Colored Lineart

Ctrl+Paint Store: http://ctrlpaint.myshopify.com/ Full Free Video Library: http://www.ctrlpaint.com/library/ note: This video was originally created for Ctrl...

The previous video encouraged you to experiment with the colors of a character design. What about the color of the lines themselves? This time I invite you to take the same illustration and to experiment with colored lines. Black lines have their place, but you can add nuance to your images with intentionally colored lines. And if you like this video, please remember to click the "Like" button at the bottom of the post!  The only advertising for Ctrl+Paint is word of mouth, so I'm counting on you guys to spread the word.  Thanks!

Assignment: Experiment with colored linework the provided character designs.

Things to consider: Soft vs. Hard Materials, Lock Transparent Pixels

Recommended videos:Basic Color Schemes, Unify Your Palette, Alternative Masking pt.1 (Lock Transparent Pixels)

Worksheet Downloads:Gorilla character Worksheet

Color Re-Mix

One of the best ways to learn about color and color relationships is to play. In this exercise, I invite you to use my illustration as a coloring book, and s...

One of the best ways to learn about color and color relationships is to play. In this exercise, I invite you to use my illustration as a coloring book, and see what happens when you try different combinations and arrangements. Though the digital painting you end up with is not a portfolio piece, using my provided linework should keep you focused on the task at hand: changing the colors. And if you like this video, please remember to click the "Like" button at the bottom of the post!  The only advertising for Ctrl+Paint is word of mouth, so I'm counting on you guys to spread the word.  Thanks!

Assignment: Experiment with color schemes on the provided character designs.

Things to consider: Complementary and Analogous Schemes, Lock Transparent Pixels

Recommended videos:Basic Color Schemes, Unify Your Palette, Alternative Masking pt.1 (Lock Transparent Pixels)

Worksheet Downloads:Gorilla character Worksheet

Thumbnail Iteration

If you've ever created a silhouette sketch for a character design, what did you do next? All too often artists will consider these sketches in a binary way -...

If you've ever created a silhouette sketch for a character design, what did you do next? All too often artists will consider these sketches in a binary way - each drawing is either a 'hit' or a 'miss', and they draw until a 'hit' happens. This video offers a modified approach to thumbnail sketching - using Photoshop masks to help quickly iterate on a single promising thumbnail.  As I mention in the video, much of this idea originally came from the fantastic book The Skillful Huntsman, so make sure you check that out. 

Recommended video: The Danger of Painting Silhouettes

Real-Time Design With Smart Objects

To get the most out of digital painting you'll need to let the computer do some of the work for you. Repeated objects are a great opportunity for Photoshop t...

To get the most out of digital painting you'll need to let the computer do some of the work for you. Repeated objects are a great opportunity for Photoshop to shine, and this video shows how you can do real-time design using the 'smart objects' command. Unike traditional painting where you work from the beginning sketch to a finished painting, the digital process operates in a less linear way. If you can wrap your head around the possibilities, you'll end up saving time and achieving fantastic results!

Film Studies: Color

Movies can teach you a lot about storytelling. In this video I explain one way to use the beautiful colors found in movie stills, and apply them to your own ...

Movies can teach you a lot about storytelling. In this video I explain one way to use the beautiful colors found in movie stills, and apply them to your own illustration work. Like in the other videos in the Film Studies series, we dissect a frame and remove the context -- leaving us with a versatile piece of reference material.

Principles of Design: Rhythm and Repetition

Have you ever considered a still image including "Rhythm"? How about repetition? This video explains how to improve your art with a few basic principles Ctrl...

This video explains two principles which are often inter-related.   Rhythm, and repetition, when used intentionally can help guide your viewer through your image.  Like the other principles, this can be added into your set of compositional tools to help tell visual stories! 

Targeted Learning Pt. 2

For more videos, make sure to check out www.ctrlpaint.com!

The first video (targeted learning pt. 1) gives a look into the future of ctrl+Paint's future with a sample assignment.  This video explores what you bring to the table, and how you might enhance the value of each and every art assignment you have.

Exaggeration

Though it might not seem obvious, I believe that learning to exaggerate is one of the best ways to master realistic drawing. See how far you can push it! Ctr...

Exaggeration is not only for cartoonists and caricature artists.   This video explores some of the practical benefits of exaggeration in your sketching and research drawings.  Also, it's fun!

Being a Beginner

It's hard to be a beginner. This video aims to give a bit of perspective and encouragement. Additionally, it will help you avoid some mistakes in the kitch...

It's hard to be a beginner.  This video aims to give a bit of perspective and encouragement.  Additionally, it will help you avoid some mistakes in the kitchen.

