For dacke 
(ta det onda med det goda = take the bad with the good - he's studying for a hard test)

I actually find that method (painting grayscale values then adding colour layers above) produces instantly recognisable results. I've seen some great stuff done done with it, but i always think they'd look better done more traditionally. Shadows aren't black or blacker versions of the main colour, and that method seems to teach people that they are.

I agree with you that we should all be careful not to use black/grey shadows. The technique does include adding colour through layers set to color. I usually start out with grayscale, then I add colour through a colorlayer. It's the part after that that's important: painting on top of all the other layers.

I also agree on that this is a method to get fast results, but unless you go apeshit with nice brushes afterwards you won't achieve that painterly feel.

 

I actually did that tracing thing you suggested to me, did that for some other pics I found on there too. So yeah, I draw on my tablet on my bed.

Could I see your artwork. y'know, just to see how good your anatomy has gotten from yout techniques.

Apart from my (badly outdated) website I'm doing concepts & assets for a game company fulltime, can't really show them off yet 

Don't worry about the exercises though, they're legit. Copied from Dave Rapoza ( http://daverapoza.blogspot.com/ ).Just thought you might gain more if they were applied to the image you yourself used.

after doing one of these exercises for about 30min-1h (maybe 2-3 photos if you're doing exercise 2), try doing the same exercise without references.

Apart from this, study page 38, 40 and 44 (and later other pages) from the book "Figure drawing for all it's worth" (by loomis), I suggest you copy (draw) the front/sideviews on those pages at least 1/week, followed by trying to do it without looking at them (or the copies you did).

Believe me, you'll see results in days.

(by the way, that dude in the lower right corner? I have that picture as my desktop background)

But what tool should I use? I use Photoshop CS4, I thought the paintbrush would be sufficient, but it's not working, any suggestion on what medium I should use?

You're missing half the fun of painting in photoshop if you're using the default brushes! Experiment with some of the other natural brushes in photoshop or make your own like so:
http://duffzilla.deviantart.com/art/Making-Natural-Brushes-for-PS-34173506 With enough experimenting you'll soon find which types of brushes you like.

Sorry, but I'll go with Pen, I have seen amazing art from people who only use the default brushes.

I hope you're at least taking Hydro's comment into consideration, brush experimentation really hones your skills whilst using them.  Pen raises a good point when suggesting you use that brush when doing your anatomical studies, but when working more creatively (not saying you CAN'T get creative with your studies) other brushes come in handy, especially when you want to achieve a more unique look with your piece.

Good luck on the road to improvement!


(I may or may not have any idea what I'm saying.  herp-a-derp.)

I agree with both of you 
Without a good foundation and basic skills (the only shortcut when using the standard brush being difference of opacity) your work will not be up to snuff

But when creating an illustration custom brushes really speed up the process (cloud brushes anyone?) and allow for more spontaneous and unique designs.

Custom brushes are awesome and should be used if it saves you time but they're not what'll make you understand shadows, colours, or composition - that's what practice and studies are for.

/artsy fartsy rant

But what tool should I use? I use Photoshop CS4, I thought the paintbrush would be sufficient, but it's not working, any suggestion on what medium I should use?

I assume you've got a tablet?
If you master the hard brush (the round one with hard edges, which only changes in opacity depending on how hard you press) you'll be well on your way.

use that brush, and paint from photos (have a photo next to your scren / another document open in another window)

http://characterdesigns.com/index.php?sitepage=photosets  < great images to use for studies.

http://vimeo.com/10122377

played around with after effects

You're all of course welcome to come dev with me and thewreck if you're somewhere close St Eriksplan.

I live like 3 stops from there (studentlägenheter vid västra skogen) 

I'm an intern at a newly started game company, and I know a few people over at futuregames. Oh, and dacke - the code magician.

Really? I'm studying at futuregames! Do you know any of the new students? Or some of the old?

I know Emil from the old class, and Erik from the new one. (Erik I've known since way way back)

I'm an intern at a newly started game company, and I know a few people over at futuregames. Oh, and dacke - the code magician.

Why do you have to be a regular member to be able to access all the tools?
Top left speech bubble used to say "GAY" until some prick changed it. (Guess which two masterpieces I did)





edit: Things quickly spiralled out of control:

(Didn't draw the girl in the lower left, but I DID draw the mayo covering her, because the user went offline)

I'd love to hang out, make games and drink with Swedish TIGers!

I am rubber, you are glue. Whatever you say bounce off me and sticks to you

....

That really reminds me of Demetri Martins point system in his awesome comedy show If I.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKnzPHtf9u4
It's in part 4.

Thank you for linking this 

Don't think in color, think in HSL (hue saturation value/luminosity).

Start with luminosity/value.
Then apply color lay out
Fine tune with saturation to give it accent.

With photoshop/gimp i use blending layer and operate on those parameter, instead of choosing direct color.

This is a great way to work if you want fast results.

Totally relevant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CavSMH32-is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2x4pvpJ47s

Looks really cool Ivan :D
Since I did a similar thing a few months ago: Did you add edge blur afterwards?
(Oh, and a tip: If you render at ~66-75% of the footage resolution, it usually looks even better)

I always thought that tiara thing was his face, and the little red gem was his open mouth

I thought it was his nose... Which made him look like a drunkard 

I'm liking this change

i shall study and learn me sum shading    

If you click on "my version" of it it's linked to a .psd with all the layers separated. Hopefully you'll learn something (like how I didn't care about masks at all until just a while ago, and now am totally in love with them) kickass drawing btw