Ok from the poll I made earlier I got many requests for my digital realistic art. (don't worry I will post the others too). I put together two step-by-steps of my two most favorite realistic drawings. I also wrote a quick summary of those steps. Sorry if it's confusing - I'm not a teacher so I don't have much practice with things like this haha. But if you have any questions please feel free to ask!

(if you click on the images, you can see them larger and detailed)

https://i.postimg.cc/j2n4pfBw/SbSC.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/QtHzMHRs/SbSW.jpg

Digital Realistic
1. I create the "framework". Basically, I draw out the main shape of the animal along with outlines of its prominent body parts. (On the cheetah, I was using a Wacom so that why it's so sloppy looking and that's why you don't see an underlying drawing. )
2. I choose the main color of the animal when creating the animal's body/base.
3. From there I coloring in -using an array of fur brushes- the sections of the animal that changes color.
4. Once the animal's main colors are down I go through with highlights and low lights throughout the fur. This step(s) can take the longest depending on how much detail your animal needs.
Detail Work
5. Detailing throughout the fur differs with many animals depending on their texture, length, and color of fur.
Shading
6. This step kind mixes in between other steps depending on the animal. For the cheetah, I had it as the top layer after I gave color and detail work on the fur. For the wolf I actually had it under all the fur lowlights I put in.
Eyes/Nose/Lips/etc
7. These I focus on separately from the rest of the body since their texture is so much different. Just like the body, I create the base with the main solid color (for both of these examples its black). I go through the exact same process as I did for the fur with the shading, , and lowlights.

Overall -
I find myself making my better work when I am not straining over it. As you can see sometimes the beginning can look super sloppy and ugly (and for me it usually does!). But as you work and focus on each step at a time it will look great. I try to never just look at my work and reference images as a whole, focus on small parts at one time. and don't be afraid to try out different brushes or different techniques. :)

https://wolfplaygame.com/forums.php?f=35&t=27763

Thanks for the tutorial :3

I love your art! <3

I've been struggling with realistic coloring and fur. I hope you don't mind me asking, but what are some brushes that you use for wolf fur?

I love your art! <3

I've been struggling with realistic coloring and fur. I hope you don't mind me asking, but what are some brushes that you use for wolf fur?

I don't mind at all! one of my most favorite fur brushes is by El Chupacabras - im not sure where I downloaded their brush set from but its either DA or on Brusheezy.com. The other ones I used on these two examples I actually lost when I when my old computer died and still have yet to find them. But theres so many on DevaintArt (sometimes for free) but Brusheezy has soo many good brushes for free

One thing I have learned tho is that you really have to practice with the brushes bc the never quite work how you want them too with out altering/practice with them first.