Teenage Mutant "Hipster" Turtle

I've really wanted to post an illustration in process for awhile, but I tend to not keep enough process shots as I work and I'm basically left with a sketch and finished piece. NOT THIS TIME! I was asked by my teacher to illustrate a ninja turtle with a twist, and that was it. With the brainstorming help of my wife we got the idea of a Hipster Turtle. We're looking at places to live once I graduate and Portland, OR is high on the list so hipsters have been on the mind by extension. I started with this sketch:

I found some hipster reference and really like the fixed gear bike.

Started painting value,

and got to this point.

From here I added color on a multiply layer

 I experimented a lot on this with how I colored it. I think I ended up with a multiply layer, a color layer and an overlay layer, each at tweaked opacities to get the desired look.

This was the finished 1st draft so to speak. I brought it to my instructor to get his take, he pointed out the messed up perspective of the sidewalk down the corner, some scale issues and a few other things, so I went to work on changes.

I decided to pull Leo further from the inner city pizza joint since most I imagine they might have a larger walk way in the downtown type store fronts.

And here is the final final piece! I generally find I rush my art due to deadlines and this was an instance where I paced myself and was able to spend more time on it overall. I think I shall continue this approach. Thanks for looking and more to come!

Ramses the Great, or not so great

Got the semester started with a fun piece: Ramses the Great is the most well known Pharaoh of Egypt’s history. Why? Well I think mostly because as pharaoh his image is everywhere on statues to paintings and so on. Was he great? I’m not really sure but I imagine he wasn’t quite as great as legend, or this illustration, might suggest.

Let me know what you think in the comments and all have a great day.

UPDATE: Sorry all for the original image that was cut off and ugly, I've been trying out new blogging software and apparently gotta work on my settings. Here is the re posted illustration in its full form glory.

More Post Semester Art Dumping

Last post was from Concept Design Class, today's post comes from Digital Painting. My first piece was done with some water color texture and a fun idea:

Maybe this is what the villain in Quantum of Solace hallucinated before he took a drink...

Piece 2 was my final: EPIC Space Dragon Battle!!!

I'm working on some personal work this summer, so more to come!