Introduction

Hello everyone! Art Frog here with a video tutorial this time! In this tutorial we are going to be doing a speed painting in just about 25 minutes! (And a bonus 45 min or so one where I discuss my thoughts over it). This is in an impressionistic style and done quite quickly for a full colour study / painting, but I hope some of the tools and techniques I go over will help you with your own work!

 

Lets get into it

 

(Here is the video link).

What is a Speed Painting?

Technically a speed painting is a piece of artwork done with a time limit. That's it!

 

But, when people think or talk about speed paintings as a style they are often referring to speed paintings done by concept artists. What I did for my example is a little bit like that process.

 

Most important is to stay within the time limit you set, Otherwise it is just a painting. :)

Planning and Preperation

Now, if you want to work quickly there are a few tips you might want to use in order to set yourself up for a successful painting.

 

1) Set a timer and stick to it! (If you go over time just start another. They get faster the more you do!)

 

2) Use a limited amount of Brushes and Tools. (The less switching between tools and techniques the faster you can go. Speed painting is a great way to figure out and discover new techniques and ways of painting different things with limited tools.)

 

3) Establish a limited colour palette before you start and use the Eyedropper tool (Alt and click on the colour you want) instead of always going to the colour wheel.

This technique I talk about in the video but basically by using a brush with a bit of transparency and/or a softer edge you can colour pick where the colour mixes with the background or another value and make a new value. Once you have your image roughed in it becomes a very fast and natural way of adjusting Shape, Colour, and Value.

 

4) Pick a reference photo you want to work from. (I recommend having a folder of photo reference or old master paintings with things about them you like to practice from. You do not need to do a direct copy, you could just be inspired by the colour palette or lighting and try applying it to your own concept. The main thing is studying and working with reference will improve your work!)

The Painting

Starting I find working with the reference and the canvas kind of small can save a lot of time and prevent getting bogged down by the details too early. You will notice I work pretty small for the whole painting!

 

Quickly I choose 6 or so colours for my palette. (Try to keep it on a separate layer!)

Then I use the Lasso Fill tool (Under "Figure" in the "Direct Draw" sub tool you'll find the "Lasso fill" tool,) to fill in the background with a bright green and a few shapes here and there of a darker green.

Notes on the Lasso Fill tool

Lasso Fill is a neat tool as you can very quickly make shapes with all kinds of curves. This can be handy when you are coming up with a design or just want to fill areas quickly. Simply click and drag with the tool (make sure you've chosen the colour you want first) and as soon as you un-click or pick you your stylus, where you ended your "Lasso" will automatically form a straight line to where you started and the area will fill.

 

Experiment with it and see how you can incorporate it into your work flow!

 

(Below is a link to the timestamped section where I talk about the Lasso Fill tool a bit.)

Block in

I continue to block in using the Lasso fill tool the rough basic shapes of the two dogs and some of the background shapes I maybe want to indicate as I move forward.

 

You will notice I've chosen kind of a bright pale yellow for the lit sides of the dogs fur, this is just personal preference. The a bit colder grey for the shadow side is just chosen by eye as well.

 

I very roughly indicate the shapes but it is still quite simplified. Simple straight lines are best at this stage.

About here I've used the Lasso Fill tool enough (including some brown colouring on the dogs faces and tail etc.) and I switch to the Colour Pencil brush (under "Pencil" sub tool.)

Coloured Pencil Tool Painting

I start by brushing over lightly with a darker green to knock back how bright it is behind the dogs, and soften some of the edges.

I knock back the foreground grass shapes too and switch to the "Design Pencil" brush (under Pencil as well) to do the darker cast shadow shape.

I start to brush in and sort of massage the shape and texture of the grass. I do this by lightly brushing over and using the Eye dropper (Press and hold "alt" and click) to pick off the transparent areas of colour I've already put down (specifically at the edges of the brushstrokes) this will allow you to very quickly add variety to your strokes.

Next I roughly indicate the light side of the brown fur. At every adjustment and stroke try to think and compare "Is this closer or further from the reference or where I want it to be?" Keeping this in mind while you work is essential to moving your painting towards a successful finish.

Now I've adjusted some shapes and have started to blend some edges. I use the same process as adding variation to the grass. Just use the colour pencil brush with the lighter colour selected and gently brush over the edges. (You can see in the image below how I've pushed the value a bit higher while softening the edge.)

Softening Edges

I've now softened up more shapes by going over with the colour pencil and indicated and adjusted eye shapes.

 

I also knock back the shapes even more in the background just to try and push it back from the viewer and the make it look different from the foreground grass.

A bit further along I've adjusted some grass texture and shape (still using the coloured pencil tool and eye dropper technique I described earlier)

 

I also start to indicate lighter grass shapes in the area on the left.

Now I've finally zoomed in a bit to work the details on the dogs faces. Still quick and a bit rough but that is the impressionistic style I am going for.

Finished!

And after a few more minutes and some small tweaks we are done! I very much hope this tutorial (and video) were helpful to you in using Clip Studio Paint and with speed paintings of your own!