Photoshop: Quick & Easy Digital Painting Like a Professional

In this lesson we will set up a new file. I'll discuss choosing settings for print or the web and which I recommend and use personally when creating my own images in Photoshop.

In this lesson, (optional for those who already are familiar with Photoshop,) I'll go over tools like stylus pens you might consider using if you have access, essential windows and panels you will need, and talk about the basic brush tool and its various settings.

The Mixer Brush Tool is by far my favorite addition to the newer versions of Photoshop. For years I used other programs trying to best get the paint mixing effect you would get in an actual painting studio. No longer! Photoshop's Mixer Brush Tool will get you painting without the toxic fumes and mess to clean up ASAP.

I'll also discuss a few other settings and tips that affect regular brushes as well.

Most of us have used eraser tools in imaging programs but have not given much thought to how to use them in a more painterly way. What does this mean? Let me demonstrate in this lesson! 

In this lecture I'll let you know what you need to get started according to your preferred way of taking this course, by either copying what I do exactly or by choosing your own unique image to work with and just using the techniques I cover.

In this lesson I'll walk you through the steps of getting your own original photo or a royalty-free image that you have permission to use in your projects. I'll also explain a bit more about how we will develop your illustration skills by using a photo first as a guide and how this fits with hundreds of years of art school training tradition.

In this lesson, I explain why layers are cool and useful and why they will rock your artistic world the more you use them.

In this lesson I'll show you how to bring in a photo, scale and adjust it, modify it with the filter gallery (the non-cheesy way), and how to use "Save As" to preserve the various versions of your budding digital painting.

In this lesson we will finally get started painting in a layer just below our photo's layer.

In this lecture I'll make a new layer and starting painting OVER my photograph. When I get really absorbed in my illustrations, at times I may have up to 10 or more over and under paintings where I adjust and play around with the opacity settings. You can be as simple or complex as you'd like. In this course, I'll keep it simple.

In this lesson I'll show you how to add a black line drawing layer if that is the kind of look you are going for. Otherwise, if you want your image to look more painterly and less like a comic, stained-glass window, German-Expressionist piece, etc. then you can skip this step.

In this lesson I will "eat away" at my photograph with a "spluttery" eraser so that the under-painting will begin to show through. You can control how little or how much this is the case as well as the opacity settings of all your layers. The combinations and variations are endless!

Now we will have some fun with three very useful tools: dodge, burn, and sponge to create some finishing touches.

In this case study lesson set to music, I'll show you how I make an illustration using the techniques in this course. Please note, in this particular illustration, I made my lines layer first, then added the underpainting and overpainting. You can do the steps in any order that feels right to you.

This cheat-sheet comes from an in-person course I did with children ages 10-17 at Thalun International School in Yangon, Myanmar. If you follow the steps in Gimp while following along in this online course (even though I am using Photoshop), you will get similar results and not have to buy Photoshop. The only difference is in this sheet, I make the black and white line layer before the under and over painting layers. You can do those particular layer steps in any order you wish and in fact, I usually make the line layer first now and add color later. For best results, it helps if you already are somewhat familiar with Gimp’s basic windows and tools first.

In this lecture I'll show you a slightly more complex way to work with the techniques discussed in this course. In particular I'll show  you a selection of images I illustrated for the childrens' book, Lori Leak Travels to Paris by Barrett Clemmensen Powell.

In them I used combinations of photographs arranged in a collage before beginning the painting and drawing techniques.

In this lesson you will tour all the layers that went into a Lori Leak illustration. I'll talk about my image-making process and give you hints so you can get started making more intermediate to advanced digital paintings using similar methods.

I can already hear you ask your next question. "How do I cut, paste, and collage photos in Photoshop like you did in the Lori Leak illustrations?" This lecture will walk you through the process step by step. Make sure to click on the downloads/resources tab to get the blog post with all the free images you can use.

In this case study lesson I'll show how you can use the basic techniques covered in this course to make more advanced illustrations and even animations.

In this lecture I'll show how I return to past images to make them better as well as discuss ways you can keep from fussing over making one "perfect" image and driving yourself insane.

In this lesson I'll show you some tips for making characters look more consistent from image to image as well as how to more quickly change a facial expression, body type, or mood when you have a tight deadline and don't have the luxury of time to redraw.

Use these new custom brush tools in Photoshop to really get the textures  and look you are are going for. This is a case study on how I use  hundreds of brushes when animating in Photoshop, where I get them, how to change their settings, and how to get started using them. (*See blog post under the resources tab for easy brush installation instructions.)

Don't stop at making digital paintings. Have a look at some of my favorite FREE and intuitive tools that will have you making social media graphics, web sites, animations, and more. Get a taste of what is  possible in under 10 minutes and be up and running ASAP.  [This lecture  comes from my full course, Skyrocket Your Creativity: 7 Easy Ways.]

Here is a free, fast, and easy way to painlessly and professionally remove text or an object from a still image using a free online tool called Fotor. Check it out!

Software programs and versions come and go. This video demonstrates the most essential tools you need, regardless of which imaging program you are using. Here are the only tools you need to know that will not change, even 20 years from now.

Here is my big list from my website of 75+ Resources to Get FREE Images, Music, and Videos For Your Projects.

The images, music, and videos on this list are from the Public Domain or have Creative Commons licenses. Make sure to double check the terms on each site and for each image to ensure you are using them correctly. In some cases you may need to provide attribution (credit) to the creator (for many Creative Commons licenses), though for Public Domain works, no attribution is needed.

Happy Painting!

In this current economic funk set to stay for years thanks to the global Covid-19 Pandemic, it makes more sense than ever to not put all your eggs in one basket. Why not experiment with creating several or more income generation streams and start creatively earning money using online tools?

Thanks so much for taking this course. I hope to see you in my online classroom again soon. Best wishes and please stay in touch! Kristen

This lecture will point students towards freebies and discounts, other courses and services, as well as show how to stay in touch.