How to do a digital master study?

murielle · 6 May 2018, 15:20

I have become obsessed with the podcasts and the one thing that stood out from them was 'do master studies'!!!

Lee suggests you do a master study and afterward create an artwork of your own applying what you've learned.

I've done my first master study a few months ago, but that was based on an actual painting. I know how to paint, I know the logic behind how it works, so figuring out what the artist did isn't that difficult.

After listening to the podcast and making a list of artists I like, I realized Marco Bucci is on there...
I've looked at his paintings, I've watched his tutorials on SVS... I still feel it's total chaos 99% of the time and then out of nowhere, there is an amazing colorful artwork.

The options while painting digitally are endless. Software, brushes, colors, patterns,... How do you even start a master study of this?

Another thing, is it useful to do a traditional master study of digital artwork (if that is even possible)?

rcartwright · 6 May 2018, 16:23

I'm currently doing a study of a Will Terry painting. I started with his work because I have studied his demo videos. Marco Bucci is also on my list and I agree his work is harder to do studies of, but I think you can still break them down into basics like edge, shape, color, value. You also don't need to completely follow his process to get the same result. For example he doesn't really do much of a sketch but you can start there and then do a value study and block in shapes of color and then work on edges. His YouTube videos have also given me insight into his work

braden H · 6 May 2018, 17:15

I suppose you could politely request (ie: beg for) a layered master copy of the piece you're studying so you could see the different layer effects and such. It would definitely help.

As to the endless combos of custom brush types and textures I think that's something you just have to play with (which I suppose is part of the point of a master study)

Good luck. I'm thinking of starting master studies. First trip is to the library, though, to consume some comics and kid's books.