edged brush tip and place the dark's and light's very roughly.

blending colour

After I applied the basic tones I switch to "Painter" for blending the hard edges between the colours. Painter is great with handling colours and the look is much more natural and intuitive. There are several brushes for blending but my favourites are "Wet Acrylic" and "Just Add Water".

The following procedure is like a Ping-Pong match between Painter and Photoshop. I constantly switch between those two till I have the feeling the image begins looking "right" to me.

Now it is time to add some hair. Basically the same process: loosely block in some basic colours and shapes, blend the colours, paint again and blend again till it starts to looking okay.

observ

My main focus is the characters face, I am looking for a certain expression and emotion, but at this point I haven’t the feeling that I didn't found what I was Looking for - Whatever the next step is what I call "what is wrong"

When you are working on an image it automatically happens that your eyes start to accept the things you are painting even if it's wrong you won't see it right now. There are some tricks like flip the canvas to see it from a different view. But the best is to ask someone or to come back later with a fresh pair of eyes and most of the times you will instantly see what isn't working.

At the end of the day I start to stare at the image and ask my self a lot of questions: What is missing? does it work and if not why?, how about light and shadows, the anatomy? Is the face strong enough to carry the storyline? and all kind of considerations.

I write some notes on an additional layer to hint myself some issues I have to take care of and work on for the next day.

This is the final painting of the face, it doesn't look much like the character from waiting but the expression is the closest to what I was looking for.