Want to learn to tablet

[Armageddon]

So I got a tablet a few days ago, after practicing a bit with it I made this background inspired by Gemini Rue, it's very rough but I'd love to get some critiques.

[Anian]

Why the hell is it so dark?  Night time is not just about dark tones (unless you're making a western in the 40s), but the saturation and hues within the palette. In painting the graduation of tones is used for defining the material properties not so much in the actual brightness. Try turning your image to black & white and you'll see that it lacks proper variation in lighting.
Night time is defined by it's light sources and shadows.

Second thing, in the brush settings you need to adjust your thickness and smoothing. And don't be afraid of using thinner lines or straight ones (like with shift+click command in PS), there's no shame in using straight lines, even nondigital painters use rulers when sketching.

Third thing is you need to use transitions between tones, you seem to be using one color then go to a picker and choose one close to it and that shows, you need to smooth that out. You can use the effects PS offers for blending with brushes (there are some that imitate real brushes), you can use Smudge tool or you can manually add tones between with a brush. Although be wary that both smudge and realistic brushes do slow things down when used.

[Bernie]

If you need straight geometry with proper perspective you could draw the lines with the mouse (tends to be easier), fill the areas with a solid color and add details and texturing with the tablet. Using a pressure-sensitive brush also helps.

To get used to your tablet you can try drawing all sorts of stuff, every day if you can. Characters, objects, plants... maybe even write something.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I've been practicing by drawing spheres, boobies...You can't beat round things for a good shading exercise!

[EchosofNezhyt]

Just draw and draw alot. Draw different things.

My first tablet drawing.

http://imageshack.us/a/img25/4171/doodlesf.jpg

to this

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/268/a/0/undead_warlock___wip_by_fritomaster-d5fu4tb.png
Edit:

As for your picture I normally start with a sketch on a layer then pres 1 or 2 to set to (20% opacity) then ctrl shift N for new layer and use the mouse tool if its something with hard edges and make a refined version of it.

Then block in the basic colors which sides of the building are darker ect and then I paint in details from there.

It seems like you might have used a large hard brush to draw the layout then painted over that.

You need to make your brush pressure sensitive then paint in the details and USE alt key to color pic to blend things.

[Armageddon]

Been playing a bit sorry for lack of updates. The balls have really helped my shading I think, thanks for the tip ProgZ.



Got out of my comfort zone and used blurry things with my pixels, the tablet made drawing everything soooo much faster.
1x:
2x:

[Tramponline]

Those balls look unhealthy! (...sorry for that crappy pun - really couldn't help it, some freaking urge..eh )

Love the scene with the car. Looks awesome!

Please tell me you're going to use that one. Want to see it animated riding along, maybe make a panorama screen, several screens long out of it?
That's some fecking progress, dude!
 

[selmiak]

About these balls, do you realise you are indeed allowed to use the Photoshop marquee tool and when shift+dragging the elliptical marquee tool you will select a perfect circle and can then paint in it and shade it without painting over the lines?!

the car scene looks intersting.

[Armageddon]

@selmiak: That's useful thanks, I was mostly trying to practice making straight lines and perfect circles, didn't work obviously.

@Trampoline: Thanks man! And I do have some plans for the  car scene.

[Crimson Wizard]

Actually I like the balls, they look like someone prepared a piece of clay for work .
(or chewing gum)

[selmiak]

making straight lines with PS is also simple, just click where you want to start, hold shift and click where the line should end. shift is the 'make perfect' button! better practise your curved lines to develop your own style and get a swoosh in your lines, basic geometry is aided by PS. And you can also never get enough practise in shading.

[Armageddon]

[Anian]

Is this for 3d? It's maybe a bit too high contrast, but you're definitely getting better.

[Eric]

I like your progress so far! What was your background in art before getting the tablet, if you don't mind my asking? Did you have experience painting? I've found that things that I thought the tablet would magically fix have only gotten better as I've learned more about traditional techniques, like color theory and under-painting.

I always wonder if other people pick that stuff up right away, like the key light colors you've chosen for your board pattern is something I would struggle with.

[Armageddon]

I just did pen sketches before, and some pixel art which probably helps with picking colours. I do feel like I've picked up a lot of techniques already.

Thanks guys.

[dactylopus]

I really like the latest images.

Definitely showing a lot of improvement from the first post.

[EchosofNezhyt]

The two textures look really good. Alot of improvement.

[Armageddon]

Eh. Straight lines are for squares.

[Armageddon]

How's this?

[selmiak]

it's small