It was suggested that we start some drawing challenges, and I thought what an excellent way to help people improve their skills.

In this challenge you can use photos for reference, but none can be used for the actual wall. Be sure to include your steps, as this will be a great way to pick up some new techniques.

Challenge:
Create a photorealistic stone wall. It is up to you how developed you want your scene to be. It can be just the wall or you can create a whole scene around it. You can also add your wall to an existing photo if you would like, but the wall itself has to be created from scratch. Will it be a high wall, low wall, castle wall, or a garden wall. Will your wall have moss, ivy, or just stones? It’s up to you.

When you've got your entry, just reply to this thread. Attach your file to your post (no URLs, please). Don't forget to include an excellent description on how you did it.

As always, this Challenge doesn't expire, ever.


HAVE FUN!

How funny you would want a stone wall when I was just wondering WHY I kept this stone wall in the first place.

This "wall" is the first thing I drew when I got my wacom tablet. I did it just to see if I could and to try out the tablet itself. My reference is a real stone wall along Beckham Creek in northcentral Arkansas. My rendition looks little like the real wall. Sigh.

I tried just about everything on this drawing, doing and undoing at will. I do remember that to get the stone textures I used craclaquer (forgive spelling) and a pattern or two, which I then erased, blended, etc. to get more of a stone texture. I painted and lined. In other words, I played. It was a good attempt to figure out how the tablet and I worked together.

Have fun with my cave opening. I have another I did with the same original picture and the impressionist filter. It turned out MUCH better. Giggle.

Janet

Since I did this months ago, and it took days to do, I don't really remember all of the steps I used, however on inspection as I downsized it, it looks like I may have embossed the original and overlayed it. To be honest, I really don't remember. Forgive me if it isn't entirely hand done. Thanks.

Nice. The interesting thing to me was that when I was looking at the thumbnails, I thought the 1st one was the original and the 2nd was the painting :)

I'm not much of an artist as you can tell; and I'm extremely grateful to the limitless talent that invented and expanded on creative photo imagery so that I can learn and experiment. Your word of praise is appreciated.

Janet,

Kudos for being the first to try this challenge! Also great job "playing"!

This "wall" is the first thing I drew when I got my wacom tablet. I did it just to see if I could and to try out the tablet itself. My reference is a real stone wall along Beckham Creek in northcentral Arkansas. My rendition looks little like the real wall. Sigh.

I for one like your rendition. I like how your brush strokes help to define the angles of the rocks. The trees don't quite fit, perhaps they need a bit more detail or just more strokes to thicken them up...or just leave them out completely (artistic license).

Great job!

~T

well, since I was the one who asked, I figured I'd better comply! :) The challenge to myself was using brushes only without filters. So, I made this with a serires of brushes, set between 10 and 20% opacity. I did add a lighting filter at the end to get some directional light between the stones. The last thing I did was add a "sharpen more" filter for a bit more clarity.

good challenge!!

Yay anouther entry. I was beginning to think my challenge was too hard.

Very nice! So did you create your own brushes, use existing PhotoShop brushes, or use brushes you had downloaded? I like how you have light between the stones...makes me want to look closer so I can see what's on the other side.

Very impressive results!

Thanks :D this was fun.

I used existing Photoshop brushes. I have my history set to take "snapshots" at various stages, so I made a little animation of some of the stages of the work so you can see the progression.

(this is only one corner of the image as the gif was too big to upload)

Thanks for sharing the animation. It was great to see the different stages of development. The sharpening in the last stage really made the rocks stand out.

Impressive work. These look like real rocks and make me remember Robert Frost's poem Mending Wall.

The animation was a terriffic aid in seeing the development of your art.

Once again I'm in awe.

Janet

T.Paul wrote: "The trees don't quite fit, perhaps they need a bit more detail or just more strokes to thicken them up...or just leave them out completely (artistic license)."

I agree, the trees don't quite fit; however, I didn't want to take them out. I had another looksee and you are also right about me needing to add more detail. I've never seen a transparent tree before (lol) and these are definitely on the ghostly side. Thanks for the observation.

Janet

wow, thanks Janet! You know, I kind of like your trees- adds a mystery to the image: you're not quite sure about it, and since the image is more on the painting side, it does fit. If the rocks were more in a realism style, the trees wouldn't go, but in this context it works.