Be constantly Aware of other artists and how they work in order to take inspiration and ideas

One of the artists I've been looking at most recently is Ross Tran. I started following his work after I found out about his Youtube channel, RossDraws.

Keeping in mind, and being aware of other artists both help me develop my own visual style through learning about techniques I may have not known about otherwise. It will also help me begin practicing as a freelance illustrator as by, looking at artists who already work in the industry, I can see where my work meets industry standard and where it falls down, giving me areas to work on and research.

In Ross Tran's work, I really love the over-saturated colour palettes and expressive, almost abstract brush strokes he uses in his work. He work uses contrasting and complimentary colours expertly to bring out the mood in his paintings.

For example, contrasting the colour red (passion violence ect) with blue (calming and soothing). This creates a really string look in his imagery.

I also really like the way he doesn't focus too much on one particular feature. I always put a lot of focus onto my characters eyes, but I really like the way Ross uses colour/texture as a focus not an anatomical feature.

In his painting Astro (seen left). He had a PSD of this image available so I'm going to analyse it. 

(1) Ross carves out the initial image from a range of wild, coloured brush strokes he's lain down on his canvas as a starting point. 

(2) He continues by pulling out light and visual interest. Concentrating on anatomy of face (light, dark pockets/shadow) and trying to commit to design elements. Pointed head-dress?

Forms image with an air brush. This is something I have never tried. I usually avoid the air brush until the end (saving it for use only if certain areas need blending out). I worry if I use it too early on the piece will become blurry but maybe this is something I should try more of in my sketch stage?

(3) trying to put more character and expression into the face. Light the face in a way to compliment the expression. Add pops of colour so the portrait looks less flat/washed out.

Commits to making feathers on the outfit. and continues to shape headdress.

Tries to soften things up and group them together. Especially areas of white that look too stark.

Add colour, but not so that it becomes too distracting and overpowering the piece.

Ross uses a lot of photos in his paintings! Using the blending layers to  blend them in. This is something, as an art student, I've been told to stay away from, but Ross uses photographs in his work in a really effective way to add specularity and soft colour.

(4) (see the purple speckle on top? that's a foil photo overlay) 

He uses the colour dodge tool to add lighting effects.

(5) adds cool lighting in the background and reflects that on the face and outfit. The feathers on the dress are based from another photo overlay of some flowers that he added on top of the image using a blending layer.

He continues to add more photo overlays at this point to add the patterns/smear over the characters face.

He doesn't fully commit to the smear on the face, but this gives me an idea for later paintings of my own where I could appropriate this face smear and really utilise it.

He also uses a lot of soft brush strokes on very low opacity to get coloured lighting effects in the image.

(6) Really carved into the face here. 

(7) Found a feather texture he keeps using over and over in building up the feathers in the clothing. Adding in darks to bring out contrast and the helmet has been removed. This is is because angles contrasted too much with the feathers. The helmet and the feathers were both too statement. It's been removed and as a result it has made the painting softer. 

Uses highlight around the eyes to carve out the shape.

He uses different layers on colour dodge to bring out the colours in the image. I didn't realise the blending layer you use changes the effect colour dodge has so this is really useful information.