Comic Artist - Volume 3 2016

Learn how to use realism to emphasise a comic villain’s naughty side,

with Admira Wijaya’s delicious take on the Batman adversary

T

o me, the appeal of painting

digitally is simple. Unlike

with traditional media, I can

create a piece of art without

waiting for the paint to dry!

In my early days of working digitally,

I had plenty of fun trying to get to grips

with the software and while I explored

more about digital media, it was also

interesting and challenging. I also worked

using traditional media, which made it

easier for me to understand what to do

with digital art software.

I’m still trying to improve myself and

especially ways to get my illustration done

in the fastest way – by applying different

digital methods, and by experimenting

with different layers and effects.

I’ve learned a lot from online tutorials

and got some tips from magazines, which

makes me more curious to practise with

new techniques. Many of these tutorials

are from ImagineFX, which always has

plenty of workshops and beautiful

artwork from great artists from all around

the world, and it makes me so inspired.

Admira Wijaya

LOCATION: Indonesia

Admira has

been creating

comic and

concept art

for over eight

years. At the moment

he’s busy creating covers

for Dark Horse Comics’

Conan the Barbarian.

http://ifxm.ag/admira-w

Mistakes will always happen along the

way, but I enjoy the process. Sometimes

the computer crashes while I’m producing

artwork, because the memory is over

capacity. That can be painful, but it works

out in the end when a client is satisfied

with the result and I get paid enough to

buy a new computer!

So don’t be scared to make mistakes,

and be prepared to go through some

artistic pain. It will ease in time, and then

you can look back at what you’ve been

through... and smile. Enjoy the journey!

1

THE INITIAL IDEA

I already have an idea of how to pose Harley Quinn

• it’s pretty much what you see here. It’s always hard at
  the start to decide on a pose, so I draw out a couple of
  options, then choose the best. I place the rough sketch on
  a default layer in Photoshop with a white background,

2

BUILD UP THE LINES

From the rough, on the same layer, I start to build

up the lines. For this process I use Photoshop’s default

hard Round brush. I draw what is needed for now, and

add some relevant detail. But I also try to maintain the

composition’s mood and momentum, into the next step...

GIVE HARLEY QUINN

A REALISTIC LOOK

PHOTOSHOP

GET YOUR

RESOURCES

SEE PAGE 146

PRO SECRETS

BE PREPARED

TO EXPERIMENT

Don’t settle for using

just a few tried and

tested digital art

processes. You

might find that a

new technique gives

you a better and

faster way of creating

your art. Some day

you can be proud

of the results you’ve

produced and share

them with the world.

In depth | Comic realism