Amon Ad-Raza (WIP)

[Howietzer]

Thought I'd start a little sooner showing the process on this one. Everything will be done in Photoshop using either a Cintiq or wacom tablet.

I chose Amon cuz he's a really huge dude who looks like he could kick some serious buttocks. So my first challenge was to come up with the "Look upon my gigantazord muscles" pose (not too hard really) I thumbed through some muscle mags and browsed some art on the web to find some decent references for the different body parts.

This is what I came up with:


I'll keep posting as I go, If you have any questions along the way feel free to ask.

Much Thx

[Howietzer]

I forgot to mention in the last post that when I do line work in Photoshop its on its own layer, to keep transparency.

I’ve already completed the background (used elements from an older image). I usually address the background in the beginning stages because it really sets the tone for the entire image. I wanted to focus on the character… so I cheated and reused a setting I was familiar with (you can curse me if I ever make it to a Gen Con). I’ll put it in once I start the color stuff.

Anyway, since I’ve got the background figured out I know how my light source is going to work… which is key to a good illustration. There are a few things in an illustration that you have to “get right” to make it work, and the light source(s) is one of the big ones. I have flubbed many an illustration because I couldn’t get my light source under control, it truly sucks.

So here is the next step:

1. I create another layer, under the line layer, that I can paint the figure on.
2. I turn the background layer color to a dark (almost black) gray.
3. Once my newly created layer has a good, light gray silhouette, I lock transparency on that layer.
4. I use standard brushes in Photoshop to block in the highlighted and shaded areas. The brushes are set between 20% and 40% opacity, using only black and white.

I chose the direction of the light source because of the background, and when lit from underneath, characters tend to look more intimidating/evil IMO.

Okay, so I’ve got a good idea where my lights are coming from and I can move on to the next stage of detailing.

1. I use the same settings and colors for my brushes (hard edged btw).
2. I bust out another tool simply called “Smudge” (awesome tool). I use the “spatter 59 pixel” brush with this tool, it’s a standard brush and does really well when blending tones.
3. I usually start with the head, another “get right” item in an illustration. The rest of an illustration can be awesome but if the head or hands are messed up, it’s over… again speaking from experience.
4. I still have just the three layers, doing all of the painting on the figure layer that has locked transparency. I turn the line layer on and off during the process… the lines are guides but get in the way at a certain point.

Hope this is interesting for some of you. Also keep in mind all this blah, blah, blah is just my opinions and experiences in dealing with art.

Later

[Howietzer]

This is still part of the third stage, just more of the same except I?ve started using the ?Burn? and ?Dodge? tools. I use the standard hard and soft brushes in Photoshop with these tools, set to about 20% exposure. In black and white these tools are really effective, but in color they are dangerous because they take out the saturation of your color, leaving a print that is less desirable.

Also it?s worth mentioning references during this stage. They can really help out when you aren?t sure how something is supposed to look when the light hits it. Generally when light hits an object it creates a hard looking edge and turns into a gradient as it wraps around the item, simple concept but sometimes hard to keep in mind while drawing? I keep repeating in my mind ?hard light, soft shadow?. Works for me most of the time.

[Howietzer]

More of the same.

[Mod_MC]

Love your work, but the Menofix is not correct. It looks upside down. And there isn't a hoop on it.

Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Howietzer]

Love your work, but the Menofix is not correct. It looks upside down. And there isn't a hoop on it.

Can't wait to see the finished product.

My bad, after looking at the photo of the mini again I realized I misjudged how it was suppose to look. Much thx!

[Howietzer]

WHOOT! he's finally got hands... and a cool disco ball to boot.

I'm gonna do the rest of the chain on a different layer because it's going to cross over his arms and it's easier for me to do that way.

[iG4MER]

Howie, that is looking great.. one suggestion unrelated to your fantastic art.. make the banner a link to the art site, thanks. Want to see more of your stuff.

[Howietzer]

Howie, that is looking great.. one suggestion unrelated to your fantastic art.. make the banner a link to the art site, thanks. Want to see more of your stuff.

