Makkon: I wanted to make a step-by-step of how I render paintings sometimes. Sorry for image compression, the file would have been huge.

PLEASE REFER TO THIS ARTIST FOR MORE INFORMATION. He's a lot better at it than I am and he's a better teacher.
Johannes Helgeson
http://helgesonart.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-formula-step-by-step.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2Cu2OUPLsU

angrybacteria: Thanks man! It's really nice to see someone put the time into making a great tutorial like this.

Radian: Well, I made some experiments based on this method. Result is very... interesting. But I really used to work on lights and shadows at once (like sculpting the form) so jumping between layers is not my "thing". I'll make some more experiments soon and it'll be something prequel-related.
Also, your sketch much more accurate and clean than mine ;)

Makkon: @Radian: It might take some getting used to, but the benefit is pretty big. This is still sculpting the form of your character, but you get to tackle one thing aspect of the rendering at a time instead of all at once. Think of it like how you might composite a 3d render in a film


If you're not quite feeling this one, you might like the way my buddy Max Grecke paints. He still separates his lighting by layers, but the way he goes about it is still a lot closer to what you might be used to.
https://gumroad.com/maxgrecke
This one is like taking a black and white photo with one light source and adding color and other light sources over it. It does make it much easier to render softer or more ambient lighting conditions, but you have less control over material types and it'll always look like you colored in a BW image (because you did).

I demonstrate something similar (with my own approach) to that here:
http://makkon.tumblr.com/post/136246423103/steps-from-my-previous-painting-hope-someone
For me, however, I find this method a lot harder to control color and contrast between materials, which is something very important to me.

And example of the difference in results, first is Johannes's Method, last is Max's method


With Johannes, you get better color and it's easier to make changes, with Max you get more control over the shading and form but very little control over color.

Radian: @Makkon: There is some big issue with these methods: if you not notice mistake early steps it'll be nightmare to fix later. Also choosing proper colors for shadow/lights harder for me because I not used to work with different layer modes so much. But it allows to make some very cool "color madness" effect. I kinda want to show that painting I did yesterday.

bluedraggy: Wow. As a non-artist, I feel like a dunce. All I can contribute is... "Duh... da kitty look guud!"

SameButDifferent: @bluedraggy Hey, that's better than my "Photoshop is like an onion in that it has layers" comment

Makkon: @Radian: I think large issues ought to be solved earlier in the process, and smaller problems can be solved at the paintover stage. However, at the paintover stage, nothing is really stopping you from making a major change to the painting (so long as it's not a color change). Every layer prior is merged down anyway, so at that point it's nearly identical to your current method of painting; now you just have something solid to paint on.
Choosing a color for shadows should be a simple problem to solve, since you can change it completely independently from everything else at the drop of a hat, so it's okay to experiment. Generally shadows are a less saturated color of the environment, but you can usually be safe with a purple or blue color. Check out Johannes's tutorials I linked to on the first comment for more info :)

Nyflex: I wonder what it would be like if whole Prequel illustrations were changed into your version. It's so beautiful. I think this tutorial may help beginners take their painting skills up a notch. I also enjoyed watching your demonstration and the video. Anyways, your Katia is so gorgeous!

Nicros_Man: I've always wanted to do art like this! I'll try to use your advise and follow your steps to make those kinds of art! Thank you for posting this tutorial.

Furmidable: "I get this is your homeland and all, but how can you be so comfortable in this heat? You've fur and wearing clothes..."

somethingsomething: Looks great!

ADudeCalledLeo: holy fuck this is great art

Rick2tails: this is some very nice art!

Zargothrax: Wow, stunning work! Especially the merchant

durandal: What is the artist / source? I want more of this style

Sashimi: Excellent art!

Makkon: this is very very good

PermanentFace: I like this a lot.

Nicros_Man: Love it so much!

Rick2tails: pretty!

Deo: Damn, on a first loop it seemed to me like it was a constellation of amogus

Anyway, cool pic

ADudeCalledLeo: Gun and Sword Magic, in Accord
Good art!

Furmidable: The right hand looks backwards.

XenoYparxi: spook

ShouldBeStudying: I love this

TempIntel: Katia back in her cultic days, love the atmosphere

Sashimi:

ThatGuyWithAKhajiitWaifu: Kat when she heard you talkin shit.

Tobuzzu: Bat cat!

ADudeCalledLeo: Spooky!
Good art!

ADudeCalledLeo: Made as part of the 24-hour Halloween stream, I think?
This image has been through a lot through its short timespan of *checks notes* like, 12 hours at the time of writing this comment.

Sashimi: I want to say that this is one of the most lovely renditions of Raj that I've seen, and I thank Kaz for making it.

Rick2tails: halloween stream? but Halloween isnt for another 5 days! also Raj looks good here

Sashimi: @Rick2tails: Yeah, I don't think it was so much a dedicated Halloween stream as it was "We're streaming for a long time so let's get some Halloween art outta the way before we forget." Although I wanna say this was done the next day or so. I forget. I just know I wasn't expecting to be asked for a ref on the spot. Happy I found a good one.

Some1: My good man may we have more? My eyes are happy and the feeling must be felt again.

Rick2tails: this is pretty damn cool

Rick2tails: very nice art! I approve!

SphtAlyn: Embrace elitism. Crave power. CEO Mindset. You are the new god-queen of this land, your limits boundless, elements bend to your whim, and so too will the markets.

ADudeCalledLeo: ...Cruelty Squad? Uh, alright then.

ADudeCalledLeo: a very pretty Kat (idk why she talks shit about her claws, those things look deadly
Good art!

Nicros_Man: You deserve a hug and a BOOP!