[1] Painting the characters

In this part, I’ll paint the shadows and highlights on the characters.

 

I really like the feeling of drawing with the [G-pen] with effect source set to random and I think it’s perfect for my art style, so I’ll keep using this tool for painting.

 

In the [Tool Property] settings, I make sure that the effect source for the brush size is set to [Random] and set [Anti-aliasing] and [Stabilization] to zero.

 

However, this time I want more of a watery ink effect, so I turn [Opacity] to 60%.

 

I use the eyedropper to pick up colors from the canvas and layer them over the top.

I then paint with this brush while adjusting the pen size and opacity.

 

It looks like this without the line art layer.

 

I really love how well the [G-pen] creates a painterly feeling.

At the start of this painting, I also used the [Textured pen], but next time I think I’ll use my customized [G-pen] from start to finish.

 

[2] Painting the background

I’ll paint the background as the last step of painting. I’m going to use the [G-pen] again for this step.

 

As in step 1, I paint for a papery texture with running color, adjusting the pen opacity and size as I paint.

Now I’ve finished all the painting. Next I’ll just add some final touches before finishing.

 

[3] Finishing details

To finish off, I’ll add some individual touches to the painting.

 

I usually add some textures to create a strong atmosphere, but this time I think it looks good just with the paint, so I don’t add any.

 

 

 

■1. Adding handwritten letters

 

On the “Line art” layer, I add some writing and my signature. I used the [G-pen] again with [Random] turned on.

I use a thick line and layer my strokes. Once I’m happy with the rough shape, I shave off parts with the transparent color.

 

By shaving off parts of the line, I can create the scratchy effect of brush writing.

 

Now I’ve added the writing, it looks more like a real ink painting. I add my signature in the same way with the [G-pen] and shave it with the transparent color.

 

 

 

■2. Adjusting the opacity of the line art

 

I want to blend the color of the line art with the painting colors a little bit, so I reduce the opacity of the “Line art” layer to around 90%.

Now I’m finished.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion:

 

This was the first time I had used Clip Studio Paint to make a painting, but I found it very intuitive and easy to use.

 

The program is optimized for painting, and the pen responsiveness is great. I really love the [G-pen] with [Random] turned on.

I think I’ll be able to make a lot of different things as I learn more about the other materials and features.

 

If you start off by trying to use lots of functions, there’s a lot to remember and it can be hard to get used to the program.

 

I don’t tend to think that slower processes are necessarily wrong, or that faster processes are right. I prefer to draw in the way that suits my illustrations.

I can have a lot of fun even just drawing with the default brushes on a single layer.

 

However, I do think that software is helpful for creating any type of art, whether its highly detailed digital paintings, stylized traditional-style art, or comics.

 

This is the end of my beginners’ tutorial.

Thanks for reading to the end.