I'd love to... how? lol

[PG_Kiev]

[...URL="http://howietzer.deviantart.com/"][...IMG]http://privateerpressforums.com/image.php?u=46884&type=sigpic&dateline=1312557548[.../IMG][.../URL]

take out the "..." from each of the brackets

[Howietzer]

[...URL="http://howietzer.deviantart.com/"][...IMG]http://privateerpressforums.com/image.php?u=46884&type=sigpic&dateline=1312557548[.../IMG][.../URL]

take out the "..." from each of the brackets

Zion you're totally awesome! Much thx!

[Tangiers]

That is looking great, keep up the good work.

[Howietzer]

@ Tangiers: Thanks for the comment, I'll do so.

Yeash! Finished with phase 3. Sorry this is taking so long, I’ve got work on top of this deal (ya know the kind that pays the bills, usually boring and unsatisfying)…

Okay so now I’ve got to go back in and tighten some details, add textures, veins and put in some scrollwork on his armor. After that we can start on the colors.

[Howietzer]

It's color time!!!

[Mod_MC]

****ing. bad. ***.

[PG_gdaybloke]

Too school for cool.

[Howietzer]

Thx guys glad you like it!

Here is a link to the colored version:
http://howietzer.deviantart.com/art/...Raza-253834133

[Brutallen]

Holy **** this just made my day... thank you

[Draekon Darkstorm]

That is very nice work. I really like how it turned out. I don't suppose you could make that into a wallpaper for the computer, or perhaps employ that awesome skill for Reznik?

Draekon

[tutenkharnage]

Jaw. Floor.

[PG_Kiev]

the color version is epic! nice work! almost making me want to do Menoth again

[Howietzer]

Thx so much for the comments, I really appreciate it.

@ Dreakon: I made some wallpapers, not sure if I did the size you need but let me know and I'll put one together when I get time. Below is the link.

http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w...zer/Wallpapers
password: warmachine

Thx again all!

[Lanz]

Crazy-awesome. But the Photobucket links seem to have resized the wallpapers to a smaller size.

[Howietzer]

Crazy-awesome. But the Photobucket links seem to have resized the wallpapers to a smaller size.

Sorry about that, not sure what happened... Try these:
http://www.box.net/shared/g55qip5ubyzhby8c091d 800x600
http://www.box.net/shared/usn6zukiyst0i7dqo6y5 1024x640
http://www.box.net/shared/cyapbg1cpbqr9o41uecf 1024x768
http://www.box.net/shared/byqs1pe6imhd2j8uob7x 1280x960
http://www.box.net/shared/pu8xqq1nxsnaz8hxk8eu 1360x768
http://www.box.net/shared/ald53ggse3o3jfzle7zi 1680x1050

These are on box.

[Lanz]

It says the folder is empty.

[Howietzer]

Obviously I'm not very good at this... I've replaced the link in the previous post, hopefully those work.

[Lanz]

That worked. Awesome picture, bro. Makes me think it's time to change my banner.

[drachenfels]

awesome skills, but his head is laughably small... it is smaller than his tricep!
some of the other proportions are off as well...

[Lanz]

awesome skills, but his head is laughably small... it is smaller than his tricep!
some of the other proportions are off as well...

Have you actually looked at the model? Or his art? Those are his proportions. That's actually pretty accurate to Amon.

[Howietzer]

@ Lanz: awesome glad it finally worked, and much thx for the comments.

@drachenfels: Thx for the comments. lol, It's true his head is very small compared to his body, intentionally so (just to make him look impossibly huge). I mean look at the chain... if you've ever lifted a big chain before you'll realize just how impossible his weapon is as well. The point being I wasn't going for realism.

[ragonax]

judging at the art, if this guys goes epic, i think he goes straight to legendary

[Howietzer]

Not sure how many of you are familiar with Deviant Art but this piece got a Daily Deviation today... it's one of the best things that can happen on that site for an artist and the artwork itself. I wanted to thank you guys for your interest, because if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have done the art in the first place. Much thx.

[tutenkharnage]

Congrats, Howietzer!