Getting into digital art

[Kazeon]

Hey, I'm thinking to get into digital art a little bit. Right now Im trying to draw an eagle but this is as far as I can get, so just a WIP here:



I think I'm not doing so badly on beak and eye parts, but I'm struggling to make the feather part looks good. I want to make it look realistic if at all possible. Any advice of appropriate way of doing that part will be highly appreciated! I.e. what kind of brush(es) I should use? Oh I'm using photoshop cs6 btw.

 

[Idaero Ace]

Any brush should work. Custom brush only make things “easier”.
My advice on drawing the fur/feathers, is painting from macro scale, with bigger brush. That feather is basically just one color, it become different because of the shadows. The upper part looks darker because you see the inner side of those feathers. So start with that. Those small details can be added later. Realistic is all about what you see, not the extra details.

Well, atleast that what I learned.
And yes, that beak and eyes looks amazing

 

[Kazeon]

WIP 2.

I think the feather job is much better now.



Started to shade the feather a little, not very noticeable but it's there... somewhere: