#greysteppingstonestutorial

Okay, here goes!

Below are the 6 colors I used! You’ll notice that #4 and #5 are SUPER similar, so you don’t have to use both!

a breakdown of where to use each color:

#6 - The darkest shadows! For far bottom right edges and cracks. Use to create dimension!

#1 - Regular shadows and most of the bottom right edge. Use alongside #6 so it blends smoothly. 

#4/5 - Used to outline MOST of the rest (broken by shadows and highlights). Also used in the centers to create “low spots”

#2 - general rock color fill. Looks light on it’s own, but good with the rest.

#3 - Highlights! Put along the top left for edge highlights, and to the bottom right of any cracks you create (thats where the cracks would catch light for most of the day)

(sorry they aren’t in ascending order, this is how they ended up in my palette as I was working to color match, haha)

general creation process:

I usually imagine my light source being in the top left!

I start by outlining the general shape with #4/#5. 

Fill in the whole shape with #2. 

Define the bottom right edges with #1, and create interesting cracks/dark shadows with #6. 

Add highlights (#3) and low lights (#4/#5) to my liking. 

Lastly, go through and make sure there aren’t too many harsh edges by adding the appropriate “between” shade to blend! DON’T OVER BLEND!  Rocks are... rocky and sharp! Too smooth can end up looking strange haha.

final notes: