10
More ambient light
Picking up the ambient light colour doesn’t just tie things together – it can
also be used to enhance contrast and sculpt the forms through careful placement of
stronger or lighter tones of the ambient light on the characters. Then I refine the details
in textures and materials and make the ambient light interact throughout.14
Finishing touches
I add the final details, fixing some stray brush strokes.
To refine the image as a whole, I add a more sketch-style
finish in certain areas and draw some more scribbly lines on
the background. As a finishing touch I add some personal
style details, such as a crown and a halo, sometimes skulls,
speech balloons with symbols, and the piece is done.13
More details and corrections
At this point, I refine the details on the clothes of the
characters, adding buckles, belts, elements of pop culture,
necklaces, scars, scratches and textures in shades of blood,
tissue textures and details like the rat stole on the female
character. I correct and refine the anatomy, fixing the leg
on that character, and add details such as the knee pad.11
Review and add more illustration
I don’t necessarily follow a linear process during
the creation of an illustration – it’s something that keeps
evolving. You need to develop a method that you feel
comfortable working with and gives you the expected
result no matter how many times you change things. Keep
revising and improving until it looks the way you want.12
Angle of light
I also think of each job as a study piece, a way to
improve and to ensure that I’m always evolving as an artist.
I work on the contrast in the colours of the background
and the shadows that affect the characters. I draw a light
from above that falls on the characters, so that all the light
comes from the same point.Workshops
PRO SECRETS
STUDY!
Always look around
you, and look at how
the light behaves.
Study anatomy, but
use reference only
for studies and for
stimulating your
imagination. Don’t
be afraid to defy
common sense. Don’t
be lazy – draw, get
intimate with pencils,
brush, tablet or
whatever is needed
and whatever you
enjoy working with.SHORTCUTS
Zoom in and out
Cmd+ and Cmd– (Mac)
Ctrl+ and Ctrl– (PC)
Switch quickly between a
close view of details and
a handy overview of
your canvas.