I work as a scientific illustrator/animator for a research institute. My job requires me to do a lot of illustrations and animations for several uses by the scientists (professors, post-docs and students).

A couple of weeks ago, my request was to illustrate a cover page for a scientific journal. These journals are like specialized magazines where scientists publish their research findings. They usually invite some of the scientists with accepted manuscripts for publication to also submit some illustration that can be selected for the issue cover.

After discussing with the scientists, I came with this illustration, which was selected by the journal! The whole layout of the cover is done by the publisher. I just did the illustration, in watercolour and ink. Took a photo of it with a good camera (it was better than scanning) and sent to the researchers for submission.

This is my second adventure doing a proper digital painting. I prefer to focus on traditional painting, but when going digital, at least for now, I still like to do a hand drawing, take a photo of it and paint in some software that I like.

Last time I used GIMP, which is pretty much like a free and very professional alternative to Photoshop.

Now I am trying Krita. Also a free digital painting software, but with no focus on photomanipulation (like the many tools you have in Photoshop or GIMP), only painting. I am just falling in love with it! Flows very nicely and it really felt closer to a traditional painting style.

I am continuing an illustration that I couldn't finish for the mushroom village contest, and it is becoming a small personal project by itself. I am developing some of the characters and scenarios on the side. This is so far the most complete scene I am developing. It is still a WIP and I will continue painting it.

"Laila was taken by a different feeling when she took that elevator up. She wished to reach the top floor as fast as possible, even though she didn't know what was waiting for her up there."

Instagram: @diego_biosteam

I couldn't finish the Fearless image in time, but managed to work on it again these past days.
It is a mixture of hand made drawing with digital painting. I tried to keep the textures and basic shading I created with the line drawing and added colours, light and extra shadows digitally.
By far, my most complete digital painting ever done (I seldom do digital art except at work, and its 3D).

This is just a tangent point that came after a small discussion about the use of alternative software for doing digital art, such as using GIMP or Krita instead of Photoshop @Lee-White @Miriam

I am sharing an article about the concept artist Adam Adamowicz, which worked for the game company that created Fallout and Skryim. He was an amazing and creative artist and it may be worth checking his artwork!

https://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/11/the-life-and-creativity-of-a-great-bethesda-artist/

I've read this article before and there are so many things that it inspires, but I really love this passage:

"In this temple to computer art, I couldn't believe that Adam worked in traditional media. He used pencils, pens, markers, coloured pencils and paint. What impressed me more than anything was the abundance of creativity... Flipping through his work, I was always struck by the bubbling confluence of subjects, a fearless fusion of influences. He developed his artwork using a range of tools: pens, markers, coloured pastels. His creations were a collection of distinct and disparate ideas. When designing an original gun, for instance, Adam didn't focus his research on the study of other guns, but on tesla coils, industrial power tools, or lab equipment. When designing outfits, Adam employed chew toys and oven mitts, radios and asbestos padding. The results were messy, ridiculous, and utterly original."

A clear example that the artist is primarily in your brain, and secondarily in your hands or in the tool you use.

I know this is not always the case, not all companies will be open to the idea of the artist using pastels and even within the company not every artist will be able to do that. Do not expect to use traditional media to create a 3D digital character (hum... you never know... maybe someone will make a stop motion animation of a clay character and input it in a game :P)

Nevertheless, I do think it is an eye-opener and shows how much one should not be restrained by a single way of doing things and, whenever it is possible, explore as much as you can!

I think that for children book illustration there are even more opportunities for such things - one of the several reasons I am loving the idea of working with it!

Of course there is more to learn from Adam's legacy, so, enjoy the article and feel free to share your thoughts!

Don Quixote was one of my favourite books and character!

Digital painting done in Krita. I am very new to the software and decided to learn a bit while trying this painting.

Thank you for the opportunity
Here are two of my pieces:

Take a look at some references that I screenshot from google. Maybe your smoke feels too much like a jet of smoke - direction, motion and shape. Maybe smoke from house chimneys may be weaker and fading away faster. If the wind is strong an blowing the smoke in that direction, so the musician coat should also be moving towards the left and not point towards the right. Also, the right and left smokes are creating some small triangular empty spaces on the image.

Another inhabitant of the tree.

Mainly to practice more. Digital painting in Krita. Inspire by the art of Valeria DoCampo.

Such a coincidence that today I was thinking about what statement should I drive on my Instagram profile. Then I just read your post....

Mainly to practice more. Digital painting in Krita. Inspire by the art of Valeria DoCampo.

@robgale Thanks! It will be fun, but it will also demand a lot of hardwork.

I will try another painting with the Don Quijote topic. Did a sketch as a study.

Don Quixote was one of my favourite books and character!

Digital painting done in Krita. I am very new to the software and decided to learn a bit while trying this painting.

@riftweaver haha... I didn't think the title would suggest that. But it's kinda cool. The outlines where done with a brush pen.

@Feleri
Thanks! Yeah... the two ways of rendering are not matching here. Doing the cartoony characters wasn't the initial intention but since I was just practicing a bit I tried it.

First time trying a full acrylic painting. I did a few studies to practice a bit. Still learning to control the paint. This piece was inspired by the work of illustrator Valeria DoCampo.

Very inspiring and deep interview with the founder of GNOMON school.
Of course, the focus is on digital art for entertainment industry but what he says applies to any person wanting to have a job as an illustrator. Hope you like it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl37_C0OI0o

@tianlian Wow!!! Thanks! Yeah, as I was planning this illustration I did other sketches of the main character (the furry one catching the light). May be turning it into some story!