"Which Lo Pan? Little old basket case on wheels or the ten foot tall roadblock?"

I have too many projects, too much to do. . . So here's a quick post. The value block-in is complete. I'll have more details and surprises when I toss in the color.

"Shut up, Mr. Burton! You are not brought upon this world to get it!"

Thanks for looking!

–Kyle

Paint it Black - Monochromatic Keef is Complete

I'm about ready to start adding color. Obviously there are more details to add, finishing the guitar, shoes, hair, jewelry, etc. . .  But I have the basic values down. I will throw in more details as I add color. Most of this layer will be covered up by the time it's complete.

Keith Richards - Still Cranking Away (Detail)

Cropped Detail

Once again I'm pointing out that this is a personal project that I'm making up as I go along. So, after I've gone way too far on the face, I've finally decided what I want to do with the rest of it. I've started to block in the rest of it. Then after I've finished the under-painting, I'll start adding color. Wow, his right hand is bigger than his head!

Once again, thanks for looking!

– Kyle

Keef Continued

I've finally had a chance to work on my Keith Richards again. This is a personal project I work on whenever I get a chance. I'll just noodle it here and thereBut with everything else I'm working on, I usually don't get the chance. Someday I'll actually finish it.

Thanks for looking

-Kyle

Marlon Brando "YOU CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!" - Process

Here's a Marlon Brando caricature I'm working on. I have a long way to go to finish it. I haven't posted in a while. I've recently changed from pc to Mac. Because of the change, I've had to upgrade from Adobe CS4 to CS6. . . aaaand I'm not used to using it yet. But it's getting there. . . 

Thanks for looking!

Kyle

Welcome To My Nightmare: My Painting Process

I am often asked many questions. The question I am asked the most is, "Do you know why I pulled you over?" The second one is "Is that your real hair?" The question I'm NEVER asked is "How do you paint such glorious pictures?" In response to that unasked question, I've decided to indulge and perhaps even enlighten my fans. . . Ah forget it! If anyone cares, here's a quick overview of my process.

I am working on a caricature of Alice Cooper and I'm using Photoshop. It isn't finished, so I cropped it for the tutorial. I start with my sketch, and make a full value drawing. Often I will start with a pencil sketch and scan it to my computer. But this time I went straight to the computer and sketched it there. Here's my original value sketch.  

After I finish my value sketch, I copy the layer, put on the bottom layer and lock it.  I keep it as a spare just in case I need it. Then on a new layer above the top sketch, I fill the canvas with one color.  Then I drop the opacity to 30-40 %.  I use this color to give an overall hue to the picture. I wanted to give him a cadaverish feel. So I chose a gaudy lime green, which is also the color of Alice Cooper's album, Billion Dollar Babies.

Using a soft brush, I block in my colors. I keep opacity down so I can see the underpainting.  One disadvantage to that, I can't pick colors from within the layer. So I have a color palette on another layer. As I lay dow the colors, they mix with the green background, like this. . . 

After I have all colors in, I flatten the color layer and the top value sketch.  Then I add a new layer at full opacity, and with hard and soft brushes, I start adding the details, and highlights.  

I'm definitely not finished with this.  The face is basically done, but I still have his clothing, and other details to finish. I am not a teacher, and I have probably left steps out. Some things are automatic to me, and I don't think about it. So if you have any questions, feel free and ask me. I'll be glad to answer them.

Thanks for looking, 

- Kyle