Step 1
Start by creating a new document in Photoshop. It should be about 2000x1000 pixels.
Step 2
Create a new layer called “sketch”. This layer is used to hold the sketch for a painting and is only temporary to help with the painting. A sketch is the starting point for many types of paintings. You can create this sketch in Photoshop or on paper. Most people find it easier and faster to create the sketch on paper then scan it into Photoshop. After you created the sketch layer, change the blending mode to Multiply and always keep it as the top layer so that you can see it as you’re painting.
Step 3
Before you start on the painting, decide on the colors you’ll use. Here are the colors used for this artwork. You can use the same colors and load them into the Swatches palette in Photoshop. If you don’t like the color scheme, you can always make some fixes to change it later.
Step 4
Before you begin painting, you’ll need to set your brush settings. Start by selecting the Brush tool then using a standard brush such as the one shown below.
In the Brushes palette (Window > Brushes), you’ll find many settings that you can adjust for your brush. I’ll show you the settings I used for this painting. In the Other Dynamics settings, I set the control to Pen Pressure. This is important if you are using a pen tablet for your painting. A pen tablet, such as the Wacom pen tablet, is essential for painting in Photoshop. It lets you paint using a pen instead of a mouse and adjust the strength and angle of your stroke. Set your brush settings to the one shown in the image below and try painting to see what it is like.
Here is what the brush looks like with the settings shown in the above image. I want my brush to be smooth and soft with pen pressure sensitivity. It’s important to choose the right brush settings in the beginning as it can significantly affect the quality of your painting.
Step 5
Now we’ll begin painting the image. For the background, start by using the Gradient tool (G). I used a gradient from blue to teal to for the background. Make sure that your layer setup is the same as shown in the image below. Then using the Brush tool (B), begin painting the cat and the branch on their own separate layers. Make sure that your brush has a hardness of 100%. A brush with a soft edge can produce blurry results.
Step 6
Now we have 5 layers. Layers help make it easier to make adjustments and changes. This step is very important. Working carefully like this gives you tremendous control. I have a different layer for the cat and an another layer for the tree color and as you see on the picture all my layers have a sensible name.
Step 7
Now that I have decided upon the colors, I can start to add the details. In this step, I started by coloring the body of the cat. Make sure you have the proper layer selected before painting.
Step 8
First, I’m going to use the brush tool to paint the base color. After that I’ll use use the burn tool to burn the edges. Finally, I’ll select the dodge tool to dodge the highlights.
Step 9
For the cat, I worked out the general look that I’m aiming for. I’ll add more colors to the cat with the Brush tool and roughly begin to define the shape of the cats figure using lighter tones of yellow.
Step 10
Now we’re going to add some detail for the tree branch. Before I start, I created a new layer called “details tree”. I used a beige color to paint in the details.
Here’s a close-up of my illustration. I added some thin lines to the tree. Since this is just the beginning of the detailing process, you don’t need to add too much detail.
I continue to add more details to the tree using various brush sizes and color. Once there is enough details, I begin to smooth it using a brush with a soft edge. I also use the Dodge and Burn tools to shade the branch.
Step 11
Now I can begin the detailing process using the Smudge tool. Using the Smudge tool at 20% strength, I smudge the edges of the brush strokes to make the smooth. Then I switch to the burn tool to burn the edges. Once that’s done I switch to the Dodge tool to dodge the highlights.
Here’s what the image looks like so far. I’ve turned on the visibility of the sketch layer to show you how my character has changed while painting.
Step 12
After working on the figure more, I decided to make some changes for the background. I changed the gradient from teal and blue to purple. This makes the cat stand out more. I also enlarged the image size so I can add more detail. My file size is now 3000x1716.
I decided to change the main painting a little bit too. Here you can see that I added a little cowboy hat to the cat. As usual, I created it on a new layer. I also added some stars to the background.
The stars are also on it's own layer. These small touches add a lot more to the image.
Final Results
And here’s the final image. Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy this detailed making of the whole artwork. I hope you can use some of the techniques here for your own painting. Remember, the only way to become good at painting is to practice!
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