Break it down!

Some people (ok, one person) have expressed an interest in how I do my drawings, so I decided to upload all the layers and show you. This is all done in Photoshop Elements 4.0

First I start with a basic skeleton sketch to get an idea of how the girl will be proportioned. This is my first layer.

Next I make a new layer and trace over the skeleton (the new layer is so if I mess up I don’t accidentally erase part of the skeleton) and make my outline. I add details like the hair outline and clothing.

Now I duplicate that layer so, again, if I mess up, the original isn’t damaged, and color it in, adding skin color, hair details, facial features, and patterns to the clothing. This step takes the longest, because I am constantly tweaking the body, shading, and re-drawing things.

This used to be where I stopped, but last night I decided that I wanted her to have a background, so first I just draw a bunch of grey rectangles and use some effects in photoshop to make them look less fake. But it’s still a drawing, so eh. This is also a new layer, so I can place my girl on top of it. Then I draw the sky, which is a new layer as well, this being so I can draw the stars in it without worrying about getting it all over the buildings.

And now we’re done! Click here for the link to the finished drawing.