I started by deciding what washes and inks I want to use. Then I get to work detailing the leather...
I did my sketch with these colors...
but now I commit and really define the highs and mids before shading begins.
Next I add some wear and scratches and define the shadows...
Now I start to lay down the washes to help age the leather... I start with a few thinned layers of GW Sepia.
Then to give the leather more detail I use a heavy uneven wash of SW Dark Sepia. I let it pool in some places and soak it up in others when it is partially dry to create tide marks. Then I stipple on some Vallejo sepia in an uneven pattern to add more variation to the leather and finally, I blend everything with a few thin layers of GW Agrax Earthshade. Let each color dry before moving on.
Next a few thinned layers of Scale 75 Wood ink helps to add some warmth...
And last a mix of Scale 75 Wood and Violet Inks is carefully painted into shadowed areas to help define the shapes and force the contrast a bit more.
With that the leather is good enough for now. I can tweak later once all the other details are done. Now to finish up her hair.
Again I use the sketching colors to refine the highs and mids more...
Now to knock it all back and make that hair read as black rather than grey...
The hair in person is a lot more black looking, but the camera and light seems to eliminate some of the layers and mid tones.
That's it for now!
*** Speaking of busts... Another seminar has been announced here in Toronto with Fernando Ruiz! So if you missed the last one:
Sign up now!***
Next Post: More Steampunk Leia and a new side project ;) Thanks for following along. Let me know what you think and remember; you can't spell paint without a little pain.