Compositional Framing Elements

One great way to 'expand the frame' is to include foreground elements that run out of your image boundaries. This video explains how a 'framing element' in y...

Controlling the viewer's eyes in your illustration is important - and some simple framing elements will often help in this effort. "Framing element" simply means a large object in the foreground that surrounds the subject, like a frame around a picture.

If you like learning about composition, you should also check out the "Principles of Design" series.

Costume Sketching

Ctrl+Paint has mainly dealt with nude figures and classical study - but what if you want to draw a character with clothes? This video explores costume and fa...

Ctrl+Paint has mainly dealt with nude figures and classical study - but what if you want to draw a character with clothes? This video explores costume and fashion sketching from reference, and all of the photos used are from the fantastic blog http://www.thesartorialist.com/ .  

Finding the Right Reference

For more free videos make sure to swing by www.ctrlPaint.com!

If you're working to improve your painting, reference is a necessity.  The question is not "should I paint from reference?"  but rather "What reference makes most sense for this piece?"  This video looks for painting reference in an unusual area: visual effects test renders. 

If you're looking for the search terms mentioned in the video, here's a good starting point: Global Illumination (GI), Ambient Occlusion (AO), Caustics, Photons, VRay, Mental Ray, and Radiosity.  Search any of those along with "test render", and you'll have some fun reference materials. 

The anatomy reference was found at onlinelifedrawing.com

What Should I Draw Today?

Feeling blocked up? Lacking motivation? Deciding what to draw can sometimes seem harder than actually drawing it. Hopefully this video will put the challenge...

Feeling blocked up? Lacking motivation? Deciding what to draw can sometimes seem harder than actually drawing it. Hopefully this video will put the challenge in a different light, and get your stylus moving again.

Basic Color Schemes Pt. 2 - Triads

Though color schemes like the one discussed in this video are not 'rules', they can be a nice way to help structure a painting. This time we'll move into a t...

Though color schemes like the one discussed in this video are not 'rules', they can be a nice way to help structure a painting. This time we'll move into a third basic color scheme, triads, and examine some great paintings by Tristan Elwell.

Making Progress

Sometimes making art feels like a long series of frustrating failures. The truth is that every artist feels this way some of the time. Your mindset can be a ...

Sometimes making art feels like a long series of frustrating failures. The truth is that every artist feels this way some of the time. Your mindset can be a huge roadblock to artistic progress if you let it. Hopefully this video will give you a little perspective, and help remind you of the big picture.

Basic Color Schemes

The world of "Color Theory" can seem deep and confusing. This video will help break the ice by introducing two basic color schemes, and show their varried us...

The world of "Color Theory" can seem deep and confusing. This video will help break the ice by introducing two basic color schemes, and show their varried use in a digital painting. If you like the art in the video, make sure to check out Scott Robertson's website: http://cargocollective.com/drawthrough

Constructing a Portfolio

To see more free videos and exclusive content, make sure to check out www.ctrlpaint.com!

Choosing a few pieces of art to represent yourself is a challenge.  What pieces should you include?This video considers the challenge in terms of your end goal, and the person reviewing your work. Like it or not, the portfolio you choose to present to the world says a lot about you, and can have a big impact on your art career.

Creating Realistic Surfaces

"Realistic painting" often means "realistic surfaces". If you want to improve the level of realistic detail in your paintings, this premium video (available in the store) is for you. It deals with two primary methods for adding detail: by hand with custom brushes, and with photo overlays. These methods are described in a very versatile way, and will work for any sort of illustration or concept art.

Episode 100! Art School and Goals

Making these videos has been a great experience, and it's probably time to introduce myself. After all, we're 100 videos in. I'm trying my best to sculpt ctrl+Paint in a way that represents my art experience. I've had two major formative experiences: 1) Self-Teaching. All of my software experience has been self taught, and I've never attended a painting class. As a result, I know how hard it can be to learn a new skill without a teacher.

2) Art School. I was lucky enough to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design, which gave me 4 dedicated years of art education. This was a totally different level than taking a few art classes in high school - I was living art. Though art school is absolutely not required, if you can go... it's a lot of fun.

Ctrl+Paint is my attempt to join these two concepts: self-teaching and art school. So if you're looking for either of those two experiences, you're in the right place. Thanks for being an awesome community!1

Observing Color: Relativity

Color is relative. Depending on the surrounding colors, ambient light in the room, and a variety of other factors - your results will vary. This video explor...

Color is relative. Depending on the surrounding colors, ambient light in the room, and a variety of other factors - your results will vary. This video explores the idea of relative color, and suggests some tips for carefully observing color. Training your eye to carefully ovserve color is challenging, but very worthwhile. Good luck! If you want to see the earlier video mentioned in the post, here it is -- "guess that color"