kmichruss

[kmichruss]

Practical Color Theory for Digital Artists

I've launched another new course called Practical Color Theory for Digital Artists!

Here's my pitch: :)

Are you an artist that’s usually satisfied with your artwork UNTIL it’s time to add color? I remember that feeling!

In this course, I’ll teach you how to practically apply color theory concepts to your digital art, so you can stop being afraid of color and start using it to elevate your art to a whole new level!

Color can be a scary aspect of any visual art, since poor use of color can easily make or break a great drawing, painting, logo, or sketch. Early in my own studies, I was repeatedly disappointed by the color theory tutorials I found online. Sure, I would learn some terminology--warm, cool, primary, secondary, complementary, etc--but this is just terminology! How do I actually use these concepts in my art?!

If you’ve ever found yourself asking that question, this is the course for you!

In addition to the hours of real-time, step-by-step video lessons, you’ll also get:

Line drawings for practice, so you can focus on color.

Layered PSD files used in the lessons.

Examples from my pro work as a digital colorist at Image Comics & Top Cow.

Although Photoshop is used throughout this course, the color theory concepts taught here can be applied with most of your favorite digital art applications such as Photoshop, Clip Studio, Paintstorm, Procreate, Corel Painter, Sketchbook Pro, Krita, ArtRage, etc.

So if you're ready to learn how to make color work FOR you, instead of against you, I'll see you inside. :)

[kmichruss]

Color sketches over Chris Samnee's #BATOBER

I'm a huge Chris Samnee fan, and when I saw he was doing #Batober for #Inktober, I thought it would be a fun experiment to do a quick color sketch over each piece. 

These are very rough - only 2-4 minutes each on average. I limited myself to one brush and tried not to click "undo". 

Some aren't great (not Chris' work - my coloring!), but I'm happy with most of them. :)

[kmichruss]

ANNOUNCEMENT: New course launch!

I'm happy to announce the launch of a new coloring course at http://www.coloringcomics.com which now includes TWO courses - 100+ tutorials & 20 hours of total content! The new course's perks include a live monthly class & a private Facebook group.

Here's the full curriculum: 

Course 1 - Core Concepts

(The original course)  

Getting Started Introduction Course outline Tools of the Trade What is a colorist? Installing Photoshop presets Manual tool settings Downloadable resources Photoshop add-ons Line Art Preparation Sample pages How to set up line art Cleaning up line art Set up your layers Photoshop tools Introduction to tools Keyboard shortcuts My custom shortcuts Using the Lasso Tool Using the Bucket Tool Using the Magic Wand Using the Brush & Pencil Using the Gradient Tool Color Theory Introduction to color theory Hue, saturation, & value Warm & cool colors Using complementary schemes Analogous & monochromatic schemes When red is not red! Avoiding muddy colors Flatting How to flat properly Storytelling Introduction Storytelling examples Working with planes Using separations and panel layers Checking your values Level of detail Rendering styles The “Layer via copy” trick Lighting angles Cut & grad Cel-shaded Painterly Flat Coloring walkthrough Coloring techniques How to change the color of the line art Using brush modes Creating special effects How surfaces impact lighting Multiple light sources Shifting scene colors Using layer masks Using adjustment layers Using textures Final prep Preparing pages for print (CMYK conversion) Batch processing Preparing pages for use online Project organization tips The business of coloring Building your portfolio Finding work Tips of collaboration How I “broke in” Exit survey Bonus tutorials Real-time walkthrough Gradient maps Real-time walkthrough

Course 2 - Masterclass

Getting started What you need to know before starting About the instructor Course tour Resources (useful links, PS presets, pre-flatted pages) Manual tool presets Photoshop extensions & brushes Double-check your settings Monthly Q&A / Facebook group info Layering & rendering methods Subtractive/negative rendering Rendering techniques How to think in 3D The trick to rendering hair How to make sense of faces, part 1 How to make sense of faces, part 2 How to make skin look alive! How to think about anatomy & study references How to create clouds (and when not to!) How to create great glass Forging metals Conjuring lightning & energy bolts Creating glinting reflections & glares Color concepts Choosing the correct light and shadow colors Methods of color blending How to create minimal palettes that work Why red is weird! Color psychology Storytelling Using value & contrast as a weapon When realism is bad! What color should this background be? Using multiply mode Using overlay mode How to match coloring styles to line art Leveling up with adjustment layers Using solid color layers Cleaning up lineart (new & improved technique!) When you should use vibrance instead of saturation Technique demo A powerful new rendering method Final color correction Coloring in RGB vs CMYK Hardware & software Which tablet is best? Photoshop & alternatives The nerdy hardware part Industry FAQ Bonus full-issue walkthroughs GLITTERBOMB #1 HACK/SLASH: RESURRECTION #1 HACK/SLASH: SON OF SAMHAIN #1 Bonus coloring demos GLITTERBOMB #3, page 12 POSTAL #25 cover

Check it all out at the link above or click on any of the images. :)

[kmichruss]

How about the first FIVE pages of HACK/SLASH RESURRECTION?

