Breakdown of a daily sketch

Hey everyone!

So, I've been doing daily drawings for over a year now, and I thought maybe steemit artists might find some some sort of value in the breakdown of today’s specific sketch.

Step 1: Motivation

It’s hard to muster motivation to be creative. Especially if you have a day job, or are in a creative slump. However, after a few agonizing months of forcing myself to do daily illustrations, that part sort of disappeared for me. Once it's a habit, it's no longer a huge mental wrestling match, it's just a thing ya gotta do. That's not to say there are days not challenging days, but making it a routine really takes the edge off.

The BIGGEST challenge though, was figuring out what to actually draw. Nowadays I participate in month long 'art-challenges' or visit dailysketch sources, where the prompts are given to you and you just do em.

Today's was 'upside down'.

Hmm…upside down. At first, I'm uninspired by the topic, but then I go to Pinterest. Bats are upside down. I look up bats. Bats are weird looking! I look at more bat pictures and inspiration starts rearing it's elusive head.

I pick out a few that are visually appealing, open photoshop and I get right to drawing.

Step 2: Sketch

I always use a quick gestural drawings in my very first stage. Making the subject’s silhouette interesting and feeling out its form. Nothing final, just getting something on the page. This is VERY important. Getting started is always the hardest part.

Step 3: Silhouettes

Simple color silhouette fill, shadow fills, and feature corrections with a fun brush.

Step 4 : Details

Stylistic details added. Highlights and shadows punched up until I'm pretty happy with it's final state.

Step 5: Background

I want the bat to be the main focus, but I don't want him floating in oblivion. I draw in some quick branches in the background. This not only helps frame the bat, but guides the eye towards it.

Step 6 Texture treatment.

I use photoshop’s mask layers a TON! In this illustration, I'm using few of my custom made brush stamps in addition to Kyle T wester’s conceptual brushes for bark, background, and leaf textures.

Step 7.

Wasn't digging the red background. It was competing too much with the bat, so I made it a neutral green instead. I adjust some details, then I overlay a light yellow over the entire illustration and mask out strategic areas to punch up shadows and highlights. This process mutes any outlier colors and makes the entire piece more cohesive.

Below is the final image!

Thanks! This was the first time I really explored my own process, so let me know your thoughts! Did I skip around too much? Was there a part I should have gone into more details?