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jocarra — COMMISH:The Dahlia and the Bee
Published: 2004-12-10 07:51:33 +0000 UTC; Views: 4303; Favourites: 28; Downloads: 202
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Description
A commission for my sister. Being that it was in the middle of exam season and the Christmas rush, I'm a little surprised I got it done at all. I couldn't get it to scan to look as nice as it does in real life, so I added some colour to it - I like it...The original, uncoloured version can be seen here .
Graphite. Photo references used (I had no idea what a dahlia was *LOL*). Colour in Adobe PhotoShop 7.0. 19.
This was a commission. If you're interested in commissioning me, contact me via email or dA.
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Comments: 44
exquisite detail in the petals and colour of the flower! (what patience you must have.) The little bee is so CUTE. I'm totally impressed since you had no point of reference!...hat's off to you hun!!! Great job!!!
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Aww, thank you. Surprisingly, it wasn't too hard to shade the flower in 
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Well, either way...it was very well done. I really liked the misty/early morning/quietness kind of atmosphere it projected...you know...the bee busy at work...no one else around...*nods*...
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Aww, hehe, I never really looked at it that way... That's neat
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Heheh, I'd maybe hug the bee, 'cept it would either sting me, or I'd squish it X3
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cute! love the colors...the bee looks real..very cool!
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Hehe, it is kind of cute... and I'm glad you think the bee looks real 
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Wow! This is beautiful, Jen! I really like the texture! Looks like colored pencil, almost....Is it easy coloring graphite drawings in photoshop? I've gotten several requests to turn Insomnia into a CG image, but so far my attempts have been pretty pitiful...any advice, or anything?
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Aww, thanks! Hmm... I'd say it is quite easy colouring graphite drawings in PhotoShop, because you already have a sketch to work with! 
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Wow, thanks! I haven't played around with the layer modes much, apart from multiply for the original drawing and normal for all the rest...I'll have to do that! By the way, Do you know how to make many textures without it being on the underlying sketch? That's the next thing I want to learn (I hate the "clay" look), but filters can make things look so flat! I think you know what I mean.
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Making textures? Well, always leave your underlying sketch alone, I'd recommend - if you are going to mess with it, I'd suggest you "duplicate layer" and always save one that is unadulterated.
If you're looking for non-sketched, non-filter-using texture, that depends largely on 1) your painting skill, but also 2) the smudge tool and 3) the different brushes.
Try messing with the burn or dodge tool for the heck of it (although I rarely, rarely use it), or for fur trying laying down some flat colours, then smudging them (it takes patience for it to turn out well) using the smudge tool to create a feathery fur effect.
I know you were looking for non-filter techniques, but using a filter combined with "traditional" digital painting techniques, it can create a really rich effect. Try putting a filter on its own layer, reducing opacity, and then painting your own version of the texture on another layer - it'll combine both effects into a new kind of texture. Don't ever rely on textures alone - we all can identify when someone's used a render cloud filter, or whatever - so mix them with airbrushing/painting/smudging.
You can also use the different brushes to make different textures, or if you want to try, you can find a stock image of a desired texture, such as gravel. You give it its own layer, then manipulate it so it looks the way you want it to and so it is the right size, then try giving it different layer effects (try overlay). That will superimpose the texture onto the part of your image. It's kind of like cheating, but often this sort of thing can require a lot of photomanipulating and tweaking and painting, so it's not exactly cheating, either, because it requires quite a bit of work, depending.
The last technique I ever use is just meticulously painting the desired texture myself. Little blending details can be taken care of with the smudge tool, while richness and depth can be aided by having lots of layers of colours (that's how good acrylic painters work - lots of colour layers to create rich but non-cartoony colours). Avoid using just one or two colours in an area, just like you avoid using just one coloured pencil to shade something - it's flat!
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Wow! Thank you so much! This is very helpful! I'll definitely give it a shot!
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No problem - lemme know how it goes.
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Lovely, the details on the bee are great! I like the texture of the background as well.
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Aww, thank you! 
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You did it again.Beautiful coloring. Its texture makes me thing in something in something soft and fluffy
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Aww, you collect bees? Heheh, that's really cute 
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okay.. 
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oh ..so you are laughin of the hive.
Bees ataaaack her!!!!! Xp
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NOOOOOOO!!! *runs off screaming and flailing wildly*
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You can run but you can't hide
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wonderful drawing! very pretty 
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Oohhh.... I'm working for your pencil technique. Very nice!
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My pencil technique? 
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Hehe! Thanks
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Thank you
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ahh beautiful colors and wonderful detail. i like how the background color matches well with the flower. i do like the feel of the picture; the graininess of it and all.
the bee looks great. nice and plump.
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Aww, thank you
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