Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Colored dragon – stage 1


Here is where I am right now with the coloring of the boy and dragon painting (click for a larger view). All of the painting and linework was done in Photoshop, attempting to recreate a watercolor look.

What I would like to know is A) does it look similar to watercolor, and B) is the linework to stiff? I plan to "sketch" back over it a bit to "rough it up" some, but I would love your overall opinion on this beginning.

Thanks in advance!

17 comments:

Lisa M Griffin said...

This is coming along great. I love the dragon and how attentive he is to the little boy. Really wonderful composition, can't wait to see it completed.

Tom Barrett said...

Thanks, Lisa! Hope to have it done by the end of the week.

Alicia Padrón said...

Wow Tom, I really love this illo!! The dragon is so adorable I want to take him home with me right now :o)

They both look so good together. This is a wonderful illustration for your portfolio. There is a bit of storytelling, characters are appealing, you are demonstrating you can manage kids and dragons all good things.

I was going to say that I think you should draw a bit of the dragon's back leg but then I realized you did draw in on your initial sketch, just not on this one. That's good because it is important to show the leg.

I think it looks great. I'm not sure what you have in mind regarding your finally rendering. I see you added a black like around the dragon, do you plan to have it painted with watercolor effect and then the black line? I ask this, because I want to understand more what you have in mind and so I can answer more properly your 2 questions.

Tom Barrett said...

Thanks, Alicia!

Yes, I am trying to achieve a watercolor-like effect in Photoshop, and then will outline it in black. I also plan to try a softer, "brushed" line around the characters to see what I like more.

I guess I should have at least finished the outline around the dragon before posting, but wanted a bit of feedback on the watercolor effect and if the dark outline was working.

Fannie said...

Hi, Tom~

Your stage 1 looks great so far! It does look like watercolor, and I like your black linework. No, I don't think it's too stiff. However, it all depends on what you're after.

I look forward to seeing the next stage. Great composition. Great job!

Tom Barrett said...

Thanks, Fannie. I think like most creative people, I am my own worst critic, picking at my art more than I need to! :P

Unknown said...

oh awesome Tom...I love seeing work in stages!!!

Kathleen Rietz said...

Really nice, Tom. I think the boy looks perfect and he almost looks as though he is having a conversation with the dragon as they both look at his painting. This is good storytelling.

I actually like the black line around the dragon "as is" because I have always liked the roughness of the strokes combined with the smoothness of pen & ink when working traditionally. So I like that you achieved that look digitally.

Tom Barrett said...

Thanks, Diana and Kate!

benjamin trobat -cartoonist- said...

hey! that´s a great work man

Tom Barrett said...

Thanks, Benjamin!

Alicia Padrón said...

I see Tom. Well I like the effect you have now it looks like watercolor and also resembles markers a bit. I think the black line is going to be the defining point here. The black line makes it look more "cartoony" if we can say that, the other brush style you want to try may make the effect look more like watercolor. Just my opinion. You have to try both and see what you like.

I like where you are going Tom. I think this is a wonderful piece and is worthy of experimenting with both styles and see what you like best.

Then when you choose the style you like you can start making more pieces for your portfolio following the same style.

Can't wait to see it finished my friend. Great piece :o)

Tom Barrett said...

Thanks, Alicia. I am going to try a few ideas and post'em for feedback, then go from there.

kathy hare said...

I love this Tom, it is very sensitively drawn.. I wish I had a dragon to hold my paintbrushes.. :)

Tom Barrett said...

Thanks, Kathy!

Anonymous said...

This is great! I like the way the dragon is leaning in towards the boy to see what he's doing!

Tom Barrett said...

Thanks, Jess! I am going to try and finish it tonight.