Step-by-step: Depict a bouncing object

1

After I’ve sketched the picture and put all the elements in it, I decide on the position of the grenade. I begin to trace my motion lines to suggest its trajectory. I also keep in mind the perspective in the image; the motion lines will start close to each other and gradually move apart to contain the shape of the grenade.

2

During the colour stage I give the grenade prominence by placing a lighter colour behind it. Then I paint the area between the motion lines with a light grey to emphasise the movement, and focus on where the grenade bounces on the rubble. There I use circular kinetics lines to suggest its sudden impact.

3

I try to make my grenade stand out from the background even more by adding some smoke. I paint the wake of my grenade so that it’ll be brighter and visible in the area where it bounces off the rubble. I paint the details of the grenade without overdoing it, because I’m going to add a motion blur effect.