Ninja vs Penguin

Open source blot no. 23 process

Ninja February 1st, 2008

NvP reader and fellow Daily Monster open source participant, Tiffany, asked if I could post a step-by-step process of blot no. 23. For you, Tiffany, of course! I only wish I took more photos along the way.

Here are the steps

1. Print out open source blot 23.

2. Use blue pen to draw the girl.

3. Add a thin wash of gesso to blend the pen.

4. Wait for gesso to dry. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you’re satisfied.

5. Scan in your pen drawing. Open this document in Photoshop. On a separate layer (with blending mode set to Multiply), use the paintbrush tool to color the girl’s body and clothing.

6. Scan in a wood grain pattern. Copy this image into your working Photoshop document. It will appear on a new layer. Then desaturate it (Image>Adjustments>Desaturate). Adjust the levels so that you have a high-contrast pattern (Image>Adjustments>Levels). Tweek the color to your liking (Image>Adjustments>Color Balance).

7. On a separate layer, create a gradient from light blue to dark blue. Place this layer over the wood pattern layer and change the blending mode to Multiply. The wood grain will now have a blue tint and not look so harsh.

8. Open blot 23 in Photoshop. Copy and paste it onto a new layer in your working document. Set the layer blending mode to Hard Light so some of the original inky texture will still show.

9. On another layer, use the pen tool and create a new path. This will be in the shape of the butterfly’s wings. Fill this selection with white. Then set this layer blending mode to Overlay. I adjusted the opacity of this layer to 60% so the wings wouldn’t be as bright.

Enjoy & happy drawing,
Ninja