Step 5: Painting Begins

Once I'm satisfied with the color sketch the real painting can begin. I take the sketch and scale it up to final resolution. I then go in and start tightening up the background. Just as in Oil Painting I find working through the background first helps to immerse your character (foreground) into the scene. Here I've defined the area for the Aquarium, as well as put in initial coloring for the reflective floor.

Step 6: Background and Line

I complete the background, adding fish and other details to the aquarium and putting down a floor tile perspective grid. I concentrate on cast and reflected light for the floor and also outline my figures in a warm brown. Once I get to this point I found a compositional element still missing from the painting. I added the standing man to the left to keep the viewer's eye in the composition.