1) Introduction

In this tutorial, I will present the different stages of my process of creating a landscape art concept with CLIP STUDIO PAINT.

For each step, I will detail the different tools used. We will go from the first sketch, from the choice of colors and lights, to the final details and adjustments.

In this setting we will draw elements that are regularly found in art concepts: vegetation, rock, water and people.

 

2) Preparation of Tools

In this drawing, we use the basic brushes of the CLIP STUDIO PAINT software as well as two personalized brushes with a little texture. These brushes are available in the [Tools] window.

For the pencil:

• [Pencil]> [Drawing pencil]

For Painting:

• [Brush]> [Indian ink]> [A bit strong]

• [Brush]> [Watercolor]> [Dense Watercolor]

• [Brush]> [Watercolor]> [Transparent Watercolor]

• Personalized brushes

 

For the light:

• [Airbrush]> [Soft]

In the [Layer] menu, we use different layer blending modes: [Normal], [Add] and [Overlay].

 

3) penciled

Start by making a first sketch of the landscape with the [Drawing Pencil] tool. I invite you to do several before selecting the one that best fits what you want to express. At the beginning, think above all about the different shots and the overall composition of the image before suggesting the details.

Once you have chosen your composition, reduce the opacity of the layer and redraw a cleaner pencil on a new layer.

4) Solid colors

Create new layers below the pencil to paint the colors with an opaque brush ([Brush]> [Indian ink]> [Slightly sturdy]). Separate each group of elements on different layers (rocks, water, character, and background). Use dark and little saturated colors at first.

Once the solid colors have been placed, lock the layers so that you can paint them later without modifying the outlines. Go to the [Layer] window> [Lock Transparent Pixels].

After defining the direction of the light source, paint the color, direct light and shadow variations on each layer. If you don't know which colors to use, use reference photos to find the color scheme that's right for you.

Add layers with mist to soften the transitions. Then draw the leaves in the foreground. Start bringing light into the image with the tool [Airbrush]> [Highlight] with a pale yellow color on the leaves and the ground. Apply light brush strokes to reveal these spots of light that pass through the forest.

On the background, use the [Gradation] tool to represent the dim light coming from the right. Then quickly detail the background foliage using the [Brush]> [Watercolor]> [Dense watercolor] tool.

5) Light

Create a layer in [Add] mode and use the [Airbrush]> [Soft] tool to represent the rays of light.

Add a second layer in [Overlay] mode and use the airbrush with an orange-yellow color to create a warmer mood.

The colors are now set up. Use the [Eyedropper] tool to select colors and add details to the rocks.

6) Color adjustment

Once the design structure is complete, try different color schemes before going into detail.

To do this, use the different color modification tools available:

• For contrast: [Edit]> [Hue Correction]> [Brightness / Contrast]

• For saturation: [Edit]> [Hue Correction]> [Hue / Saturation / Brightness]

 

If you want to modify the general mood of the drawing (put an atmosphere more drawn towards red or blue for example) use the hue curves ([Edit]> [Hue Correction]> [Hue Curves]).

 

The curve represents all the colors of the drawing from the darkest (on the left) to the lightest (on the right). Pulling the curve up will make the colors tend towards the corresponding channel (red, green, blue or white). Pulling it down makes the colors tend towards the color opposite the channel (cyan, magenta, yellow or black).

With this tool you can change the mood of a layer or several layers at the same time using a correction layer (menu [Layer]> [New Correction Layer]> [Shade Curves]).

In this step, create a copy of the drawing (right click on the layer group> [Duplicate Layer]) to test several color arrangements.

Different color tests for this drawing:

 

7) Details

Once the final colors have been chosen, it remains to detail each part of the drawing. After unlocking the layers, zoom in on each part then use the pipette and the different brushes to make the details.

Reduce the opacity of the layer with inking. Then gradually erase the ink layer as your details are refined (with the [Soft Eraser] tool).

Draw the leaves one by one with brush strokes, gradually switching from dark colors to light colors.

For the rock, specify the shadows by thinking of the orientation of each plane. Apply very dark colors in the hollows, corners and cracks. Reduce the size of the brush as the details become more refined. Draw the foliage and flowers last using a stiff brush ([Brush]> [Indian ink]> [Slightly sturdy]).

For water, start by painting the rocks that are at the bottom of the water. The deeper the rocks, the more they will take on the color of the water (blue). Make a lit part and a shaded part for each rock.

Then reflect the ruins in the water. To do this, select the ruins (window [Tool]> [Selection]), duplicate them with copy and paste (Ctrl + C then Ctrl + V), then return them with the tool [Edit]> [Transformation] > [Enlarge / Reduce / Rotate] (or Ctrl + T). Reduce the opacity in the [Layer]> [Opacity] window.

 

Add a mask on this layer (menu [Layer]> [Layer Mask]> [Hide the selected area]). On the mask, use the Soft Eraser to gradually erase the reflection from the bottom. Then use the hard eraser ([Eraser]> [Magnetize the Eraser]) to erase certain areas using horizontal lines. This technique represents the ripple of water.

 

The details are finished! Here is a comparison of the drawing with and without details:

8) Finishes

To give more life to the final drawing, add loose leaves and fireflies. For sheets, use a dynamic filter to give the speed effect (menu [Filter]> [Blur]> [Directional Blur]). Then again use correction layers (as in the previous section) for the final color adjustment.

Duplicate and merge all layers (menu [Layer]> [Merge Selected Layers] or Shift + Alt + E). Accentuate the details and textures using a sharpening filter ([Filter]> [Net] menu).

The drawing is finished!

 

About me

I'm Vaskange, freelance illustrator. I like to develop my scifi and fantasy universes.

Find me on my social networks!

 

My illustrations posted on my shop: