Emma

[`Poet.]

Hey Emma :3 You already know me, I guess, so I won't bother with putting up a big introduction xD

What do you want to start with? Manes and tails? Smudging? Or something else? Do you see something in one of my images (www.poeticjustice314.deviantart.com) that you would like to learn how to do?

Just let me know - it's your choice on what we start with!

Please PM me if there are any questions.

Thanks! <3

[Emma]

Hey

Yesum, manes and tails. But I'd love to know how to paint them - not smudging 'em. The mane on this image of yours is beautiful:
click

And if we could get aspects of body smudging in there somewhere that would be great - my smudgin' isn't great atm.

I painted the mane/tail on this one, even though it failed. Just to give you an idea of where I'm at:


EDIT : fixed link.

[/b][/size]

[`Poet.]

Okay, manes and tails, and smudging.

I'm actually going to have you start with smudging first, and then we'll do the manes and tails on that same horse :3

Here's the horse that I'd like you to use: breathless-dk.deviantart.com/art/Frisian-mare4-171641332?q=gallery%3ABreathless-dk%2F26465994&qo=5

Obviously, you'll have to cut it out (sorry D:). And then I'd like you to smudge it, just the way that you normally do, so I can see how you use the smudging tool, what your technique is, etc.

Then we can go over how to make it even better!

Thanks! Please PM me if you have any questions <3

Poet

[Emma]

Oo. Pretty Friesian.
I only had about 20 mins to do this before I ran out, so if you tell me the cutting is bad I might have to cry.
I joke, but seriously...ick. Oh well.
clicketyclickclick

[`Poet.]

Amazingggg cutting. It doesn't look bad at all!

Now, did you smudge on a duplicate layer, and you still have the original, un-smudged horse under the smudged one?

If so, I'd like you to lower the opacity quite a bit on the smudged layer - the finished opacity should be around 30 - 70%. Whatever looks best to you! This is just so that the horse doesn't look so plasticy, and so that we can see some of the original details of the horse.

So I'd like you to do that, and show me what it looks like. Then we'll move on to manes and tails!

Thanks! <3

[Emma]

Done iit:
click
Opacity is at 55% I believe.

Still don't think it looks great.
...How do you get your images so defined, but still so smudged and smooth?
Mine always look oversmudged and icky.

[`Poet.]

Much better! Nice job!

Now, the "defining" comes much later in the process of manipulation. At least, that's what I always do. It's basically just painting on highlights and shadows to really "bring out" the muscles and such. Makes it look more 3D.

So now we can work on manes and tails! I'm going to have you do it first, the way you normally do it. Like before, this is just so I can see how you go about painting, technique, etc.

And when you post the image, please give me a little description of how you did it. For example:
First painted a base.
Then added highlights.
Then shadows.
Then more individual strands.
Then shine.
Etc., etc.

Thanks! <3

[Emma]

This is Emma, too lazy to log in.

I promise promise that I'm getting this done. I've just had a busy holiday period. Should get it up in a couple of weeks max. Probably sooner, seeing as I have my tablet now (big woop).

Sorry.

[Emma]

The tablet was calling to me, so I gave it a go.

I've given you a little walkthrough-thingy as well as the full size. Not sure if it's useful, but w t.h.
I also added a little shine to the full-sized, which I haven't included on the 'walkthrough'. Thought I should show you anyway.
Haven't done the tail yet. Shall I do that also?

BAM!
BAM!

[`Poet.]

Okay. Can I just say something?

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. Geesh. I had no idea I had such talented students! (And I mean that in a good way, not a bad way ;D) You're going to be bypassing me in no time!

I didn't even have to really teach you how to paint the mane. You just... did it. And you came up with that? Ohemgee. Stunning, Em. Stunning. That's really all that I can say.

Love the flow of the mane. It looks very realistic. And nice job on the variations of colors in the hair. Perfect placement of the shine, too! All I can say is wow.

I'm so happy that you got a tablet! It'll make things much easier!

So, yes, you can go ahead and paint the tail. Long, short, sideways, upside down, I don't really care. Just do the same thing you did with the mane -- I'm just looking for varying color, shine, flow, etc.

Again, amazing job on the mane! Keep it up! <3

[Emma]

Oh wow. Thank you Poet!
*Scurries off to paint tail*