Lifting the lid on alternative pin-up art

Lets start. More importantly for me, a pin-up character’s lighting should be like a photo studio’s, not natural outdoor light. I use several specific brushes which are based on real brush imprints (download a free trial). Pin-up is usually all about tanned hips, blue sky and colourful clothes, but this won’t suit a punk character, so I pick a cooler, darker palette. I consider the path that the viewer’s eye takes, and position her face on one of the diagonals. 01. This article originally appeared in ImagineFX issue 105. Digital offers too many options too quickly. Now it’s time to work on volume and texture, add a second light source – another pin-up trick: hard backlight. Many artists use Photoshop, but I prefer Corel Painter. Multiply to overlay
I hide the original outline drawing by changing its blending mode from Multiply to Overlay. Candy colour rhymes
I fix major elements and assign colours to them so   they’re in harmony. 04. It’s hard to see it yet – tone and colours will help me with that. In my pencil sketch I try to define character and composition. The brightest will be her hair, the most saturated the candy box. I fill the background with a purple-grey neutral tone, making it easier to define bright and dark colours. I also use real paint strokes and scan them in – I like their rough texture, and it fits alternative pin-up better than airbrush, I think… It may not like layers but then neither do I! Words: Waldemar Kazak
Waldemar Kazak left art college in 1993 to work as a designer. This guides the viewer through the curve of her body, then along her right hand to the can, and through her left hand back to her face. It may sound inconvenient, but I merge all my layers, making the digital process closer to a traditional one. To emphasise her curves I add a red splash on the wall, and a pink one to balance that. 03. For example, it’s useful to use visual ‘rhymes’, such as the obvious big pink shirt and small pink lips, and not-so-obvious green eyes and red candy box. Pencils ready! Make the whole picture brighter and shinier than your normal character piece. right! Paper prevents your hand from getting ahead of your imagination, and enables you to develop ideas and shapes at   a comfortable pace.