Digital Paint A Candle

• Software: GIMP or other (raster) graphics editor
• Level: Intermediate
• Subject: Candle

Last post, the tutorial was to create vector art of a candle using Inkscape or other vector graphics editors. This time, let us shift to the raster side, and see how the same subject can be treated in the digital painting medium.

This is going to be sort of a evolving painting and hence you need not work a lot on the details in the sketch.

Just see to it that you get the proportions and perspectives right. Loose hints for the details like the melted wax should be sufficient.

I create a new layer and draw the background. Note that it is not complete black, but dark brown color. Brown is quite neutral - not warm, nor cool. Also observe that for the half part of the background, I have desaturated the color even more. This sort of gives us a depth feel.

I then use a grayish color to block out the candle body. Note that it is not totally saturated, it has a bit of green mixed with it. If you want to make realistic works, try to avoid totally desaturated colors. I also give it a bit of form, shading the details with a large brush and carefree strokes.

Fill out the flame shape. Use a pretty whitish yellow color for the base and edge it with orange. The background, candle and the flame are in separate layers.

Create a new layer. Place it between the candle and the flame. Use a large brush, and very low opacicity and paint the volume light area. Once the faintest area is done, paint again near the flame to create a brighter area. Keep doing this until you got a nice patchy gradient of volumetric light.

We played with light, now it is time for shadow.

There is no need to create a new layer. But visit each layer - backkground and candle wax, and mark out the various shadow area. Also lighten the table area just around the shadow - it creates a nice contrast.

Turn of the sketch layer. We would not be needing it any more.

Draw the wick on the candle, and then with a partial transparent eraser tool, make the lower part of the flame transparent so that the wick becomes visible.

For your reference, the layer setup should be something as follows:

I do not use the Background that comes with the file - but it is a personal preference. The sketch is always in a separate layer, and is usually turned off for the final setup.

Pick a smaller brush, and zoom into the waxy part and shape that wax path that froze after melting from the heat of the flame. Pay attention to the inner rim of the candle, there are contrasting highlights and you would want to use near white colors.

Sign it and you are done.