Adding texture

I move on to painting the columns and the floor. To make the cathedral more realistic I add a rough texture, cracks and imperfections that give an idea of its stone nature and aged appearance. For now I just paint the characters with a dark flat colour, and then proceed with the background.

Main and reflected light

I finish the column’s highlighting blocks, which helps me to emphasise the shape. Then, on a new Color Dodge layer, I paint the windows and the light that’s cast on the floor with a desaturated light blue. This cold light is dominant in the scene: it illuminates the floor and columns, and creates a reflected ambient light that I give a warmer tone to, for contrast.