thank u !!! actually i already tried to explain one way i pick colors here , tho thats pretty old and only refers to analogous color schemes so… im gonna try to update it a lil bit! (btw everything ill say from this point on is just based on my own experience, im no art student and im sry if anything i explain makes no sense….!! ANYWAY moving on)
1) probably the thing i use the most are analogous color schemes bc theyre easy to do and look very calm and harmonous:
the two colors i show on the color pick thing are the ones farthest to the left and right, every other color is somewhere between them! bc of this the drawing looks calm and natural. most of the different colors u can see are created by playing around with the saturation!
2a) something i only recently started using frequently is the analogous color scheme with a highlight:
the most part of the drawing is done in analogous colors, but i added a highlight to kinda of… “break open” the closed off feeling that analogous schemes usually have! for that highlight i tend to use a higher saturated color on the other side of the color wheel, or at least one that doesnt “match” the other colors.
2b) most of the time i do the highlight not like this tho, but in the lineart:
If you guys notice, I use a ton of different colors. It’s because I always do different color patterns to try different combinations and I was always frustrated cuz I used to reevaluate my drawings to see which colors I’ve already used and which I haven’t. So I ended making a color combo chart in order to guide me in which colors i haven’t done and which I have used too much. Here it is:
The first line (Horizontally) shows the colors that I use at their most basic shade. The ones below them are the the color combos by pair. Here is an example of how I use them in my art as a guide:
If you notice most of my pieces above are centered on those colors but as you’ve read in my other tutorials I base my work on three colors not just two. That’s because the third color is any color that matches the 2 colors given by the color combo chart. Here is an example of how I pattern my artwork on the color combo chart:
1. Orange – The shade is different but it is still classified as orange 2. Violet –
The shade is different but it is still classified as
Violet
3. Extra Color – Red So after each piece, I mark my color combo chart on which pair I used. I guess it’s kinda like color bingo. Anyway hope this was helpful!
not always but most of the time i gradiate (is that a word??) my layers. i use multiply for shading, and an overlay layer if i’m feeling spicy. (and a luminosity airbrush here and there for flavor)
these are the colors i use most often, and i airbrush it in like i’m shading?? like darkest colors where the shadows are etc. idk having the multiply layer not be entirely one color looks better to me in my work so i think that helps a lot.
in the end i basically end up with base/flats>> multiply/shadows >> luminosity lightly airbrushed in there >> sometimes a luminosity/hard color depending on what i’m doing/if i’m making shiny robots or strong light from somewhere >> sometimes an overlay >> lines >> sometimes MORE LUMINOSITY bc i’m just like that i guess
my process otherwise is a mystery?? what is color??? i dont know bud.
Some people have asked how I went about drawing the Overwatch cast, so I threw together a list of things I think about when designing characters: shapes, silhouettes, colors, and inspiration.
1. Shapes
There are three basic shapes in my toolbox: round, box, and triangle. If I follow my intuition, each shape conveys a personality. For example:
Round = charismatic, harmless, endearing
Box = reliable, uniform, traditional
Triangle = cunning, dynamic, competent (downward pointing more aggressive)
Shapes can also be combined for more complex characters
2. Silhouettes
Block in the character. If I can still recognize who it is, then it has a strong, readable silhouette.
3. Color
Sometimes less is more. Limit the palette for unity and impact. When working with three colors, keep the 60-30-10 rule in mind. Pick one color to make up about 60% of the character, a second color to make up about 30%, and the last color is about 10%.
When working with just two colors, use the 70-30 rule. One color is about 70%, the second is about 30%.
4. Inspiration
Designs come to mind easier when I’m listening to music, or when I have a mental image of something in mind. For example, I was listening to Klezmer music when drawing Reaper, and I was thinking of a chicken when I was drawing Lucio. It can take a while to warm up, so a good source of inspiration is important to stay motivated.
Inspiration Haven 