Everyone keeps overworking digital paintings into lifeless messes

I see so many artists adding 50 layers of texture and blending until every brush stroke is gone. I stopped after 3 layers last week on a portrait and it actually had more life in it. Has anyone else noticed that their simpler pieces get more engagement than the overworked ones?

2 comments

2 Comments

wright.rowan9d ago

Read an article that said da Vinci barely blended his stuff.

dixon.felix9d ago

@wright.rowan yeah I remember reading that too, crazy how the masters kept it simple. I tried doing a portrait with just blocky shadows and no blending the other day and it looked way more alive than my usual stuff. Kinda makes you wonder if all those texture packs and brushes are just digital crutches.