Desperation and Virtual Paint

I know...TWO post in one day. Don't faint. My Lady of the Lake IMC assignment is due on the first of September. About two weeks ago, I realized I wasn't going to make it since I've had a gaming job that had to be put on the top of my to do list. I have been buying FX Imagine magazine on and off, when a particular artist I like is featured. This magazine is published in the UK and comes with an instructional CD and lots and lots of instruction for the digital artist, plus a section for traditional artists as well. It's a pricey $15 at B&N but worth it. I've been trying some of the demos they have and slowly learning some things in PhotoShop, even though I don't have the super-duper CS3 version.

So when I realized traditional oil wasn't going to cut it for this painting in time, I decided to scan the ol' watery gal in and let loose with the Wacom tablet and my anemic knowledge of digital paint. I discovered that this takes time to build up layers and learn the different brushes, etc. I've basically been applying layers as I would with colored pencils, using either the Overlay and Softlight modes over my original sketch (which was fairly finished). I have most of the colors down in this post and now I have to go in and refine and clean up edges. Not sure I'll make it but it's been a real learning experience. I know anyone who knows their way around digital application will probably scoff at this attempt, but you got to start somewhere, right?