[justnlee]

I am a new member and new with CG art. My painting was created in Photoshop. I am looking to see how I can finish it. Should I create a better background? Any advice on how to improve it?

[Pa_Hsia]

You've made a good start
The next big step - in my opinion - would be to define your light source.

At the moment, the image is quite flat, but you can remedy that by working on the consistency and colour depth of the shadows and highlights, which will add contrast and interest.

Cast and form shadows 1
Cast and form shadows 2
Chromatic shadows

Since you've got a cast shadow from the staff, I assume the brightest light is coming from the top right, but you need to make that light source more consistent by showing cast shadows from other objects in the scene (the horns, beard, facial contours etc.) and form shadows to show the volume of the character.
You've got the beginnings of a form shadow on the character's left bicep, but the beard and staff are almost totally flat, and the right shoulder is very confusing, IMO.

The other thing to be careful of is to try to avoid using back and white to shade. Obviously, there are times and places when black and white are appropriate, but they don't crop up often. More often, you should use the complimentary colour of the light source (blue/orange, red/green, yellow/purple) and/or a more saturated mid tone, plus a faint tint of atmospheric colour (usually blue).

You've done a really good job on the cloak over the left shoulder. It shows cast shadows, (non-black) form shadows, bounced light and texture, which suggests to me that you know what to do; you just need a bit more confidence to apply it across the whole image.
Go for it, and best of luck ^_^

[BeardNick]

Pa_Hsia- that is some good advice!

Justnlee- I would sugest some more figure and landscape drawing, to help you on the structure of the character. Maybe take some reference, most of the best artists at least sketched from a model, and most of the later ones used photographs. Norman Rockwell, George Pratt, Dean Cornwell, John Foster, all of the awesome artists use reference.

[justnlee]

Thanks Pa_Hsia on your advice on the shadows. I agree with you and I will give it a try. I had only began using Photoshop as a drawing and painting tool. This was my first painting in using the layers for shading effects and shadows. I had found a tutorial where you will make your shadows to cast more to the ground and on objects by duplicating the layer and changing it to black. Then use the warp tool to edit its shape. Finally you will then change the blend of the black image, like blurring the edges and softening it. Is this how it is mostly done. Do you know of any other techniques or tools I can use?

[justnlee]

Thanks BeardNick on your advice, I agree with you that reference is major when drawing. I am realizing it more as I work on my other projects.

[Pa_Hsia]

BeardNick is right - use references wherever you can; get photographs, do quick colour studies, use maquettes and models (pay or bribe friends to pose for you if you can't afford a professional; if you have no willing friends, get a full length mirror).

I try to paint the shadows by hand, so I can get a better understanding of how they work. There's no tricks or tools, just a hard round brush, a lot of reference material and patience for when things go wrong.

Sadly, there's no secret auto-awesome-anything tool (if I do find one, I'll let you know) with the sole exception of more practice.

[BeardNick]

No problem I hope all is going well and I hope you are improving, it is all we can hope to do: Get better one drawing at a time.

Peace.