Miraidon Art Making (Patreon)

I experimented with a new approach in the Miraidon artwork I posted this month (and the Zootopia artwork I'll post later), so I'll write about the making of it here, including a memo.

Note that I've only given a very rough explanation to avoid making the text too long or complicated. So if you'd like to know more details, please feel free to contact me.

①

I've only drawn Miraidon once before, and it's a Pokemon with a delicate and complex form, so it was difficult to sketch it using lines.

So I deliberately used a rough paintbrush, which is difficult to draw in detail, and started sketching from a very rough depiction, as shown below.

This is the bulk of my new approach, but this method had many advantages.

Because I can only draw roughly, I can decide first on the overall silhouette and composition of the screen, which have a strong influence on the finished product, without getting caught up in the details.

Also, because I follow the order of drawing the large form gradually down to the smaller form, there is less pressure when drawing complex forms and parts like Miraidon, and I can draw it as if I'm overcoming small hurdles.

②

After drawing until the shape and parts are recognizable to a certain extent, I layer a thinned gradient map and use the selection tool to paint the base color.

When painting the base color, I also take the main silhouette at the same time. By erasing only the sketches outside of this silhouette, I can leave only the sketches necessary for the main work later.

③ Paint light and shadow with a hard light layer.

Halfway through, I came up with the idea of ​​shining a blue-green light from behind to emphasize the lower body, which was very effective.

Since Miraidon has a mechanical and metallic body, I also use an additional layer to draw highlights.

④ The color rough is complete.

Apart from step ①, it's the same painting method that I've been saying I've been studying recently, but if you make the color rough about 80% complete (in other words, you can almost see the finished image), you can work on the main drawing work quickly and without hesitation.

⑤ Draw the main part on top of the color rough.

No matter which artist's making-of video you look at, there is very little explanation of this main drawing. This is because this process is a task that uses all the skills and knowledge you currently have to improve the degree of completion.

What I pay particular attention to is drawing in different amounts between the parts I want to show and the rest of the body to naturally guide the viewer's gaze. In the case of Miraidon, I focused on drawing the face and lower body in particular.

Also, by arranging the silhouette of the whole figure and its parts, you can create a highly finished piece even if you draw less inside.

⑥ Drawing is complete.

Even if you switch the screen to monochrome, check to see if the eye is guiding the viewer's gaze well, and make adjustments using layer modes if necessary.