How I Made: Geisha
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Tips & Tutorials, by The Advanced Photoshop Team
Learn how freelance artist Ashley Guyot created this digital painting using Photoshop CC
Thanks go out to Ashley Guyot for this Photoshop CC and Corel Painter 13 How I Made. See more of her work at www.behance.net/ashguyot.
01: Initial Sketch
I started by doing a monochromatic value sketch of the composition, making sure it was very close to what the final image would look like.
02: Add in Colour

I duplicated the value sketch layer, locked the transparent pixels (magic!), and added some colour to the values. I wanted to give her a rusty, patinated vibe.
03: Deeper Shades
I then added a layer under the value layer and painted in some colours for her skin and kimono, while adding deeper shades to the value sketch.
04: Switching Programs
Jumping back and forth between Photoshop and Corel, I refined the painting a bit more, blending and adding colours and detail.
05: Reference Photo

I chose another reference photo to add some visual interest to the background, enlarging and blurring it until it was only indistinct light and dark shapes. I painted it in using a layer mask.
06: Blended Background
I went back into Corel Painter and blended the background further to give it a more painted look.
07: Texture Play
I played with the background a bit more until I was satisfied, then used a layer mask and blending modes to add texture to the model’s kimono and gas mask.
08: Final Details

At this stage, I added the final details to the artwork and the digital painting was done.