Tutorial: Classical Technique for Digital Painting

This is a continuation of sorts from my "How to Build a Drawing" Tutorial [link] using the same drawing for my starting outline and my only reference. I've had a few people ask me about my painting technique, and most of it comes from years of oil painting and studying Classical work before I ever started painting in Photoshop. Because of that I still do underpaintings and layer my paint up from shadow to lights, blending as I go just as if I were still painting with oils. Despite trying alternative approaches it still feels most natural and logical to me.

This tutorial includes a little mini-lesson on value and color as well, since it's so important to the whole process. I hope just that helps folks out a little, as the biggest issues I see with a lot of digital paintings is that they're either too light or too dark, missing the elegance of a full range of value.

I only wish I'd done a better drawing for it, but I wanted to stick with the theme!

Enjoy, and feel free to ask questions!