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In this first step I started out by laying out my base line drawing with an orange pencil and taping off the collar and sleeves to keep them nice and clean. This also helps to make the background color jump off the shirt. I use black which is unlike working in portraits and animals. I started with the skull and work my way down to the airbrush. I use the black to create not only dark solid areas, but shades of gray. I carefully paint in all my details around the eyes, hand and even the tip of the airbrush. I use shading with the black to create the base work for this strong and bold image. I am very careful to create clean sharp edges so that later the art work will not become flat and lifeless. |
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Now I go into creating
the yellow glow from the lettering which will be a fire text. The yellow
will actually be the main light source from the bottom, so I concentrated
on the lower protruding edges. I even through in the reflection of the
lettering on the airbrush since it is chrome and would reflect the colors
surrounding it. At this point the yellow is just a base color and I
spray it freely without too much concern since a lot of it will end
up covered. |
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Now I work in my reds. I mist over
the yellow to create an orange and work the red into some of the whites.
This is still to create that lower light source reflection on the skull
and fingers. I make sure I leave some whites showing through so that
I can have a clean light source from above. I also refrain from covering
all the yellow because this helps to keep the painting from becoming
muddy and monochrome looking. This all helps to keep the painting bold
with a wide spectrum of color. |
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In this step I add
in the upper light source color of blue. It is all done with a mist
of blue which ranges from a light value to a darker value to create
the shadow areas. I work carefully to create a three dimensional image
not only around the skull and fingers, but around the eye. Being that
the eye is a round object with two light sources there is more shading
on the sides then on the the top and bottom. I also mist over the top
edge to create the depth between the brow and the eye. I have also used
the blue as my eye color so I created this with a combination of short
faint dagger strokes and faint lines and then a mist of blue. Next I
work in some solid whites around the bottom of the iris for light that
penetrates the cornea and then mist lightly with blue over the white. |
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This next step I have
gone in with white to bring out the highlights and to brighten up the
image. I chose to keep the light source from the bottom stronger than
the top which creates that strong glow. Yes I have covered some of my
yellow which will be touched up later. I also bring out the texture
of the skull and the reflection of the light hitting the eye. Since
I chose to create the stronger lower light source from the bottom I
do the same technique on the eye with white and then misting the blue
to create the light penetrating in the opposite direction from what
I created in the last step. I work all the edges that will protrude
and catch light such as the brow the teeth, chin and fingers. The brightest
will be the areas closest to the light source. |
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After Working in the highlights with
white I then mist over with yellow, red and blue. I avoid over saturating
with these colors, so that I do not loose the highlights created with
the white. I also work in a reflection of color into the eye and the
chrome of the airbrush. I work red into the flames of the lettering
and keep them vary free flowing. On the highlights I work back and forth
between colors building layers which helps to bring out the depth of
the image. I also use the blue to push back the shadow areas. |
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Now I work in the black on the chrome of the airbrush. One important thing to remember is that chrome has no color, but is the reflection of the colors around it. I used a reference photo for this image which I had my daughter take a picture of me holding the airbrush so you are actually seeing a reflection of my studio area into my living room. I also have left reds so that it reflects the text color. I also work with black around the skull to sharpen edges and to create high contrast. |
| In this next step I have misted vary lightly with yellow onto the whites to give that fire glow and I have added blue to the airbrush to reflect the upper light source. I have also worked some of the blues into the fingers. |  |
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Again I go back to my whites to enhance all the highlights and to brighten up the image. I avoid solid white, but just misting with a tinting white to bring back the edges and shape of the airbrush, skull and fingers. And then I go back to the misting of the corresponding colors for each light source. This step has really brought out that chrome look on the airbrush and made the skull pop out. I have also worked this same technique on the flame lettering. |
| Next I add the background color which is actually four colors. I first start by placing what is called a knock out stencil over the foreground. This sounds strange, but I spray a piece of wax paper with re-positional spray adhesive and roll it down to the shirt with a clean roller. Next with a #11 exacto blade I lightly cut the wax paper to create a negative stencil. I then remove the paper covering the background. I start with red for a third light source from behind and fade it out towards the outside. Next I blend in blue and violet working it out towards the outer edges of the shirt. Then I work black from the outside edges toward the center and using soft misty strokes to create a smoky feel to the background remembering to leave color bleeding through the black. |  |
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The last step is to soften the edges of the whole design and touch up any gaps that were created by the stencil. I carefully go over the design to touch up any areas I am not happy with and add fine detail work like textures and sharpening edges. I have also gone around the outer edges of the flaming text with black to make the lettering stand out. Above the text I mist some white to bring out a smoke rising from the flame. I then mist over the flames with blue and violet and finish with a few sharp lines of white to give the feeling of movement of the smoke dancing around the airbrush. I also touch up colors around the hand and airbrush to more reflect the flames and smoke. |
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