Here is my reference and initial sketch. I just do a simple quick sketch to help me get the proportions close and then I scan it and paint it in Photoshop.
Painted in photoshop with a wacom tablet, here are the references I used.
Critique and tips welcomed, here is the inspiration
Painted in Ps after scanning in sketch.SketchReferences
inspiration sources: Beach, Turtle
SketchMain References
Not the expected outcome, huh?Done entirely in Photoshop CS5 with a pen tablet. Around 30 layers.Used this tutorial for the underwater background.It's my first octopus ever so used a lot of references there, the most influentialhere and the rest here, inspiration from this pictureit's my 1st illustration entry.
first time drawing from scratch
source fileshttp://www.itsnature.org/Natural_Wonders/images/article-images/great_barrier_reef_turtle.jpg http://i.images.cdn.fotopedia.com/flickr-3718366422-image/World_Heritage_Sites/Oceania/Australia/Great_Barrier_Reef/Great_Barrier_Reef-Underwater_photography-image.jpg http://www.thetalightandnature.com.au/Images/barrier%20reef%20fish.jpg