Photoshop Paint Vibrant Portrait Art
ImagineFX|December 2019
Daniel bolling Walsh reveals how he makes use of custom brushes and a range of Photoshop layer modes to create a painterly portrait piece
Daniel Bolling Walsh
Photoshop Paint Vibrant Portrait Art

In this workshop I’ll take you through my process of painting a portrait of a woman in her mid-20s. I’m going for an overall painterly and expressive style that makes use of a vibrant warm colour palette.

I’ll start with a line drawing with some basic greyscale values blocked in. I’ll then use Photoshop layer modes as well as adjustment layers over the top of the drawing to experiment with colours, and begin establishing the colour palette. After I’ve made a few different colour mockups, I’ll choose my favourite to push further to a finished painting.

During this stage I’ll focus on some of the facial features and start to define the forms of the face with more opaque and detailed brushstrokes. At this point hopefully I’ll feel confident that the focal point is working and I can then play around with the shapes as well as the contrast of sharp and soft edges using my favourite Photoshop tool, the Mixer brush. I’ll experiment throughout the process, and will make some late adjustments to the composition to try and add to the overall warm feel of the subject and her expression.

1 Sketching some ideas

During this stage I make a few different sketches to see what kind of pose will work for the piece. For the subject I’m thinking about the gesture and her eye contact with the viewer. She should feel friendly! I keep these really loose and I also focus on my line work and the overall composition.

2 Time to draw!

My time at the Swedish Academy of Realist Art was fun. We did a lot of kroki (life drawing) as well as studying the master works of Charles Bargue. His works begin quite structured with very straight lines, and so this stops me from attempting to get the curves right in the first place. It’s much like simplifying your sketch to make sure you’re getting your proportions correct.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2019 de ImagineFX.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2019 de ImagineFX.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE IMAGINEFXVer todo
PAINT EPIC BATTLES IN TRADITIONAL INK
ImagineFX

PAINT EPIC BATTLES IN TRADITIONAL INK

Warhammer illustrator THOMAS ELLIOTT shows you how to create an epic science fiction fight scene with this step-by-step guide

time-read
5 minutos  |
January 2025
CONJURE MAGIC ILLUSTRATIONS
ImagineFX

CONJURE MAGIC ILLUSTRATIONS

Daria Anako demonstrates her process for creating a whimsical piece of art with some spellbinding touches

time-read
5 minutos  |
January 2025
First Impressions
ImagineFX

First Impressions

We discover the early influences that inspired the artist

time-read
6 minutos  |
January 2025
ZBrush for iPad
ImagineFX

ZBrush for iPad

GAME CHANGER The desktop version of popular 3D sculpting software ZBrush has been redesigned for iPad - and it's brilliant

time-read
1 min  |
January 2025
BenQ GW2786TC
ImagineFX

BenQ GW2786TC

GET AN EYEFUL Don't scrimp out on your health with a monitor that's kind on the eyes and good for creative tasks

time-read
1 min  |
January 2025
Huion Kamvas Pro 19
ImagineFX

Huion Kamvas Pro 19

TABLET WARS An attractive pen display does an excellent job of balancing price and performance as it sets out to challenge its rivals in the mobile marketplace

time-read
3 minutos  |
January 2025
DRAGON OFORCEC
ImagineFX

DRAGON OFORCEC

Legendary D&D artist Larry Elmore explains the keys to crafting timeless fantasy art.

time-read
4 minutos  |
January 2025
DUNGEON MASTERS
ImagineFX

DUNGEON MASTERS

ImagineFX marks the milestone 50th anniversary of the launch of Dungeons & Dragons with a look at its rich tradition of illustration

time-read
7 minutos  |
January 2025
Erik Ly
ImagineFX

Erik Ly

Gamer's haven Why the artist enjoys a maximalist aesthetic more than the minimalist approach.

time-read
2 minutos  |
January 2025
2D meets 3D: How the workflows are merging
ImagineFX

2D meets 3D: How the workflows are merging

Interdimensional As VFX and animation evolve and tools become more accessible, Tanya Combrinck asks whether the separation between the mediums is reducing

time-read
5 minutos  |
January 2025