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Description
Larger version now available here: [link]

This digital painting of a red squirrel on a branch was drawn for my grandmother's birthday card (the card used a version at 5.5 hours work).

It took about seven hours work to complete. I used the software AutoDesk SketchBook Pro 2009 (new version!) on a Tablet PC, painting with the airbrush tool of only.

I changed my method slightly here; rather than drawing a sketch layer with the pen tool then flat colouring under it with the paint tool, I instead worked entirely with the airbrush, simply changing the flow rate and size when needed. It turns out that the airbrush is quite suited to roughly sketching out the proportions of an object.

When I'd fully sketched out the image I continued to develop the body I'd already drawn. I erased the tail and branch and eventually drew these on different layers behind and in front of the body.

I'm quite happy with how this turned out, although I could probably spend more time on it - I rushed completing it for the Moonpig 2pm postage deadline and may already be a day late depending on the speed of first class post from Guernsey.

Update: Now with an extra one and a half hours work including redrawing the eye and front paws, and adding more fine detail and highlights. I'm now considering it finished.

Update 29th of December: Added my signature and adjusted the background size and position to allow the image to benefit from the 'rule of thirds'. Thanks to !Awfulsouls for the tip!

Eight step 'making of' image here [link]

Larger version now available here: [link]

Description
Larger version now available here: [link]

This digital painting of a red squirrel on a branch was drawn for my grandmother's birthday card (the card used a version at 5.5 hours work).

It took about seven hours work to complete. I used the software AutoDesk SketchBook Pro 2009 (new version!) on a Tablet PC, painting with the airbrush tool of only.

I changed my method slightly here; rather than drawing a sketch layer with the pen tool then flat colouring under it with the paint tool, I instead worked entirely with the airbrush, simply changing the flow rate and size when needed. It turns out that the airbrush is quite suited to roughly sketching out the proportions of an object.

When I'd fully sketched out the image I continued to develop the body I'd already drawn. I erased the tail and branch and eventually drew these on different layers behind and in front of the body.

I'm quite happy with how this turned out, although I could probably spend more time on it - I rushed completing it for the Moonpig 2pm postage deadline and may already be a day late depending on the speed of first class post from Guernsey.

Update: Now with an extra one and a half hours work including redrawing the eye and front paws, and adding more fine detail and highlights. I'm now considering it finished.

Update 29th of December: Added my signature and adjusted the background size and position to allow the image to benefit from the 'rule of thirds'. Thanks to !Awfulsouls for the tip!

Eight step 'making of' image here [link]

Larger version now available here: [link]