Introduction
In this post, I'll share five different tips for I learned from this master to study to help you improve your drawing skills and drawing speed.
The first time I saw this piece, I was drawn to this piece by its masterful use of color, reflected and glowy lighting, and the fact that skin looks so alive and vibrant despite being an anime-style illustration.
Disclaimer: This study is for learning purposes only. If you are the original artist and would like this article to be taken down, please contact me via DM on Twitter.
Mogoon/ Modare (モ誰) モ誰 (@jeonghee1414) / Twitter
My master copy Arq (@Arq_tm) / Twitter
Mogoon’s Original Twitter post
Technique 1: Coloring metal jewelry
I learned to quickly cover metal with this brush: Easy Metal Coloring - CLIP STUDIO ASSETS (clip-studio.com). Price: $1.50. Though with a bit of effot you can replicate this brushes’ techniques by using black, white, and grey soft and hard brushes.
I recommend these two metal gradient maps
- Flat and alpha lock the metal layer. It doesn’t matter what color, its going to be covered up anyway
- Use the metal coloring brush along the grains of the metal. Bring up reference photos of the type of metal you are coloring if you are unsure of which direction the lines should go. The metal will be black and white at this stage
- Add extra black along the shadow edge
- Then add a new correction layer > gradient map above the layer with the metal. Set it to clip on to the metal layer
- Import a metal gradient map
- Adjust the gradient to your liking, including messing with the layer opacity.
- You’re done!
Technique 2: This shading auto action
Technique 3: Improved Workflow
I was inspired to complete this study by this video; where YouTuber tppo breaks down on of Mogoon’s other pieces - his Raiden Shogun piece.
Technique 4: Texture is your friend
Textures are a great way to add depth and complexity to your illustrations.
- Texture the background with some color before doing flats
- After flats, label all light sources and textures
- Add some texture to flat, especially cloth, jeans, metal, grass, sand, water, etc.
- Texture has the added bonus of making your art look more organic, and less like it was created by an AI
Technique 5: Represent bounced light faster with alpha locked shading layers
- Add bounced light (color) all on the same alpha-locked multiply shading layer
- Use a shit ton of Add (Glow) layers above your lineart layer to make your skin glow, your hair shimmer, objects reflect, and lights shine.
Conclusion
The techniques I learned from studying this master artist are useful for a variety of art styles. If you're interested in learning how to use these techniques, they can help you create more dynamic and well-balanced art! If you've ever thought that your drawings or paintings lacked depth or dimensionality. It might be time for you to try out some new art techniques by completing a master study of your own.
In the end, we hope we’ve given you some insight into how these techniques can be applied in your own work. Whether you decide to incorporate any of these methods into your own practice is up to you; but one thing is for sure: by studying and learning from other artists, you too can become a master of your craft!