silly question

[flamepain]

when painting a bike and putting down a shadow. if you lay the shadow under the flame on the sides as you come over the top of the fender or tank you have to flip over to the downside right??. but that leves a spot on top that would presumably have no shadow.how do you get around that and make it still look good??

 

[TAZ]

Just do a small drop shadow in the 'oval' part of the flame, then you flip to the other side on the next flame.

 

[hoss]

i usually do the top all the same way and come down one side just like it'll flow. then i'll do the other side.

there are two points that light comes in from one direction and from the top.

when laying my flames i make sure to have a good point at the top side of the tank so that i really don't have to worry about shadow flow.

here's a picture

 

[flamepain]

ok i'll try it.also do you mask for your shadows or just free hand them???.i find it hard to mask them but it looks prety cool. thanks in advance. chris.

 

[TAZ]

I think most painters just freehand them. The good one's have faded out points at both ends