MASTER OF COLOR DODGE

Ross on the Photoshop tool that his fans know has become his signature technique “I really didn’t even know it was going to be a thing of mine. It’s part of my process in almost every painting, so my first YouTube video included that step.

“I got so excited in the video that everyone started to say it! Color Dodge makes my painting colourful, vibrant and full of light. You can see here: it can add a lot of story and bring your piece to life.”

The blending mode adds a depth and glow to colours. Ross used to feel such techniques were cheating. Now he realises artists must embrace the tools that help them best tell a story. “It doesn’t matter. You can learn from anything, any method, anywhere. Have an open mind. I wish someone had told me that when I was starting out.”