CREATE DETAILED CHARACTER ART

Lux Mily shares her process for illustrating an engaging fantasy portrait with a strong colour scheme and polished details

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This workshop breaks down the process for creating this artwork in Procreate, from the initial sketch to final render.

The entire illustration was created using various brushes, with a strong emphasis on layer organisation, colour exploration and refining details over time. I like to work with greyscale early on to build up the values first, then experiment with colour later to ensure that the composition works well in both black and white, and full colour.

A big part of this process is using the Selection Tool to separate areas, making it easier to drop in flat colours or adjust specific sections without messing up the surrounding details. I also use Clipping masks a lot to add shading and lighting in a controlled manner. By working in stages, it gives me the freedom to experiment - whether that's trying out different palettes, testing lighting or rearranging compositional elements such as the birds in this piece.

One thing to keep in mind while working like this is patience. It's tempting to rush into the details, but it pays to take the time to build up each layer of the work carefully, step by step. I also recommend zooming out often to check the composition and make sure things are balanced before committing to heavy rendering. This approach helps keep the whole piece cohesive from start to finish.

Lay down a rough sketch

Have a general idea in mind, then lay down a loose black line sketch on a blank canvas to establish the basic composition and gesture. Keep things rough at first before getting too focused on fine detail and rendering. Be expressive and make mistakes before committing to a composition. This foundation is typically drawn on a single layer using a pencil or technical brush, allowing flexibility before colour or value work begins.

Block in shapes