Red Dead Redemption WIP

Hello lovely humans

I thought I'd show you the process behind my latest piece, Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2. If you haven't played this game, it's a spectacular piece of storytelling, quite possibly one of the best games I have ever played.

So here's the process: first, I sketched out the areas of shade, then used a bold pen so it shows through the underpainting. I also used a layer of masking fluid to sit under the paint so I could reveal the paper beneath when I'd finished. This is essentially PVA glue that peels off when you're ready.

Next step is to add the underpainting, this red layer should give a warmth to the painting that goes over it. Obviously, where it's black, I've used a very dark red.

Following this, I added the flesh tones. This was to make sure the paint was opaque enough to cover the underpaint, so I wouldn't waste my time!

Next job was to block out the remaining colours and start refining them. You can see here I couldn't resist checking to see if the masking fluid had done its job, which it had!! I've only ever used it with watercolour before, and acrylic paint is much thicker.

Almost there, stripes on the shirt, and some heavy shading and we're almost done!

Here's the final piece! I'm pretty happy with the way the figure has come out, there are some really nice diagonals running through the composition. I'm also pleased my masking method worked, it gives a nice wild west edge to the borders of the picture. Lastly, the underpainting allows a little red to warm the painting and the occasional spot of red pokes through from below, which seems pretty apt for a gunslinger! I hope you like it.

That's it for now, until next time...

Love and Glue

Symon