-By Serge Birault
About digital sketching:
Here’s the reasons why I do my sketches on computer:
– Symmetry. You can flip your picture very easily.
– You can erase without problem.
– You don’t kill trees. Think about all the sketchbooks you already bought 🙂
– You can change your composition.
– You can do a messy sketch and clean it on the same file, just work on several layers.
– You don’t have to buy an A3 scanner.
– Your cat cannot lay on it !
– You can use vector tools for geometric shapes.
Tools:
Jan Ditlev Christensen created fantastic brushes for sketching. You can download the full pack here: http://cghub.com/scripts/view/83/
 |
| This brush is really great |
I usually don’t work with grayscale, and I used to do only messy sketches, but let’s try …
The girl, the robot and the background are on 3 different layers.
I didn’t think a lot about the composition but it seems it works well.
The daisy is now a light. The composition is more interesting like that.
I will probably add details later … Step 2 : Painting 🙂
Great post, dude!
Hope you post some 'how-to: Hair' stuff soon. I spend about 2 hours every time I draw, only in the hair! =)
Greetz from Brazil!
Only two hours ? You're a lucky guy, I often spend much more time on hair 😀
Great brush pack to share, Serge! Really fun to use!
Thanks, and I can't wait to see the finished drawing. =D
Yep, this pack of brushes is really great 🙂
Très bien, mon ami. One question I'd like to ask is what resolution you use for the first sketches. Do you work big since the beginning?
Merci pour partager votre connaissance avec nous.
3508 x 4961 px, 300 dpi 🙂
I'd love to see your method without the grayscale 🙂 I know you've done tutes elsewhere but I like to see more of them 🙂 I'm not convinced with working in grayscale to start – I love colour too much! And I find that it's easier to build complexity layering colour rather than layering tones of gray and then using opacity layers to make the colour depth.
Thoughts?
🙂
(that said, I've been so slack with drawing this year and all I've done has been using natural media).
awesome work Serge!!!
love your posts,
Vanja
Thank you for sharing. You mentioned composition in your sketch,I want to know more about composition, Can you suggest me good books on composition.
yep, I don't use graysacle very often. The tones seem “washed” with this method. I will try to do paint under AND over the sketch 🙂
My usual painting technique usually looks like that :
http://www.livestream.com/sergebirault/video?clipId=pla_058a44c7-6d3a-46b9-a426-443d00b0d66b
Thank you Vanja 😉
No. There are tones of rules for composition but like all the rules, you have to break them 😉
Sketching is a chore for me– old hands and arthritis. I have learned quite a few work arounds, though.
Tony Lane
Thanks for sharing!
I really would like to see a step by step on how you make a grayscale tone sketch into a colored picture . How to put on the colors to keep the tone composition.
Yeah, but there's something to be said about sketching on paper. I do work on the computer, but I guess I'm still old school. At least I don't have to worry about the power going out. And I have instant back-ups of my drawings.
Hey, someone's got to be the Devil's Advocate.
However, on the opposite side of the coin, I find your work humbling…
It will be the next post 😉
Tanks a loooooot Serge, beautiful piece of work (as always), very useful brushes set, and great hints. Only one thing: I can't break the rules without knowing them before.. I'll better do a google search about this f**ked rules..
Andrea M. Savini
I had to laugh at “cat can't lay on it” reason! I've had many a drawings smudged by my art critic cat that likes to walk over my sketchbook right when I lay it down.
I completely agree that it's still good to draw on paper. I tend to do more personal and relaxing work in my sketchbook. I use the computer for the speed!
I never liked doing animation on paper but I like doing animation on the computer much more, although there aren't really any great programs for 2D digital animation yet. Most of them have you draw in vector which is just weird and doesn't feel right IMO. But it makes it a lot easier to deal with all those many drawings and putting them together to see them animate. That is where the power is.
But I LOVE going out with my sketch book and drawing from life or my imagination. Plus I never needed glasses until I started working 8 hours a day in front of a screen!
“You don't kill trees.”
…Seriously?
Serge, I suppose you use this size and resolution in order to have the image prepared for print. However, how do you know the level of zoom for drawing?.
Do you work at 100 per cent of zoom with all detail?. For that size, you must go mad with a drawing so big from the computer screen, mustn´t you?.
Congratulations, good job as usually.
Yes, I do prints for all my personal work. I use to work at 100 % zoom BECAUSE I'm mad 😀
Ils sont fous ces français … XD
Oui 🙂
OMG! =L Serge you are amazing dude! Love your tuts.
can u plz tell me wht is ur PC configuration….it seems dt my PSCS3 doesnt allow me to work on 300 dpi..!!!! i dnt knw y really..!!!!
Merci d'avoir partagé ton process!
j'aime toujours autant ton boulot
Yeah, I thought that seemed like reaching. What exactly is the environmental impact of computer manufacture and use? I admit I simply don't know.
Merci 🙂
I can allow PS to use more memory on the options 😉
Amazing work, as always, and thanks for the tip about the brushes 🙂 Can't wait to see more process work.
excellent Serge like always, but i have a question…about “reasons why I do my sketches on computer”… they (buyers) ask you about originals pencil or inks and they don't want to buy them? and you don't lost a little of practical drawing when you practice all in your computer? (excuse my poor english)thanxs!!
Well, yes, I lost my drawing skills. I did better sketches 20 years ago ^^'
Serge …ur work has so rich information ….some of your posts in forums are too good ….and hats off for your work …i am mad about digital arts …but t tell u frankly ..m like a sailor who have never put his foots into the real ocean ever….i need your advice
please guide me …how shall i start learning the digital painting process …..for guys who r not good at real canvas…can do better with wacom pen tab. I totally agree with u…cause i have tried myself as well and the result was better….but i lack painting and color concepts ….my fundamentals are not at par.
For a beginner lke me what better than asking an amazing artist (Serge Birault )
Painting directly with colors will b the right start or the gray scale ?
Even i attempted painting faces twice or thrice but it was like walking through african desert ….please dont mind my child like reasons Serge …. Pls advice…!