On another layer I began “painting” (in Photoshop) shadows and tones.

Once the flat colors are all laid down I turn on the extra layers of linework to see where more color might be needed.

The next step is to add in a layer of flat color.

I keep thinking that I’m going to be able to create a color image directly off the penciled art. So far I’ve only managed to do that once. But I keep trying. This is the second stage of the process. I’ve colorized the original pencils. This is primarily to give me a base color to work with. Since the scene takes place in a dark place I thought I’d use blue as the base.

I’ve mentioned a few times that I’m illustrating a sourcebook on Ghouls for Sixtystone Press for the Call of Cthulhu RPG game. Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting preliminary sketches and works in progress.

Today’s post features the rough sketch for the book’s back cover illustration. This is a priest of Mordiggian the charnal god of the city of Zul-Bha-Sair. The priests only take off their masks when it’s feeding time.