A Work in Progress: House Dragon

This guide was made for entry:
House Dragon
In Contest:
fancy bulbs

Original image

step 1 of 20

These are the different parts of the source that I used.

step 2 of 20

I used the clone tool to cover the wires on the base of the light stand. Then I flipped it on its side. I made a copy of that and flipped it horizontal. I moved the two pieces together and then distorted a third copy to make the cap.

step 3 of 20

After I made the stand, I used levels adjustment layers on the parts to shade it. I made the dragon skin by taking one of the wires, using warp and liquify to straighten it and then layering copies on top of each other. I used two different wires for two different patterns.

step 4 of 20

I started working on the vase by taking one of the lights, using a layer mask to cut off the knob and then distorting and warping it. I used the pen tool to cut off the rim of the light to make the rim for the vase. I changed my mind about that later and used a different rim.

step 5 of 20

I made the different rim by warping the light, erasing the knob and then liquifying it. I turned it on its side, made a copy and flipped it, then merged the two pieces. I used warp to adjust the perspective.

step 6 of 20

I warped and liquified one of the lights and then arranged copies into a flower. Then I put some color overlays on it. I also took the wires and arranged them for the stems.

step 7 of 20

After I put color overlay on the stems, I warped the flowers and placed them.

step 8 of 20

I used the pen tool on the source to make the leaf, then I put color overlay on it. I then used a color balance adjustment layer to darken it.

step 9 of 20

I arranged the leaves, using warp to shape them.

step 10 of 20

Next, I started making the dragon, using the dragon skin I had made earlier. I used the patterned skin for the neck, leg, back and tail and the darker skin for the belly and neck.

step 11 of 20

I used the darker skin for the head and feet, using brightness/contrast to lighten it. I enlarged the base and then used the pen tool to make the wings and beak.

step 12 of 20

I used the pen tool on the wing to make the horns and all the claws and the lightened dark skin for the ears and feet. I warped the ears to make the twist. I put color overlay on the body of the dragon.

step 13 of 20

To shade the dragon, I used lite and dark level adjustment layers, inversing the layers and then painting in the dark parts.

step 14 of 20

After shading the dragon, I painted in some high lights and more shadows, plus added a little green coloring using the colors shown and reducing the opacity. The small dragon on the left shows what it looked like after the adjustment layers and the small dragon (sort of) on the right shows where I painted.

step 15 of 20

I used light and dark levels adjustment layers to make the pinions on the wings, inversing and painting, then smudging.

step 16 of 20

Next, I started working on the flowers and broken vase. I used light and dark levels adjustment layers to shade the stems, flowers and leaves. I used the pen tool to cut out the broken pieces from the vase. I also made a copy of the vase and placed it underneath for the back of the vase.

step 17 of 20

For the water, I painted a puddle with the color shown and reduced the opacity. Then I made a copy and put the layer style to screen with a layer mask. Then using a soft brush, I painted away some of the brightness.

step 18 of 20

I made copies of the broken glass and set the layer style to screen with a layer mask. Then I painted away all of the brightness except where I wanted it on the edge, to give the pieces some thickness. I also made copies of all the parts that were in the water, flipped them and reduced the opacity to make the reflections. I masked the parts of the reflections that weren't in the water.

step 19 of 20

I used the gradient tool to make the light on the floor and wall. I copied all the flowers and leaves, used levels adjustment and put the sliders all the way to the right to make the copies black. Then I moved them up and used gaussian blur for the shadows. For the light shing through the vase, I painted in different layers of white and then reduced the opacity, blurred and smudged.

step 20 of 20

I used layer style multiply on the dragon and lastly, put his shadow on the wall using the same method as I used for the flowers.

Final result

Votes

user	voted
velkanx
apocalips
Clinge
hereisanoop
erathion
wazowski
dekwid
Disco
Score: 10

Comments

wazowski says:

Very well explained, good job!

(5 years and 3387 days ago)

Pxleyes

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