Learn how to create this fantastic drawing by Hatice Bayramoglu. You will learn the process she uses to create drawings in Photoshop.

Preview of Final Results

Paint a Surreal Scene Photoshop Tutorial

Step 1 – Sketch the tree

I have a lot of sketches. Here, I decided to use the tree that was a part of an older sketch. You may sketch a tree of your own and scan it into the computer or use the sketch below.

Step 2 – Create a new image

Create a new image (Ctrl+N or File > New) with the settings shown below.

• Width: 640px
• Height: 948px
• Resolution: 72

Step 3 – Create layers

Name your sketch layer “sketch” or any other name you desire. Create another layer for the animal you wish to add to the drawing and name it “squirrel_sketch” or whichever animal you are drawing. Select the “squirrel_sketch” layer and sketch a squirrel.

Step 4 – Choose a colour palette

For this painting, I chose an earthy palette. You may load these colours into the Swatches palette in Photoshop or choose your own colours.

Step 5 – Choose a brush

Select the Brush Tool and then right click on the canvas.

When the Brush Setting window appears, set your brush to the settings below.

• Master Diameter: 19px
• Hardness: 100%

Now add more settings by opening the Brush Presets (F5 or Window > Brushes)

This will open a new window with extra options on the left.

From the left panel, check “Other Dynamics”

Make sure both controls are set to “Pen Pressure.”

Set Opacity Jitter to 6% and Flow Jitter to 5%.

Test your brush to see how well you can control it.

Step 6 – Filling in the background

Select the layer labelled “background.” Then select the Gradient Tool and fill the canvas as shown below.

Step 7 – Adding the sky

Create two more layers and label it “sky_colour” and “tree_colour.” As you can see below, I’ve deleted the “squirrel_sketch” layer. I have saved the sketch into a different psd file to work with later. Now select the “tree_colour” layer and roughly paint the tree brown. Then select the “sky_colour” layer and roughly paint the sky.

Add some more shadows to the “sky_colour” label. Create a layer labelled “sun” and paint a sun behind the tree.

Step 8 – Change the canvas size

To add more detail to the painting, you need a bigger canvas. So change the Image Size (Image > Image Size) to the following settings.

• Width: 1500px
• Height: 2222px
• Resolution: 300

Step 9 – Quick detailing on the tree

Set the opacity of the “sketch” layer to 42% so that it doesn’t interfere with your painting. Select the “tree_colour” layer and add some more colour to your tree.

Hide the “sky_colour” layer so you can better work on your tree. Add some more detailing to the branches.

Step 10 – Adding light on the tree

Still working on the “tree_colour” layer, add some light colours to some of the edges on the tree. Remember where you have positioned the sun and add the highlights accordingly.

Step 11 – Adding grass

Create a new layer and name it “grass.” Select the Brush Tool and use a green colour.

Right click on the canvas. When the Brush Setting window pops up, select the brush tip that looks like grass (112).

Draw some grass in front of the tree.

Step 12 – Detailing the tree

Hide your “sky_colour” layer so that it doesn’t distract you. Select the Dodge Tool and add some light to the tree. Add other details like the grains and the uneven light on the bark.

Your painting should now look like this.

If you like, you can delete parts of the branches so that it looks more realistic. I also created a greater contrast on the tree by adding more dark tones to one side and light tones to the other side.

Step 13 – Adding grass around the tree

Create another layer labelled “grass_back” under the “tree_colour” layer. Then use the Brush Tool to add some grass behind the tree. Use some greens and yellows. They do not need to be the same colour.

Create another layer labelled “grass_front” above the “tree_colour” layer but below the first “grass” layer that you created in step 11. Use the Brush Tool to paint some grass in front of the tree. Use some greens and yellows. They do not need to be the same colour.

Step 14 – Painting Flowers

Create another layer labelled “flowers” and paint a flower among the grass.

Then warp the flower (Edit > Transform > Warp) like the image below.

Copy the flower (left click + right click or Alt Gr) and place it around the grass.

Select the three flower layers (shift + click) and merge (Layer > Merge Layers or Ctrl+E) the three layers together.

You should now have only one layer for the flowers.

Step 15 – Painting clouds

Create a new layer labelled “clouds” above the “sky_colour” layer. Paint some clouds.

Create another layer labelled “clouds1” to add more depth to the clouds.

Step 16 – Adding leaves

Select the “tree_colour” layer and draw some leaves on the branches.

Your painting should now look like this.

Step 17 – Painting the animal character

If you deleted the “squirrel_sketch” layer and saved it in another file, now is the time to bring it back. Add it to your Layer palette.

Create a new layer labelled “squirrel_colour” and start painting over it. You may need to change colours and delete strokes as you go.

Step 18 – Adding foreground

To make the squirrel appear to be in the midst of the grass, I changed the canvas size again. I increased the height of the canvas by adding extra space to the bottom of the painting. Create a new layer and label it “black.” Give it a dark brown colour.

Use the Brush Tool to add some grass to this layer or copy the “grass” layer and paste it on top of the “squirrel_colour” layer.

Step 19 – Detailing the squirrel

Give the squirrel some more details and paint it white. Use the Smudge Tool to smooth the squirrel out. Use the Burn Tool to add some shadows.

The drawing actually looks more like rabbit, so rename everything that says “squirrel” to “rabbit.” Move the rabbit over to the left, as it looks better in that position. I also repositioned the “sky_colour” layer.

Your painting should now look like this.

Step 20 – Backing up a copy

Save a copy of your painting as a psd file. Merge the files and save as another copy.

Step 21 – Finishing touches

Right click the layer and choose Duplicate Layer.

Working on the “copy” layer, blur (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) and set the Blur Radius to 9.5.

Now use Fade Gaussian Blur (Edit > Fade Gaussian Blur). Set the Opacity to 47% and the Mode to “Screen.”

In the Layers palette, still working on the “copy” layer, use the following settings:

• Opacity: 57%
• Fill: 100%

Final Results