A Work in Progress: The Ancient Elephantine



This guide was made for entry:
The Ancient Elephantine
In Contest:
elephant


Original image


step 1 of 20

First thing first, I downloaded the original source image above & drag to my Photoshop.

After that, I began to create Layer Mask & left the elephant separated from its original background.

(!) Note that my default Photoshop background turned into red to make my masking easier.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 1

step 2 of 20

Then I created the new layer (renamed it to Sketch) & began to sketch my initial idea: the forsaken forest.

(!) Note that I used the gray color for the Photoshop background, this has been my behavior whenever I create concept arts.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 2

step 3 of 20

I created new layer, renamed it to Values. With 50% opacity of black & white default Chalk Brush, I began to paint the gradient values.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 3

step 4 of 20

After taking 1 hour or so, I painted all the gray-scale values details.

As you can see. Now the tree, branches, stones & some vines for the environment started to blend each other.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 4

step 5 of 20

Now, this is the best stage I reached. The COLOR layer! For many users that seen my SBS, they should already knew what was I talking about in this stage.

The new layer which renamed to Colors actually worked with the layer below when I changed the mode from Normal to Color.

You should try this method, as the professional concept artists & matte painters used to create their marvelous concepts.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 5

step 6 of 20

After done with the color, I created a new layer, renamed it to Shadows. I set the mode to Overlay & create the clipping mask to the Source Image.

(!) By doing this, you should JUST painted the shadows directly to the elephant & the background WILL NOT be affected.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 6

step 7 of 20

In this step, I created a new layer named Fogs.

With color picker & lower opacity of Soft Round brushes (10-30%), I painted the foggy elements to the elephant in order to receive the same color corrections.

(!) Often I used 100% opacity of Soft Round brush, with Cintiq, it depends on the pen pressure.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 7

step 8 of 20

In this step, I updated the Fogs layer with 100% Soft Round brushes.

Darker some areas, adjust some color pick (green) for the elephant & GOT a nice idea. I found it's GREAT to make this elephant crippled with MOSS!

Thanks to MossyB, her name gave me the initial idea accidentally as well. Lol!

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 8

step 9 of 20

Getting tired to create new custom brushes, I searched my default brush set & found the DRY BRUSH!

It gave me a perfect solution to create a mossy textures over the elephant. BUT with the Scattering turned on in Brush Settings (Press F5).

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 9

step 10 of 20

So, here's what I mentioned before. The Dry Brush. With Scattering mode of course.

Created a new layer & renamed it to Debris. Don't ask me why'd I name it like that. I just love the name.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 10

step 11 of 20

Here's the details when I created the Mossy Textures in the Debris layer.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 11

step 12 of 20

I added a new layer with Rocks as the name.

I painted a new rocks & some of 'em were scattered.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 12

step 13 of 20

With Polygonal Tool, I created the Sun Ray effects!

I forgot to name this new layer.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 13

step 14 of 20

With Gradient Tool, I made the yellow color & deselected the marquee with CTRL+D.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 14

step 15 of 20

Changed the mode from Normal to Soft Light!

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 15

step 16 of 20

I used the Gaussian Blur filter with this setting.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 16

step 17 of 20

TA~DAA! It'll be like this after the Gaussian Blur filter.

The hard-edge sun-ray dispersed!

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 17

step 18 of 20

Because I'm such a lazy ass... I clicked the Adjustments Layer > Curves > AUTO.

Nah, it's not my style to automate something, but in this case... pardon my laziness. But the result a little satisfy me, it's good, but not that great shoud I say.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 18

step 19 of 20

I edited the Rocks layer to Rocks + Vines.

In this stage, I just added the details to the statue. Made a cracks, a vines over some parts of the statue was a little entertaining to me.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 19

step 20 of 20

Final step, added the Photo Filter Adjustments Layer with 30% density.

Quite satisfy with the result!

Well, this is the best part should I say. Since I'm in a great mood to do a new commercial projects soon... I'll leave this Elephantine for everyone.

If you like it, vote it.
Lol. Best Regards, The Ancient Author.

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Step 20

Final result

Creation of The Ancient Elephantine: Final Result

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Comments

avatar MossyB
MossyB says:

Now I are a muse! Very nice tutorial for a very nice entry!
~M

(5 years and 2838 days ago)
author says:

Thank you, MossyB!

(5 years and 2835 days ago)
avatar CorneliaMladenova

Please, Author, make a tutorial from this very good and detailed sbs. We need it!

(5 years and 2834 days ago)
author says:

Thank you, CorneliaMladenova... I submitted this making into a tutorial because of your suggestion. Never submitted anything before, hope I'll improve it next time.

(5 years and 2834 days ago)