[High-Res Art | Comm | WIP] Wick Firebrand StepProcess (Patreon)

Final version 

These were all the steps taken to create the lastest commission for ÒnÓ#2319!

1- Early Sketch: When I started working on the basics, for some reason I went for a very dark design (wanting to make him look kind of skinny) until my brain asked me what I was doing, and I didn't have a good answer. We don't talk about this one.

2- Base Sketch: After redoing the sketch using the equestria girls style as a reference, I got the basics down for the head, as well as the expression, which was approved by the client.

3- Hair Sketch: Then I created the sketch for the Hair in a different layer.

4- Bg and Final Sketch: After checking everything, I resize the sketch, run some tweaks and add the candles meant for the bg.

5- Lineart and flats: Then I draw the clean lines defining every section of the face + adding the flat colors given to me by the client.

6- Colored lines: I color the lineart so it's a seamless style of color (So I can move on to the meat of the comm, the shading)

7- Gradients: Before the shading, I select every color and add two sets of gradients of different colors, to make it more interesting.

8- Shading 1: Using an airbrush, I add two layers with both shadows and highlights, each with their own colors (no black nor white!)

9- Shading 2: I repeat the process adding some extra layers, except these feature strokes done with a transparent brush that's more defined.

10- Shading 3: Then I add all the proper details to the eyes, and also I add some extra lightning effects to add more contrast to the lights and shadows.

11- Background base: Now I move on to the background, for which I use a base of crimson red with a couple layers of a darker red airbrush.

12- Bg extras: Then I add a few random extras to make the bg less bland using different brushes.

13- Candles base: Now for the candles (integral part of the character) I draw the base for all of them in one neutral color.

14- Candles details: I add some shadows and hightlights using different colors and in different layers + the fire

15- Fire effects: I add some lightning effects to the fire to make it more real.

16- Bg and char intrgration: I put both the char and the bg together to see how they fit each other and make necessary adjustments.

17- Extra effects: I add some extra glow and lightning effects so the candles look like they're actually there with him.

18- Final touches and color correction: Finally, I run some color correction layers to make the bg less intrusive, and to make the overall colors of the character match the light coming from the candles.And voila! Commission finished.