As someone who constantly seeks to enhance my artistic skills, I set a goal for myself this year to create more pieces from my imagination. Drawing from imagination can be quite intimidating for me: Not only are original concepts challenging to imagine, but there is also ample room for error throughout the artistic process. I came up with the idea for this illustration during a period of art block. To push myself to improve as much as possible, I decided to tackle a challenging composition. I had always wanted to draw dragons and experiment with illustrating interior backgrounds, both of which felt daunting. With virtually no references for lighting or composition and no clear idea of how I’d go about rendering or coloring its elements, I recognized that this piece would be difficult to attempt. However, I chose to embrace the challenge and trust the process.
After completing basic sketching of the main elements, I mapped out the values of the foreground, midground, and background in grayscale. Following this, I experimented with various layer modes to adjust the illustration from grayscale to color. Prior to creating this illustration, I rarely utilized grayscale or planned my values. However, I wanted to be as accurate as possible with my values and ended up learning some new skills while working on my base colors. After calibrating the colors to the best of my ability, it was time to render the illustration. I struggled significantly with the rendering process and came close to giving up several times. I was constantly concerned that I wouldn’t do the concept justice and felt apprehensive about even starting the rendering. I decided to approach this piece’s rendering differently by using larger brush strokes and simpler shapes, rather than meticulously rendering every intricate detail as I usually did. My goal was to create an illusion of detail, experimenting with various techniques and brushes. During moments of uncertainty, I sought feedback from others and adjusted my work accordingly. I allowed myself to be flexible with color choices, trusting my instincts to guide me through the process. Eventually, I adapted to this new rendering method and gained more confidence in the outcome of the illustration.
My goal for this piece was to create a whimsical and fantastical atmosphere that would allow viewers to immerse themselves and appreciate the work. The most significant element contributing to this effect was color. I utilized the complementary colors turquoise and orange as the primary palette for my piece to create contrast and capture the viewer’s attention. After completing the rendering, I used different color adjustment tools to calibrate the hues, values, and saturation, which took approximately two hours for the final color correction. Finally, I added the finishing touches: a subtle blur to the foreground elements, and sparks of light to enhance the atmosphere even further.
This piece took 14 hours to complete, presenting me with numerous challenges and opportunities for growth. While I believe the final result has significant room for improvement, I take pride in my dedication to its completion and my persistence throughout the process. I successfully combined various colors and textures that work together to evoke a sense of wonder, and I acquired many new skills and techniques along the way. I hope this piece inspires viewers to imagine the story behind the artwork and immerse themselves in its narrative, leaving them spellbound.
