March Pin-up - Caiman (Patreon)

 Hey everyone!!!

 As Elis Regina would say, "são as águas de março fechando o verão"... or it's the march showers closing the summer. It's been so rainy over here! for most of you, it's winter that's over right? I hope everyone has a great start of spring!

 I did some experiments in this piece, and I have to say I'm satisfied with the results! Let's start our step by step!

>Thumbs!! Initially I thought Caiman could be lying on the ground, while Nikaido cooks in the back... but then I wouldn't be able to show her face, and decided to make him sitting on the sofa.

> I ended up picking up this one! Notice some really vague gesture is already implying their poses.

> I used the thumb as the structure pass - as the proportions already were kinda what I wanted to use, I didn't do the usual. It's funny how I always prioritize the bodies first! I think the heads demand special care... so I just do a "mood sketch" for their expressions!

> Thinking about perspective, I thought Nikaido was too close to Caiman! When I pushed her back, it felt more natural somehow? also important to note is that up until this point, I was freehanding perspective - this was important for my experiment I did this time, which we're close to!

>Worked a bit more on their faces! notice how Caiman's snout is LONG here!! He looks like a t-rex, when he's actually way more similar to an iguana, in my opinion. Also I only wanted the expression here, notice how I didn't do any of his scaly texture (his smoothness is uncanny lol). This is not important at this step, so I left it be!

> Ok so here's where I experimented for a bit! You all know I've been trying stuff with backgrounds. From grids, to 3D and perspective rulers, I've been trying to learn the most I can! 

 Here I tested a method that I think will start to be my favorite: I initially freehand the perspective, being mindful of where the horizon line would be (in this case it's low in the composition, note how you can see the underneath of the kitchen desk)

 Then I try to adjust my rulers to go close to where my mind's eye was seeing. Note how far the left vanishing point is!

> And from this positioning, which was a blend of freehand and rulers, I was able to establish the perspective! 

 From there I worked strictly with the ruler to put down all the lines that needed perspective treatment - and I'd freehand later some details using these as guidelines. I think this gives a very organic feel to it - which I was struggling using grids, that feel too technical and unnatural!!!!

>Started the lineart with the foreground! Here I laid down Caiman's scaly texture.... Which I surprisingly liked rendering?? I thought I'd have a difficult time, but... I had fun!

> Doing the middle ground... here was the start of the perspective test! 

>  Worked Nikaido on it. Notice her line doesn't have a thicker outline, which I use to separate my planes.

> Background!!! here was when I felt the process was working out more fluidly, I usually struggle a bit to get things looking a bit right. I'll definitely experiment more in the future with this. I put the lines with a more bright color to create the illusion of depth, but it was just for a test.

> Finished lineart!!! GYOZA!!

>Color sketch! Thought an orangey earthy palette could bring more warmth to the scene. 

> retching noises FLATS. but it was better this time - the amount of colors isn't that big!

> Rendered the background first, as I've been doing! Just playing with soft shadows and textures. I wanted the place to look filthy, but welcoming lol!

> Base hard shadows!

> Secondary shadows.

> Here's a peek on how the piece look just with the first hard shadows laid down!

> Then I finished rendering the piece! As of note, I added a very very subtle blur effect that makes things look a bit more smooth on this one. I might as well make this an habit!

> And I played with the palette in post production as well! I put up some orange and yellow overlays to test how it'd affect the mood. I personally enjoyed them!

 And that concludes our monthly pin-up post! I'll be opening the voting for the next character on the 1st, I'm looking forward to your participation on it! (((: