Brush Sizes and Learning How to Create Background Images

In my second book the characters are spending most of the time in the middle of a tropical jungle, which means that I need to create some background images. Here’s the rub — I’m afraid of drawing landscapes and foliage. I’ve been studying drawing for almost four years, but I’ve spent my time learning to draw people. I’ve shied away from drawing trees, rocks, and water. When I try to draw the big tree in the back yard I get frustrated and go back to drawing faces and cartoon birds. I know that the things I fear the most are the things I should be doing. To get this book done on time, I need to face the fact that I’m afraid. The remedy is to just sit down every day and spend an hour drawing trees and mountains and rocks and clouds and water.

One thing I’ve learned over the last year is to take notes about little details. One important detail is the brush size that’s appropriate for the resolution of the image I’m working with. I’m working with a 4000x4000 pixel canvas, which is the equivalent of an 10x10inch square at 400 dpi. I’m using a size 7 G-pen brush. For fine lines I’ll use a size 5 brush. For heavy lines I’ll use a 10, 12, or 15 brush. Here’s my test sheet. BTW, I’m doing all of the drawing using my Huion Pen Display. I’ve got it propped up on three thick books so that I don’t have to hunch over it when I draw.