Step by step (Patreon)

Here's a fun little thing showing some of the creative process of my work on this piece. 

1. Rough sketch: This gives me a quick way to get a pose out of my head and onto the screen. From here I can easily change things about the pose, expression, general anatomy and not waste a lot of time having to re work set lines.

2. Refined sketch: This is where I pay close attention to anatomy, make sure I have the expression I want and fix any errors before I do my linework. I also use this step for colored sketch commissions by skipping step 3 and jumping to the flat colors.

3. Lineart: These are the clean lines for the finished piece. This is one of the longest steps for me. This is the last step before I color and I try to make sure everything is just how I want it before I move on.

4. Flat colors: After I make sure my lineart is closed i use the select tool and lay in the flat colors. Usually I work from ref sheets, so i use my color picker and lay in any patterns, markings, and other things like that.

5. Shading: Throw on a solid multiply layer, find your light source and start shading. Usually I work from dark to light on pieces with higher detail. I also, often have 2 multiply layers, one for general shading and one for the darker and more defined shading.

6. Highlights and Details: The final bit is adding highlights, the lights that bounce off of the surroundings, and any details I might need. This step adds a bit more depth and contrast from the shading layer, making the image pop a bit more. I will also color my line art in this stage.

7. Finishing touches: I don't have this shown, but often times, I will go back in and add different heres and theres, play with the brightness and contrast, and just do anything that might make the piece overall look a bit better. 

I've also added this in an attachment, in case patreon messes up the quality or something. I hope you enjoy!