Digital Paint 101

Starting with the basics-i'm not a master artist, i'm just sharing what i know with the rest of you.

Ok lets do apples, they are simple and have a neat shiny texture.

Step 1. Measure out the size of the apples in relation to each other, and sketch out your measurements. don't be concerned with the shapes of the edges yet, because you will be painting over it. never ever get caught up doing any details while sketching, all this is, is measuring. take a string and compare the line of the top of the apples, and make that same diagonal line in your sketch. compare the diagonal line of the stems to each other.

Step 2. Squint your eye and find a middle tone for all of the midtones on the apples, then plop down the values.

Step 3. Break the apples down into about 4 values each. look at the apples and see all of the abstract shapes on the apples. don't think 'apple'. think of the wierd little shapes on it.

Step 4. Take a few steps back and compare the apples to your painting. when you see something that's off, fix it. if a part of it needs to be a bit more red, make it a bit more red. work with as large a brush as possible before going to the smaller details.

Lost power and the rest of it for now, i'll repaint it and put it up when i'm done. i had to post what i had to let off some of my anger.

Edit- ok here's the rest.

Step 5. Compare, and correct.

Step 6. Compare, and correct. look quickly at your painting and the apple, back and forth, back and forth, and keep correcting until you can't tell the difference... I didn't go to that extreme here, but its close enough for me. you'll notice some subtle purples in here that aren't in the picture. i made a new layer and painted the purples and brighter reds and darker greens on it with 5% opacity. this will liven it up a bit, and hopefully give it more depth

Step 7. I made another layer and put the little dots on it, then brushed in faint lines to show the roundness of the apple. when doing a painting like this it can go on forever. i haven't learned when to stop yet, but this is the final one for me.