I thought I would try something different for my latest artwork project, so rather than architecture I chose a water scene. I knew I would have to research how to digitally paint sea water in Photoshop, so I selected a photo that I took of Marina Grande in Sorrento on our last vacation there.

I took the photo early morning as the sun was just coming up. You may notice that it was rising from the right of the picture, and just started illuminating the first shed as well as the large boat anchored in the marina.

So here is the process I use for most of my drawings……..

1. Create a new layer and name it rough sketch. Choose a suitable brush for sketching and lower the opacity to around 50%. Create the rough sketch.
   

2. Create a new layer and name it Fine Line Sketch. Select a sharp round brush and reduce the size to 9px. Select the colour black. Reduce the opacity of the rough sketch layer until the sketch lines are just visible. Make sure you have the Fine Line Sketch layer selected and begin to draw over the rough sketch with a single fine line. (Tip. Try to ensure that all objects are fully enclosed by the fine line. This will enable you to use the paint bucket tool to block fill the shape later.)

3. Continue the Fine Line Drawing until you are happy with the result, then turn off the Rough Sketch layer. Create a new layer and name it Colour. You can then start adding the colour. The picture below shows the Fine Line Drawing with a couple of places block filled using the paint bucket tool in Photoshop.

4. Complete the colouring using a combination of the paint bucket tool to fill large areas and various brushes for the detail. Add any highlights and shading. Frame the picture.

5. A note about the water effect…….I followed a tutorial by Aaron Blaise which I recommend you to watch here…..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkkWIbd5O_s I used a couple of the brushes he uses in the tutorial.

You can check out all my digital artwork here

Following my last post titled “Pubs of Heeley” I was asked about a few of the pubs that are now sadly closed. With this in mind I have now created a piece of wall art titled; “Lost Heeley Pubs”.

This piece is also sized such that it can be directly mounted into a 20″ x 16″ frame without mounting, or the pseudo mount details (black edge and wording) can be covered by using a standard mount of 16″ x 12″.

You can download a free pdf file identifying the pubs by clicking the link here https://be-images.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Lost-Heeley-Pubs-Key.pdf

You can view / purchase this print by clicking the link here https://be-images.com/?product=digital-print-showing-the-lost-pubs-of-heeley-sheffield

You can check out all my digital artwork here

Here is my latest piece of wall art featuring a collage of all the current pubs in Heeley, Sheffield

I created this digital print at an image size of 16″ x 12″ with a pseudo mount of 20″ x 16″.

It is sized such that it can be directly mounted into a 20″ x 16″ frame without mounting, or the pseudo mount details (black edge and wording) can be covered by using a standard mount of 16″ x 12″.

You can download a free pdf identifying the pubs by clicking the link here https://be-images.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Heeley-Pubs-Key.pdf

You can view/purchase the print by clicking the link here https://be-images.com/?product=digital-print-showing-current-pubs-in-heeley-sheffield

You can check out all my digital artwork here

Here is my latest piece of wall art featuring a collage of many of Wigan’s landmarks.

I created this digital print at an image size of 16″ x 12″ with a pseudo mount of 20″ x 16″.

It is sized such that it can be directly mounted into a 20″ x 16″ frame without mounting, or the pseudo mount details (black edge and wording) can be covered by using a standard mount of 16″ x 12″.

The frame and mount used above can be purchased from Amazon here

You can check out all my digital artwork here

I sketched this using an old black typewriter as reference. Thought it might look good as a red one!

Feel free to contact me if you would like a customised version with any wording and/or additional images.

You can check out all my digital artwork here

This is my version of Gullivers in Manchester.

I took the original photo about 6 months ago on a nice sunny day. You don’t get many of those in Manchester. Luckily it was reasonably quiet as there were still some covid restrictions in place.

The lighting was quite challenging. The sun was very bright and coming from the left, however the right side of the building was actually brighter due to reflected light from shop widows across the street.

Once the sketching and colouring was complete I used a new technique to achieve some of the reflected highlights……A highly feathered local selection followed by a lightness and colour balance adjustment.

The piece took about a week, in 2/3 hour slots. I think this is my best piece to date and as always I am happy to receive any suggestions for future projects.

You can check out all my digital artwork here

Here is my version of Salford Lads Club, one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings.

You can check out all my digital artwork here

For all you Northern Soul fans out there I thought I would create a wall art print of the iconic Wigan Casino.

I changed my style a little for this one. For previous artwork I sketched out the scene, inked in the outline then primarily filled with the paint bucket tool. I then finished off with the paintbrush tool. This left the inked outline visible in the finished artwork.

For this piece though I roughly inked the outline and hand painted, using only the paintbrush ensuring that no linework was visible.

Picture below shows a work in progress snapshot.

Takes a lot more time but I feel it is worth it.

I also created a version with a watercolour finish (see below)

You can check out all my digital artwork here

My grandson is obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine and I wanted to try my hand at something different, so I thought I’d have a go at creating a piece of wall art featuring Thomas. My idea was to create a digital painting of Thomas looking like he is crashing through the wall and into the room.

Here is the finished item as viewed on a tablet.

I saved the progress along the way so I could share with you………

My intention was to physically cut out the image and stick it to a wall so I ordered a reasonably large print. I also ordered a 20″ x 16″ print to check out how it would look frame mounted. See below.

I cut out the large image and stuck it to the wall (using blue tack as my wife didn’t want to commit)

If you have ideas for future projects please feel free to let me know, and as always you can check out all my digital artwork here

I thought that I would move my focus from the Sheffield pubs and buildings for my next project and I took a walk with my camera around Manchester.

I had been recommended a few iconic buildings and decided to start with the Star & Garter.

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I also took the opportunity to photograph the following……..

Peveril of the Peak
The Britons Protection
Deaf Institute, and
Gullivers

so I guess one of these will be next.

As always I’m open to suggestions, so let me know if you want anything adding to the list.

You can check out all my digital artwork here