From my graphic novel WIP, Nellie, a pine marten, practices self-defense. I use the character’s silhouette to make the shadows – then put the blue shadow on a Multiply layer below. Shadows diffuse more the farther they are away from a light source (the penumbra). Also they bend around 3d objects where they are cast.
The reference that was briefly on screen in the beginning was of a victorian nightgown. Found something similar in my household and put it on a pillow that allowed me to get the natural way that the clothing would hang.
The story takes place in Victorian England when there were many curious self-defense books that had pictures and sketches of how to defend oneself against hooligans with a hatpin or umbrella.
I’ve started using a workflow that combines conventional pencil sketching and digital painting with 3d sets and sculpting. It helps me get more of a cinematic look to my layouts which works well with graphic novels. If you’d like to learn more about this, let me know!
