FLORIAN HÄCKH
  • Illustration
  • Super Hero You
  • Blog
  • Contact and CV

A break-through in portraits

8/8/2020

0 Comments

 
So since I am working on a character-illustration, I realized my portrait-skills are lacking in certain areas. So it is back to studying:
Picture
Picture
After doing the first 2, I decided to change my approach. So instead of copying as close as possible, what the photo has to offer, I settled on 5 colors first. 2 for the shadow-side, 3 for the light-side.

Since I was asked, how I define the colors, here's a little explenation. The darkest color for the light-side is at the same time the most saturated (the midtone), it then gets lighter, more yellow and less saturation towards the highlights and redder/bluer and less saturated towards the darks. So the most saturation occurs in the area, where light and dark meet. This can go meta-physical here, but lets not ... :D

I then mapped out the shapes as close as I could. Especially the shadow-shape is something, that can be treated with a lot of care here. Even done a lot of edge-refinement pays off later.

After the initial lay-in, I continued with overpainting. In this phase I also add dark and light accents here and there. In the end I was surprised how straight-forward and easy this approach is and I am very happy with the result.

I tested this approach on another portrait and recorded the steps (below). Since it produces the same satisfying result, I can safely say, that this process is solid. I love to work like that and for the first time in a long time, studying is fun again.

Hope it helps you to crack colors and gives you some inspiration on how to approach your next project.

Cheers, Flo
Picture
Picture
Process GIF
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    This is my blog.

     I will share information about workflow, my insights into image-making or just general thoughts and rants about being an artist.

    In the archives you'll find my first attempts at digital painting. Feel free to check them out.

    Archives

    January 2025
    December 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    July 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    October 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Illustration
  • Super Hero You
  • Blog
  • Contact and CV