Stages: Thing for Jo

I added 'a bit' more detail than usual here

I also added tips because why not, it might help someone

Program used: Paint Tool Sai

Time: Like...ages man. Ages.

1. Sketches. Not much to explain, except how absolutely hideous that first sketch was. Wow. I really outdid myself there.

2. First colours. I got the final sketch and changed the colour to pink (w/ clipping layer)
   Set sketch layer to multiply and lowered the opacity slightly
   Made a layer underneath, filled with pink and then threw on colours with the marker tool... so I am only on two layers at this stage, all of the colours are on one layer, the sketch on the other

3. Playing with colours. I added some overlay layers and played around with the opacity and hues of them until it looked how I wanted
   In case it's somewhat useful- and if you can't read the screenshot bit-
   The pink is set to 'Screen' mode at 18% opacity
   Green is 'Overlay' at 23%
   I may have also adjusted the brightness a tiny bit but I can't actually remember

4. Merge all of the layers (I actually keep a copy of un-merged layers just in case something goes wrong, then I save new versions every now and then and get rid of all the layers I'm not using) So I am working on 1 layer only, painting with a hard brush and laying down flatter blocks with the marker- but not too much blending yet. At this stage I don't want to lose all the different colours present in the previous stage, so I will keep using the colour picker tool and if I am going to paint over a colour, I will put a blob over at the side, or somewhere else so I don't lose it.
   I don't go 'I am painting all of the cardigan' and do a full block of pink, I'll start with one of the sleeves, picking the colours and working my way around, getting more and more refined as I go on.
   I mainly just got annoyed with the eyes at this point

5. The irises are on a different layer to everything else which is still only one layer. Start to focus on the cardigan

6. Shouted angrily at the cardigan, completely changing the shape of it.

7. Notice that the hair looks higher, this is because, in order to get the edge of the hair next to the skin right, I need to paint more of the forehead and then paint the hair back over the top. This can apply to other stuff too but I mostly find it's the hair because it's hard to paint skin in between the strands, much easier this way yo. With different hairstyles with less of a fringe I would suggest painting the entire forehead so you can get the shape of it right! If you're just starting out and not too familiar with painting faces it's good to roughly paint the forehead anyway.
   I also blocked in some bluer shades in the hair on the sides of the skirt of the dress... Stuff that is further away is less saturated and/or bluer. It can be used to bring forward stuff in pinups but it applies more to scenery in real life...

8. Painted the bottom of the dress, it's just plain on the main layer with two muliply layers to make the checkers... or tartan? Or that other word that is not coming to me idk what this patten is. Squares. I needed two multiply layers so they would be darker where the lines going in different directions cross.
   Also did more work on the eyes

9. Goodbye tail. Hello legs.
   Oooh and the frilly stuff at the bottom of the dress, haven't drawn that stuff in years. The multiply layer of the pattern is hidden here so you can see what it looks like...

10. Finishing up cleaning stuff adding the details, some of which I'd painted over. I redid the pattern to make it fit the contours of the material a bit better. Finally did the left hand that I had been putting off. Played around in photoshop a bit. Got rid of the ribbon too because I am lazy and was just not feeling it.
    TADA!