Digital Portrait of Kyja

The following digital painting tutorial was done in Corel Painter IX. This tutorial was created to help an artist friend in the development of a digital portrait painting. She supplied me the image she started, which served as a good under painting for my painting style.

About 7 hours to complete.

Step I: Sketch Comparison

I made a sketch to compare with the painting she started and superimposed it over her painting to check feature placements. It was important to me to make sure all features were in the right place before I started to add paint to it.

Step 2: Blocking in Basic Colors

Next, I blocked in some basic colors following the contours as if I were sculpting the portrait. I used a brush that I created based on one of the acrylics, but I added softness and some impasto as to cover quickly the surface since the brush I’ll use later on requires of many layers of paint to achieve the look and texture I want.

Step 3: The Bandanna and the Shirt

Here I added basic tones to the bandanna and her shirt, as well as adding paint to the shadow areas paying attention to color temperature.

Step 4: Filling the Background

Next, I painted the background and hair loosely.

Step 5: Experimenting with the Background

I continue on the background trying different color combination until I arrived to the tones and color that I believed enhanced the subject. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 6: Blending

After I blocked in the background colors (with some impasto – the same brush I am using to block in colors on the face), I then started to blend the colors only where two colors met. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 7: The Face

Once I finished with the background, I continued to add colorful paint on the face. This time, I used my other custom brush (the one that requires many layers of paint). Notice that for this tutorial, I left the sketch on a layer on top as a guide. Later this was deleted. I decided to leave this sketch up to this step so that my friend (and anyone else viewing this) get the idea on how/where I place the different colors. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 8: Molding the Features

The sketch was deleted. Once I had a considerable amount of paint, I blended the colors on the face and neck for the first time, molding the subject’s features. To blend, I used a stump. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 9: Adding Color to Strategic Areas

I continued adding more paint including the eyes. These colors were placed in strategic places as to enhance her features. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 10: Blending while Preserving the Impasto Look

Here, I blended the colors again softly as to preserve the impasto stokes. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 11: Skin Tones

I then added dark skin tones to the areas in shadow and added complimentary colors. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 12: Adding Saturated Colors

I added stronger colors.  In this picture, it gives the impression that I covered the green on the neck with the red-orange, but it is actually not covered.  It is hard to appreciate it from this small picture. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 13: The Garment and Lip Definition

I blended the colors just a little and added the garment on the neck and further defined the shirt. I also paid attention to her lips defining its shape and color. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 14: Refining Her Complexion

Further developed her complexion adding darker variations of skin color and compliments for the area of light. In this stage, I am not blending with the stump at all, just adding paint. The custom brush I was using at this stage blends the different colors applied when I apply just a little pressure on my stylus. I further defined the lips, and the areas around the eyes, nose, and mouth. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Step 15: Detailing

In this final stage, I detailed the eyes and added some assumed reflected colors (light). I also detailed the earrings and the hair, and called the portrait DONE!… and signed it. (Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Face Detail:

(Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Eye Detail:

(Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

Background Detail:

(Click on the image to view it at a bigger size.)

I hope that you have enjoyed this demonstration. Feel free to leave your comments.

All images are Copyrighted © 2005 Janet M Garcia.  All rights reserved.