In this section I will share with you how I make one of my artworks. The image on the left is Abigail the main character of the Dark Legends Realm. This image will be used for my business card. Is a small 5.5 x 8.75 inches image and I decided to use this size because its main purpose is for the business card. I hope you like it.

The process I used for all the color artworks is pretty much always the same. I begin with a sketch using a mechanical pencil with a .5 mm lead. I never use the regular pencil because you have to use the blade to get a fine point too often. The mechanical pencil lead is thin and always sharp. I love it.

In this tutorial example the sketch is on a tracing paper and this is because this kind of paper allows me to add different details and more options in a second tracing paper and I can see the result instantly instead of using white papers where you can't see thru.

This image has already some mapping on the face to have an idea of the shadows.

On the second step I have already transfer the image from the tracing paper to a Cold Pressed 140 lb watercolor sheet using a transfer paper. In this case I have use a black Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencil. These are my favorite colored pencils brand. I have tried others but the Polychromos are just the best for me. I also own the Faber Castell Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils that are usually used for backgrounds, trees, stone and that sort of stuff.

Going back to Abigail's image I have determined the basic shadows on her face and upper chest. I have barely touched the hair because I rather use watercolors first there.

If you wander why I used black instead of a different color is to save some time. I don't always do it but in this case I did. Restraining the amount of black and using it as a neutral color you won't notice it on the final product.

After I have the sketch and if I'm going to use watercolors I always hold the watercolor paper on a heavy board with masking tape. In this way the paper will keep its firmness even if it gets wet.

Now I apply the watercolors all over. I use it by sections, in here it was as follows: the face, the upper body, the hair and finally the background. Of course I had to wait the watercolors to dry before use it on different sections. I liked how the background looks so I will not do anything else there. Most of the times I use pastels to finish it and give more depth to the background.

If you notice I used too much yellow for the skin, my bad, but as you see with some extra work and patience nobody will notice. Check the face, you see!

Also I didn't suppose to use the colored pencils in this step but I totally forgot and when I realized the face was already started. Sorry!

This step wasn't going to be here but I included it because is an example that you don't exactly always follow the sketch and/or your original idea.

At the beginning of this artwork Abigail was going to be as shown in step 2, naked I mean but it occurred to me that she would look better if she had her body armor. Then I decided to draw it and I add more watercolors. It doesn't look even on the armor but that's the idea. I wanted a little bit of texture there.

This is not the only time I have modified my works when I have already started the image. Sometimes you just do what feels right. If you think is a good idea and is going to enhance the overall look of your artwork go for it.

This is the step where I begin with the colored pencils. The way I use it is by layers. First the lighter colors and at the end the darker ones. For the skin I used six different kinds of colors. Sometimes it can be four or five but it depends on how big is the skin area, specially if it's a face. The bigger means that I have to make it look smoother so I need more transitions.

So far the face is looking good. The lips have already good volume. Just the way I like it.

As you can see I'm trying to fix the yellowish skin on her chest.

The hair always takes a lot of time just because it has so many details. In here I have quickly drawn the lines of the hair. Looks like a broom right?

The final step of this Dark Fantasy Art Tutorial at last.

As you can see I worked the hair a lot. I applied a second hand of watercolor on it and also I used a dark blue to make it more intense.

I left the eyes for the last, which I don't always do but in this case I did. I added the final details on the lips and used a white charcoal for the lips, armor, eyes, nose and hair. I prefer the white charcoal because it will cover more than the white colored pencil.

The final touch is my signature on the bottom right.

I hope you have enjoyed this and learned a bit more of how I make my artworks. As you can see I don't use only one medium but two or three (watercolors, colored pencil and pastels). Mixed media, to make it easy.

Ciao!