I loved to sketch things out. I didn't have much innate ability, but I figured that with hard work and practice, I would gain practical skill. There were two things that prevented me from reaching my goal:
- My colorbindness
- The accident
And then there was the accident, wherein my right hand was crushed. That put the kibosh on any freehand drawing/painting (as well as ending piano playing and basically anything else that requires full use of your hands).
But I still come back to the idea every now and again. I have my wacom tablet hooked up at work and I play around with Painter and Sketchbook, without much success. Lately, I have been experimenting with photographs, trying to make a regular picture look drawn or painted. I have not yet been entirely successful, but here are some of the results so far:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFwXPwtr-VkrTr2ix8ibSSsWTaXDbzJ0zrm7e71m7SKdbt__TNykuQoEs0GTpfLxclBdISfzgdjlAML0y38uvk81WNRi7ZLAAXoL4Wwk1Biu_031whvvTFPTXVYj-jX0zy9l2/s320/DSCN6899+copy.png)
Redfield Sketch Master "Sketch", darken, 67% opacity on the face only, top layer
Redfield Sketch Master "Crayon", soft light, 50% opacity
Cutout + Palette Knife for the background
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKnJ0lOHjnUFyHfAkgQSsIMfp8oxzvr_h-tBEdGv0c_oHOdWMXS90Bh2Ft5qiacbH9DE91e5OqwPvEMwk0U_Wy5-ci0ngLdV5EFw4TWBqELTATPTOokWtMQNJZc6ZNYR7Du3U/s320/DSCN5449+copy+alt.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiElgPbj7uGEQf-J6XxCLsptnA_4iPizooclqlhc6KAxWriRzfn1C_1acxo_xjUkqGEBQvQH_sv6scqN-rfkEK_8mB7RtYNr8e5W3DL0bQVyhZJBswzdQ9ArgJ3u_lK2XvO_O/s320/DSCN5449+copy+alt+autopaint.png)
These two are very nearly identical.
They both have dry brush 50% on the top layer
Redfield Sketch Master "Crayon", soft light, 50%
The first one has cutout + palette knife as the background
The second one has a Corel Painter autopaint as the background
I think the colors seem off on the second one, but how can I tell? For both of them, I think there is too much detail just in the face, but how do you get _just_ the right amount? I'm still searching.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotGor9Adbi9rkosmQMbHKExsUj-Fees1kHABhUs7UKR7P0Zh7dKhHQwsNf-CAErHzSB2dUqb_nVeBwA3tEcJaikaeKMoF6XuxExDTRgdL8qXzu1f3alPg_ZP72eW_5CBOLmPo/s320/secret+lair+copy.png)
"Welcome to my secret lair under Skullcrusher Mountain."
One of my co-workers made an excellent villain for Halloween. Unfortunately, Photoshop does not save your actions history in the PSD, and I don't exactly remember how I got to this point.
Probably crayon on cutout + palette knife with face and eye details somehow.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX7tnePUA-AuY-kC7bppAA-Ynuw2Myebd8sR6RIBDUuk5ugzSxeW0gaXb823AF6XQp_cVlGIMnqI7bBvMLS8jUNG8QrDkA0-pyCmcAvi7LKSCpq39k_HOP5iCFKi7l0MfyVHk/s320/DSCN6896+copy+autopaint+cutout.png)
"No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die."
Again, details are missing (I've got to start labeling my layers better)
eye in dry brush, 50% (I think)
face in graphic pen, soft light, 50% (I'm guessing)
crayon, soft light, 50% (I'd imagine)
autopaint, 50%
cutout as background
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv9kh9AqGqwnMy5B1Ie492jp2SZEI5AQlHVchPeAkjtIW_yz92NrhYaBkoo7HYAywYVnMEAHgYdH3OiFPvHmEEJhq7u324tYBAmGt1MW3R_ogp33OnG9BN6W_O1QfggX0wClY/s320/Picture+030+copy+w+eyes+drybrush.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IziSgraqIZ-W1vwf4nomdTEehcMU48FTSipT1v0v9uchBOy6sDpiniVAhGFp8zh81HYa52mrDhQpEaSJeqhYIEkNJZ7zQ-t3LWR38GHIjxwgSUGvyxJ3YAsh6kw_IppDJWM5/s320/Picture+030.jpg)
And my favorite as last. I think this is the one that most succeeds in looking hand-drawn.
dry brush eyes, 50%
crayon, soft light
cutout + palette knife as base