HACK / SLASH: RESURRECTION #1

STORY: TINI HOWARD

ART: CELOR & K. MICHAEL RUSSELL

COVER A: TIM SEELEY

COVER B: STEFANO CASELLI

COVER C (THE WALKING DEAD #23 TRIBUTE VARIANT): JIM RUGG

OCTOBER 25 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

The fan-favorite title returns with hot new writer, TINI HOWARD!

Cassie Hack has been living off the grid, but when a new monstrous threat arises to torment promiscuous teens, it’s time for Cassie to pick up the baseball bat once again!

Gory, sexy, twisted, and funny…HACK IS BACK!

[kmichruss]

An Interview with STRIP PANEL NAKED

I was so happy to be asked to join Hassan on Strip Panel Naked. It's one of my favorite YouTube channels. Check out this video in which we discuss a few pages from Judge Dredd.

[kmichruss]

Wonder Woman coloring time-lapse (art by Tradd Moore)

I loved the Wonder Woman movie, so I thought I'd find a cool sketch to color. This one was recommended on Twitter. Lines by Tradd Moore. Colors by me!

[kmichruss]

How NOT to Color Comics, Part 7

The fan-favorite playlist How NOT to Color Comics has been updated with part 7 - 2D lighting in a 3D world. :) 

[kmichruss]

New video up: FAQ's! :)

There's a new video up. I'm answering many commonly asked questions from YouTube comments. 

[kmichruss]

POSTAL #20 explained

This was a really cool cover to work on, and I had figure out a lot that I'd never tried before. Here's a quick explainer video for it. :)

[kmichruss]

From Postal 19, in stores today!

[kmichruss]

Pensacon 2017 picture dump!

Pensacon 2017 was a hell of a show. Great fans. Great guests. I had a blast!

[kmichruss]

A non-coloring, human post!

I don't normally post this sort of thing here, but I put this on Facebook today, and thought I'd copy it here. 

People that know me well know this, but I lost my best friend at a very young age to a medical problem a few years ago. He was 33. We were like brothers, and it crushed me.

I was in the middle of nursing school as well when he died, and I came very close to failing what was already an insanely stressful program. Lots of support from the wife, friends, & family and a year of Lexapro later, I passed.

As corny as it might sound, these movies like Avengers & GOTG (and just about anything related to comics & games) always make me think of him. We met working together at Kmart in 1997, and at work, when it was slow, we would spend hours creating fantasy casts for all the superhero movies that -- at the time -- no one was really making. This was even before the first X-men movie.

A younger Jack Nicholson as Wolverine. Patrick Stewart as Prof. X, but that was a no-brainer. Angela Bassett as Storm. Clive Owen as Magneto. Didn't care about Iron Man then... which is funny now. DiCaprio as Spider-man. Brad Pitt as Gambit, etc.

He died a few months before the first Avengers movie came out, and I remember getting a misty-eyed during the final battle scene when Cap reflected Iron Man's repulsor beams off the shield - just like the combo move from the Marvel Ultimate Alliance video game - which we used to play for WEEKS. It was such a crazy spectacle on the screen.

Anyway, this video from Avengers: Infinity War just reminded me again of what he's missed and how much he would have freaked over these movies, and for some reason, I felt the need to type all this out. But I feel a bit better now... maybe that's why. :)

[kmichruss]

LOVE IS LOVE - contributors list

[kmichruss]

Mordin Solus from Mass Effect sketch

I haven't drawn in a while, so it was fun to do this during the Patreon chat today. :) Mordin is my favorite character from Mass Effect. 

[kmichruss]

Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16" - Full review

Here's my full review of the Wacom MobileStudio Pro. I have the i5, 16", 256GB model.

A few things I've found out after I recorded this I need to clarify: 

1. When I say it has no video outs, I meant... it has no "standard" video outs like HDMI, miniDisplayPort, etc. You can apparently buy dongles for USB-C to HDMI, etc. More dongles. Yes. :) 

2. My Bluetooth keyboard is special apparently and won't sync to standard Bluetooth tech without it's USB adapter. Other Bluetooth keyboards might work natively. 

Other than that, I think everything else makes sense. Enjoy! 

[kmichruss]

Finishing with adjustment layers!

I also talk about this process at the beginning of this recorded stream below.  

[kmichruss]

Scream Magazine likes GLITTERBOMB!

Scream Magazine posted a great review of GLITTERBOMB! They even mention the colorist... :)

  ""K. Michael Russell’s colours, ranging from muted greys to hot and violent reds, is also a perfect fit, creating something that looks satisfying on every single page.""  -- http://www.screamhorrormag.com/glitterbomb-1-comic-review/