Artrage Tutorial: A Beginner's Guide to Painting Black Fur

As a digital artist, I've had my fair share of software experiments, but none have left me as thrilled as ArtRage. This powerful painting program has become my go-to tool for creating stunning black fur artworks. In this tutorial, I'll be sharing my experience and tips on how to master the art of painting black fur using ArtRage.

For me, the key to a successful black fur painting is establishing values from the start. I begin by blocking in dark areas to create zones and define the different shades of black. This approach helps me avoid fogging up the darkest areas with light paint and losing definition overall.

In traditional painting, I would use charcoal for this step. However, with ArtRage, I can achieve similar results using a pencil. As you can see from the screenshot above, I roughly shaded in all of the darkest areas on my dog's face with a pencil.

Another important tip is to start with blocking in dark areas and then gradually add highlights. This approach ensures that your painting maintains its depth and dimensionality. It's also essential to remember that black animals often have dark areas, so it's crucial to establish values from the beginning.

ArtRage allows me to work in a way that feels similar to traditional painting on an easel. The program is incredibly intuitive, making it easy for beginners to get started. Plus, the 'Lite' version offers a great opportunity to test the waters before committing to the full desktop version.

One of the things I love about ArtRage is its ability to mimic traditional painting techniques. For me, this means that I can focus on capturing the essence and texture of my subject without worrying about complicated software settings.

This article was inspired by an image I recently came across on Sktchy, which looked uncannily like my beloved dog Claire who had passed away many years ago. Painting black fur is a labor of love for me, and I hope that sharing these tips will inspire you to create your own stunning black fur artworks using ArtRage.

So, are you ready to give ArtRage a try? With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, it's the perfect program for beginners looking to explore digital painting. And who knows – you might just find yourself as enthusiastic about ArtRage as I am!

Artrage tutorial beginner