Making of Mech Dragon Battleby Alex Ruiz, California Web: www.alexruizart.com



I start the sketch in a very cool online app: www.jacksonpollock.org, which really does emulate the splatter technique made popular by Pollock. And I like to start out my images in an abstract way, so this was perfect!



Next I take the white out of the image using Levels. Then I start throwing down the random shapes that wrap themselves around this black blob thing. I used the custom shapes,  the pen tool, and the lasso tool to make these shapes and the transform functions under Edit to manipulate them. I guess the point I'd stress here is, it's not about any one of these tools; it's about understanding the form and volume, and knowing how to draw things around a form.



Now I've added a subtle color gradient to the background to give a sense of atmosphere. I also continue to add shapes and blue lights to this 'thing' ( I still don't know what it is at this point).



I decide to add a human element to give a sense of scale, and a mountain range to give a sense of depth. Both were drawn quickly with the lasso tool, the filled in.