fanart, Nightwing (Dick Grayson)

[ratcreature]

Fandom: DC Comics
Characters/Pairings: Nightwing (Dick Grayson)
Media used: acrylic paint
Rating/warnings: G, none
Notes/comments: I tried the scratching thing again, and unlike in my previous try with Robin I used this time only acrylics rather than supposedly water resistant ink. It was slightly harder to scratch (it sometimes sort of chipped?), but at least it didn't dissolve when I painted over it. Additionally this time I remembered to scan the lineart and b/w scratched only inbetween stage in case something went wrong again after all. But I had no mishaps this time. \o/
Preview:



A larger detail of the scratching texture:


The lineart:


The b/w image, just scratched before the color was added:

Comments

[goss]

Hey, cool effect! I went to your dA site and saw the final pic, still can't view it here for some reason.

I was wondering how is it exactly you did the scratch technique? What kinda materials to use etc.?

the detailed version

[ratcreature]

Thank you! I'm glad you like it.

I took a slightly thicker paper, put on two layers of white gesso (so it would withstand the scratching better and the black wouldn't soak into the paper, I guess it might work with just thick paper, but I wanted to be safe rather than sorry, and b/c of the brush strokes underlying the black it gives some extra texture for the scratching two), then two layers of black (actually black mixed with both burnt umbra and ultramarine so it would look livelier than flat black).

The I drew the outline faintly with a bit of white chalk, and then I started scratching with a simple razor blade, scratching with it's edge for thin lines and with the whole blade side for light broader scratching. There are some interactions how well you can scratch that depend on the brush strokes beneath. It is also somewhat tedious, and I had to change the razor blade once because it was becoming dull but it works reasonably well. I suppose some kind of art knife might have been more convenient, but I don't have anything like that, and razor blades are cheap. I started scratching the outline, and then slowly scratched off more to give shape and volume.

Then as a last step I painted the white over with thin blue and violet acrylic paint. I used both water and a bit of gloss medium to make the blue and violet thinner so that the color would shine more. (I just should have remembered to clean up the scrapings better before starting with the liquid again, I got some scraping dust stuck on my wet paint.)

BTW, I'm still mystefied what causes these trouble with my site for you. I haven't heard from anyone else running into this. (I hope they aren't just all silently disgruntled. /o\)

Re: the detailed version

[goss]

Ahhh, thank you for the detailed info!

Gesso! That is something I've never used before on my own. All the blank canvasses I've ever bought were always primed. However, I think given the type of paper I've been using lately, I should definitely try to get my hands on gesso next time I'm at an art store.

And I have a pack of different shapes of exacto-blades. I think those might work really well for etching gradients. I have some graphic design ideas to work on, so it's a nice technique to think about trying. :)

Re: the detailed version

[ratcreature]

I think the gesso really made the scratching results better, because the white I uncovered was still a smooth surface for later glazing, rather the rough patches with fibers that you get when you scratch on paper directly. I've never painted on canvas, it kind of scares me for some reason, but I had gesso at hand because some time ago I used it to prime some wood, when I made some decorated bookends for a gift.

Re: the detailed version

[goss]

the white I uncovered was still a smooth surface

Ooh, that is so good to know! I was concerned if there would be a degree of damage when etching on the paper. Especially considering the application of the acrylic glaze after. Was wondering whether the exposed fiber would hold it, or if it would blot right through.

Re: the detailed version

[ratcreature]

When I saw this in a book, their example just had two layers of ink on paper in the process that they explained with photos, but I worried about the same thing you said, because for me it always looked crappy to paint on scratched paper (like when I did it to make corrections), so I put on a primer.

Of course in my first try last week I then used ink on the gesso, which turned out to be not water resistant on gesso like it is on paper, so that was rather distastrous because the ink got liquid again and covered my carefully scratched areas and texture. But this time I stuck with all acrylic and that worked out well. I never got to the paper layer with my scratching, so no problems because of any exposed fibers or damage to the paper, and the acrylic paint didn't dissolve into the scratched texture either.

[astridv]

This looks really cool, I like the effect. Very interesting.

[ratcreature]

I'm glad you like it. I first saw this scratching with later color glazes in an art book and thought it looked very cool too, so I just had to try it myself. Of course in the book it was applied to nude figure painting practice rather than superheroes. *G*

Nightwing

[ilyena_sylph]

I love the shades of blue you used and how right they seem for Dick.

Also, I want to lick his arms. And his thighs. And his calves.

Gorgeous work, and I love that you posted pics of all the different steps, that's awesome.

Re: Nightwing

[ratcreature]

Thank you! I'm glad to hear you like it.

[idlerat]

Cool! It came out really well!

[ratcreature]

Thank you. I'm glad you like it.

[marinarusalka.livejournal.com]

Very cool!

[ratcreature]

Thank you!

[petronelle.livejournal.com]

The colors are luminous. It works very well for him.

[ratcreature]

Thank you! I'm glad you like it. I added gloss medium to the acrylic paint to make it thinner instead of just water, so it would continue to shine. It's great to hear it still comes through somewhat in the scan.