You make amazing art. Would you mind telling me what skills are needed to develop in order to reach that level of expertise? What are the best sites for me to study digital painting for free?

That's a fairly big question, that might take a long reply, first let me know, do you have Photoshop, and a tablet or Cintiq to paint on? What is your level of experience, in traditional media, and in digital media?

I have photoshop cs3. I can manage to find a higher version once I get the hang of the program. I have a wacom intuos. For traditional media, just pencils, inks, and paper. Digital media is still on entry level. Like your baby step in using a tablet but instead of creating organized sketches you can only muster disfigured doodles.

I don't have the opportunity to study the art because most of my time is spent on learning another profession. My love for learning the process is the only driver why I allot some time teaching myself the craft. If I can render an image just near half the quality you got on this post, that would already be a goal met for this year alone.

Ok that's great, I'd recommend CS6 because that's what I use, but 3 should be fine as well. :) I also use a Wacom.
Have you seen this video by Shaddy Safadi? He's a famous concept artist with lots of experience. Here he goes through all the things needed to set up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umpmbbcAzgU&list=PL0SSy7vUJ6ExSzVbhaliZ6S8242dJtKDm

After that I recommend looking at the rest of the series as well, I think it's 12 videos.

Thank you for the lead. I appreciate it! :)

No problem. Schoolism.com is another great resource, it's not free, but for a low monthly fee you can look at many hours of great lessons from amazing artists, personally I've looked at Sam Neilson's classes on painting, highly recommended

Though it can be perceived dark - this is beautiful. I love the way you achieved the glow from the creature's head. I would interpret she is healing it, because he is shielding her from the rain with the umbrella - suggesting he is friend not foe! Beautiful work :)

ok already I vote. do not forget to vote back

@stahlberg I agree with @j-vo interpretation, it definitely looks like she is healing or comforting him and he in turn is sheltering her. As a side note, our baby daughters nickname is Squichy :)

Awww... :)

This is the @stahlberg version of pixars ratatouille :) . Man the lighting in this is sublime!

Ratatouille LOL
I never thought of that! Mine was first, so I could sue Disney... wohoo I'm rich! :D
just kidding

Great work. :-)

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A strange idea indeed! On the one hand the giant creature looks evil and hostile, with a grotesque shape and sharp teeth; on the other, the girl looks so calm -- like nothing is wrong, just doing her usual routine. Then, it gets surreal, with the giant holding up an umbrella to shield her from the rain, and the girl's hands into the creature's head, obviously to mind-control it.

What strange symbiotic relationship exists between these two?? Great painting, very thought provoking... and I like how you setup the scene in 3rd to study the lighting, the picture could be just rendered in greater detail and quality and stand strong as well. Resteemed, of course!

Thank you! :)

yup...mind ctrl

dats wut most pretty asians doing to us boys!

The choice of colour...mesmerising. its the same colour as wo-owl...

So inspirational! I'm a sucker for bright glowing colors in dark muted surroundings. Not to mention fantasy in general x'DI love how you managed to put a sense of innocence in a seemingly non-innocent-looking creature. Amazing work! Upvoted and resteemed!

Killer

She's gone through a few outfit and hairstyle changes! I'd have to say helping or possibly making seeing as it doesn't look particularly bothered and is even holding up an umbrella for her.

[IMAGE: https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/styles/sensible_display/public/art/2017/11/goatsig-t.png?itok=Ml3FDq7c]

the first version is amazing not only the whole design is great it makes me thing of different type of stories behind all this

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love that idea it looks sooo nice :3

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you are fond of nurses, aren't you ? ;-) well, this child like (but the breast is woman like... I mean beautiful woman like) is of course full of love and she is a shaman, healing the human's brain, putting light in it for it is sometimes so dark in there. An umbrella protects her : this umbrella is hold by... by... hum ? someone, an idea ? ;-)

This is a really pretty piece of art. I love the contrast and how the giant looks intimidating and gentle the same time. Terrifying as hell, but I love it.