rough pencil sketch

digital refinement pass on pencil sketch

My favorite color key.

Refining the key WIP.

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a work in progress piece. Lately I’ve just been posting my new work straight to my portfolio page and neglecting my poor blog. Well today that all changes because…. SHWWAAAAM! Here’s anotha one! I know what you’re thinking. “Oh my god Greg, you did it again. You dropped another work in progress and now I get look behind the scenes!” And you’re right. My most recent work has been created using my most natural method. Starting with a rough pencil sketch, refining that pencil sketch digitally, doing a color key/value key and then refining that color key. It’s a process but for me the results are potent color, solid shapes and a simple appealing composition. In this scene my bee character has been beat down and the whole roach community is laughing at him (I’m like beeeeeeet down yall… no vegetable doe). I experimented with a few color/light scenarios but decided to go with this one because of the warm intensity that was made on the ground. I found that it amplified the “ridicule” feeling of the scene while also providing a divide between both main characters. In my next post I should have this painting all done. It’s a lot of work and a ton of elements but I love scenes like this. They feel alive! They feel special!

Stay fresh to death and happy birthday to meeee. I’m old now!

Greg Mitchell