Roronoa Zatoichi process

Hey peeps. I'll be sharing my process here. Timelapse are cool but what helps alot is understanding where each step begins and ends so you're not just aimlessly wandering around a drawing waiting for it to finish.

Step 1: Rough stage

Using small thumbnails, quickly get down ideas. Do not spend more than 5-10 minutes on each. It's gotta be quick so the feeling and energy is there.

Next, choose which you like the most and enlarge it to fit the canvas.

Step 2: Linework

I am a line focused artist. You may not be. But even so, linework is essential to getting the shapes and proportions correct. I pour most of my effort into those stage. Those entire piece was done using the Koteri Pencil, including coloring and linework.

I put my characters and backgrounds on separate layers. This will make the later stages much simpler.

Step 3: Flat colors

I'm still trying to get better with color theory, but my goal is to always make sure things look pretty in this stage. If my flat colors compliment each other, then I'm on the right track. Remember, as things fall further into the background, they become more ambient due to the atmosphere. Meaning, in this case, the trees and rocks appear more bluish since they are further away.

Step 4: Shadows

Multiply layers are your friend. Use them. On a separate layer above the color layer, set it to multiply and use a light and slightly saturated color to apply shadows. My light source is up above, so any facet that isn't directly facing above will fall into shadow. In this case I used a light teal and a very light teal for lighter shadows.

Step 5: Highlights

Highlights are your friend but also your enemy. Use too much and it can kill the image. I only used highlights on things that reaaaally need it. Little bit on the sand to add sparkle, his reflective pants and bandana, and some other places. Be cautious you don't go overboard with it.

Step 6: Touchup

Using the color balance tool, I change the hues and staurations of lights, mediums, and darks to get the desired look. Sometimes I spend too much time on it while other times I hardly touch it. As long as there is harmony between your colors (you'll know because you won't hate it) then you have yourself a fine piece of art.

Hope this helped! Happy doodles peeps!